Nancy became a PE Lecturer at Adelaide Teachers College throughout the 1970s. She tapped into new trends in exercise physiology and sport psychology that advanced her coaching skills.
Nancy Whittingham was a softballer’s softballer.
She was respected as an on-field leader – innovative and versatile – playing catcher, short stop and first base.
That is a lethal and unique combination: to have the smarts and powerful arm of the catcher, and the athletic and agile reflexes of a short stop.
As a young teenager at Adelaide Girls High School, she was a notable athlete – a quick runner and a powerful in the throwing events.
With skills in these two areas, softball was a good choice.
Physical Education was in her blood, and she ultimately became a PE Lecturer at Adelaide Teachers College throughout the 1970s. She tapped into new trends in exercise physiology and sport psychology.
Perhaps Nancy Whittingham’s softball career highlight – and there were many – came in 1965, when she helped the Australian team to a gold medal at the Women’s Softball World Championship in Melbourne.
The usually dominant USA was the clear favourite heading into the tournament. However, playing in front of thousands, the home team triumphed, Australia defeating Team USA 1-0 in the final. Her international playing career was from 1962-67.
This team is the only Australian softball team to win a World Championship gold medal and has been inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
It’s fair to say that Nancy Whittingham reached beyond what most everyone achieved in the game. Not only a world champion as a player, but she was also appointed head coach of the national team in 1982, 15 years after retiring as a player.
At the 1982 World Women’s Softball Championship in Taipei, 23 teams participated, the largest number in the history of the tournament to date. With Nancy as coach, Australia defeated the USA in winning a bronze medal on the final day of those championships.
Remarkably, Nancy Whittingham also attained her A-grade Umpiring badge throughout this period. She was inducted into Softball Australia Hall of Fame in 1985.
