Dragons Program

The Dragons Development Program is designed for those who wish to have fun and improve/develop their skills for state teams. In the past, this program has provided a valuable stepping stone for all participants to achieve their goals. This program is tailor-made for the participants and adapted to their individual goals. It's also been called the Dragons Academy or Dragons Camp - the name doesn't matter really. It's all about developing our softball players - keeping them motivated and determined to enjoy their game more by improving their skills.

We are always on the lookout for coaches who are keen to help develop the junior athletes throughout our state and their craft as coaches. The program and camp is a great chance for any coach, new or experienced, to work alongside each other to improve current knowledge and learn about the current contemporary trends in our sport. There are basic requirements to be a Dragons Coach, however no accreditations are needed as these can gained through the program. It is also the perfect entry point for any potential future state coaches out there to see what our elite pathway is all about.  Past Dragons Participants are encouraged to pass on their skills and love of the game as Coaches.

Dates

July school holidays - 9am Tuesday 14 July - 3pm Thursday 16 July 2026.

[Attendance is required for the whole 3 days.There will not be allowances made for athletes who need to leave early or arrive late.]

Location

Softball SA Headquarters, West Beach - accommodation at West Beach Parks.

Cost

To be confirmed each year, + uniform (additional)

2026: $400 + uniform (additional)

• Payment plans available. Please email the office to organise.
• Costs include accommodation, food from morning tea on day 1 through to afternoon tea on day 3, venue hire, and equipment.
  If participants already have Dragons uniform, they do not have to purchase it again. Uniform includes hat/visor, teeshirt and optional hoodie.

Ages

12-17 years old (Under 14 - Under 18 age groups) - there will be no exceptions to this age group.

What's included?

• Specialist skills sessions
• Match play
• Skill and physiological testing
• 2 nights accommodation; all food provided

Any questions? Please email admin@softballsa.com.au 

Dragons FAQ:

What does the registration fee cover?

Registration covers accommodation including linen and hiring the camp kitchen, food ($30 per person per day), hiring of the West Beach Indoor Training Facility (ITF) and Diamonds, equipment for use by athletes, as well as making sure that all the coaches and volunteers are not out of pocket. Therefore your registration fee covers the coach and volunteer accommodation and food as well.
It is a common misconception that just because West Beach is the home of Softball SA that somehow we get free use of the facilities - we can assure you that we pay for the usage of the ITF and Diamonds, the same the general public does. For the 3 whole days of Dragons Camp, this adds up, and your registration helps cover that cost.

At each Dragons Camp we endeavour to have 1 or 2 specialist coaches or instructors, based on consultation with our State Head of Coaching. In 2025, it was Sarah Tonkin, who addressed both the athletes and the coaches on the importance of sports nutrition. Your registration fee pays for their inclusion at the camp, for the direct benefit of your athlete.

Why is the 2026 Dragons Camp just for athletes aged 12-17?

The development of junior athletes is a priority for Softball SA. Through evaluating the player development and the outcomes of the Dragons Camp over the past few years, the Camp has seen a drop off in numbers at the higher age level, and it was determined that this was due to the inclusion of younger and younger players, leading to a wider gap between skills and abilities. This then increased the risk to the younger players, while reducing the challenge for the more senior players. We also want to make sure that the coaches we attract are of the highest quality, and keeping the age limit restricted to teenagers meant that the coaches can focus on a narrow age range, rather than having to coach to a broad target.

In order to address this difference, Softball SA has held 2 junior Dragons Clinics, in December 2024 and December 2025, and it is our plan to hold these 1-day clinics each school holidays, apart from July which will still be for the major development camp.

The Little Dragons clinics are a 1-day program intended for players under 12 years old, starting from 8.30am, with the coaching finishing before dinner. Parents/carers can then either choose to take their player home, or they can stay on to play on the main Diamond at West Beach under lights, putting all their skills into practice with mini games. The Little Dragons are not required to purchase any Dragons uniform, and we try our best to keep the costs down for these junior players.

If you have any questions that you'd like answered, please contact admin@softballsa.com.au