Building on the results of the first project in Malta, Run the Bases has just returned from working in Gambia. The program, delivered in association with Football 4 Peace, included 16 days of training for both young people and local coaches. Run the Bases worked in four different communities, affecting over 800 children. The aim of the project was to develop the knowledge of local coaches in order to build a sustainable sports program for girls. The pre-existing relationship between F4P Gambia and the local communities was a considerable advantage in understanding how to tailor the coaching sessions to the Gambian way of life.

One of the ways RTB has engaged the local community is through the development of Baseball5 (a 5x5 format recently launched by the WBSC World Baseball Softball Confederation). On day 3, the entire coaching staff walked down to the beach for their first training session. With no field in sight, sticks and flip-flops were the only tools necessary to draw bases in the sand. Keeping true to the essence of street ball, the coaches formed their own rules and made the beach their new field.

The group of eight coaches who were trained in the RTB methodology showed great improvement throughout the two weeks, taking the responsibility to lead sessions on their own by the end of the program. Many of them had never heard of softball or Baseball5, let alone played either of the games. This project has offered local coaches the opportunity to learn about a new sport that is ideally suited to promote gender inclusion.

'This program allows us to come together and form ideas. Learning softball has given me knowledge of a new sport to teach the kids in my community.' - Anna Jassey on RTB training.

Run the Bases would like to thank all the coaches for their enthusiasm, hospitality and overall welcoming nature.

runthebases.org

info@runthebases.org

/Run the Bases is a newly formed Sport for Development organization that aims to tackle gender inequalities in sport, focusing on the sport of softball. Former UCLA Softball Player Tara Henry (USA), Sebastian Cirillo (Italy), and Kelly Smith (UK), are developing an international organisation that combines skills and values based coaching techniques to empower and encourage young athletes to become leaders in sport and in life. The pilot program took place in Gozo, Malta in partnership with the Għajnsielem Redcoats, a local sports organisation offering softball, baseball and basketball to its members. Run the Bases was joined by Stanley Doney (New Zealand), the current coach of the European Cup Winners Cup Champions (Olympia Haarlem) and the Dutch Softball Coach of the Year and Tahli Moore (Australia), former NCAA Softball Player (James Madison University), to offer quality softball skills./

Earlier about Run The Bases: Run the Bases Launches Pilot Program in Malta

-Tara Henry-