The British Baseball Federation (BBF) is the
national governing body of
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
within the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
. Organised modern baseball has been played in the United Kingdom since
the first baseball league began in 1890, with a succession of different governing bodies in place over that time. The BBF was founded in 1987.
The BBF is a federated member of both
WBSC Europe and
WBSC. Until December 2020, the BBF was a joint member (with the
British Softball Federation) of BaseballSoftballUK (BSUK), a sports development agency. On 24 February 2025, the BBF rejoined as a member of BSUK.
The voting members of BBF are the affiliated baseball clubs, life members and the umpires, scorers and coaches associations. The BBF holds an annual general meeting each spring at which the voting members elect an executive board of 11 officials to oversee the body and the sport. All participants (
players,
coaches,
managers
Management (or managing) is the administration of organizations, whether businesses, nonprofit organizations, or a government bodies through business administration, nonprofit management, or the political science sub-field of public administr ...
,
umpires,
scorers, etc.) with affiliated clubs and the associations are members of the BBF.
There are organised youth
leagues at 10 to 13 (Bronco) and 14 to 16 (Pony) age ranges. Additionally, British Baseball supports the Play Ball programme run by BaseballSoftballUK which introduces children from 8 to 12 to bat and ball games, usually through school or a local Play Ball scheme. There are also GB national teams for youth players (Cadets under 16s, and Juniors under 19s), as well as an off-season British Baseball Academy for youth players and coaches. For adults, there are a number of leagues and divisions, split by ability and geographical location. These range from the highly competitive to the recreational.
In 2008 there were 38 clubs, with 67 league teams, as members of the BBF.
British Baseball Federation Members' List
There are also a number of non-league clubs and teams affiliated to British Baseball. British Baseball also oversees the national team of Great Britain
Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...
.
BBF Board
The BBF board is elected at AGMs. The current board is comprised as follows:
*President: Richard Evans
*Treasurer: Oona Ylinen
*Secretary: Earl Dix
*Senior Affiliated Clubs League Commissioner: Chris Carter
*National Team Programme Official: Glenn Taylor (Interim)
*Development Official: Lee Manning
*Coaches Commissioner: Mike Hayward
*Youth Affiliated Clubs League Commissioner: Glenn Taylor
*Officials Commissioner: Dave Becker
*Marketing & Communications: Stu Taylor
Past presidents
*Ian Cox: 2004–06
*Ian Marchment: 2006–07
*Rob Rance: 2007–09
*Mark Salter: 2010–12
*Earl Dix: 2014–16
*Gerry Perez: 2016–21
*Tom Thornhill 2022-24
*Chris Deacon: 2024
League structure
Affiliated clubs may enter as many teams as they wish to play in the BBF baseball leagues. There is a senior bracket for adults, and two youth brackets (10 to 13 and 14 to 16).
The season runs from April to September each year and ends in the National Baseball Championships (previously referred to as 'Final 4s'). National Youth Baseball Championships are also held for the two youth-age brackets Bronco (U13) and Pony (U16). Championships are hosted by different clubs around the country each year chosen through a competitive bidding process.
See also
*Baseball in the United Kingdom
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play beginning when a player on the fielding team, called ...
* Baseball awards#United Kingdom
*Baseball World Cup
The Baseball World Cup (BWC) was an international baseball tournament for national teams around the world, sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF). First held in 1938 as the Amateur World Series (AWS), it was, for most of its ...
* Sheffield Bladerunners
*Bolton Robots of Doom
Bolton Robots of Doom (formerly Bolton Blaze) was an English baseball team from Bolton situated in the North West region of England, playing in the Northern AA Division under the British Baseball Federation. They have now moved to Runcorn and be ...
References
External links
British Baseball Federation
BaseballSoftball''UK'' - the dual sports' development agencyGreat Britain National Baseball Team
*
IBAF International Baseball Federation
{{WBSC Europe associations
Baseball governing bodies in Europe
Baseball in the United Kingdom
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
Sports organizations established in 1987
1987 establishments in the United Kingdom