Recently a number of claims have been made in regards to the way Baseball Victoria selects facilities to host Baseball Victoria camps, academy programs, etc., as well as other general accusations around lack of communication, not responding to proposals and the like.
Baseball Victoria is committed to delivering high quality programs which are delivered at a level of cost that encourages the participation and growth of our game. When selecting venues to host these programs, Baseball Victoria is committed to supporting the baseball community by utilising baseball club facilities, and or community assets such as the Melbourne Ballpark as a means of supporting our members, and in turn, their clubs. Ensuring geographic diversity is achieved is also key in the selection process to ensure participants are afforded every opportunity to attend local programs.
Over the past twelve months Baseball Victoria has achieved this objective through Camps held at Essendon, Cheltenham, Knox, and Waverley Baseball Club facilities. Not only have the Camps been well attended, but it has given Baseball Victoria and its Clubs an opportunity to showcase some of the great facilities and programs that are available.
Baseball is not a cheap sport to play, and players and their families are forever reaching into their pockets for fees, camps, tours, uniforms, etc. With this in mind it is incumbent on Baseball Victoria, and the people that run our many programs, to look carefully at the options that are available to us e.g. the 2014 Academy program will have a number of levels, which will allow more players access to quality coaching programs, but there is also a need to make sure it is accessible. By this we mean both financially and geographically.
At present we have locked away two venues for the Academy/Coaching programs for 2014, with one at Melbourne Ball Park (MBP), and the other in Knoxfield. We have been able to facilitate lower prices for venue hire without compromising the program, and with the added benefit in the MBP situation of incorporating some of our strength and conditioning program.
Over the past year we have assessed many of our programs for their value, and cost effectiveness, and as a result there are some programs that we will no longer run, some we will enhance, and a number we will introduce. The ultimate aim is to become more self-sufficient as a sport by leveraging resources through Government and sponsor funding, but also by reinvesting back into baseball through programs like Tee Ball, and social competitions.
We are also conscious of:
1. Supporting the baseball community by using Baseball Club facilities as our first choice;
2. Ensuring geographic diversity by ensuring Baseball Clubs across the state are considered;
3. Where appropriate Melbourne Ballpark be utilised given that this is our State Baseball facility, and the home of our ABL team the Melbourne Aces;
4. Where commercial enterprise are to be utilised, location and cost to ensure the overall programs is kept accessible will be a key consideration.
It is the intention of Baseball Victoria to make sure we keep our stakeholders informed of the direction we are taking, the opportunities there are to be involved in baseball, but also to help promote the many great programs and activities that are activated at Club level.
We look forward to working with the baseball community to help grow the game of baseball.
NEALE PRICE