GRAND SLAM GROWTH CHALLENGE

To support our collective goal of increasing participation and help drive our shared vision for a bigger, stronger, and more vibrant Softball community, Softball Victoria is excited to launch the GRAND SLAM GROWTH CHALLENGE.

This season-long challenge rewards clubs and associations that excel in growing and retaining members, as well as building the skills and capacity of our sport through more accredited coaches, scorers, and umpires. Associations and Clubs are both eligible to be awarded. There will be an association ladder and a club ladder. Clubs are eligible to win in three different categories, associations are vying to be the overall winner!  

Grow. Retain. Develop. Win.

Be part of the challenge that rewards clubs for driving growth and building the future of Softball in Victoria! The Grand Slam Club Growth Challenge runs from now to July 30, 2026 and recognises clubs that excel in:

• Overall Membership Growth
• Junior Membership Growth
• Member Retention
• Increase in Accredited Coaches, Scorers & Umpires

Prizes:

• $500 development grant for each category winner
• Trophy & statewide recognition for clubs
• A feature story for the Overall Association Grand Slam Winner

Award Categories

1. Junior Home Run Award – Junior Membership Growth (CLUB)
• Awarded to the club with the highest increase in junior members (see Conditions).
• Includes Sub Junior and 12+ categories and is based on the point system.
• Focuses on long-term player engagement by tracking 2-Month Program & full-season registrations only.
2. The Golden Glove Award – Member Retention (CLUB)
• Awarded to the club with the highest retention rate of paid members.
• Retention is determined by revSPORT reporting
3. The Development Diamond Award – Growth in Accredited Officials (CLUB)
• Awarded to the club that records the highest combined increase in accredited coaches, scorers, and umpires.
• Includes new accreditations gained during the season or upgrades to higher levels.
• Measured using Softball Victoria’s official accreditation records.
4. The Grand Slam WINNER – Overall Membership Growth (ASSOCIATION)
• Awarded to the association with the highest number of points for the season.
• Calculation based on the number of points earned at the end of the 2024/25 season compared to the end of the 2025/26 season.

EXAMPLE OF HOW THE POINT SYSTEM WILL WORK:

CONDITIONS:

• Juniors only include HRH / 2-month program, full season SUB JUNIOR & JUNIOR
• HRH & sub Junior = 3 points, Junior = 2 points & Senior = 1 point. We will track your starting point and award points for each additional member on top of this gained throughout the season
• Seniors must be minimum of 2 MONTH PROGRAM or FULL SEASON MEMBER
• Points for Officials are based on LEVEL AND QUANTITY
• Officials must be actively participating in the club season
• COACHES - 1 point per course completed in Foundation Courses
• SCORERS - 1 point per level for each scorer / new scorers attaining a L1 accreditation = 2 points
• UMPIRES - 1 point per level for each umpire / new umpires attaining a L1 accreditation = 2 points
• Official's accreditations must be current and they must be registered into the season.
• If the number of officials is saturated in a particular club, other professional development will taken into account such as ASC courses or Mental Health First Aid. 

Prizes & Recognition

• Winners in each category will receive:
• A $500 development grant to support club growth initiatives in 2026/27
• A trophy to display at your club or association headquarters
• Recognition on Softball Victoria’s website, social media channels, and annual awards night (ARC Presentation or State Teams Dinner?)
• Overall Grand Slam Winner (if a club wins in more than one category):
• Additional $500 grant
• Special feature story in SV’s statewide newsletter

How to Participate

• All clubs and associations are automatically entered.
• Membership data will be taken from the official Softball Victoria database (paid members only, does not include permit players).
• Results will be measured from 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026 (full 25/26 Season).

How to Win:

• Focus on creating a welcoming, inclusive environment
• Promote your club widely to attract new members
• Engage with current members to keep them coming back
• Support volunteers to gain new or upgraded accreditations

All clubs are automatically entered! Let’s grow Softball together.

Step 1: Set Goals

• Identify how many new members you want to gain (see Forecasting spreadsheet for proposed targets – these are just a guide but also directly linked for SV FY25/26 budget. We want to hear if you feel these are realistic or too low etc. How can we help you achieve these?). 
• Aim for at least 80% member retention
• Set a target for new accreditations in coaching, scoring, and umpiring (current accreditation numbers in Forecasting spreadsheet.

Step 2: Action Plan

• Recruitment: Host ‘Come & Try’ days, advertise on social media, connect with local schools, attend SSV Gala days.  
• Retention: Check in with members regularly, create fun social events, and maintain strong communication, be well organised
• Accreditations: Encourage volunteers to complete online/offline courses, cover costs where possible, celebrate new qualifications publicly, work with Operational Committees and promote opportunities and the benefits for members to upskill

Step 3: Track Your Progress

• Use your club / association’s database reports to monitor membership numbers/ SV staff will assist in showing your committee members how to obtain membership data and statistics so you can monitor your progress throughout. We will also send regular updates
• Keep a club record of accreditation achievements
• Share successes with members to maintain momentum

Step 4: Finish Strong

• Push for last-minute sign-ups at regular intervals, before the season commences, during the season and before the season ends

Why This Matters

The health of our sport depends on both attracting new players and keeping the ones we have. By working together and focusing on growth, we can build stronger, more vibrant clubs and provide a fantastic softball experience for every participant.

Growth isn’t just about numbers — it’s about creating sustainable, thriving clubs. Increasing members, retaining players, and building the skills of our coaches, scorers, and umpires will ensure we have the people, knowledge, and capability to keep Softball in Victoria strong for generations to come.

Let’s make 2025/26 the year Softball in Victoria grows stronger than ever!