South West Academy of Sport (SWSAS) Softball Program

RBI Australia is proud to support the South West Sydney Academy of Sport’s Softball Program as it develops the next generation of talented athletes across our region. We’re excited to contribute to a pathway that offers high-performance coaching, skill development, and genuine opportunities for young players to grow on and off the field. By working alongside SWSAS, Softball NSW, and local associations, we’re committed to helping emerging athletes build strong fundamentals, gain confidence, and take meaningful steps toward state and national high-performance pathways.

Program Summary

Program Season: October – July
Age Group: 13 – 16 Years of Age
Gender: Male and Female

Current Program Status:
2025-2026 Nominations Now Open
Nominations Extended to Friday 10 October 2025.

Trials will take place:
6:00 – 9:00pm
Tuesday 14 October 2025, and
Tuesday 21 October 2025

Milton Park Softball Complex, Ingleburn
* Athletes must attend BOTH trials to be eligible for selection.

Nominate Now

Program Objectives

Develop athletes to be competitive, with a fundamentally sound base.
Provide fundamental individual skill development and leadership sessions for athletes during traditional representative off-season programs, to participate within Baseball High Performance Pathways.

Compliment athletes local Representative team training and encourage athletes to be leaders within those teams, by providing high-performance training and development opportunities within the local area.

Prepare athletes for Baseball NSW High Performance trials and pathway programs, such as State teams, College combines, or touring team trials.

Program Objectives

Create an environment where athletes can develop the necessary tactical, technical, physiological and psychological skill competencies to aid progression through their sports Athlete High Performance Pathway.

Develop athletes to be competitive, with a fundamentally sound base.

Provide fundamental individual and squad skill development sessions for athletes during representative off-season, and in-season maintenance programs, as a part of the Softball NSW High Performance Pathway program. 

Compliment athletes local club and representative team training, encourage and develop athletes to be leaders within those teams.

Prepare athletes for NSW High Performance trials and pathways, such as the NSW U16’s State Squads and Teams, and future NSW and/or National selection.

Athlete Benefits

The program provides access to pathway performance coaching, analysis of individual skill and development within a squad structure, sports science testing, and access to high performance strength and conditioning programs.

 A large range of athlete appropriate education workshops such as sport psychology, nutrition, drugs in sport awareness, public speaking, resilience, media training, sports medicine and injury prevention are also undertaken as a part of the regular training program.

The South West Sydney Academy of Sport Softball program is closely aligned to the Softball NSW high performance curriculum, and operates in conjunction with fellow Regional Academy of Sport Softball programs. As such, is designed to introduce athletes to the State and National high performance pathway. And include training in the NSW Style of Play along with technical and tactical skill development. 

Key performance opportunities will be selected to best suit the current development level of athletes, and may include events scheduled in conjunction with other NSW Regional Academies of Sport, Softball NSW and Interstate High Performance programs, and/or visiting International programs, through camp-like training environments, or performance tournament opportunities.

Training and Performance Opportunities

  • The Academy will conduct regular on-field training sessions that will include individual and squad based fundamental skill development training between October and July. A focus on team dynamics and tactical skill development will take place towards the latter part of the program.
  • Additional Academy education sessions and off-field development may take place following the conclusion of the “program year”, with the program formally concluding at the Annual Athlete Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner, generally held in late July.
  • Regular training sessions will be aligned to avoid clashes with the representative training and competition schedules of those clubs within the South West Sydney Academy of Sport catchment area, as much as possible.
  • Athletes will be required to undertake a strength and conditioning program, including access to a supervised gym program throughout the period.
  • Subject to the athletes commitment to the Academy, training performance and depth of squad, the Academy intends to compete in a  “Academy Challenge Series” alongside neighbouring Regional Academies of Sport (RAS) and Softball NSW Metro-Academy teams, to be held in February 2026.
  • The Academy may send age and gender appropriate team’s to other tournaments, or conduct Development Camps/Challenges with other Regional Academy or high performance programs and invited teams through the program period.
  • Training sessions will take place at Softball Association grounds throughout the South West Sydney region. Additional sessions, including optional battery sessions, may take place at the indoor training facility, RBI Australia, in Narellan. A full training and performance schedule will be provided to successful athletes through the XPS Network online communication tool.

Squad and Support Staff

2025-2026 Softball Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Marsheal Walker
Assistant Coaches: Evan Walker, Jasmine Taylor and Ray Gavin

Squad Managers: Rod Taylor and Joanne McClure

Athlete Eligibility

  • Athletes must be between 13 and 15 years of age as of 31 December 2025.
  • Ie born 2010 – 2012
  • Athletes must be a registered member of Softball NSW
  • Athletes must reside in, or attend school, or compete for a SNSW affiliated association within the Academy area of Campbelltown, Camden, Liverpool or Wollondilly local Government areas.
  • In addition;
  • Athletes who have been, or are selected into Softball NSW U16 State Squads are eligible to participate within parts of the  Academy Program, subject to the approval of Softball NSW.

Selection Process

What to Expect:

The Softball squad is selected based on the athletes performance at an open trial.

The Academy Softball program trial will feature a number of skill and drill components, followed by a series of short-sided or modified match-play scenario to assess the athletes skill and potential. 

Elements of sport science testing and/or fitness assessment may be conducted as a part of the trial. 

One or more trials may be conducted.

Selection Process:

  • Athletes must complete a South West Sydney Academy of Sport Athlete Nomination Form prior to the advertised closing date.
  • Athletes must attend at all trial dates. If an athlete is unable to attend a trial they must provide a reason in writing, prior to that trial to gain an exemption.
  • Prospective athletes Parents must attend an Academy Information session, which will take place at the same time as one of the trials. This will be identified on the Nomination Page and communicated to parents by the email provided in the nomination form when confirming the trials information.
  • The Academy may select up to 14 x  Male and 14 x Female Athletes within the Softball program.
  • The Academy will select a squad, the forming of teams will not be the primary intent of the Softball program.
  • Final selections, number of athletes and squad composition will be made dependant on the talent available during the trial process.
  • Successful athletes will be advised within seven (7) days of the the final trial. 

Athlete Scholarship Levy

  • An Athlete Scholarship levy will apply to all successful athletes.
  • This levy assists in offsetting the program costs including,
  • Annual Athlete Membership
  • Training and Development including training venue hire, sports equipment, skill development programming, and guest / coaching costs.
  • Strength and Conditioning Programming, Education and Support Services including online access to AMS program Lumin, targeted sports education lectures and workshops with guest presenters, sport specific strength and conditioning program with an Academy Strength and Conditioning partner facility, sport science testing, and access to athlete wellbeing and support service network providers.

Additional Fees / Levies

Uniform Costs

  • All uniform purchases are to be made via the Academy’s uniform supplier ACEIT, utilising their online store.
  • New athletes will be required to purchase uniform consisting of at minimum, Athlete Polo Shirt, Walkout Shorts and Gym T-shirt.
  • Additional competition uniform costs may exist, specific to sport requirements. The required items will be identified at the sport program induction and may include items listed below.
  • Athletes may purchase additional Academy items, that includes Tracksuit, Hoodie, Socks, Towel, Sports Bag, Backpacks, and Active Wear.

Camps, Tours and Tournaments

  • Camps, Tours and Tournaments, including the Regional Academy Games, form an important part of each sport program structure. The costs of these events, as with the overall sport program, are heavily subsidised by the Academy and its partners.
  • Camp / Tour costs may be applied for certain activities throughout the program year and will be communicated well ahead of the event.