Softball in China resuming after COVID-19

Softball in China resuming after COVID-19
27/04/2020
The Chinese Softball Association is leading the charge to return to the diamond with a system for online training and data management for the U-15 and U-18 National Team players.

Sporting life is gradually returning back to normal in China after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Under the Chinese Softball Association (CSA), China's U-18 National Softball Team opened its spring training camp on schedule in early April and is using online sessions to train and evaluate their progress. Finding solutions amid the pandemic, the CSA recently held its first-ever online umpiring course that attracted more than 1,000 participants.

Although the WBSC U18 Women’s Softball World Cup and other major international events have been postponed, the Chinese National Softball Team has started training for the global event. Most of the players in the squad participated in the U-17 Asia Cup last year and qualified for the World Cup in Lima this year.

Tracking Progress

The CSA has established a system for online training and data management for the U-15 and U-18 National Team players, allowing online interaction and home training between players and their coaches.

China's governing body of softball is using the system to provide coaches and players with online classrooms, training videos and data collection. Through innovative online curriculum design, the coaches can implement remote training instruction. Players can learn advanced training theories and knowledge, and can also obtain advice and feedback from coaches and experts online.

In addition, the CSA has put in place a "Physical Fitness Database" and invited experts to track and analyse the data of each player who is in the talent pool.

China, currently seventh in the WBSC Women's Softball World Rankings, finished in the eighth place at last year's WBSC U-19 Women's Softball World Cup 2019 in Irvine, California, USA.

Online Umpiring Course

By using this system, the CSA’s Umpiring Committee also held the first-ever online umpiring course, with nearly 1,000 participants attending the slow-pitch softball rules study. Following the course, aspiring umpires can take an online test, and those who pass the test will be eligible to participate in an on-field umpiring course, which will be held during this year’s Chinese Slow Pitch Softball League.