The British Softball Federation will be focusing on its equipment donation campaign called Bring a Bat, Give a Glove throughout the 2014 season, to provide equipment to new softball teams and leagues developing across the UK.
Teams and players who have old gloves, bats, balls, bases etc that they no longer use are urged to donate them to help others get started in the game.
Recognising the barrier to fledgling teams and leagues presented by the initial cost of playing equipment, the BSF hopes that by providing this re-cycling service to keep usable equipment in play, new teams will be able to establish themselves before investing in new and better kit as they grow into the sport.
Look for the kitbag
At every BSF-run event this season, including National Championships, and at other tournaments where the organisers have agreed to participate in the programme, there will be a kitbag on site located somewhere near Tournament Control, labelled with a “Bring a Bat, Give a Glove” banner, for the collection of donated items.
Where tournaments are taking part in this initiative, organisers will pass along flyers to team captains before the competition so that players are aware of the campaign.
But the BSF will of course accept kit at any time or location, even where the “Bring a Bat, Give a Glove” infrastructure isn't in place. The message is: “If there is an opportunity to give, please take it.”
Any donated equipment will be cleaned and repaired if possible: glove laces renewed, leather oiled, bat grips replaced. Dangerous equipment that can't be fixed will be disposed of and the good stuff will made into starter kits (presuming enough donations are received).
The BSF will then solicit requests from development teams and leagues, or identify suitable recipients, as the season progresses.
Past success
The “Bring a Bat, Give a Glove” campaign was successful when the BSF introduced it three years ago, and a fair amount of equipment was collected that was put to good use. Now the BSF wants to re-emphasise the need, with new teams starting up around the country through BSUK development programmes or league expansion.
The BSF campaign echoes that which has been conducted for some years by the International Softball Federation (ISF), which has helped developing softball federations around the world by passing on used softball equipment donated at the end of each season by US schools and colleges.
The BSF -- and developing teams -- thank you in advance for any contribution you can make to this initiative!