Since 2007
The International Softball Academy, formed in 2007, hosts international softball tours and academy programs that expose players to elite softball and elite coaching.
Friendly exchange. Elite softball.
Our mission is to facilitate a friendly exchange and understanding among softball players from different countries and regions while exposing players, especially youth players, to elite softball at an international level.
In eighteen years, by the end of 2026, we will have selected and hosted over 100 New Zealand teams overseas. Due to COVID, we did not travel in 2020, 2021 or 2022.
If you have any queries, please contact Craig Waterhouse at craig@isa.org.nz or 027 442 2935.
Tournaments made for us
We continue to have our hosts invent events and Tournaments for us to play in: Saskatoon Softball Association established, with sponsorship from the Super 8 Motel chain, the Super 8 Series for a series of games against U19 teams in and around Saskatoon and Prince Albert in Canada. The Manitoba Softball Association established the Kiwi Cup Tournament, which has now been held in Brandon, Winnipeg and Cross Lakes Band, hosted by the local Indian Trust. Fleming Softball Club established the George Engle Invitation Tournament for our first visit for our U21 team in 2012, and this has now switched to a challenge game, ISA New Zealand v Fleming Jet.
For four years, we attended the New South Wales U18 Academy Tournament in Newcastle, Australia, which included teams from the United States. It was a great privilege to be invited to this event.
Quality coaching
We aim to provide our teams with quality coaches and well experienced individuals. Most of the NZ based staff are either current or former Softball New Zealand coaches and national team representatives.
Chubb Tangaroa
Former Softball Black Sox pitcher and pitching coach. Black Sox Pitching Coach at least three world series.
Corey Tamati
Former Hawkes Bay provincial team coach and rep coach. Dual provincial representative, played for both Hawkes Bay Softball and Hawkes Bay Magpies rugby team
Kevin Gettins
NZ Junior White Sox coach and NZ Senior White Sox Coach -former coach of numerous Hawke’s Bay representative teams
Bevan Martin
Former Black Sox catcher. Part of the extended Black Sox coaching staff, Assistant Junior Black Sox coach and former High-Performance Manager at Softball NZ.
Charmaine Gettins
Former NZ White Sox player and experienced provincial coach
Danny Knight
North Harbour representative coach
Max de Brett
Former Auckland Club senior coach and Auckland representative Coach
Kurtis Tomkins
Coached Roosters Premier Men’s team in Auckland, North Harbour U17 Representative team, and coached for two seasons in Japan at Kansai University and Mozu Elementary School
Clayton Willocks
Former Black Sox player and technical coach, coached for two seasons in the NFL Current coach of the New Zealand Under 17 Boys team
Richard Allison
Coached senior men's softball and representative team in the Canterbury regions. In 2016 he switch to coaching women’s softball and coached the winning Papunui Club side. Richard has huge potential in the women’s game.
Phil Pene
Coached the Wellington NFC Womens team and Club Softball Teams for a number of years.
Gus Leger
Former Black Sox and Tanifa Somoa player. Gus became New Zealand first Professional Baseball player for the California Angels Franchise 1992-1995. Vice Captain of the Ikale Tahi Tonga Rugby Union team at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Gene Lutton
Former Black Sox and Tanifa Somoa player. Wellington age group Coach, Porirua City United Coach and Wellington NFC Coach.
Mereana Matangi
Extensive coaching in youth softball in Wellington, including Wellington Rep teams, One of the up and coming softball administrators/coaches in New Zealand
Peter Moffatt
Coached in Europe earlier in his coaching life, has coached nurmerous Wellington Rep teams Coach of the Softball New Zealand U15 White Sox team for two years.
Coleen Kinnell
One of the most experienced female coaches that is still actively involved in the sport. Coleen has put a massive amount back into the sport over the years. She is currently the player development officer for North Harbour Softball Assn
Tane Landon-Lane
Watch this name he will achieve higher honours. Tane has coached North/ South U15 games, numerous club and Wellington Provincial teams
Greg Newton
Former Black Sox Pitcher and SNZ Under 17 Coach Greg played many years in New Zealand and the United States.
Lance Roberts
The Roberts name is such a family name through the Auckland Ramblers Club. Lance played club and Auckland Provincial reps for years, and had a similar coaching background, given back to the sport he got so much from.
Rod Fewer
Coming to New Zealand from Canada to pursue his softball dream, after pitching for Canada at the U19 World Series Rod never went home. Coached club, and representative softball in Canterbury.
Sharee Giles
From Southland to Wellington to the White Sox. Sharee’s goal was to represent New Zealand in women Softball. And this was at the time when New Zealand softball was in the top four teams in the world. She continue her softball when moving to Australia, and coaches, club representative, and softball Batteries. So dedicated to the sport.
Kevin Stockford
Playing for SNZ Junior Black Sox, Senior Black Sox, Great Britain and Denmark. Kevin would be one of the most travelled National teams representatives from New Zealand. He coached the Denmark U18 team at the 2020 U18 Boys World Series in Palmerston North. He also coached and played for the Danish Vikings Club side when they won the Men’s European Cup in 2018.
Pete Doherty
An Australian New South Wales Academy coach and Campbell Town representative coach for over 20 years. The only coach to be bitten by a crocodile.
Sammy Park
A USA pitcher that has settled in New Zealand. Thanks for staying and giving back to the Sport. Played for Auckland and Otahuhu ladies with numerous titles, then coaching Otahuhu. Sammy played on the only team, outside of Europe to win a European Cup, pitching for the ISA New Zealand Women team she pitched the final to also take-home top pitcher at the European Cup. Massive playing and coaching experience to pass on to the players
Hadyn Smith
Former Softball NZ Chief Executive and Board member
Dale Eager
Former Softball New Zealand CEO and Board Chairman. Coached and Managed many Junior and Senior Black Sox teams
Warren Stoddard
Former Black Sox assistant coach, coach of Poneke Kilbirnie Men's Softball team and of numerous Wellington Representative teams
Israel Nukunuku
NZ White Sox assistant coach. Coach of numerous International teams. Is arguably the best technical coach to come out of New Zealand.
Rob Siolo
Coach of 2013 World Series Samoan National Team
Graeme Gollan
Former Juniors assistant coach and Softball NZ Development officer
Max Benfell
Former Otago Softball Development officer and coach of various representative teams (Otago and Wellington)
Daryl Marino
Former Black Sox player, coach of numerous teams in New Zealand and assistant NZ Junior Men's coach for a number of years. He has received numerous awards for his coaching success in Rugby League. Current Assistant Coach of the men's Black Sox team Current Assistant Coach of the Black Sox
Brian Mountford
Former Black Sox player and coached of Canterbury Red Sox Men's teams
Dean Turner
Former Wellington representative player and Northcote Coach
Chris Telfer
One of New Zealand up and coming coaches. Chris played for the Junior Black Sox in 2008 in Sydney and went onto a baseball trial in the US
Curtis Huata
Has coached in Canada, New Zealand and Australia. He played for three seasons in Canada
Mark Rowley
Otago Representative coach and coach the the Mainland U17 Boys team
Paul Algar
Former Black Sox pitcher, and USA National Team Pitcher having returned from a living in the United States. Paul was afforded the ultimate recognition in the USA with his induction in the ISC Hall of Fame. He started playing in the USA as a 17 year old, was name in the World ISC Team 5 times.
Rita Hokianga
Current White Sox pitcher, having returned from a three year University Scholarship in the States. Rita has played softball in Japan, Europe, Canada and the United States.
Lawrence Allan
Extensive coaching in New Zealand and Czech Republic. He has being involved in the Czech National team program, and was Head coaches of the Greece National Womens team. A very highly regarded international coach.
Errol Byrne
Errol played representative softball through all grades for Canterbury, being selected in numerous South Island and New Zealand Age Group Tournament teams. retirement in 2010 he has coached representative teams in Canterbury
Steve Sila
Steve has extensive coaching experience including coach in the Wellington Senior Womens competition. He has two daughters achieve National honour, and is also a badge Umpire
Des Warman
Des is one of the better technical coaches in New Zealand, taking representative teams to National Tournaments from Waikato and North Harbour. His coaching CV also includes coaching for Softball New Zealand in U15 North v South game including the associated coaching at the weekend camp attended by the boys
International coaches
We also have coaches based overseas:
Australia
Eliza O’Leary – Australian Softball Academy coach
Dylan Crisp – Battery coach
Mohi Rameka – Kiwi who moved to Australia
Canada
Mark Quinn – played and coached softball in Canada, China, and New Zealand
Richard Clarke – former Hutt Valley Senior representative and player/coach of Hutt Valley’s Wairarapa Giants
Fred Redhead – Canadian U19 World Series assistant coach, former coach of Alberta U19 provincial team
Dale Wagner – one of the most respected coaches in Alberta
Bill Marshall – coached the Saskatoon Diamondback for nearly 20 years
Jon (Queens) Equina – coaches boys and girls teams in Saskatoon, and runs his own softball academy
In memoriam, Hadyn Smith, former Softball New Zealand CEO and former SNZ Board Member, who coached the Boys team for 16 years. We acknowledge the massive contribution Hadyn achieved with the softballers for their development.