Baseball-5
Meet Baseball5™: the hip, new partner of America’s Pastime! It’s a lightning-fast, high-energy game that shares the same core principles as traditional baseball. But here’s what makes it special: it can be played anywhere, with just a rubber ball. No fancy equipment needed! Baseball5™ has seen explosive international growth since its launch by the WBSC in 2017, and will make its debut in the Youth Olympic Games in 2026.
Why Baseball-5?
Baseball5™ is a simple urban version of the classic games of baseball and softball, where only a rubber ball is required to play the game. This faster paced street discipline of the sport has been designed to appeal to youngsters and other fans across the world. Baseball5 was born from a desire to make baseball more accessible to everyone, without compromising the uniqueness of the game. The variant eliminates the need for traditional baseball equipment such as bats, gloves, helmets, etc. No pitcher is needed as hitting is done by hand. The sport maintains the uniqueness of baseball/softball while eliminating the structural complexities, thus making the game playable anywhere.
Each team has five players – plus reserves – and depending on the format, a game can last between 15 and 20 minutes. Baseball5 is the epitome of a cool sport: it’s sustainable, inclusive, youth-focused and makes non structured spaces come alive with athletic energy.
Baseball5 is built on the pillars of Inclusion, Accessibility, Confidence, Innovation and Teamwork. Baseball5 is a game for everyone that can be mastered in minutes. No need for extensive equipment, a dedicated venue, or even a pitcher! All you need is a ball! #PlayEverywhere
The discipline can be characterized as: accessible, sustainable, urban, youth-focused, inclusive, and instant fun.
Baseball5 Basics
- Fast-paced team sport
- Individual skills and hand-eye coordination are highlighted
- Utilizes four vital athletic skills: Hitting, Throwing, Catching, Running
- No construction or dedicated venue needed
- A rubber ball (or tennis ball) is the only equipment needed to play
The game is played on a compact playing field that requires little space for the game, the teams are small and therefore the game is fast and dynamic.
Benefits of Baseball5
- Adapts to any environment, indoor or outdoor
- Can be played on any surface, turf or pavement or gym floor
- All you need is a ball
- Skills also transfer to traditional baseball/softball
- Promotes inclusion—a game for all demographics
- Social contribution—its accessibility makes it invaluable particularly to the most underserved communities
Baseball5 as Sports Ministry
Baseball5™ is helping to drive baseball and softball to new places not possible before, which also makes it a highly impactful sport for evangelism, youth outreach, and church missions. Depending on the venue, Breakaway Outreach can facilitate Baseball5™ as a standalone sports ministry camp or provide coaches to add it as a feature to an existing ministry context such as multisport camp, English camp, student ministry, or VBS program.
Breakaway Outreach has used Baseball5™ as sports ministry in USA, Germany, Italy, Northern Ireland, England, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Korea. Contact us if you are interested in running a Baseball5™ camp or clinic as sports ministry in your community, or if you’d like to coach Baseball5™ on a cross-cultural mission trip.
