Squad weighs impact of move

The White Sox have been told they could have to find thousands of dollars each if New Zealand is to field a team at next year's women's world softball championships in Venezuela.

Softball New Zealand general manager Dane Dougan, White Sox coach Dean Rice and team manager Lyn Lockhart addressed a group of about 23 potential players at the end of the National Fastpitch Championships in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Dougan told the players the International Softball Federation's decision to switch the tournament to Venezuela from Oklahoma City could see New Zealand's travel bill rise by "between $100,000 and $120,000".

SNZ gets no government funding for the White Sox so the players were reconciled to have to pay $3000 each to get to Oklahoma City.

Dougan said the costs for the Venezuela tournament, to be staged in Caracas in June, were still being worked out. But he said the player contributions would rise "quite substantially".

He said there were "stunned looks" from players as the full implications were explained.

"We spelled out, not just the costs but the safety concerns of going to Caracas," Dougan said.

The players were asked to think about the issues and give SNZ their feedback by the time of the Gilley's Shield tournament and trans-Tasman test series in Brisbane from January 4 to 10.

Softball New Zealand officials and team management would then decide if the White Sox should go to Caracas, Dougan said. Entries close with the ISF on January 23.

Dougan said he was working hard to get external funding for the team and admitted SNZ could "lose a little mana" with funding providers and government bodies if they did not send the team.

"But we have to make a decision that's sensible for the team and sensible for the sport."

Dougan said SNZ would only send "our top team, or close to our best side".

They would not send players who could afford to go but who may not be up to international standard.

- © Fairfax NZ News