INTRODUCTION: This study was designed to help and improve international baseball performance as well as increase domestic sport participation in the United States. Over 200 sources of literature on sport delivery systems from 28 Australasian, North and South American, Western and Eastern European countries were analyzed to construct a globally applicable model of high performance skiing and snowboarding integrated with mass participation, comprised of the following seven elements across three levels: Micro level (operations, processes, and methodologies for development of individual athletes): 1. Talent search and development, 2. Advanced athlete support. Meso level (infrastructures, personnel, and services enabling sport programs): 3. Training centers, 4. Competition systems, 5. Intellectual services. Macro level (socio-economic, cultural, legislative, and organizational): 6. Partnerships with supporting agencies, 7. Balanced and integrated funding and structures of mass and elite sport. METHODS: The above model was used to design a questionnaire of 54 statements reflecting desired practices. 54 statements were validated by 12 international experts, including executives from sport governing bodies and academics who published on high performance and sport development. 2,000 baseball professionals` email addresses were collected from various sources, including web pages of national and regional skiing and snowboarding associations, college and university athletics as well as high school and club skiing and snowboarding teams. Completed online questionnaires were returned by 100 coaches from all key regions of the country for a response rate of 5%. Additionally, 6 regional administrators were interviewed to suggest possible sport system improvements. RESULTS: Despite the significant resources available to US baseball, respondents were not satisfied with many current practices. More consistent Olympic performance and growth of national and international baseball participation have great unrealized potentials and can be achieved through further advancements of baseball programs domestically and globally. More than half of the open responses regarding talent search and development indicated the need for standardized USA Baseball coaching so that training and development of young athletes could lead to more opportunities for those less fortunate who cannot afford private coaching. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we have learned from the respondents that there needs to be more developmental programs available through public organizations. Grassroots programs need to be better structured and coaching needs to be equated with abilities rather than financial and political influence. To improve advanced athlete support, coaching and training methodologies should focus on less experienced baseball athletes to ensure all participants receive equally sufficient support, particularly via such grassroots programs as Babe Ruth Baseball, Cal Ripken Baseball, Dixie Youth Baseball and Dixie Boys Baseball.
© Copyright 2022 27th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Sevilla, 30. Aug - 2. Sep 2022. Julkaistu Tekijä Faculty of Sport Science - Universidad Pablo de Olavide. Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään. / Kääntänyt https://www.DeepL.com/Translator