JWWC mascot Sonke will participate in a 5km walk on August 28 to gain visibility for the softball tournament. (Photo courtesy of JWWC2011)

PREPARATIONS CONTINUE FOR JWWC
2011-08-18

As of the date this article is being written the first pitch at the ISF IX Jr. Women’s World Championship is just over 100 days away. That may seem like a long time – unless you’re the 16 teams participating in the event. And for the organizing committee, it probably sounds as imminent as ‘just over 10 days.’

On the team side, for example, Argentina recently spent some time in west central Florida having practices and friendly games as they prepare to choose their final roster for the age 19-and-under fast pitch event in South Africa. The South American team may even place some of their girls on the women’s national team that will compete at the Pan American Games in Mexico in October as an opportunity to face some elite-level opposition.

Team USA, the defending ISF junior women’s champs, did something similar, going on a mini-tour with the U.S. women’s national team, playing games against them to hone their skills in preparation for the December 7-17 championship.

There’s also a team like Zimbabwe – to name just a third – that will now be finalized following the selectors having watched the 19-and-under High Performance Interprovincial Championship last week.

As all of the teams get themselves closer and closer to being game-ready, the organizers in Cape Town are ensuring that they are ready to welcome all of the players, coaches, umpires, and administrators, while attracting fans, media, and sponsors.

Certain public events that will require the involvement and participation of members of softball clubs, individuals, and interested parties, have been planned. A number of annual events on the Cape Town events calendar are ‘lifestyle’ public events. These events attract in excess of 30,000 participants per event, as well as media attention. The plan is to associate the junior women’s world championship as a participant to those events.

In addition, junior women’s world championship promotions will be visible at all events sanctioned by Softball South Africa.

Volunteer coordination is just one more facet that is building momentum as all eyes look toward Opening Ceremonies on December 7th. (See the full list of games via the link in the ISF press release about the schedule from two days ago.)