2020/21 Season Information

When is the competition starting?

The 2020/21 Summer Season is scheduled to start on Saturday, 12^th September 2020.

When can I register for the Summer season?

Most Clubs are open for registrations already. We recommend you make contact with them via their preferred methods, that may include email or social media pages.

If you are unsure of which Club you would like to get in contact with, we have each one listed with forwarding emails at https://registration.gwba.com.au

Can I use my Active Kids Voucher to register?

Yes. All Clubs within the Greater Western Baseball Association are registered for the NSW Government’s Active Kids Scheme. The Sportslomo registration platform has been created to accept Active Kids Vouchers, but some Clubs may be managing this process offline due to some minor glitches. We recommend you contact your preferred Club to check how they are processing the vouchers this season.

What is my Child’s “League Age”?

Because Baseball Australia is part of the Little League International program from America, and because the season runs from September to August, your child’s “League Age” (LA) is how old your child will be on 31^st August NEXT YEAR, which is the last day of the competition year. This 12 month period also aligns with the insurance period for the sport.

Ie. If your child is turning 10 in October, then they will be League Age 10 this season. If they are turning 10 in June next year, they would still be League Age 10, as that is the age they will be on the last day of this competition year (31^st August).

Can players be registered outside of their age group?

GWBA has a dispensation process in place to assist Clubs in ensuring all players can get on the diamond. Where players have received a previous dispensation, they are typically expected to be registered in the correct age group the following season. If a Club has too few players to fit in an age group, players in the younger end may elect to ‘play up’, or the Club may make arrangements to have their players accommodated within other teams in the Association, whilst maintaining their original Club membership.

When completing registration online, players will be registered according to their age, not competition.

Some Winter sports are running until mid-October, what is GWBA doing to include those players?

A decision was made to commence the season on the 12^th September, based upon initial plans for Winter sports to conclude for the most part on the 5^th September. Although we are aware that a number of players may be affected, there are quite a few players who either do not play Winter sports, or opted out of the shortened seasons. At this stage, nothing can be implemented to accommodate those teams who are substantially affected without actual information/numbers of affected players.

Some alternate options may include moving games to other days, or scheduling a team’s byes in the first few weeks, instead of across the season.

All kids playing Winter sports are asked to complete an online form to assist the Association and Clubs with making alternate arrangements if needed:

Winter 2020 overlap

What representative tournaments are GWBA entering? And what are the eligibilities?

The Greater Western Baseball Association will be entering Junior Warriors in the following tournaments:

* Eligibility for Little League State Champs requires players to be in the weekly Little League competition within GWBA;

** Eligibility for Junior League State Champs requires players to be in the weekly Junior League or Senior League competition within GWBA;

*** Eligibility for Senior League State Champs requires players to be in the weekly Junior League or Senior League competition within GWBA.

I saw Baseball Australia has a new coaching scheme, do I need to update my accreditation?

Baseball Australia’s announcement regarding the adoption of the USA Baseball Certificate will be fully rolled out for all levels in the 2021 Calendar year. Please note that completing these courses online DOES NOT grant accreditation under the current scheme during the transition. All Coaches with accreditation that expires in 2021 or later, DO NOT have to do anything at this point in time.

What do I do if I need to complete a renewal or gain accreditation for the season?

Anyone needing to complete Coaching Accreditation prior to 2021 needs to make direct contact with Baseball NSW’s State Coaching Accreditation and Development Officer via garry@baseballnsw.com.au

Is GWBA running any umpire courses before the season?

Yes. The Association will hold a Community Umpire Course on Sunday, 6^th September 2020. All parents and coaches who may be asked to umpire this coming season are encouraged to attend. This will provide full training on best practices from NSW Baseball Umpires Association, as well as a section covering GWBA Specific rules that are often properly understood or applied.

Is GWBA competing in the 2020 State Baseball League Competition?

Yes. Following an agreement with Penrith Baseball Club, the Greater Western Baseball Association will be entering its inaugural Senior Warriors in the Sydney ‘Grade’ competition run by Baseball NSW. Home games will be played at Andrews Road Baseball Complex, with Under 18s playing at 2:00pm on Saturdays, Third Grade at 9:30am Sundays, Second Grade at midday and First Grade at 2:30pm.

How can my business support the Greater Western Baseball Association?

The GWBA has developed a Business Directory for 2020, which allows all types of companies a low cost opportunity to advertise their products and services to the Association’s members for 12 months of exposure. Basic entries start at $250, with 10% of all advertising being credited back to your Club, or the Warriors program. The online form is processed by Stripe, a global leader in online payment portals.

For more information, go to https://directory.gwba.com.au

If you’re interested in a more significant partnership opportunity, email president@gwba.com.au for the latest partnership proposal.