SOFTBALL CRICKET FESTIVALS

Holding or attending a softball festival is an ideal way to put into practise all the skills your team have been learning during their training sessions. The festivals are very friendly and non-competitive and are designed to make the first experience of playing a game as welcoming as possible. 

 

Why should my team go a softball festival?

A softball festival should leave you with a smile on your face and wanting to play more cricket. The festivals are very social events and clubs will often have a BBQ running and there will be different teams there that you can meet with who are also new to cricket. Many clubs organise the day so that all teams play each other and have a positive experience. The festivals are not celebrations of winning, although that is important, but the focus is on participation and play. 

Festivals are social as well as playing events

Attending a festival should leave a smile on your face! 

Who can come to a softball festival?

Festivals are ideally suited to those that are relatively new to playing cricket and would like to gain more experience ahead of entering the league. All new cricketers are welcome, although it is suggested that the participants are aged 13 and over. Teams can come from other cricket clubs, or teams can come that play other sports like netball or rugby and would like to have a go at cricket.

 

How do I run a festival?

Festivals are run across the county during the cricket season. They are organised in partnership with clubs and the Devon Cricket Board. Here are the planned fetsivals for the 2024 season

Click on the picture to enter a team into any of the above festivals 

If your club would like to run a festival in addition to the ones planned, then get in touch with Ann-Marie Presswell, the Women and Girl's Development Officer and she can help you market your festival and give you ideas of how to run it. On the right hand side of the page, there is a link to some documents to help you, as well as links to the ECB marketing page which will give you different media to advertise your festival. Here are some suggestions as to where to you can publicise your festival : local secondary schools; leisure centres; local female sports groups; Facebook and other social media; cricket clubs in your locality; Devon cricket website

What cricket should I expect at a festival?

At a festival, the most important thing is that you have fun and enjoy your cricket. It is also hoped that your cricket will improve as you play the games. The format of the game is 8 aside softball pairs. Each pair will bat for two overs and score as many runs as they can. They will bat for the whole two overs and if they lose a wicket, they lose runs, but continue to bat. Everybody is encouraged to have a go at overarm bowling. Every playing opportunity is a chance to develop and improve skills and the games are umpired by club members who are there to help the game along, as well as encourage and advise the players so they learn as they play. 

What next after a festival? 

You can attend as many softball festivals as you wish, but at the end of the season if your team would like to take on a regular playing offer for your ladies,  you can look to joining the softball cricket league, which is a friendly non-competitive league that play a longer format of the game. If you are interested in doing this for the 2023 season, then please contact Ann-Marie Presswell. 

You could also talk to other clubs during the festivals and make fixtures to play against each other during the coming season. 

SOFTBALL FESTIVALS IN 2023

In 2023 we ran 7 festivals, reached over 300 women and welcomed 5 new teams to softball cricket. 'We enjoyed it so much we have joined the league because we just want to play more' one team commented

Thanks to Hatherleigh, Heathcoat, Buckland Monachorum,  Teignmouth and Shaldon, South Devon, Upottery and Clyst St George for making the festivals such a positive experience. 

 
     
     
 
     

 

 

If you really enjoy it, you could find out how to join the league next year - all the details about the league are here.