Island school kids pitched on baseball in gym class

Baseball P.E.I. is pitching a new generation of players by teaching them the fundamentals of the game indoors, in a non-competitive environment, as part of gym class.

The Winterball program, which launched in 2003, is targeted at Canadian kids from kindergarten to Grade 6. Schools from across the country can apply for Winterball kits, which include specialized indoor equipment — like foam bats and balls, valued at more than $300 — and lesson plans.

Baseball P.E.I. handed out 10 of the kits across the Island last month — the most in the program's history.

You know if a kid really loves these skills and these games, this is going to pique their interest for it.— Nicole Martin, physical education teacher

"The goal is to get indoor baseball equipment to elementary schools across the province and the country," said Randy Byrne, executive director of Baseball P.E.I.

"And at the end of the day, hopefully, some of those kids will play baseball in the summer."

The program is a partnership between Major League Baseball, the Toronto Blue Jays, Baseball Canada and the provinces.

Many schools across P.E.I. have had the kits over the years, but Byrne said there's been a recent resurgence in interest, leading to an increased demand for the program.

'The kids love it'

The Winterball program has been a hit at Miscouche Consolidated school.  The school had a kit in the past, but the equipment has worn out. 

"We're not given a substantial amount of money to buy equipment," said physical education teacher Nicole Martin.

"Equipment gets old and gets used up, so any equipment that is given to me is great ... The kids love it because the games are teaching the fundamentals but in a fun non-competitive way."

Martin said the students' knowledge of baseball varies over the grade levels. Some play baseball already, while others have never been exposed to the game. 

"You know if a kid really loves these skills and these games, this is going to pique their interest for it," she said.

"I always talk to them, you know, maybe this is something you want to do after school or that you want to be involved in."

Grade 6 student Cody MacCormick, who plays baseball in Summerside, likes the Winterball kits.

"A lot of my friends are really good but just haven't been playing," he said. "I think they seem to be having a good time."

Rebekah Brown had never played baseball until the Winterball unit.  

"I've always been interested in it but I've never really tried it so this gives me a chance to," said Brown.

'Back in vogue'

Baseball P.E.I. is hoping to set a new registration record this spring.

When Byrne started as executive director in 2014, there were 1,400 players registered with the association. That number jumped to 1,759 last year, and they're hoping to crack 2,000 this season.

"Baseball is more in vogue now," Byrne said, pointing to the Toronto Blue Jays' high-profile playoff run, and locally the Charlottetown Islanders who play in the New Brunswick Senior League.

The Winterball kits also offer an opportunity to increase what Byrne calls physical literacy.

"It's the ability to do things that some of us older people take for granted ... The ability to run, throw, jump hand-eye coordination," he said.

"I think a lot of us growing we played a lot outside — you threw balls, you threw rocks — unfortunately a lot of children now, it's more of a video game generation and they're not as physically active in their day to day lives."