Run the Bases Partners with Football 4 Peace in Gambia

Building on the success of their first project in Malta, Run the Bases launched their second program in Gambia, delivered with Football 4 Peace.

The initiative 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 sport 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." said Anna Jassey on the Run The Bases training sessions.

Find our more about the program on the Run The Bases website, or by emailing: [email protected]