The Zimbabwe Baseball Association (ZBA) has decided to introduce baseball5 which is a fast-pace youth-focused urban discipline and small-sided version of baseball or softball.
The new sport needs the support of government and corporate stakeholders before shifting to national levels as said by Morris Banda the ZBA president.
Baseball5 is a sport that can be played by all age groups including children in schools. Mr Banda told the press that the sport is easy and does not require expensive equipment compared to other well-known sports in the country.
“Baseball5 was first established by the World Baseball Softball Confederation in 2017. It is a five aside game (three male plus two female players) played over five innings. It is the street version of baseball or softball and requires virtually no equipment and can be played anywhere,” said Banda.
“It is easy to promote baseball5 due to the fact that you need only a ball and space. During this Covid19 pandemic it is also much safer option since there is no exchange of equipment like in baseball and softball that is in terms of use of gloves, bats and helmets, among other required equipment,” the president continued.
After being approved, the new sport was included in the sports programme of the Youth Olympic Games Dakar in 2022. Plans are however being made to promote the game as an alternative to baseball and softball during this time and post COVID-19.
“We have over 40 coaches from baseball and softball that were trained in baseball5 last year. Shepherd Sibanda (in Bulawayo) is an instructor with WBSC and will lead the promotion of baseball5 in Zimbabwe with John Madziro (in Harare)” Banda concluded.
