SOFTBALL: After a successful Summer Slam Fully Loaded softball tournament, Softball Australia has introduced this exciting new format to local clubs and associations.

Now, softballers of all levels have the opportunity to participate in a more exciting, faster format with big scores, more home-runs and more edge of your seat, white knuckle moments.

“The feedback we received from international calibre softballers during the Summer Slam was overwhelmingly positive, and we can’t wait to see that experience shared at grass roots and club level,” Chief Executive Officer at Softball Australia, David Pryles said.

“Our overall goal with Fully Loaded Softball is to increase our participation numbers nationwide through returning and new softball players,” added Pryles.

“This new format is the perfect balance between introducing people to the game, while still satisfying the appetite of our softballer who plays for their club every weekend.

Fully Loaded Softball plays with loaded bases every innings, the action packed games are filled with high scores and high-pressure stakes.

Softball Australia said of the game-changing format,

"Fully Loaded Softball focuses on “Big Moments,” defining points where a team can win or lose. A moment that can change the course of history and be talked about for decades. A moment when a player overcomes nerves, picks up their team and carries them to victory. Often in sport these moments are few and far between.

The new format will see games finished in an hour, but jam packed with all the best bits of softball. Non-stop, action packed with highlights at every turn."

The major differences between standard softball and Fully Loaded Softball were explained as;

• Action packed, 3 innings, short format games

• Bases loaded to start every innings

• Tiebreakers, with one out per inning, played if scores are locked

• 100% action, no warm up pitches at the start of an innings or for a new pitcher

• No time outs for conferences during play

• Off diamond umpire records changes to speed up game

• 15 seconds for pitchers to deliver the pitch

• Rapid fire rules when out is made

• Shorter fences means more homeruns

• 60 second inning changeovers

“The softball community saw just how exciting the Fully Loaded Softball format can be thanks to three days of live prime-time coverage in February,” Pryles continued. 

“We’ve already seen great reports of clubs trialling Fully Loaded Softball games and tournaments and we look forward to reaching more clubs and in turn, new softballers by working with our state bodies in delivering the new format.”

There is no defensive time out or conferences and no warm up pitches, combined with a 60 second changeover between innings, what results is an action packed, fast and fun game which will continue to instil the core skills of softball in its purest form.

Variations of the format, including a slow pitch version, have been developed to ensure players of all skill level and age groups can enjoy Fully Loaded Softball.

You can learn more about this new era of softball for yourself, your club or your school HERE

Softball Australia/olympics.com.au