Upcoming Registration Dates are listed on the Softball Ontario Web Site as well as on www.PlaySoftball.ca's Event Calendar!

To have your SoftballAssociation's Registration Dates listed, simply email the details to lcrompton@softballontario.ca

At the 2009 Get InThe Game Symposium on February 28, Softball Ontarioofficially launched a newmarketing campaign designed to improve communications at all levels of oursport, encourage participation in the sport of softball, provide resources toencourage teachers to incorporate softball into their curriculum, and linkprospective players with their local Softball Associations.

The focus of the Play Softball Campaign isto improve communication and marketing of our sport, and connect theseimportant groups both with Softball Ontario and with each other:

To help improve communications betweenSoftball Associations and Softball Ontario, the new Play Softball Network waslaunched. The Play Softball Network is a member’s only Network that givesyour Softball Association the opportunity to:

In addition to connecting SoftballAssociations and Softball Ontario the Play Softball Campaign is dedicated toimproving access to softball-related information across all groups, includingplayers (both new and returning), volunteers, and the community at large. People can visit the www.PlaySoftball.ca to find out what’s happening insoftball across the province, learn when registration dates are happening intheir community, find out about softball clinics, and even learn about thesport of softball itself.

Teenagers acrossCanada have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of a very lucky youngwoman. Patricia Moreno, an 18-year-old from Vancouver, became a Vancouver2010 Olympic torchbearer after joining Sogo Active, a national youth physicalactivity program presented by Coca-Cola Canada in collaboration withParticipACTION.

“This is going to be such a coolexperience. Being fit and healthy is an important part of who I am,” saidMoreno. “With all my friends and family—and even all of Canada—watching, itwill be one of the most amazing and proud moments of my life.”

Canadians youth aged 13-19 can join SogoActive by going to the website at www.sogoactive.com and become eligible to beselected by Coca-Cola Canada as one of over 1,000 torchbearers in theVancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.

“Teens who join Sogo Active today couldfind themselves carrying the Olympic flame in their own home town in the nearfuture,” said Nicola Kettlitz, GM Olympic Project Team, Coca-Cola in Canada.“We’re harnessing the unique power of the Olympic Games to inspire thenation’s youth to get active.”

Sogo Active gives young Canadians thetools to design, change and control their own individual “get active” plan.The program was developed through intensive consultation with leading Canadianphysical activity experts, teenagers and a broad network of provincial,territorial, aboriginal and community-based organizations.

“We’ve travelled the country and askedyouth and physical activity experts what it will take to get young Canadiansactive, and the outcome is Sogo Active,” said Kelly Murumets, President andCEO of ParticipACTION. “Youth inactivity has always been a challenge, butSogo Active’s for-youth, by-youth approach is a truly exciting solution.”

Sogo Active’s national, online network atwww.sogoactive.com connects teens with their peers and community organizationsto provide a framework to set activity goals, share challenges, celebratesuccesses, and use their own ideas to embark on a lifetime of active, healthyliving.

Using a youth-friendly social media model,Sogo Active also enables teens to reach out to less active peers to developleadership skills and break down the barriers to active living encountered bymany young people. Sogo Active youth participants are encouraged to initiateor join youth-led activities or groups in their own neighbourhood through www.sogoactive.com. Theyare also encouraged to engage in a combination of group and solo activepursuits each week, which they can log and track on the website.

Active pursuits that count towards theirdaily activity totals can include everyday movement, such as climbing stairs,walking the dog or wheeling to school or work, moderate activities such ascycling, dancing, hiking and skating, and vigorous activities such as running,soccer, basketball, and supervised weight training. The goal is to graduallywork up to 90 minutes of activity per day (a combination of everyday movement,moderate and vigorous activities throughout the week), and to maintain thislevel of activity.

In addition to getting teens involved,Sogo Active is also recruiting local organizations - includingSoftball Associations - to become Community Hosts. Community Hostsare local groups—from sports teams to after-school programs to youthgroups—that offer support, facilities, equipment or expertise to Sogo Activeyouth.

Organizations are typically involved inrecreation, active transportation, youth engagement, sport participation,active living, public health, groups working with youth with disabilities,groups working with disadvantaged youth, aboriginal organizations, faithorganizations, multicultural groups and other sectors that support physicalactivity, such as outdoor recreation and dance.

Local groups can sign up to be CommunityHosts through the website at www.sogoactive.com. Sogo Active is free and willhelp organizations make connections with youth, encourage physical activityand build leadership skills. Community Hosts will also help youthparticipants access community micro-grants to fund their youth-ledactivities.

To find out more about Sogo Active and tosign up as a youth or Community Host organization, go to www.sogoactive.com.

How does your community compare toothers around the province when it comes to the fees charged to your SoftballAssociation to use your local softball diamonds? Prior to the start of the2009 softball season, Softball Ontario is conducting a survey to determine the costs involved in securingsoftball diamonds and practice facilities across the province.

Informal discussions at the recent Get In The GameSymposium revealed a wide variance in the fees charged to SoftballAssociations – and a need for better organization and statistical informationto help lobby communities for a reduction in fees.

Once completed, Softball Ontario’s 2009 Softball Diamond Survey will becompiled and shared with the softball community – allowing you to use theinformation gathered when in talks with your local municipality.

As the 2009 Softball Season is quickly approaching,Softball Ontario would like to have the Diamond Survey completed by March 31,2009.

Please take the time to complete the survey, and helpSoftball Ontario and your fellow Softball Associations determine the ‘goingrate’ for playing softball in Ontario!

To participate in the survey, please follow this link:

Is your Softball Association finding it harder to makeconnections with your local elementary schools? Softball Ontario is happy tolaunch a great new program designed to foster strong relationships betweensoftball associations and the elementary schools in their community: the TrySoftballPartnership Program.

Softball Ontario’s successful Try Softball Program hasbeen modified to help to build lasting connections between an association andits local schools. Beginning February 1, 2009, Softball Ontario will offerSoftball Associations the opportunity to run their own Try Softball Program intheir own community – with equipment and supplies provided by SoftballOntario!

When your Softball Association applies to become a TrySoftball Partner Association, Softball Ontario will supply you with everythingyou need to run your own Try Softball Program, including equipment, resources,forms, mileage assistance, and even an honorarium for every school you reach. In your initial package, you will receive enough resources to service up tosix (6) elementary schools, or 600 students!

How does the Try Softball Partnership Programwork?
With the materials provided by Softball Ontario, yourSoftball Association may lend a Try Softball Kit to your local elementaryschool for a period of one (1) month – within the Try Softball Kit you willalso provide the Elementary School with a Learn to Play Manual and a BlastBallManual, as well as promotional items for the students which will reinforce thepromotional messages and give the students a connection with Softball Ontario. Your Association is encouraged to included promotional materials (i.e.magnets, brochures, registration forms, etc) within the activity books toprovide interested students with the opportunity to register with yourSoftball Association.

Softball Ontario will provide your Softball Associationwith both Mileage Assistance (up to 25 KM at $0.28 / KM) and an Honorarium($10.00) for every school that you reach with the Try Softball Program. Youwill be provided with expense claim forms that must be completed and returnedto the Softball Ontario office, along with the School’s completed request formand feedback survey, within 30 days of the completion of the school’s monthlong loan period. Your school will qualify for up to $17.00 for every schoolyou reach.

At the conclusion of each school year – or earlier, ifyour Softball Association decides it no longer wishes to particiate in the TrySoftball Partnership Program – the Try Softball Kit equipment must be returnedto the Softball Ontario office, along with any unused manuals.

By participating in the Try Softball PartnershipProgram, your Association will be able to build a strong connection with yourlocal elementary schools, connect with potential players on a new level, andraise some money for your Softball Association!

How do I become a Try Softball PartnerAssociation?
To become a Try Softball Partner Association, contact LisaCrompton by email at lcrompton@softballontario.caand request an Application Form. Once you have been accepted as a PartnerAssociation, you will receive your Try Softball Partner Package and will beable to begin offering the Try Softball Program in your community!