Softball Victoria is currently reviewing a new operating model that is designed to provide improved resources and increase both membership and participation.

One Softball is based on the Sport Australia’s One Management model where administration functions (such as marketing, finance and human resources) are managed by the national body to streamline costs and allow more resources to be focused on growing the sport.

The Softball Victoria Board is currently refining the proposed operating model Softball Australia has provided to Member States.

Softball Victoria President Bron Parry said SV has played an integral part in developing the current draft implementation plan to provide a clear roadmap of how softball in Victoria would benefit.

“We’re very pleased to be in the position to look at implementation of the One Softball project and help improve the sport across the country,” Ms Parry said.

“Our focus is to ensure we have a sustainable sport moving forward and we are making decisions that allow for growth of our membership and participation in the short and long term.

“Should Softball Victoria join One Softball, benefits include direct access to commercial partners of Softball Australia (both current and potential), marketing, communications, finance and accounting resources, and crucially, membership development and participation resources.

“Importantly to our current membership, Softball Victoria will maintain its identity at both a State and Association level, and we will have access to resources to better promote and grow the game.

“The Softball Victoria Board will continue to review the finer details of the plan until we are satisfied with how day-to-day operations would look under a shared services management model,” she said.

One Softball Benefits:

• Growing the sport and addressing the long-term membership challenge;
• Ensuring long-term financial sustainability;
• Ensuring a consistent and coordinated approach to the experience of everyone involved in softball;
• Delivering improved services to Members, Clubs, Associations and the wider Softball community by building capability and capacity at all levels of the sport, and;
• Increasing revenue through the pooling of all commercial assets from States and the National body resulting in increased attractiveness to commercial partners for marketing and brand building purposes.

A decision regarding the One Softball model is expected in the coming months. For more information on the One Softball project, visit softball.org.au

If you have any questions or queries please email admin@softballvic.org.au

One Softball – FAQ’s

What is One Softball?

One Softball is a change to the operating structure for Softball Australia and Softball Victoria (and Softball ACT, Softball NT, Softball SA and Softball Tasmania).

Instead of operating as separate businesses relying on cooperation to run and grow softball, Softball Victoria will enter into a services agreement with Softball Australia where Softball Australia performs the services previously provided by Softball Victoria.

Why the change?

Managing nine fully operating businesses to run and grow softball is inefficient. Even when cooperation and collaboration is strong it is time consuming to reach agreement with eight different bodies to make the major changes required to grow the sport. Sponsors and commercial partners also prefer to only deal with one entity where possible.

At times States and Softball Australia are also using different systems, processes and suppliers which results in duplication and extra cost. Put simply, money is wasted on the administration of softball that could be put to better use growing the sport and providing improved services to our players, officials, clubs and associations.

What happens to Softball Victoria?

Softball Victoria will continue to exist and will still have a board in place. However the role of Softball Victoria (and the Softball Victoria board) changes from day-to-day operations to overseeing the performance of Softball Australia in delivering the contracted services in Victoria.

Softball Victoria staff’s employment transfers to Softball Australia but these employees will still be employed in roles focused on Victorian softball and providing great service to Victorian players, officials, clubs and associations.

How can we be sure Victorian resources aren’t allocated to national functions or other States?

The service agreement guarantees that all revenue raised from Victoria (member fees, government grants, sponsorship, tournaments etc.) must be spent in Victoria.

What happens if this doesn’t improve softball?

One Softball is being implemented through a service agreement with a three-year review clause and a five-year term. Softball Victoria continues to exist as an association monitoring this agreement. If the agreement is not delivering benefits to the Softball Victoria membership the contract can be terminated and we can revert to the current structure.

What does this mean for me?

As a Victorian player, official or club or association committee member the changes should be minimal. The Softball Victoria staff you have dealt with will still be available to you, but they will be Softball Australia employees.

Over time some systems and processes may change as we adopt a single consistent national process to ensure we can provide the best service at the lowest cost. A change management program will be put in place for each change to ensure the impact is minimal.

Will the Softball Victoria brand, website etc. be consolidated?

Each State will continue to have their own identity. Victorian teams and competitions will continue to exist and the website will remain to serve the Victorian membership

Are State Government grants at risk?

No, each State and Territory Government has confirmed that sports operating under a one management model will remain eligible for State and Territory Government grants.

Will Clubs have to comply with all national policies?

Yes, policies will be consolidated into a single national policy (subject to National and State requirements). Clubs will be required to comply with the consolidated One Softball policies and regulations. Where this is a change from the current State policy a change management process will be put in place to communicate the impact of this change.

Why isn’t every State doing this?

It is an individual State decision to adopt One Softball. At this point Softball ACT have already joined, whilst Softball NT, Softball Victoria, Softball SA and Softball Tasmania have all signed Agreements which means they are ‘in scope’. The Softball Australia board has decided after significant research over the past four years that the model provides softball with significant benefits.

Ideally Softball NSW, Softball Queensland and Softball WA will also adopt One Softball in due course to the deliver the biggest possible benefit. Until then Softball Australia will continue to operate with them as we currently do.