Team Insight

Team Insight catches up with the major youth baseball associations for a look at the state of the game. By Mike May TEAM BASEBALL TALKIN' BASEBALL USA BASEBALL While many people look at Major League Baseball as baseball's organizational leader, it's actually USA Baseball that has the responsibility of leading the charge of promoting the sport at many levels. And, according to Russell Hartford, the senior director/technology with USA Baseball, the game is in good shape and primed to grow in popularity in the U.S. "e game of baseball remains strong in its core traditions while embracing new audiences, new technologies and new opportu- nities for growth," he says. e organization is as focused on promoting participation in baseball as it is organizing national teams for various age groups. "e Fun At Bat school program came to be in 2017, falling under the Play Ball initiative, and since then has reached the impressive milestone of five million participants nationwide," reports Hartford. "Created in tandem with Major League Baseball, it is a physical education program for elementary school-aged children. e program is primarily delivered through P.E. courses and is intended to help students reach expected standards for their age, while also introducing them to the fun of diamond sports." Each year at the national level, USA Baseball identifies, selects and trains up to six national teams that will represent the U.S. in international competitions. As far as where the baseball games in the Olympics in 2028 will be held, there is still no official word on where those games will be played. USA Baseball won't start ramping up plans to pick the baseball squad for the LA Olympics until late 2027 or early 2028. LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL INTERNATIONAL Little League International, which was founded in 1939, oversees the most youth baseball participants in age from 4-16 years old. Little League- sanctioned games are held in 18 • Team Insight ~ January/February 2025 teaminsightmag.com

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