MLB & USA Baseball Launch 'Fun At Bat' After School Program
September 2, 2022
Major League Baseball (MLB) and USA Baseball have launched ‘Fun at Bat After School’ in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America for the 2022/2023 academic year. The new program is an expansion of the existing free bat-and-ball instruction program, which teaches the fundamentals of bat-and-ball sports to youth of all ages outside of the classroom.
The original ‘Fun at Bat’ program was introduced in 2015 as part of MLB’s Play Ball initiative to inspire children to play baseball and softball and grow the game at the grassroots level in a fun, active and engaging environment for youth. Based on research into entry-level youth sports instruction, it encompasses character-building activities, literacy training and active play. Starting off as a physical education curriculum for schools, the program is now available to over four million children across the world including in Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Mexico, the UK and Brazil.
Over 400 chapters of Boys & Girls Clubs of America across all 50 states will have access to the free program, with an expected reach of approximately 35,000 kids. Participating clubs will receive an equipment kit including 50 ‘USA Baseball Championship Principles’ books, a ‘Fun at Bat After School’ guide to aid the successful implementation of the program and access to an online instructor course on USA Baseball’s Online Education Center. The program is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese and includes a literacy component focusing on character development and teaching traits such as leadership, teamwork and responsibility.
“If I had access to a program like this, my whole life would probably change,” said MLB chief baseball development officer Tony Reagins, a Boys & Girls Clubs of America Hall of Famer. “These kids, over the course of the next year, will have an opportunity to learn something that will enhance their character. I look at it as major organizations invested in kids that will then, in turn, benefit our sport and our world.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of America supports all young people in "reaching their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” Through nearly 5,000 Boys & Girls Clubs, the organization offers high-impact youth development programs, adult mentors, fun and friendship on a daily basis with programming that promotes academic success, character development, leadership training and healthy lifestyles. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands, providing safe spaces for kids and teens to access mentors, meals, education, sport and more.
“This program, in a fun way, is going to teach all those skills that are going to make these young people not only baseball fans and players but world-class citizens. It's not just about baseball. It's about fun and developing the next generation of world-class citizens,” said Frank Sanchez, Boys & Girls Clubs of America national vice president of business and community affairs. Sanchez started at Kips Bay Club and attributes his good character to the club where he was taught about sports, competition and teamwork.