About
Welcome to the Oxford Softball League, the home of softball in Oxfordshire. The league, which is a part of the Oxfordshire Softball Association (OSA) founded in 1990, has been providing opportunities for softball players since the early 1980s. If you're interested in joining a team or finding out about introductory training, you've come to the right place!
The Oxford Softball League primarily plays its games on Tuesday and Thursday nights at the Horspath Athletics and Sports Ground, located on Horspath Road in Oxford. In order to stay up-to-date with the latest announcements, events, training, and games, make sure to visit our Facebook page regularly.
One of the highlights of our league is the 'Oxford Inspires' Tournament, held in 2023. This recreational-level tournament was expertly won by the Milton Keynes Diamonds, while the Oxford Tigers claimed victory in the plate competition. For more details on this exciting event, please refer to our Oxford Inspires Tournament page.
Currently, the Oxford Softball League focuses on mixed (co-ed) slowpitch softball, although there are opportunities for both single-sex tournaments and fastpitch softball for our players. Slowpitch softball is a social team sport played with five men and five women on each team. The ball is thrown underarm and is hit by the batter towards the fielders on the defensive team, who wear gloves on their non-throwing hands to catch the ball. It is often compared to baseball, but with a larger, hard ball.
For more information about the sport, please visit our About softball page.
Whether you're new to the sport or the league, we invite you to attend an introductory session. For new players looking to give softball a try, head over to our new players page for more information. If you're a returning player and simply looking to join a team, we would love to hear from you as well.
During winter, we offer indoor softball sessions for those who want to stay active and continue playing the sport. After a successful first session, another session is scheduled for 13th October from 7-9pm at the Swan School on Marston Ferry Road in Oxford. Bring a glove if you have one and sports hall-friendly trainers. These sessions serve as a fun and introductory experience, with the potential for competitive games in the future.
The 2023 softball season started in early May, following taster sessions in March and grapefruit/friendly games in April. Game nights are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the season at the Horspath Sports Ground. The 2024 summer season will have similar dates, which will be announced in the spring. Additionally, there may be an indoor winter season.
Keep an eye out for updates and sign up for a session.
League games in the Oxford Softball League ensure that every team plays against each other at least once. The format for competitive games is being finalised, but the excitement and action on the field are guaranteed. All league games take place at the Horspath Sports Ground, and registration links are emailed to team captains. If you're new and want to join in on the action, please register as a new player first.
Training sessions for new players are often held in March, April, and occasionally during the summer. We welcome new players with open arms and will be running periodic training sessions leading up to a series of pre-season sessions in March and possibly April. It's the perfect opportunity for you to get involved and start your softball journey.
Whether you're an experienced player or someone new to the sport, the Oxford Softball League has something for everyone. Join us today and be a part of the thriving softball community in Oxford!
