Baseball5 - Lesson 1: Game, field and differences between Baseball, Softball and Baseball5

Summary

This webinar introduces Baseball5, a new, fast-paced, and accessible variant of baseball and softball. It requires minimal equipment and can be played anywhere, making it inclusive. The video covers the game's basics, field setup, and rules, emphasizing fun and simplicity. Baseball5 is designed for both indoor and outdoor play, promoting participation and offering opportunities for growth in baseball and softball communities worldwide.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Baseball5 is a new, inclusive sport designed by the WBSC to be adaptable to various spaces and requires minimal equipment.
• 🏟️ The Baseball5 field is a square with a 13-meter distance between bases, a 50 cm square base, and an outfield fence 5 meters beyond the infield.
• ⚾ The game is played with two teams of at least five players each, and up to eight players in official competitions.
• 🔄 The game consists of five innings, with each team getting a turn at bat before the teams switch to defense and offense roles.
• 🏃‍♂️ Offensive players aim to score runs by completing the bases counterclockwise and touching home plate.
• 🙅‍♂️ The defense can record outs by touching the base a runner is forced to, catching the ball before it bounces, or tagging a runner off-base.
• 🚫 Unique to Baseball5, players must hit the ball with their bare hands, gloves and other equipment are not allowed.
• ⏱ Baseball5 games are fast-paced, with the potential for a full game to be completed in as little as 15-20 minutes.
• 🌟 Baseball5 promotes fun and inclusivity, aiming to increase accessibility to baseball and softball sports worldwide.
• 🌱 The sport is designed to be played year-round, indoors or outdoors, and can be adapted to various settings, including schools, prisons, and social programs.

Q & A

What is Baseball5 and how does it relate to baseball and softball?

Baseball5 is a street version of baseball and softball, designed to be fast, young, and dynamic. It requires no specialized equipment and can be played anywhere with a rubber ball. It maintains the same founding concepts as baseball and softball but is more accessible and adaptable to various spaces.

What are the ideal dimensions for a Baseball5 field?

The ideal Baseball5 field has a square infield with bases 13 meters apart, and a square outfield fence 5 meters beyond the infield. The fair territory is an 18-meter square with home plate at one corner. The batter's box is a 3-meter square outside the fair territory.

How many players are required to play Baseball5 and what is the minimum team size for official competitions?

Baseball5 is played with two teams of at least five players each. For official competitions, the maximum number of players on each team's roster is eight, with five in play and three reserves.

How does the batting order work in Baseball5?

Teams must submit a batting order before the game, which is the sequence in which their five active players will take turns at bat. This order is followed throughout the game unless a reserve player substitutes for a starter.

What are the three ways a defensive team can record an out in Baseball5?

The defense can record an out by touching the base a runner is forced to run to while in possession of the ball, catching a hit ball before it touches the ground, or tagging a runner with the ball when they are not on a base.

What are the rules regarding hitting the ball in Baseball5?

The batter must hit the ball with their bare hands, and the ball must touch the ground in fair territory at least once. The batter must also remain within the batter's box lines until the ball is in fair territory.

How does scoring work in Baseball5?

Players score by completing the full circle of the bases counterclockwise and touching home plate. The team with the most runs at the end of five innings wins. In case of a tie, extra innings are played until one team scores more runs.

What is the significance of the safe area around the first base in Baseball5?

The safe area around the first base, which is one and a half meters wide, allows base runners to touch the base in foul territory and then move into the safe area to avoid being tagged out by the defense.

How does Baseball5 address the complexity and accessibility issues of traditional baseball and softball?

Baseball5 addresses these issues by requiring no specialized equipment, being adaptable to various spaces, and having simpler rules. It's designed to be intuitive and easy to understand, making it more accessible and less complex than traditional baseball and softball.

What are some examples of how Baseball5 has been adapted to different environments around the world?

Baseball5 has been played on natural grass, cement basketball courts, and even in school classrooms. It has been adapted using spray paint, duct tape, cones, cooking flour, and chalk to mark the field, demonstrating its flexibility and adaptability.

Why is Baseball5 considered a mixed-gender game?

Baseball5 is considered a mixed-gender game because it requires at least two male and two female players on the field at all times, promoting gender inclusivity and equal participation in the sport.

Outlines

00:00

🏟️ Introduction to Baseball5

This segment introduces the Baseball5 module, aimed at game officials and coaches. It discusses the Baseball5 project, its vision and mission according to the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). The video explains the setup of a Baseball5 field, including dimensions and equipment needed. It also differentiates Baseball5 from traditional baseball and softball, emphasizing its adaptability to various spaces and the lack of specialized equipment required. The game is played with five innings, and the video outlines the roles of the defensive and offensive teams, as well as the rules for outs and scoring.

05:01

👊 Rules and Gameplay of Baseball5

This paragraph delves into the rules of Baseball5, focusing on how outs are recorded by the defensive team. It explains the methods of getting outs, such as touching the base a runner is forced to, catching a hit ball before it bounces, and tagging a runner with the ball when not on a base. The video also covers the specifics of playing at first base, including the double-wide base to avoid collisions. Various ways players can be out are mentioned, such as illegal hits, stepping outside the batter's box, and hitting the ball foul. The importance of avoiding collisions and the flow of the game, including the end conditions, are also discussed.

10:03

🌐 Global Reach and Adaptability of Baseball5

This section highlights the global impact and adaptability of Baseball5. It underscores the game's fun and fast nature, its intuitive rules that can be quickly understood even by newcomers, and its success in various countries. The video mentions a Baseball5 tournament involving international instructors and how it has been used in different settings, such as schools and camps, to introduce the sport to young people. The paragraph also touches on Baseball5's potential for year-round play, its use in promotional events, and its adaptability to different environments, including prisons and refugee camps.

15:05

🏞️ The Simplicity and Universality of Baseball5

This segment emphasizes the simplicity and universality of Baseball5, which is designed to be accessible and easy to set up. It discusses the game's ability to maintain the spirit of baseball and softball while eliminating complexities like equipment costs and field dimensions. The paragraph provides examples of how Baseball5 has been introduced in various countries, often with improvised fields and creative solutions to marking the playing area. It also mentions the game's mixed-gender requirement and flexible format, which can be adapted to different situations.

20:06

🌐 Examples of Diverse Baseball5 Fields

This paragraph showcases the diversity of Baseball5 fields around the world, demonstrating the game's adaptability to different environments. It describes various examples, including fields set up on natural grass, basketball courts, and even indoors with limited space. The video highlights creative solutions for marking the field, such as using spray paint, duct tape, cones, cooking flour, and chalk. These examples illustrate that Baseball5 can be played almost anywhere, with minimal equipment and setup, making it an accessible sport for communities worldwide.

25:11

⚾ Differences Between Baseball, Softball, and Baseball5

This segment compares and contrasts Baseball5 with traditional baseball and softball, focusing on defensive and offensive aspects. It points out similarities in fielding positions and the importance of hand-eye coordination in hitting. The main differences highlighted are the lack of gloves in Baseball5, which affects fielding, throwing, and catching techniques. The video also notes the absence of base coaches in Baseball5, which places a greater emphasis on a player's instincts and decision-making during base running. The paragraph serves as a transition to further detailed comparisons in subsequent modules.

Keywords

💡Baseball5

Baseball5 is a new, fast-paced, and dynamic variation of baseball and softball designed for inclusivity and adaptability to various environments. It requires minimal equipment, primarily a rubber ball, and can be played anywhere. The game is structured with five players per team, playing over five innings, and emphasizes fun and accessibility. In the script, Baseball5 is introduced as the central theme, with discussions on its setup, rules, and the vision behind its creation by the WBSC.

💡WBSC

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) is the governing body for baseball and softball worldwide. In the script, the WBSC is mentioned as the driving force behind the Baseball5 project, aiming to increase the accessibility and participation in baseball and softball through the introduction of this new, simplified game format.

💡Inclusive

Inclusiveness in the context of Baseball5 refers to the game's ability to be played by anyone, anywhere, with minimal equipment and space requirements. The script highlights Baseball5 as an inclusive sport, emphasizing its accessibility to a wide range of players and communities, regardless of their background or resources.

💡Field Setup

Field setup in Baseball5 involves creating a playable space with specific dimensions and markings. The script provides details on the ideal field layout, including the square-shaped infield, base distances, outfield fence, and batter's box. The field setup is crucial for playing the game and can be adapted based on the available space.

💡Defensive Formation

Defensive formation in Baseball5 refers to the strategic positioning of the five players on the defensive team during gameplay. The script mentions typical positions such as first base, second base, shortstop, third base, and midfield. These positions can change according to team tactics and the situation, highlighting the tactical aspect of the game.

💡Offensive Strategy

Offensive strategy in Baseball5 involves the actions of the team at bat, aiming to score runs by completing the bases in a counterclockwise direction and touching home plate. The script explains that the offensive team must strategize to score runs while the defense attempts to record outs, creating a dynamic interplay between offense and defense.

💡Outs

Outs in Baseball5 are the means by which the defensive team ends the offensive team's turn at bat. The script outlines three ways to record outs: touching the base a runner is forced to run to while in possession of the ball, catching a hit ball before it touches the ground, or tagging a runner with the ball when they are not on a base.

💡Batter's Box

The Batter's Box is the area from which players hit the ball in Baseball5. The script describes it as a square area outside the fair territory, where the batter stands to hit the ball with their bare hands, emphasizing the skill and precision required in striking the ball.

💡Fair Territory

Fair territory in Baseball5 is the designated playing area where the ball must land for it to be in play. The script specifies that the fair territory should be a square shape with specific dimensions, and it is a critical concept for determining hits and outs during the game.

💡Mixed Gender

Mixed gender play is a rule in Baseball5 that requires teams to have at least two male and two female players on the field at all times. This rule, mentioned in the script, promotes gender equality and inclusivity, ensuring that the game is accessible and engaging for both male and female players.

💡Adaptability

Adaptability in the context of Baseball5 refers to the game's flexibility to be played in various settings and conditions. The script provides examples of different field setups worldwide, demonstrating how Baseball5 can be adapted to local environments, spaces, and resources, making it a truly universal sport.

Highlights

Introduction to Baseball5, a new, inclusive game by the WBSC designed for accessibility and ease of play.

Baseball5 can be played anywhere with minimal equipment, requiring just a rubber ball.

The Baseball5 field setup is described, including infield and outfield dimensions and specifications.

The game is played with two teams of at least five players each, with a maximum roster of eight during official competitions.

An inning in Baseball5 consists of each team having a turn at bat, aiming to eliminate three players to switch sides.

Defensive formation in Baseball5 includes positions like first base, second base, shortstop, third base, and midfield.

Offensive players aim to score runs by completing the bases counterclockwise and touching home plate.

The ball must be hit with bare hands, and gloves or other equipment are not allowed.

Three outs can be recorded by touching the base a runner is forced to, catching a hit ball before it bounces, or tagging a runner off-base.

First base is double wide to avoid collisions, with a safe area for runners around the base.

Illegal hits and出局的多种方式 are discussed, including not respecting the batting order.

Base runners must remain on their base until the batter hits the ball and cannot pass teammates.

The game ends after five innings or when a team scores more runs than the opponent in extra innings.

Baseball5 is promoted as a fun, fast, and intuitive game suitable for all ages and skill levels.

The game's adaptability allows it to be played year-round and in various settings, including indoors.

Baseball5 aims to increase accessibility to baseball and softball, especially in countries with limited resources.

The game's simplicity and the fact that it requires no specialized equipment make it easy to learn and play.

Examples of Baseball5 fields set up worldwide demonstrate the game's adaptability to different environments.

Baseball5 maintains the core principles of baseball and softball while eliminating complexities.

The game is played with five players per team over five innings, with a focus on immediate action and no downtime.

Baseball5 is a mixed-gender sport, requiring at least two male and two female players on the field at all times.

The game can be played in various formats, such as one-off matches or best of three series, to suit different situations.

Official Baseball5 events will have dedicated venues, but the game can be started with minimal setup and creativity.

Differences between baseball, softball, and Baseball5 are highlighted, focusing on defense, offense, and game dynamics.

Transcripts

Welcome to module 1 in this Baseball5

webinar

In this first module for both game

officials and coaches

We will talk about the Baseball5

project the different ways to set up a

field

and we'll give a brief introduction of

the differences between baseball

softball and Baseball5 we will use

presentations

and videos to guide us through all

modules

the first topic though is the Baseball5

project

itself the vision and the mission of the

WBSC

we start with a video that briefly

explains what baseball5

is

[Music]

welcome over the next few minutes we'll

show you everything you need to know to

play the world's most inclusive new game

baseball5, Baseball5 is a street

version of the classic games of baseball

and softball it is a fast young

and dynamic discipline that follows the

same founding concepts of baseball and

softball but it can be played everywhere

and requires no specialized equipment

simply a rubber ball

ready to learn more let's start by

having a look at a Baseball5

field keep in mind the dimensions we

discuss are ideal for competition

but they can be altered based on the

needs of your specific

space the infield has a square shape

with a base in every corner

the distance in between bases is 13

meters

the ideal shape and size of the bases is

a square

of 50 centimeters per side if possible

home base can be shaped like home plate

in baseball and softball

starting from the batter's box behind

home plate the bases are numbered

anti-clockwise first second and third

the outfield fence runs parallel to the

infield lines between first and third

base

it sits approximately five meters beyond

the infield

its height should be roughly 60 to 80

centimeters

the fair territory of the field should

have a square shape of 18 meters per

side

in which one of the corners coincides

with home plate

the batter's box sits outside of fair

territory

and has a square shape of three meters

per side there you have it

an official Baseball5 field remember

this is a game that is meant to be

adapted to the needs of your specific

space

[Music]

now that you've created the field it's

time to fill it

all you need is a ball and two teams of

at least five players each

note that during official competitions

the maximum number of players on each

team's roster is eight

five in play plus three reserves once

you've formed teams

the game is played very much in the

spirit of traditional baseball and

softball

with the action split into five innings

an inning consists of a turn at bat

for each team before play begins the

teams must submit their batting order

the order in which their five active

players will take their turns at bat

this order shall be followed throughout

the game unless a reserve player is

substituted for a starter

the home team starts the game on defense

and the guest team

starts on offense or at bat the goal of

the defensive team is to eliminate

or get out three players on the

offensive team

once three outs have been made the teams

can switch sides so that the defensive

team becomes the offensive team

and vice versa in a moment we will look

at different ways to record outs

but first let's look at the typical

defensive formation

the five players of the defensive team

shall all be in fair territory when the

batter is ready to hit the ball

here you see a typical defensive

formation with a defender playing

first base second base shortstop

third base and a midfield position

keep in mind that the defensive players

may change their position before every

action

according to their team tactics and the

demands of the situation

the goal of the offense is to score as

many runs as possible

how? by completing the full circle of the

bases counterclockwise

and touching home plate

once the defense is set the action

begins with one player from the

offensive team

in the batter's box holding the ball the

ball has to be hit hard or slapped

either with a palm or a fist

and must touch the ground in fair

territory at least once

note that the batter has to hit the ball

with his bare hands

so the use of gloves or any other

equipment is forbidden

the batter must also remain entirely

within the lines of the batter's box

until the hit ball gets into fair

territory at that point

the batter begins running to first base

with the ball in play the defense has

three ways to record outs

the first is by touching the base that a

runner is forced to run to while in

possession of the ball

the second is by catching a hit ball

before it touches the ground

the third way is by tagging or touching

a runner with the ball

when they are not on a base let's look

more closely at first base

where most defensive plays are made in

order to avoid collisions

first base is double wide so that while

the defensive play is made on the base

in fair territory

the batter and then the runner's goal is

to touch the base

in foul territory once the base runner

has touched the base

in order to stay safe they must remain

in the one and a half meter safe area

around the base in addition to being

eliminated by the defense

offensive players can also get out a

number of other ways

the most common of these are illegal

hits to avoid an illegal hit

the first bounce of the ball must be at

least three meters from home plate or

two meters

for the under-14 category

in official competitions

umpires will have the final judgment on

whether the hit was legal or not

illegal hits will always result in an

out

other ways a batter can be ruled out

includes stepping on or

outside of the batter's box lines while

hitting the ball

hitting the ball in foul territory

hitting the ball

into or over the fence without at first

touching the ground

and not respecting the batting order and

hitting out of turn

another set of rules apply to base

runners

most importantly runners must remain on

their base

until the batter has put the ball in

play the runner can be called out by

starting towards the next base

before the batter hits the ball runners

can also be called out

for passing a teammate while running the

bases

runners may also be called out if they

are tagged while two or more runners are

on the same base

also note that runners must do

everything possible to avoid colliding

with the defenders

should an umpire decide that a runner

could have avoided a collision

the runner shall be ruled out

with these rules being adhered to

the gameplay should flow and the innings

should move

rapidly from one to the next the game

ends at the end of the fifth inning if

one team has scored more runs than the

other

in the case of a tie game after five

innings the team shall play

and complete extra innings until one

team scores more runs than the opponent

should the home team be ahead after the

guest team has completed its fifth

offensive inning

the game is over and the home team wins

that's all there is to it

Baseball5 can be easily adapted to

your specific situation

so make it your own take it home and

play it

so i hope you enjoyed that video i

certainly enjoyed

being a part of making it a few years

ago but as you can tell

Baseball5 is a very young discipline

and it has evolved

quite a bit since that video some rules

have changed

and we'll see those changes step by step

in the next module

but now let's go through the

presentation that explains why Baseball5

is so important

you see that first word there fun and

you may have noticed in the video

that Baseball5 is above all a fun

game

and this has been proven in every

country where the WBSC has introduced

the game people have loved

it last october the WBSC

coach commission ran a baseball and

softball clinic to certify new

instructors this is just an example

of how fun it is the clinic ended with a

Baseball5 tournament with the

participants

and these participants were instructors

from all over the world

very high profile people in the

international baseball and softball

worlds

they were having so much fun playing

Baseball5 that they didn't want to

stop

and now most of those instructors are

pushing to introduce the game in their

home countries

you see next that it's a fast game and

that i can

tell you i've seen first hand if both

teams

play good defense an entire game can be

completed in

as little as 15 or 20 minutes

and it's an intuitive game it's easily

understood

and i can give you an example of this

from the experience at the youth olympic

games in Buenos Aires in 2018

where Baseball5 was part of the

sport initiation zone

for almost two weeks every 30 minutes

the WBSC presented the game to a new

group of school students

the rules were explained to the students

in just five minutes

and keep in mind that these were

students with no knowledge of baseball

or softball

yet they were able to play Baseball5

and have fun

playing it right after the initial

demonstration

there's no doubt that it has been a

success

why Baseball5? Baseball5 comes

from the desire of the WBSC to increase

accessibility to sport in some countries

spaces are limited

and access to traditional baseball and

softball equipment is impossible for a

variety of different reasons

Baseball5 is also an additional tool

for national federations to increase

numbers and participation examples of

the why are truly endless

but you'll figure out the answers step

by step during these webinars

Baseball5 has proven itself to be a

solution

one of the most exciting aspects of

Baseball5

is that it's a discipline that can be

played year round in every country

because it can be played indoors as well

as outdoors it can be used at the

grassroots level to introduce the game

to young people through schools and

camps

and it can ultimately recruit new

members for baseball and softball

national federations

now you see that next point about

promotional events in a world tour

and that's an area where there's room

for development

you can create events and activate

sponsors

and bring your community into the mix as

well

you could also work together with

government organizations and

NGOs non-governmental organizations in

socially responsible programs

one national federation even plans to

introduce the game

in its prisons you know we'll focus a

lot about

young people in schools but just think

about that how adaptable this game is

that

it can be introduced in prisons too

WBSC has actually also brought Baseball5

to Syrian refugees

in Jordan it's really amazing how much

has been done

in such a short amount of time

something else that Baseball5 has

been able to do is help some countries

where baseball and softball have two

different federations to work together

in the project to create a national team

and that's the integration we're talking

about

when it comes to international

competitions and multi-sport

events there's a lot of opportunities

there and we'll look at those last two

points

more closely a little bit later on

you see that word explosion up top the

global

explosion of Baseball5 and that's

not an overstatement

in a little over two years we have

direct evidence

of Baseball5 being played in 70

countries more than 70 countries

on all continents and you can see this

map

which shows the explosion of the game

that's already taken place around the

world

every place that is shaded yellow has

had Baseball5 played there

and you can imagine what will happen in

the near future

and all the opportunities for

involvement that the game has created

and

will continue to create going forward

again we ask why Baseball5?

well before we get to that word complex

in regards to baseball and softball i

just want to mention that

Baseball5 is kind of like a little

brother or a little sister to baseball

and softball

and lately you may have noticed that all

the major sports have a little brother

or an

urban version you can think about

volleyball and beach volleyball

think about football or soccer with

five-on-five versions that have sprung

up

basketball a game that's normally played

five on five

now has a three on three version which

is really popular

there's rugby seven and a whole lot of

examples of how

traditional sports are adapting and

creating more

new opportunities for people to get

involved

in the WBSC as the world governing body

of baseball and softball had to think

about how to grow and develop the game

and not just the business and in the

last few years baseball and softball

have lost members

worldwide due to the explosion of other

sports

even in countries like the united states

and japan where baseball and softball

are national tradition those sports are

finding themselves struggling

to compete especially at the youth level

and especially in countries where

baseball and softball don't already have

a strong foothold

the games of baseball and softball are

often perceived as being too complex

and that has been a big reason why they

failed to grow

maybe as quickly as we would like

here's a good example that explains why

baseball and softball

might be having some trouble and i'm

just making this example up and i'll use

a kid in America as an example doesn't

matter boy or girl but just imagine

that this kid is playing baseball

and they play right field on defense

it can often happen in a game that no

balls are hit to right field during a

game

so for an entire game when on defense

this kid does not make a catch he

doesn't make a throw

he just stands in right field when he's

on offense

he bats three times but maybe he doesn't

even get a pitch to hit he might not see

a single strike so

in his three turns at bat he takes three

walks

so he gets back home his mom asks him if

he had fun at the game and what do you

think he's going to say

probably no i didn't have a whole lot of

fun

i stood in right field i didn't see a

ball when i was at bat i didn't have a

pitch to hit so i walked

and what do you think his mom will say

next she'll probably encourage him to go

try another sport with more action

in this situation the one i just

described

happens a lot especially in countries

that have a less developed baseball and

softball

infrastructure

and to really define what we mean by

it's too complex well

look at all these barriers to entry

there's the prohibitive cost

of the equipment there's the need for a

dedicated venue and

the massive dimensions of a baseball or

softball field

and there's always some difficulty

understanding

the long list of rules but the good news

is none of that applies to Baseball5

those technical complexities you see at

the bottom the unique game mechanism and

the unique wide range of skills

that's part of what Baseball5

highlights so well

Baseball5 maintains the uniqueness

of baseball and softball

while it eliminates the complexities

and that's how we can recruit new

members through Baseball5

it's a game that follows the concepts of

baseball and softball

it's a game with a spirit that is

actually almost identical

to baseball and softball but there's

more immediate access

and now we'll look at the basics of the

game

i'm sure you've already gotten the main

idea that Baseball5

is played with five players on each team

over the course of five innings but like

baseball and softball there are still

three outs to be made before offense and

defense switch

there's no pitching which eliminates

the problem of walks there's no stadium

required

and every time that a player goes into

the batter's box they hit the ball

and there's a play to be made the batter

will either be safe or out there's no

down time which is a big part of what

makes it so exciting

another unique aspect of Baseball5

is that it's a mixed gender game

with at least two male and two female

players on the field

at all times there's also a flexible

game format

games can be played one at a time or as

a best of three series

or really in any way that suits your

specific situation

and of course as you've heard me say

before and will probably hear me say

again

"all you need is a ball" that's a very

exciting part of Baseball5

and the beauty of it is that it's built

on the baseball and softball principles

and has the same dynamics as baseball

and softball

now we'll take a look at the field

you might be able to see the

measurements and keep in mind that

they're for

an official competition field but the

measurements are simple it's a three by

three meter batters box

bases have 50 centimeters per side and

13 meters distance between one another

there's another five meters beyond the

bases to get to the fence

there's foul territory that's about

another three meters

and there's a safe area that extends one

and a half meters

past each base and that allows for a

player to

run through a base without fear of being

tagged out

as we've shown already Baseball5 has

been introduced in many countries

sometimes it was planned in advance and

the organizers had everything required

to train and play games but sometimes

the field of play was improvised with

the help of the local national

federation

or other local organizers so we're going

to take a look in the next slide at

examples

of fields that were set up all over the

world in different ways

i really like this slide because i think

it shows how

diverse Baseball5 is and it gives

you a better understanding

of how baseball five truly can be played

everywhere

where we'll start is in the top left

corner and that's a picture from Buenos Aires, Argentina

during the 2018 Youth

Olympic Games

the WBSC had a nice space in the olympic

village

to debut Baseball5 the search the

surface used was natural grass

and the lines were marked with spray

paint

a Baseball5 logo was created with

spray paint as well

in two colors that field was used for 15

days

and it only had to be repainted every

four or five days it was really easy to

maintain

next to that in the top center

that's an example from Ivory Coast last

december

where Baseball5 was introduced as a

tool for the development of baseball and

softball at the grassroots level

the games were played on a basketball

court the surface was cement

and because it was a basketball court we

couldn't use paint to make the lines

so we used some of the already existing

side lines as foul lines

and we used cones you see the blue cones

there

to mark the batter's box more cones were

used to mark the four and a half meter

no-hit

zone the safe area at first base and the

end of the fair territory is there was

no fence

so that's a really different field than

the one you saw in the example on the

previous slide but it still worked

moving over to the top right hand corner

you can see another basketball court

and this one was actually in china we

were there for a Baseball5 clinic

and the national federation prepared a

nice venue with fences in that gymnasium

they used duct tape on the parquet floor

as it was easy to remove

the tape was yellow for the lines and

red for the bases and batter's box

very simple in the bottom left

it was in Uganda during a seminar for

baseball and softball coaches umpires

and scores

that seminar was also used to introduce

Baseball5

we weren't allowed to paint on the

ground because it was inside of a local

school

and chalk wasn't available so this is

where somebody got really creative

and those white lines that you see

marked in the bottom left-hand corner

they were marked with cooking flour

which is just remarkable somebody on the

team that helped design the field

had some pretty artistic skills they

were even able to make that Baseball5 logo

that you see

in the batter's box with flower too and

i just love that example

in the bottom center that was in

Washington dc

in the United States during the 2018 MLB

all-star game

it's really official there's a turf

field and this was at the fan fest

the organizers bought a piece of carpet

and marked the Baseball5 logo with

spray paint

and then they added the lines with duct

tape and boom

ready to go in the bottom right

another more conventional example i'd

say similar to the first one we talked

about

but in the bottom right that's at a

little league field in Italy

and all the lines are marked with chalk

on the clay

so there you see six photos of very

different Baseball5 fields but

they all came out the same way and they

led to the same kind of game play

not pictured here but just something

that we should tell you about another

example

was that in one African country the game

was introduced on a rainy day

and it was introduced kind of as a last

minute idea

because the kids couldn't go outside and

play baseball

instead they played a Baseball5 game

in a small classroom

with bases that were probably no more

than seven or eight meters apart

so that's about half the size that we

talked about sooner

what they did with the smaller

base paths as the kids walked instead of

ran

between bases and it worked that's the

thing about Baseball5 it always

works

now as we mentioned for WBSC official

events

there will be a dedicated venue it'll be

branded and professional

but to start and develop your program

and train your players is totally

different as you can see

there's really no excuses not to get

started you can be creative

this discipline can literally be played

everywhere

now we'll talk very briefly about the

differences between baseball softball

and Baseball5 and this is the last

section of this first module

we'll look more closely at the

differences between baseball

softball and Baseball5 and the

similarities later on in the program

let's start with defense

we'll take a look at the similarities

and differences when it comes to

fielding throwing and catching we'll

start

with fielding similarities are found

in the body position of the defenders

before the ball is put in play

you want to be in the ready position you

want your feet to be ready to move

with a low center of gravity that's the

same

but there's major differences obviously

in the fact that the defenders have no

gloves

that's the main difference and they

don't have time to move around the ball

to create a good throwing angle

that's what you see there in straight

roots

it's important to feel with both hands

because you don't have a glove to funnel

it in

and there's generally less time to react

when it comes to throwing we still set

our feet in the direction of the target

before the throw

and we finish with the same follow

through but there needs to be more of a

short arm motion

as you don't have time to shuffle to

create momentum towards the target

no time to set your feet would be the

baseball terminology

moving on to catching obviously you need

to keep your eye

on the ball watch the ball closely but

you don't have a glove

so that really makes it necessary to

catch with both hands catch with two

hands

there will be the odd play here and

there where somebody makes a great catch

with one hand

but more or less use two hands when

catching the ball

and those are some of the most basic

similarities and differences on defense

now we'll look at offense

we'll start with a basic similarity when

it comes to hitting the ball

it's all about hand eye coordination and

the body balance

rotation of the hips the obvious main

difference

is that we don't have a bat but we still

need to have good footwork to create

hitting velocity it's different though

the footwork you're using is not the

same as swinging a bat

you need to find your own footwork to

maximize ball speed and increase control

in terms of base running the path

between the bases

is exactly the same and the concept the

dynamic is the same too

you're trying to score runs however

because there are shorter distances

between the bases

a base runner really can't make any

mistakes and there's

no time to hesitate we also don't have

coaches to help there aren't base

coaches like you'd have in baseball and

softball

there's no time to look up for coaching

assistance

ultimately this is a good thing because

it improves

base running skills and especially base

running

instincts so i think what some might

look at as a disadvantage not having a

base coach

i look at it as a really positive

part of Baseball5 and that it

teaches base running instincts

now i know that's a lot of information

to digest

and at the same time it's still a very

rough overview

of what Baseball5 is how it compares

to baseball and softball and how you

make your own Baseball5 field

now again this is just module one of

seven so we will use the next modules

to go into greater detail about all the

topics we've discussed

certainly hope you've enjoyed this

introduction to Baseball5

and we look forward to sharing more with

you when we move on to module two