Association of Mauritania for Baseball and Softball

Engagement through Baseball

In October 2023, Agricultural Development Initiatives partnered with the Association of Mauritania for Baseball and Softball (AMBS) to host baseball training for coaches and player development camp for kids. Three professionals from Global Sports Partners (GSP) – the President of the organization, an officer, and a volunteer who was a former coach for Major League Baseball in China – led the training. The President of AMBS, Sidi Mohamed Boidaha, the Secretary, Bekaye Sy Samba, and the Treasurer, Boukhary Blegroune, also participated in the activities.

Participants included 20 adults from across Mauritania who wanted to learn how to play and coach baseball. 18 men and two women participated, including five inspectors from the Ministry of Sports and Culture. The training included sessions on the rules of baseball and the principles of good coaching. Participants received training in baseball field preparation, equipment, safety precautions, and training drills, as well as in transformational coaching: using sports to develop the character of the athlete and to prepare players for success in their sport and in their life. In each year following the initial camp, ADI has cooperated with the AMBS to host a player development camp. In 2025, the coach’s training was repeated.

ADI works with the AMBS to coordinate short seasons when community children can organize as a team, practice with a coach, and compete for six to ten weeks of match play.  The number of children included in baseball practice has grown from year to year. To date, there are 194 players who have registered to play on a team organized by the AMBS.

As of June 2026, five community teams were organizing within the neighborhoods of Nouakchott. Two community teams have named coaches and are beginning practice in Selibbay, and one community team has begun in Nouadhibou. The AMBS is working with the Mayor of L’Ksar to host the first ever national softball tournament for children age 8 to 12 in November 2026.

Youth and adults gather occasionally to practice softball.

Thank you to the individuals and community groups who donated equipment (baseball gloves, bats, bases, balls). Donations have been essential in getting the material that we needed to carry on our partnership with the AMBS.

ADI will continue to partner with the AMBS to promote baseball in Mauritania and provide the opportunity for children to learn a new activity, socialize with one another across language barriers, and develop good health and strong character.

This March (2024), ADI cooperated with the AMBS to conduct training for over 200 elementary and high school students to learn the game of baseball.

We taught using the game Baseball5, where five players field each team. Players field and hit with their hands, using a softer ball, no glove or bat necessary. We had the opportunity to bring our baseball training to four different Nouakchott schools where it was well received by school administrators.

Our practices for 8-12 year olds and adults have continued from January through the spring, and we are currently recruiting for four teams of 8-12 year olds in Nouakchott who will meet for a six game series in the spring.

Thank you to the individuals and community groups who donated equipment (baseball gloves, bats, bases, balls). It has been essential in getting the material that we needed to start our partnership with the AMBS playing baseball this year. We are also thankful to GSP, who provided two professional coaches to lead us in understanding and teaching the game of Baseball5. This allowed AMBS coaches to learn and expand this initiation to baseball into other areas of Mauritania.

ADI will continue to partner with the AMBS to promote baseball in Mauritania and provide the opportunity for children to learn a new activity, socialize with one another across language barriers, and develop good health and strong characters.