Sometimes life as an aspiring national team player offers a lot more than just baseball, as a group of 14 Australian female baseballers recently found out as part of the ‘Diamonds in the Rough’ program to empower in Indonesian girls.
A combination of veterans from the 2016 World Cup team and some of Australia's rising stars were selected to be the coach mentors for the May 2017 visit. For the younger squad members, the program was a rare opportunity to train with Australian coaches, Simone Wearne and Anthony Bennett, learn and put into practice their coaching skills and get outside their comfort zone. The Emeralds veterans had the opportunity to provide top quality coaching and engage with Australian and Indonesian players of the future.
But Diamonds in the Rough is more than just playing baseball. Shae Lillywhite is Australia’s longest standing member of the Emeralds and embraces her contribution to the bigger picture. “This program is a fantastic opportunity for some of our juniors to develop on a bigger stage. It provides a pathway for future Emeralds to train and play under the national coaches, test their skills against the men’s teams, and develop their mental game. But the biggest part is the work we do with the Indonesian Diamonds – coaching them on the baseball field and mentoring them off the field has been so rewarding. Seeing so many girls come back each time we visit and the progress they are making is what makes it all worthwhile.”
Diamonds in the Rough uses baseball as a non-traditional female sport an avenue to engage and empower Indonesian girls. The program also partners with the ‘No More’ campaign, with campaign leader Charlie King joining the Emeralds squad to educate participants and their families on how to reduce family violence.
Along with baseball skills, the program raises self-confidence levels, promotes positive female role models and creates new opportunities for the girls to be part of a team environment. This trip saw a huge jump in participants and significant positive feedback from those involved with over 300 girls ranging from 8 to 20 years old taking part of over six days of workshops.
The sessions at the Dyatmika School in Bali were particularly well received with principal Julie Browett stating “Dyatmika would welcome an ongoing relationship with the Emeralds through the Diamonds in the Rough initiative as we are already seeing the positive impact of both the skills and empowerment aspects. Many girls also felt inspired by the No More campaign and took away the idea that they should ‘speak up’ and ‘stay strong’. Our PE teachers believe that the team’s high level of energy and engagement have inspired Dyatmika girls and that the role modelling that the Emeralds present will have a positive impact in inspiring students to achieve their personal best in other sporting activities.”
Prior to the Diamonds in the Rough program few Indonesian girls have been involved in baseball outside junior primary school teams. Building on the work started by the Diamonds in the Rough, local coordinators have continued the development of girls baseball in Indonesia. Overall participation numbers are increasing, and local coordinators are looking at options for all girls competitions and planning a real pathway for them. We are seeing culture shifts, such as girls being allowed to play in an Under 12's Bandung baseball tournament for the first time, not only participating, but as some of the best players, especially on the mound. This gives us confidence and drive to continue the momentum started through Diamonds in the Rough.
With the latest Indonesian trip over, the program will now turn its focus to the next ambitious step - bringing a team of Indonesian girls to Australia in September 2017. The tour will be a combination of training, friendship games, tournament play, cultural activities and empowerment workshops and participants will be selected from girls who have previously participated in the program and continue to play baseball. Players will be selected not only for their playing ability but their character and personal qualities, to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the values of Diamonds in the Rough.
More information on the Diamonds tour will be available shortly, including partners, location and opportunities for junior Australian girls to be a part of the program.
Sometimes life as an aspiring national team player offers a lot more than just baseball, as a group of 14 Australian female baseballers recently found out as part of the ‘Diamonds in the Rough’ program to empower in Indonesian girls.
A combination of veterans from the 2016 World Cup team and some of Australia's rising stars were selected to be the coach mentors for the May 2017 visit. For the younger squad members, the program was a rare opportunity to train with Australian coaches, Simone Wearne and Anthony Bennett, learn and put into practice their coaching skills and get outside their comfort zone. The Emeralds veterans had the opportunity to provide top quality coaching and engage with Australian and Indonesian players of the future.
But Diamonds in the Rough is more than just playing baseball. Shae Lillywhite is Australia’s longest standing member of the Emeralds and embraces her contribution to the bigger picture. “This program is a fantastic opportunity for some of our juniors to develop on a bigger stage. It provides a pathway for future Emeralds to train and play under the national coaches, test their skills against the men’s teams, and develop their mental game. But the biggest part is the work we do with the Indonesian Diamonds – coaching them on the baseball field and mentoring them off the field has been so rewarding. Seeing so many girls come back each time we visit and the progress they are making is what makes it all worthwhile.”
Diamonds in the Rough uses baseball as a non-traditional female sport an avenue to engage and empower Indonesian girls. The program also partners with the ‘No More’ campaign, with campaign leader Charlie King joining the Emeralds squad to educate participants and their families on how to reduce family violence.
Along with baseball skills, the program raises self-confidence levels, promotes positive female role models and creates new opportunities for the girls to be part of a team environment. This trip saw a huge jump in participants and significant positive feedback from those involved with over 300 girls ranging from 8 to 20 years old taking part of over six days of workshops.
The sessions at the Dyatmika School in Bali were particularly well received with principal Julie Browett stating “Dyatmika would welcome an ongoing relationship with the Emeralds through the Diamonds in the Rough initiative as we are already seeing the positive impact of both the skills and empowerment aspects. Many girls also felt inspired by the No More campaign and took away the idea that they should ‘speak up’ and ‘stay strong’. Our PE teachers believe that the team’s high level of energy and engagement have inspired Dyatmika girls and that the role modelling that the Emeralds present will have a positive impact in inspiring students to achieve their personal best in other sporting activities.”
Prior to the Diamonds in the Rough program few Indonesian girls have been involved in baseball outside junior primary school teams. Building on the work started by the Diamonds in the Rough, local coordinators have continued the development of girls baseball in Indonesia. Overall participation numbers are increasing, and local coordinators are looking at options for all girls competitions and planning a real pathway for them. We are seeing culture shifts, such as girls being allowed to play in an Under 12's Bandung baseball tournament for the first time, not only participating, but as some of the best players, especially on the mound. This gives us confidence and drive to continue the momentum started through Diamonds in the Rough.
With the latest Indonesian trip over, the program will now turn its focus to the next ambitious step - bringing a team of Indonesian girls to Australia in September 2017. The tour will be a combination of training, friendship games, tournament play, cultural activities and empowerment workshops and participants will be selected from girls who have previously participated in the program and continue to play baseball. Players will be selected not only for their playing ability but their character and personal qualities, to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the values of Diamonds in the Rough.
More information on the Diamonds tour will be available shortly, including partners, location and opportunities for junior Australian girls to be a part of the program.