WBSC announces key changes to Statutes to enhance the promotion of Baseball/Softball around the world

The World Baseball Softball Confederation(WBSC) Executive Board has approved a number of important changes to the WBSC Statutesat its meeting on 6 September, 2023 in order to capitalise on the growingpopularity of international Baseball/Softball.

The decisions, which will be put forward tothe WBSC Congress to vote in December, include the removal of the WBSC Baseballand Softball Divisions from the leadership group in order to have one combinedExecutive Board to further reflect the focus on one sport Baseball/Softball andto better serve and safeguard its best interests.

Two additional permanent Commissions forBaseball and Softball will be created to ensure that the best interests ofbaseball and softball continue to be represented. The Executive Vice Presidentsfor Baseball and Softball on the WBSC Executive Board will chair the respectiveCommissions.

Another change in the Statutes will see increasedrepresentation of Continental Associations with 10 representatives to beincluded on the Executive Board to improve cooperation and their involvement inthe day-to-day operations of the WBSC. Each Continent will elect onerepresentative for Baseball and one for Softball to the board.

President Riccardo Fraccari said: “The WBSCis constantly looking to refine its Statutes to ensure that we are serving ourmembers in the best possible way. We believe that the changes announced todaywill strengthen our governance and help Baseball/Softball continue to thriveacross the world. We have made great progress in the nine years since theinternational federations for Baseball and Softball merged and we are confidentthat the latest revisions will allow that to continue.”

To fully comply with the Olympic Charter,the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competition Code will now be recognisedat the same level as the World Anti-Doping Agency Code, while the membershiprecognition process has also been aligned for this purpose.

The other changes see a largerrepresentation of independent members on the Integrity and Legal Commissions toreduce potential conflicts of interest and more comprehensive disciplinaryguidelines to reflect the role that Continental Associations play in thisregard.

With 2024 due to celebrate 10 years sincethe merger of the International Baseball Federation and the InternationalSoftball Federation to create the WBSC, the sport of Baseball/Softball and itsmultiple disciplines – Baseball, Softball, Baseball5, eSport, Para-sports – hasnever been stronger with 205 National Federations and Associate Members in 136countries promoting and growing the game worldwide while the WBSC’s globalaudience on social media now numbers over 1 million.

Meanwhile, the WBSC Executive Board voted to approve two new Members - the Baseball and Softball Federations from Cambodia and Syria - and an Associate Member - Alternative Baseball, which runs Alternative Baseball a baseball experience, which teaches social and physical baseball skills for teens and adults with autism and other special needs. The Board also voted to dismiss the Republic of Congo Baseball and Softball Federation due to lack of activity. These decisions will go forward to the Congress for vote.