This week, New College Worcester (NCW) was delighted to welcome blind baseball specialists and players from the International Blind Baseball Association (AIBXC), who travelled all the way from Italy, alongside coaches from UK Blind Baseball, to introduce and share their knowledge of this exciting and growing sport.
NCW’s PE Department were thrilled to host the visitors and learn more about blind baseball, a sport that is expanding internationally. AIBXC has a clear mission to spread blind baseball across all continents, with the ultimate ambition of seeing the sport recognised at the Paralympic Games.
Staff spent the morning learning about the social impact and global reach of blind baseball, exploring how the sport challenges assumptions by enabling blind athletes to compete at a high level. Sessions highlighted how blind baseball builds strong communities and supports both physical and mental wellbeing through inclusive team sport. Staff also learned about the vital role of AIBXC and its partner organisations, who provide guidance, equipment, starter kits, clinics and ongoing support to help make setting up blind baseball teams as accessible and straightforward as possible, working closely with blind associations throughout the process.
Mrs Price, Head of PE at NCW, said:
“It was fantastic to welcome such knowledgeable and passionate professionals to NCW. Blind baseball is a brilliant example of how sport can be truly inclusive, and our staff and students gained so much from learning about the game, its impact and the opportunities it creates for blind and vision impaired athletes.”
The origins of blind baseball were also shared, tracing the sport back to Alfredo Meli, its inventor and the founder of the Italian Blind Baseball Association. His vision was to preserve the core elements of traditional baseball while adapting the game to ensure it was fully accessible for blind players. The presentation showcased how blind baseball is now played worldwide, with established teams and developing projects across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa, demonstrating the sport’s rapidly growing international presence and impact.
Following the presentations, staff headed out onto the field to watch demonstrations and get hands‑on experience of the sport for themselves.
The afternoon then saw the next generation of players – our students – take to the field for hands‑on workshops. Students thoroughly enjoyed learning the new sport and discovering how the traditional game of baseball has been thoughtfully adapted into the inclusive sport of blind baseball. They had the opportunity to watch demonstrations, ask questions and get involved themselves, gaining first‑hand experience of how the game works.
The visit concluded on a real high, with NCW being over the moon to receive an incredible blind baseball kit from UK Blind Baseball, including mitts, bats, clappers, whistles and bases, giving the College the tools to continue developing the sport with students.
A special thank you goes to everyone from AIBXC and UK Blind Baseball, who went well above and beyond to share their expertise, passion and knowledge. Their commitment to spreading blind baseball and inspiring future generations made the visit a truly memorable experience for staff and students alike.
