Young British athletes will soon benefit from the Emerging Players Programme (EPP), an initiative designed to identify, develop, and increase the number of youth able to meet the standards for national team selection. The EPP is a joint initiative between the British Baseball Federation, Great Britain Baseball, and BaseballSoftballUK, with funding being made available through Sport England.
The programme will commence in early 2026 and will focus on 11 to 15 year olds in two regions: London & the South East and the West & East Midlands. Each area will be led by a team of experienced coaches, with long-time GB player and coach Will Lintern leading the London & South East region and coordinating the EPP as a whole. The Midlands pilot will be led by Birmingham Baseball Club’s Bob Rowe, who will be joined by GB Under-18 head coach Matt Moran.
During January, February, March and April, there will be a total of six weekend training sessions across both programmes three at each site. Later in the year, a EPP Series of games is planned for the participants as well as a three day Summer Camp.
Expansion of the EPP into more regions is planned for 2027 and beyond, along with the reintroduction of a National Academy.
“Increasing youth participation and developing young talent to enable a pipeline into the Great Britain Baseball age groups is a key priority for the Federation and I am delighted that we have been able to work closely with coaches involved in the GB programme, the performance team at BSUK and Sport England to bring this initiative to fruition,” said Richard Evans, BBF President.
The EPP is also designed to improve the development of coaches across the country and strengthen the links between clubs and the national programme.
“Being able to develop young players and coaches is vital if we are to compete on the international stage in the long term,” noted EPP Director Will Lintern. “The EPP is designed for young players who have shown interest and ability to play above the grass roots level and is a vital bridge between club and national team. It will also provide an opportunity for coaches who have shown competency and have a desire to grow and develop.”
Alan Dean, BSUK’s Performance Programme Manager, concluded, “This is an excellent opportunity for younger players to come together regionally and experience great coaching, whilst developing their skills and exhibiting a desire to learn. This is a hugely important stage of the Player pathway developed jointly by the BBF and BSUK.”