As of this academic year, the Sports Service has begun to offer softball classes, a sports school in which 40 people are already enrolled.

Those who want to try one of the most practiced sports in the United States, and start to be part of the team, can attend to the classes that take place on Wednesdays from 15:30 to 17:30 hours and on Fridays, from 17:30 to 19:30 hours, at the sports center of the University of Navarra. 

We spoke with Arantxa Ibero, one of the team's coaches, and she told us how and why this sport was launched at campus.  

How did the softball school at the University of Navarra come about?
On the one hand, the Navarre Baseball and Softball Federation was interested in promoting this sport. On the other hand, there was a demand in the high school Irabia-Izaga, because baseball is a deeply rooted sport, which they have been practicing since 1970. As they have always lived it in their families, many girls were interested and this first year about 40 girls have already signed up.

In the softball school we intend that the team that emerges at the University of Navarra can compete at national level and be the mirror where the girls who have now begun to practice it look at. So we face the challenge with great enthusiasm, desire to work and with the hope that it will serve as an impetus to recover this sport.

It is not a very common sport in our country, when and why did you start practicing it?
The first time contact was in schools, and then we started playing in a club, on a regulated field. When I started, most of the baseball clubs in Navarra had a softball team: Club Deportivo Arga (where I played), Club Ciudad Deportiva Amaya, Club Deportivo Pamplona, Sociedad Deportiva Lagunak... There was a quite competitive Navarra League and two of the teams played in the highest national category.  

At present, in Navarra, only the softball team of Club Deportivo Pamplona remains. At the national level, we have a Spanish First Division championship in which we compete for access to the Honor Division, which is the highest category where 9 teams play.

Why would you encourage students, teachers and other employees to enroll in this school?
First of all, because it is a very fun sport for boys and girls of all ages, they are hooked and want to repeat. On the other hand, in addition to all the benefits that a team sport can bring (camaraderie, self-improvement, respect, etc...), softball encompasses a wide variety of physical abilities and skills.

The different defensive positions, the different types of hitters, or the catching, throwing and running in different situations, allow everyone to practice and enjoy it, without anyone being "relegated" for being less tall, fast, strong or less coordinated. For example, a girl who, in another sport, might not have much of a chance because she is not very fast, can be a very good pitcher and be a key player on the softball team.

Another circumstance is that baseball/softball is the king sport in America and most of Asia. The presence of students from these countries at the University, with a good previous knowledge (in many cases similar to what we have here in soccer) can facilitate their interest in the internship of this sport. We are sure that having them in the team would be a great contribution to the School of Softball, so from here I encourage you to sign up for this Sports School.