Question 1

WHO ARE THE LONDON RAIDERS?

Accepted Answer

We are an amateur softball club with six teams in the London Softball League (which makes us the biggest club in the country!), and a big social diary throughout the year. We have teams of all abilities in all divisions in the league. We always field mixed-gender teams and often enter tournaments. If we don’t win on the pitch, we win in the pub.

Question 2

DO I NEED TO BE LGBTQIA+ TO JOIN?

Accepted Answer

No, and you shouldn't expect all our members to be LGBTQIA+ either. Raiders is all about fun and competitive softball in a supportive, respectful environment. We are a majority LGBTIA+ club, however we welcome anyone who wants to enjoy the sport. If you’re comfortable with the Raiders, the Raiders are comfortable with you.

Question 3

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

Accepted Answer

Take a look at our "Your First Session" page under the New Members tab for guidance.

Question 4

WHAT ARE THE RULES OF SOFTBALL?

Accepted Answer

The type of softball we play is called Slow Pitch. It’s bit like baseball but with a bigger, slower ball pitched (or bowled) underarm. If you’re new to the sport, the best thing to do is learn the rules at our training sessions. No one will expect you to understand what “Force is on 2, with 2 down” means until you’ve been here a while   You can search online for “softball rules” to find lots of handy guides, but we will teach you the official BaseballSoftballUK (BSUK) rules. BSUK governs our leagues. Our experienced players will be happy to help you understand the rules as you go.

Question 5

WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED?

Accepted Answer

Softball, like many sports requires certain items of equipment for the game to be played. You will be familiar with items such as balls and bases which the club supply, however once you decide the Raiders is for you, you'll be expected to have a glove for catching the balls when fielding. London Raiders provide a certain amount of equipment to members for training sessions. Check out the "Your First Session" page under the New Members tab for more information.

Question 6

WHERE DO YOU PLAY?

Accepted Answer

Training this year will be at Trinity Fields in South London. We have a handy Pitch Locator on our Members page. The nearest stations are Tooting Bec, Balham, Wandsworth Common and Clapham Junction. (It’s a very long walk from Wandsworth Town.)   Our League games happen all over London and the night depends on your team, for example, Red might play on Mondays and Gold might play on Thursdays. Our different teams have different home grounds. Our website will tell you where each team plays and there will be regular updates on weekly games through our social media feeds if you fancy supporting our teams.

Question 7

WHAT ABOUT SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

Accepted Answer

London Raiders are a very social bunch. We have a Start of Season Party, we march in London Pride, we have quiz nights, an off-season bowling league, lots of other nights out, and an End of Season Party. This may negate any fitness you incur from playing softball. Don't forget to keep an eye on the calendar and the Facebook Group.

FAQs