View source for British Baseball Federation

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{About|the form of baseball generally associated with the USA|the sport and its governing body indigenous to Britain|British Baseball|and|International Baseball Board}}
{{Infobox Sport governing body
|assocname    = British Baseball Federation
|abbrev       = BBF
|logo         = British Baseball Federation logo.png
|sport        = [[Baseball]]
|jurisdiction = [[United Kingdom]]
|founded      = 1987
|aff          = [[World Baseball Softball Confederation|WBSC]]
|affdate      =
|region       = [[WBSC Europe]]
|regionyear   =
|headquarters = [[Farnham Royal]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom]]<ref>{{cite web|title=British Baseball Federation|url=https://www.wbsc.org/en/members/profile/baseball/20/1|website=WBSC.org|publisher=World Baseball Softball Confederation|access-date=24 January 2023}}</ref>
|president    = Richard Evans
|coach        = Drew Spencer
|womenscoach  =
|url          = https://www.britishbaseball.org.uk/
|countryflag  = United Kingdom
}}
The '''British Baseball Federation''' (BBF) is the [[Sports governing body|national governing body]] of [[baseball]] within the [[United Kingdom]]. Organised modern baseball has been played in the United Kingdom since [[Baseball in the United Kingdom|the first baseball league began in 1890]], with a succession of different governing bodies in place over that time. The BBF was founded in 1987.

The BBF is a federated member of both [[WBSC Europe]] and [[WBSC]]. Until December 2020, the BBF was a joint member (with the [[British Softball Federation]]) of BaseballSoftballUK (BSUK), a sports development agency.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 December 2020|title=BBF leaves membership of BaseballSoftballUK|url=https://www.baseballsoftballuk.com/news/view/british-baseball-federation-leaves-baseballsoftballuk-membership|url-status=live|access-date=8 May 2021|website=BaseballSoftballUK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210123028/https://www.baseballsoftballuk.com/news/view/british-baseball-federation-leaves-baseballsoftballuk-membership |archive-date=10 December 2020 }}</ref> On 24 February 2025, the BBF rejoined as a member of BSUK.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 February 2025 |title=Federation membership of BSUK points way to one new organisation |url=https://www.britishbaseball.org.uk/news/federation-membership-of-bsuk-points-way-to-one-new-organisation |access-date=6 May 2025 |website=British Baseball Federation}}</ref> 

The voting members of BBF are the affiliated baseball clubs, life members and the umpires, scorers and coaches associations. The BBF holds an annual general meeting each spring at which the voting members elect an executive board of 11 officials to oversee the body and the sport. All participants ([[baseball positions|players]], [[coach (baseball)|coaches]], [[manager (baseball)|managers]], [[umpire (baseball)|umpires]], [[official scorer|scorers]], etc.) with affiliated clubs and the associations are members of the BBF.

There are organised youth [[sports league|leagues]] at 10 to 13 (Bronco) and 14 to 16 (Pony) age ranges. Additionally, British Baseball supports the Play Ball programme run by BaseballSoftballUK which introduces children from 8 to 12 to bat and ball games, usually through school or a local Play Ball scheme. There are also GB national teams for youth players (Cadets under 16s, and Juniors under 19s), as well as an off-season British Baseball Academy for youth players and coaches. For adults, there are a number of leagues and divisions, split by ability and geographical location. These range from the highly competitive to the recreational.<ref>[http://www.britishbaseball.org/baseballresults.php British Baseball Federation Leagues] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006201854/http://www.britishbaseball.org/baseballresults.php |date=6 October 2007 }}</ref>

In 2008 there were 38 clubs, with 67 league teams, as members of the BBF.<ref>[http://www.britishbaseball.org/gen_insert.php?from_level3=Articles&db_story=1945 British Baseball Federation Members' List] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817151752/http://www.britishbaseball.org/gen_insert.php?from_level3=Articles&db_story=1945 |date=17 August 2009 }}</ref> There are also a number of non-league clubs and teams affiliated to British Baseball. British Baseball also oversees [[Great Britain national baseball team|the national team]] of [[Great Britain]].

==BBF Board==
The BBF board is elected at AGMs.  The current board is comprised as follows:
*President: Richard Evans
*Treasurer: Oona Ylinen
*Secretary: Earl Dix
*Senior Affiliated Clubs League Commissioner: Chris Carter
*National Team Programme Official: Glenn Taylor (Interim)
*Development Official: Lee Manning
*Coaches Commissioner: Mike Hayward
*Youth Affiliated Clubs League Commissioner: Glenn Taylor
*Officials Commissioner: Dave Becker
*Marketing & Communications: Stu Taylor

===Past presidents ===
*Ian Cox: 2004–06
*Ian Marchment: 2006–07
*Rob Rance: 2007–09
*Mark Salter: 2010–12
*Earl Dix: 2014–16
*Gerry Perez: 2016–21
*Tom Thornhill 2022-24
*Chris Deacon: 2024

==League structure==
Affiliated clubs may enter as many teams as they wish to play in the BBF baseball leagues. There is a senior bracket for adults, and two youth brackets (10 to 13 and 14 to 16).

The season runs from April to September each year and ends in the National Baseball Championships (previously referred to as 'Final 4s').  National Youth Baseball Championships are also held for the two youth-age brackets Bronco (U13) and Pony (U16). Championships are hosted by different clubs around the country each year chosen through a competitive bidding process.{{cn|date=June 2023}}

==See also==
*[[Baseball in the United Kingdom]]
*[[Baseball awards#United Kingdom]]
*[[Baseball World Cup]]
*[[Sheffield Bladerunners]]
*[[Bolton Robots of Doom]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.britishbaseball.org British Baseball Federation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509142317/http://www.britishbaseball.org/ |date=9 May 2008 }}
*[http://www.baseballsoftballuk.com BaseballSoftball''UK'' - the dual sports' development agency]
*[http://www.gbbaseball.com Great Britain National Baseball Team] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923160434/http://www.gbbaseball.com/ |date=23 September 2009 }}
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20010302122301/http://www.baseballeurope.com/ CEB Confederation of European Baseball]}}
*[http://www.ibaf.org IBAF International Baseball Federation]

{{Baseball in Britain}}
{{Sports governing bodies of the United Kingdom}}
{{WBSC Europe associations}}

[[Category:Baseball governing bodies in Europe]]
[[Category:Baseball in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Sports governing bodies in the United Kingdom|Baseball]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1987]]
[[Category:1987 establishments in the United Kingdom]]