Free introduction to a fast-growing sport
A newly formed Exeter baseball team is inviting local families to try something different this weekend, as the Exeter Sea Bees open their youth programme with a free taster session for young people entering Year 7 and above. The event, taking place on Saturday 18 July, aims to introduce the basics of the game in a relaxed setting and broaden access to one of the world’s fastest-growing sports.
The youth section sits within Exeter Youth Baseball & Softball, a community club focused on participation for all abilities. Organisers say the emphasis will be on confidence, teamwork and inclusion as much as on batting averages and strike zones, with newcomers particularly encouraged.
"a free open day for aspiring baseball players"
Coaching, confidence and community
According to the club, experienced coaches will guide newcomers through batting, catching, pitching and throwing drills, ensuring no prior experience is needed. Alongside on-field activities, there will be family-friendly touches – including a traditional American hot dog stand – to make the day welcoming for parents and siblings as well as players.
The launch reflects a wider push to grow affordable, grassroots sport in the city. For many families, a no-cost introduction can be the difference between trying a new activity and sitting it out. The Sea Bees’ approach – free to attend and framed around skills for life as well as skills for sport – speaks directly to concerns about cost, confidence and access that local parents regularly raise with community clubs.
Linking Exeter’s past to a new generation
The Sea Bees name pays tribute to the US Navy Seabees stationed at Countess Wear during the Second World War. Their presence left a distinctive sporting footprint: in 1945 they represented Europe in the European Baseball Championships, with matches staged at Exeter City’s St James Park. The club says the new youth programme is designed to honour that legacy by nurturing local talent and curiosity for a sport rooted, however briefly, in the city’s wartime history.
That historical thread offers a narrative hook for today’s participants: a reminder that Exeter’s sporting identity has never been one-dimensional. While rugby and football loom large, the city’s past includes moments when diamond-shaped fields and leather mitts captivated local crowds. The Sea Bees hope that story will help kindle interest among young people who may not have found their fit in more familiar codes.
How to take part
The event is free, but organisers are asking families to register in advance to help with planning. The session is open to those entering Year 7+, with all activities designed for beginners as well as those who have sampled the sport at school or through friends. No kit is required for first-timers beyond comfortable sportswear.
- Open to: Young people entering Year 7 and above
- Cost: Free to attend
- Activities: Coaching in batting, catching, pitching and throwing
- Extras: Family-friendly atmosphere with an American hot dog stand
- Registration: Advance sign-up requested by organisers
At a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday 18 July |
| Eligibility | Young people entering Year 7+ |
| Cost | Free open day |
| Focus | Beginner-friendly coaching in baseball fundamentals |
| Organiser | Exeter Youth Baseball & Softball (Exeter Sea Bees) |
| Registration | Advance registration requested for planning purposes |
Baseball’s pitch-and-catch rhythm may be less familiar on Devon playing fields than bat-and-ball mainstays, but the Sea Bees’ low-barrier, community-led model aligns with the way many city clubs have successfully grown over recent years: start small, keep it welcoming, and let young people discover what clicks. If the take-up matches the interest seen across the country in alternative team sports, Exeter could soon have a fresh pipeline of players learning the game – and a renewed link to a remarkable chapter of the city’s sporting past.
