CLUB MEMBERSHIPS and MARKET SEGMENTATION
"The purpose of the Market Segmentation Study for both Adults and Children was to uncover, explore, identify and clearly articulate the different motivations, attitudes, needs and barriers that influence people’s decisions and behaviours in relation to sport and, in particular, participation in club-based sport. The study is designed to help clubs understand the market and more effectively target their approaches to particular segments/"
After five successful championships in 2013, the winter championships once again offer an incredible opportunity to showcase the best of Victorian Baseball.
“The Winter Championships are a festival of the sport, showcasing the State’s best talent and brings the excitement of our sport to regional hubs,” said Baseball Victoria’s chief executive officer Neale Price.
“The Winter Championships are an important event on our calendar, and is an extremely important program within the development pathway within Victoria. These championships provide the opportunity for 500 players to compete against the best players across Victoria in their respective age group.”
Below are the dates and locations for all Championships:
Age Group
Dates
Lareocations
Grounds
Seniors
7 – 9 June 2014
Geelong
Geelong Baseball Centre
Under
16
5 – 6 July 2014
Mildura
Old Aerodrome Sports Complex
Under
18
12 – 13 July 2014
Geelong
Geelong Baseball Centre
Under
14
26– 27 July 2014
Wangaratta
Targoora Park
Under
12
2 – 3 August 2014
Bendigo
Albert Roy Reserve
“Baseball
Victoria is excited to be holding the State Winter Championships at such great
facilities and we are looking forward to working with the clubs and associations on making these championships a successful event”, Mr Price added.
The State Winter Championships also provide Baseball Victoria the opportunity to leverage off these events by running school clinics in the days leading up to the
championships, as well as conducting some clinics at the venue during the championships. “This year due to school holidays, we are planning on conducting school clinics in Wangaratta and Bendigo prior to the Under 14 and Under 12 Championships respectively,” said Baseball Victoria Game Development Manager Justin Huber.
“Last year, we had great success in running clinics in schools prior to and during the
under 16 Championships in Wangaratta. Following these clinics, the Wangaratta Rangers had 17 new players sign up for their Aussie T-Ball Program. Leveraging off these
championships helps inject new participants into our country associations and clubs,” said Mr Huber.
“These clinics will also link well with our “Wanna Play, Start
today!” TV ad campaign, especially into these regional areas where the ad was aired on Win TV. This has been a very successful campaign in recruiting new players for our winter associations, with all associations reporting increases in team entries for the 2014 winter season,” added Mr Huber.
Another initiative Baseball Victoria will be trialing during these Winter Championships
will be live streaming. This year Baseball Victoria has partnered with My Sport
Live which will stream the Under 16 Championships from Mildura. “This is a
fantastic opportunity for family members and the baseball public unable to make
it up to Mildura the chance to watch their child, grandchild, or teammate play
in this championship. This also provides Baseball Victoria the opportunity to present the sport to a new audience and hopefully receive some commercial investment,” said Mr Price.
Baseball Victoria looks forward to working with all associations, players and families in the coming months to deliver these five exceptional championships.
We encourage the baseball community to get involved. Whether it is as a player, coach, official, volunteer or as a spectator, these events are truly a reflection of the people involved in the sport.
Baseball Victoria would like to thank our partners and sponsors for assisting us in bringing you these championships:
Rising baseball star and Greensborough College student, Jarrod Belbin, is a feature story in the Ivanhoe and The Valley - The Weekly Review. Congratulations Jarrod keep up the good work!
Read the article on line CLICK HERE
‘Trailblazer’ Charlie
By Gabrielle McLeod
May 14, 2014, 3:30 a.m.
CHARLIE Ashcroft will be a huge hit in the United States after receiving a scholarship to attend St Cloud Technical College, according to his coach, Tony Probert.
His mentor, who is also his step-dad, said Ashcroft was the first ever player from Sunraysia to receive a baseball scholarship to an American college.
The 19-year-old Hawks player will make his way to Minnesota in August to attend school for two years.
He is currently living in Adelaide and playing baseball for the East Torrens Red Sox during summer, while travelling home to Mildura on the weekends to play with the Hawks.
Coach Probert said it had been a long process in securing the scholarship, but “very much worth it” to help achieve his dream.
“A fair bit of work has gone into getting him there, and he is not quite there yet,” Probert said.
“It has all worked pretty well. We have been in discussions with the colleges since January.
“In reality, he is the first one from Sunraysia to ever do this, showing how significant it is.
“The process was tough because we wanted to ensure the college that he attended was going to serve his long-term purpose, so that really limited our choices from the beginning.
“Then, it was a case of creating a profile, embedding videos, putting it out to them and waiting to see if there interested.
“It was a lot of back-and-forth with colleges. They get thousands of these applications each year.
For more of this story, purchase your copy of Wednesday's Sunraysia Daily 14/05/2014.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE STORY in the Sunraysia Daily
2014 Little League National Championships
June 4-9, 2014
Tallebudgera Valley, Gold Coast, QLD
June 7th - 9th Seniors - Geelong Baseball Club
July 5th - 6th Under 16's Mildura
July 12th - 13th Under 18's Geelong
July 26th - 27th Under 14's Wangaratta
August 2nd - 3rd Under12's Bendigo
Recently a number of claims have been made in regards to the way Baseball Victoria selects facilities to host Baseball Victoria camps, academy programs, etc., as well as other general accusations around lack of communication, not responding to proposals and the like.
Baseball Victoria is committed to delivering high quality programs which are delivered at a level of cost that encourages the participation and growth of our game. When selecting venues to host these programs, Baseball Victoria is committed to supporting the baseball community by utilising baseball club facilities, and or community assets such as the Melbourne Ballpark as a means of supporting our members, and in turn, their clubs. Ensuring geographic diversity is achieved is also key in the selection process to ensure participants are afforded every opportunity to attend local programs.
Over the past twelve months Baseball Victoria has achieved this objective through Camps held at Essendon, Cheltenham, Knox, and Waverley Baseball Club facilities. Not only have the Camps been well attended, but it has given Baseball Victoria and its Clubs an opportunity to showcase some of the great facilities and programs that are available.
Baseball is not a cheap sport to play, and players and their families are forever reaching into their pockets for fees, camps, tours, uniforms, etc. With this in mind it is incumbent on Baseball Victoria, and the people that run our many programs, to look carefully at the options that are available to us e.g. the 2014 Academy program will have a number of levels, which will allow more players access to quality coaching programs, but there is also a need to make sure it is accessible. By this we mean both financially and geographically.
At present we have locked away two venues for the Academy/Coaching programs for 2014, with one at Melbourne Ball Park (MBP), and the other in Knoxfield. We have been able to facilitate lower prices for venue hire without compromising the program, and with the added benefit in the MBP situation of incorporating some of our strength and conditioning program.
Over the past year we have assessed many of our programs for their value, and cost effectiveness, and as a result there are some programs that we will no longer run, some we will enhance, and a number we will introduce. The ultimate aim is to become more self-sufficient as a sport by leveraging resources through Government and sponsor funding, but also by reinvesting back into baseball through programs like Tee Ball, and social competitions.
We are also conscious of:
1. Supporting the baseball community by using Baseball Club facilities as our first choice;
2. Ensuring geographic diversity by ensuring Baseball Clubs across the state are considered;
3. Where appropriate Melbourne Ballpark be utilised given that this is our State Baseball facility, and the home of our ABL team the Melbourne Aces;
4. Where commercial enterprise are to be utilised, location and cost to ensure the overall programs is kept accessible will be a key consideration.
It is the intention of Baseball Victoria to make sure we keep our stakeholders informed of the direction we are taking, the opportunities there are to be involved in baseball, but also to help promote the many great programs and activities that are activated at Club level.
We look forward to working with the baseball community to help grow the game of baseball.
NEALE PRICE
The Staff and Board of Baseball Victoria would like to wish all of our Baseball Mum’s an enjoyable, and relaxing Mother’s Day this Sunday.
We sincerely thank you for all the work you do for our great game.
The Victorian trials for the Baseball Australia Cal Ripken Team will take place on:
Sunday 18 May at Waverley Baseball Club – 8:30 am to 11:30 am
Sunday 25 May at Newport Baseball Club – 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Players are not required to attend both sessions.
To be eligible, players cannot have reached 13 years of age prior to May 1, 2014.
All players are requested not to wear a club or association uniform cap or top.
Please wear suitable baseball clothing and a training top or tee-shirt. Players need to bring all baseball equipment for their positions including, gloves, helmet, bat, full catcher’s equipment, etc. Drinks and sunscreen are not supplied during the trials.
Please find below, a link to the nomination form that needs to be submitted via email to Ashley Blair at ashley.blair@baseballvictoria.com.au prior to the trials. When return this nomination form, please advise which trial you will be attending.
Players and Parents are also asked to be advised that it is clearly understood that being nominated for consideration for the Cal Ripken team, does not in anyway, guarantee automatic selection into the team.
Once all nominations are received by the ABF, the team coaching staff will then review each nomination and make contact with appropriate personnel involved in the nomination process in order to finalise the selection of the touring team.
The Cal Ripken tour is scheduled for the 7th -18th August 2014.