The Orange Sox Fastball program — developed to form a U16 boys team for the 2020 BC Summer Games — is launching its online registration portal. Each player will be able to register and participate in all team practices, clinics, training or team functions at no cost.
The team will have costs, but the program is working on negating all costs for players to participate on the field.
“That is part of our goal, to provide a softball program at no cost to ball players on Vancouver Island,” a news release states.
The team will focus on player development through participation on all levels. Players will not be cut from the club. All players will be included in ID camps, tournaments, practices, games and exhibition games with equal playing time. All players will play, and enjoy an interesting and intensive experience from the game of fastball.
The O’Sox program will focus on skill and player development.
“Our team has a ‘no cut’ policy for all players. The O’Sox program main focus is growth. The sport is fractured on Vancouver Island, and softball is a sport that players can enjoy on a lifelong journey.”
The goal is to develop 15 players to travel to Maple Ridge in 2020, and to rebuild the boys side of fastball on Vancouver Island and give players a place to play. The team would also like to see First Nations athletes attend the camps. The club has three First Nations coaches with national and international experience.
The O’Sox program will continue past 2020, with a plan to attend the 2022 BC Summer Games in Prince George.
Any interested players or parents with boys from 13-16 (birth years 2004-2006) on Vancouver Island are invited to participate. There is no cost to attend ID camps. Camps will be held in Victoria, Sooke, Nanaimo, Port Alberni and, possibly, Campbell River.
The O’Sox Fastball program aims to increase awareness to the sport of softball on the male side of the game on Vancouver Island. B.C. and Vancouver Island has a rich heritage and lineage of producing world-class softball players who have represented cities at the regional, provincial, national and international level.
FMI: osox.ca or www.facebook.com/osoxfastball
