• Australian Baseball League

The Australian Baseball League (ABL) is a collaboration between Major League Baseball International and the Australian Baseball Federation.

The ABL is due to begin in November 2010 and will run annually over the summer months until February.

The ABL will include five teams from around Australia, these are; Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.

Canberra has the opportunity to secure the sixth and final position in the league should it meet the requirements as set out by the Australian Baseball Federation.

• Australian Baseball Federation

The Australian Baseball Federation is the governing body in Australia for all levels of Baseball throughout the country.

The Australian Baseball Federation is the sole representative of Baseball in Australia and is recognised by:

• Australian National Government
• International Baseball Association
• The International Olympic Committee
• The Australian Olympic Committee
• Major League Baseball International Partners

The Australian Baseball Federation consists of the Baseball Associations from seven Australian States and Territories. The seven Baseball Associations are:

• The Australian Capital Territory Baseball Association (ACTBA)
• New South Wales Baseball League (NSWBL)
• Baseball Northern Territory (NTBL)
• Baseball Queensland (BQI)
• South Australian Baseball League (SABL)
• Victoria Baseball Association (VBA)
• Baseball Western Australia (BWA)

Each of the seven State Baseball Associations have the responsibility for the development of Baseball in their particular State within Australia such as all levels of Junior Baseball, as well as Senior Baseball and as well as the competitions played within that particular State.

The Australian Baseball Federation, both in its own right, and in partnership with its seven affiliated State Associations, therefore coordinates, directs and assists in the development of Baseball throughout Australia and in particular has responsibility for the following programs:

• Tee-Ball and Yard-Ball
• Rookie Ball
• All forms of Junior Baseball
• National Championships
• National Team
• Women’s Baseball
• Masters Baseball
• International Competition
• International liaison with all international Baseball agencies
• Umpire Programs
• Coaching Programs
• Scoring Programs
• Elite Development
• College Scholarship Programs
• Major League Baseball Australian Academy Program

• ACT Baseball Federation

Baseball was first played in the ACT during the 1930s with informal games between public service teams. In 1957, the ACT Baseball Association was formed and the first registered club was Ainslie followed in 1958 by Rebels now Woden. There is now six clubs in the local competition: Ainslie, Bandits, Eagles, Indians, Vikings and Southern Cross Woden.

Since 2003 the ACTBA aligned its hierarchy with the ABF.  Whereas now the ACTBA Executive consists of a Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, General Manager (GM) (the only full time paid position) and up to five Directors.  Apart from the GM these positions have set tenures as per the Constitution but incumbents may be elected again into that or another position.

Up until 2003 the ACTBA Executive hierarchy consists of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Public Officer.  The ACTBA Board numbers seven and comprises each of the six club Presidents and a member of the ACTBUA [Umpires] who are responsible for actioning National Directives through the Executive.  The Board is also responsible for ensuring that all ACT policies and directives are adhered to as well as the conduct of the local competitions during the season (October to March).

The ACTBA actively promotes participation in baseball for all ages, gender and levels of expertise.  The Junior League comprises Under 8s T-Ball, Under 10s coach pitch, Under 12s, Under 14s, Under 17s (Colts). The primary purpose of the Junior League is to provide developmental levels of the sport through a competitive environment.

The Senior League caters to seniors of all standards. A and B Grades are the premier divisions, followed by the C Grade.  As a flow on the Provincial Cup then caters for these senior players to represent ACT at a Senior Level.  An Australian Provincial team is chosen after the Provincial Championships each tear to represent Australia overseas.

Masters teams are slowly emerging from the C Grade competition, and Masters players are representing the ACT at Regional and National Masters tournaments.

• Claxton Shield

In 1934 Norrie Claxton (1880-1951) donated a trophy to be awarded to the State winning the annual Australian Championship.  Norrie Claxton, who was the first president of the South Australian Baseball League in 1913, originally intended the team which won the trophy for three successive years to become the permanent holder.  After South Australia won the first three years of competition involving presentation of the trophy, all States agreed that it become a permanent competition trophy and named it the “Claxton Shield”  competition.  Apart from the introduction of new States to the series, the format has always remained the same.

After a brief absence, Claxton Shield returned in 2000 with a very impressive line-up.  Since the final series of Claxton Shield in 1988, Australia had introduced several players into the US Major League ranks, most of whom returned home for the event.  2003 and 2004 saw the line-up grow increasingly as more players made the professional ranks.  2006’s event was sure to be the most impressive yet.  In conjunction with an Olympic Silver medal, Australia had over 100 professional players on their CV and of those 100; over 50 competed at the 2006 Claxton Shield making the level of play world class!

The ACT is reprsented by the team known is ‘Australia Provincial’. This side has had a fair amount of success in the past and boasts some of Australia’s most promising players including Major League Stars, Olympic Medalists and futre champions.

The 2009/2010 tournament is a 16 week competion that runs over the summer months.