Association of Mauritania for Baseball and Softball

In October 2023, Agricultural Development Initiatives partnered with the Association of Mauritania for Baseball and Softball (AMBS) to host a baseball training and camp for coaches and 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 – facilitated the training. The President of AMBS, Sidi Mohamed Boidaha, the Secretary- General, Bekaye Sy Samba, and the Treasurer, Boukhary, also participated in the activities.

Participants included 20 adults from across Mauritania who want to learn about baseball and become baseball coaches. 18 men and two women participated, including five inspectors from the Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Parliament Relations. The training included sessions on the sport of baseball and the principles of good coaching. Participants received training in baseball rules, 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.

105 players enrolled, 97 players trained
22 coaches enrolled, 21 coaches trained

ADI is currently facilitating weekly Saturday practices in Nouakchott for local Mauritanians interested in learning the sport. 

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.

Teaching Baseball5 in Nouakchott schools