Do you want to keep playing softball in winter?

There are 2 ways to do this (and yes, you can do both!)

1 – Register for HDSA representative teams to play in the NSW State Championship.

Use the EOI on the WILDCATS Facebook page posted 17 February. The deadline to sign up is 21 February.

You will be contacted if try-outs will need to be conducted or if training starts without a try-out. Training will usually start around 2 months before the NSW State Championships and be conducted twice a week (less training for U10s).

The NSW State Championship is a one-off tournament over a weekend, where the HDSA team will play several games against other associations. The training for this and the tournament itself is a great opportunity to get yourself ahead in the game of softball. If there will not be enough registrations for a HDSA team, you will be asked if you would like to be put on a pick-up list. This is a list where other associations that do not have enough players will pick players from to fill their team.

The dates are below:

·       U10s - 11 and 12 April at Warwick Farm (6 to 10 years old)

·       U12s - 2 and 3 May at Campbelltown (8 to 11 years old)

·       U14s - 18 to 20 September in Wagga Wagga (10 to 13 years old)

·       U16s - 7 to 9 August in Penrith (12 to 15 years old)

You can register for 2 age groups if you like, but you must play for your current age group if you are picked for the higher age group. (E.g. If your age is U14, you can try out for U16 and if you get picked, you must play for both U14 and U16). You cannot play in an age group that you are too old for.

The exception could be for u10s. HDSA is trying to get an exception for the U10s Teeball so if you turn 10 in 2026, you can still try for u10s.

If you are first registered with North Shore, you must either try out for their representative team or transfer your first registration to Hornsby District Softball Association.

2 – Register with a club at North Shore to play Winter softball.

(https://www.revolutionise.com.au/nsdsa)

The NSDSA association plays a winter competition with 6 clubs. Most of our players play either with Kissing Point, Wahroonga or St Ives. The clubs’ registration are open now, with an early bird discount until 28 February. The competition is played in term 2 and 3. When you register, the club will contact you for a grading day, as their levels are different to ours and they will need to know where you will fit in best. North Shore has a come and try day on 19 February from 5:30 to 7:00pm at the St Ives Village Green.

If you decide to register, you will need a permit from HDSA for which you apply when doing the registration (not a clearance!).

Whichever sport you decide to play in winter, we hope to see you back next summer with Hornsby Wildcats!