Frequently Asked Questions
Baseball and softball
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How are softball and baseball played?
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What are the dimensions of a baseball/softball field?
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What is indoor softball?
Increasingly popular during the winter months, indoor softball is a version of slowpitch softball adjusted for playing in sports halls. You can find out more under the indoor softball category here.
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Where do i find information on the British Baseball League?
The baseball league is run by the British Baseball Federation. Head on over to britishbaseball.org for results, standings, club information and more from baseball's national governing body.
Participation
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How do I become a coach?
Here at BSUK we're keen to boost the number of trained baseball and softball coaches in the UK. Check out the Coaching section to find out about the programme and get on a coaching course.
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I have a disability. Can I play?
People with hearing, visual impairments, physical or mobility issues and those with learning difficulties can often take part in baseball and softball without any changes. Baseball and Softball are both accessible where accommodation for any disability can be easily made.
For more info contact us here
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I want to play. How do I find a team to join?
Great! Your first port of call should be the Team Finder section of our website which will let you search a list of baseball and softball organisations which can help you locate playing opportunities in your area.
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I want to start a new baseball or softball club/league. Where do I begin?
Check out the development section of our website for advice, support and resources for baseball and softball organisations. If your organisation has not already been assigned a point person at BaseballSoftballUK please contact the Relationship Manager for your region and introduce yourself. You can find a list of our staff below
Your BaseballSoftballUK relationship managers
London and East – Jayde Ellis
South East – Colin Barrett
Midlands and South West – Leah Holmes
North – Luis Arrevillagas
Wales and Scotland – Chris Rawlings
Fastpitch Softball (regardless of region) – Alyson Spinas-Valainis
We look forward to hearing from you!
If you are planning to start a new softball team, there is a series of documents available on this topic on the British Softball Federation website
Welfare and safeguarding
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I’m a club safeguarding officer. What does that mean?
Every baseball and softball club should have a Club Safeguarding (or Welfare) Officer who leads on ensuring that the club provides a safe environment for participants, especially young people and vulnerable adults. They also act as the contact point for club members with welfare concerns and represent the club if a welfare investigation is carried out by BaseballSoftballUK, the British Softball Federations or another safeguarding authority.
You can find out more about what is involved in the Safeguarding section.
It is important that Club Safeguarding Officers read the safeguarding-related policies and procedures that have been adopted by BaseballSoftballUK or the British Softball Federation. Leagues, clubs, teams, other affiliated organisations and individuals associated with baseball and softball are expected to follow these standards.
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What is the procedure for investigating welfare related concerns or complaints?
The British Softball Federation and BaseballSoftballUK (BSUK) are committed to promoting the welfare of all involved in baseball and softball. We aim to provide a process that will make it simple and straightforward for people to raise any concerns they may have.
We've outlined the procedure in a safeguarding complaints procedure document which explains how to deal with a complaint by a parent, guardian or carer resulting from a safeguarding concern involving someone under the age of 18 or a vulnerable adult, or a complaint made by a young person or vulnerable adult directly.
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What is welfare, safeguarding and child protection?
Sport can and does have a powerful and positive influence on its participants, especially young people. Not only can it provide opportunities for enjoyment and achievement, it can also develop valuable qualities such as self-esteem, leadership and teamwork.
Everyone who participates in baseball or softball is entitled to do so in an enjoyable and safe environment, and has the right to protection from abuse, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity.
Everyone working in baseball and softball - whether paid or in a voluntary capacity - has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults, and preventing their abuse. Find out how in the Safeguarding section of the website.
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Who do I speak to if I’m worried about someone’s welfare?
Everyone who participates in baseball or softball is entitled to do so in an enjoyable and safe environment, and has the right to protection from abuse, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity. The British Softball Federation and BaseballSoftballUK (BSUK) are committed to promoting the welfare of all involved in baseball and softball, and leagues, clubs, teams, other affiliated organisations and individuals associated with baseball and softball are expected to follow our standards.
If you are a young person and are worried about your or your friends' safety in your club, first check out the advice and support in the Advice for Young People page of the Safeguarding section of our site. This will tell you who you can speak to about it.
If you are an adult with a specific concern about the welfare of a young person or vulnerable adult while they are involved in baseball or softball, your first point of contact should be the club or programme's Safeguarding Officer. If you can't get in contact with this person, contact BSUK's Safeguarding Officer by calling 020 7453 7055 or by email. You can also find lots of information in the Safeguarding section of our website
Accidents and insurance
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Does my club need insurance?
Both the British Baseball Federation and the British Softball Federation require affiliated clubs to have civil liability insurance. They also offer personal accident insurance for club members.
Both federations require that players be registered with their club on the British Softball or British Baseball websites as a condition of insurance. This is to make sure that we can identify who is insured in the event of a claim. These sites also contain information on the affiliation/payment process.
Find out more about Insurance
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How do coaches get insured?
If you are a coach who is a registered member of a club that is affiliated to the British Softball Federation, you are covered for civil liability insurance while coaching baseball or softball in your club environment. This is through the club's insurance that it obtains through affiliation to the BSF. It might also include personal accident insurance if that is part of the Federation's insurance offering.
If you are a member of the BaseballSoftballUK Coach Licence Scheme, you get civil liability and personal accident cover that extends beyond your club environment to apply wherever you are coaching baseball or softball. Find out more about the Coach Licence Scheme in the coaching section of our website.
Find out more in the insurance section of our website.
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How do I make a civil liability insurance claim?
Civil liability claims are based on an allegation of negligence on the part of an insured baseball or softball organisation. If you wish to make a civil liability claim against a baseball or softball organisation and believe your circumstances satisfy the criteria of the civil liability insurance cover, your claim should be put in writing to the insurance brokers.
For a summary of the insurance cover and contact details for the insurance brokers, please visit the insurance section of the BSUK website.
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How do I make a personal accident insurance claim?
If you have been injured during a baseball or softball activity, you should check the summary of insurance cover to see if your circumstances satisfy the criteria of the personal accident cover. If you believe you qualify for a claim, you can download and complete the appropriate claim form, which is available through the BSUK website.
Once the claim is made, the insurers will investigate the claim.
A summary of the insurance cover and to how to make a claim can be found in the insurance section of the BSUK website. -
How do players get insured?
Insurance is handled as part of the affiliation process between a club and the relevant national governing body (the British Baseball Federation or the British Softball Federation). It works in a slightly different way depending on whether it's baseball or softball:
Generally, it is softball leagues which affiliate and pay an insurance fee to the British Softball Federation. Going down the chain, clubs pay membership and insurance fees to their league, and players pay membership fees to their club, which includes annual insurance cover. The exceptions are tournament teams which don't play in a league but take part in BSF tournaments through the year. They will affiliate directly with the BSF, sometimes done through a tournament entry fee.
Baseball clubs, on the other hand, affiliate with the British Baseball Federation directly and pay an insurance fee in the process. Players then obtain insurance through membership with their club.
Both federations require that players be registered with their club on the British Softball or British Baseball websites as a condition of insurance. This is to make sure that we can identify who is insured in the event of a claim. These sites also contain information on the affiliation/payment process.
In some cases, a league or team will obtain insurance through the Federations' development agency, BaseballSoftballUK (e.g. by being a member of the Hit the Pitch programme)
Find out more about insurance.
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In terms of insurance. What should I do if an incident occurs during a baseball / softball event?
Details should be captured in writing at the time of the incident when they are still fresh in the minds of those present, and an incident report should be submitted to BaseballSoftballUK as soon as possible. It would be ideal if the incident report is compiled by a team captain, umpire, coach or event organiser, by speaking to the people involved and any witnesses.
In the case of an incident that might lead to a claim on the civil liability insurance (i.e. where someone might claim negligence on the part of your club) it is crucial you do not admit liability or agree to pay for any damage caused as this could result in the insurers not meeting the claim. The club should not issue compensation payment on the assumption that it will be reimbursed when the insurance claim is processed. Liability will be assessed by the insurers should a claim subsequently arise.
Please visit the insurance section of the BSUK website for a full Guide to Incident Reporting and our standard incident report form
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What is an incident report?
It is important to report any incident linked to a baseball or softball activity that results in an injury or accident. This could include an injury to an individual or damage to property. By building up a picture of the type of incidents that most commonly occur in our sports, BaseballSoftballUK and the British Baseball and Softball Federations can look to make improvements to help reduce these in future.
Another reason to report incidents is associated with insurance provision. BaseballSoftballUK is required to maintain a record of any incident that might give rise to an insurance claim, and to pass it on to the insurance brokers for their own records in case a claim arises later.
Please note that sending in the incident report does not automatically make it an insurance issue and does not constitute an insurance claim being made; it is initially just part of our record keeping. We will only forward the record on to the insurance brokers if the incident is something that would be considered under the terms of the insurance policies should a claim arise.
For more information, please read the Guide to Incident Reporting
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What is covered in the baseball / softball insurance?
You can find out what is covered by the civil liability and personal accident insurance policies on the insurance section of the BaseballSoftballUK website.
General
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Can I watch Baseball and Softball on TV in the UK?
You can watch Major League Baseball on ESPN and occasionally on BT Sport and coverage from some European and World baseball and softball championships are occasionally shown on British Eurosport. All these channels are available on satellite and cable TV. The BBC sometimes broadcasts commentary from Major League games on its radio station 5 Live Sports Extra, especially during the World Series.
Check out their listings for more information.
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How do BaseballSoftballUK use photographs or video on the website?
BaseballSoftballUK may assign members of its staff or others to take photographs or video at its own events, or at baseball or softball events run by the British Baseball or Softball Federations, leagues, clubs, teams or other organisations, including tournaments held overseas in which British national or club teams are involved.
Images and/or footage from such events may be used for purposes of editorial coverage or promotion, which may include use in printed documents or electronic media, including our websites and social media channels.
Please visit the Use of Photography and Video page for more information on:
- Our procedures for obtaining and using images
- Safeguarding and privacy matters related to those images
- How to opt out of being photographed or having your image used
- How to provide images to BSUK
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How do I find information about Farnham Park baseball and softball complex?
In 2013, BaseballSoftballUK opened dedicated permanent baseball and softball fields at Farnham Park Sports Ground in Buckinghamshire. Visit this page on our website that is dedicated to Farnham Park Baseball & Softball Complex to find out about the fields, current events and how to make a booking.
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How do I get in contact with BaseballSoftballUK?
For general enquiries, you can email us through the Contact Us page or call the Head Office on 020 7453 7055.
For development enquiries relating to your club or league, your first port of call should be your BSUK Point Person. You can find a list of these in the Club & Management section.
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I want to make a complaint. How do I do this?
Thankfully, this is not a frequently asked question but we thought we'd include it anyway! We are committed to improving the experience of everyone involved in baseball and softball. This includes dealing with any complaint you may have.
We've created a page in Policies and Procedures which will tell you who to contact and how the complaints procedure works.
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I want to offer my products and services to baseball/softballers. Who do I talk to?
We are eager to work with any organisation that wants to grow the games in the United Kingdom!
Get in touch here