Margaret Pollard managed the 1974 World Championship bronze medal winning team.
Being a manageress of an elite Australian sports team requires many specific qualities – some of which are opposite to each other.
For example, she must be supremely organised, a confidante to the players and the coach, an excellent communicator, clear thinker, dependable, and a disciplinarian when required.
It therefore tells us some important things about Margaret Pollard, who held the position of manageress of the Australian Softball team during the 1970s.
That period included managing the Aussie team when the pressure was at its greatest – the 1974 World Championships in the USA.
The semi-final saw Australia convincingly beaten by the USA 6-0, but the powerful culture of the team allowed the Australians to bounce back immediately to win the bronze medal.
Culture is created by leaders, including a manageress, especially with a young team.
Margaret Pollard understood the pressure on the players because she was a regular member of the State team through the mid and late 1950s.
She was first selected as a utility. However, it comes as no surprise that her reliability and sense of calm allowed her to make third base her own. At third base, a strong, accurate arm is needed when throwing across the diamond plus quick reaction times given the proximity to home plate.
She was on the diamond when SA raised itself to rare air, capturing the Australian Championships in 1956.
Margaret Pollard was another example of grace and generosity, when even as a player, she took on the role of Secretary of the Association. And even when she had retired from playing for SA, she re-connected with the team to be the State team’s scorer or manageress from 1968 to 1975.
Her administrative contribution ranged from SA Secretary for six years, Australian secretary for four years, and SA delegate for seven years.
