2025 WCBF, Akita, Japan

Last updated: 22 April 2025

THE WORLD CHILDREN’S BASEBALL FAIR 2025 IN AKITA
INFORMATION SUMMARY

The World Children's Baseball Fair invited The Baseball Association of Hong Kong, China (BAHKC) to select 5 players and 1 chaperone to attend the 31st World Children’s Baseball Fair to be held in Akita, Japan, from 30th July to 6th August 2025, terminating with a special event that will take place in Tokyo on 7th August.

(1) The World Children’s Baseball Fair (WCBF) is held annually to promote worldwide baseball expansion, and at the same time, to provide a tool for international exchange among people from different nations around the world.

(2) During the WCBF event, children will have opportunity to learn the BASIC SKILLS of baseball, with emphasis on fun, participation, teamwork and friendship. This is a time for the children to enjoy and share their love of baseball and learn worldwide cultures.

(3) The participants will attend morning baseball clinics instructed by coaches who are selected by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).

(4) Each afternoon and evening, participants partake in cultural and recreational activities to further enhance cultural understanding and appreciation.

(5) Participants will be asked to perform something to introduce their respective country to the fair, such as singing, dancing or playing musical instruments at the goodwill party. There will also be formal Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

☆Special Event
On 7th August, after the conclusion of the World Children's Baseball Fair, the overseas participants (excluding the WBSC coaches) will travel to Tokyo and are scheduled to watch a professional baseball game that evening. Therefore, their return to their home countries is planned for 8th August.

NOTE:
WCBF is similar to a summer camp (shared accommodation, getting up early, attending baseball clinics, field trips, and the food being different from what they are used to). For many children, this will be the first or perhaps the longest trip being apart from their parents for so long. While Japan is a friendly country, this will still be a new cultural experience to most of the children.

All children will be expected to follow strict rules and must treat their respective chaperones and hosts with the respect of their own parents/guardians.

EXPENSES:
(1) All costs associated with children and chaperones participating in the 2025 WCBF event will be paid for by WCBF, unless otherwise stipulated. These expenses include airfares, airport taxes, accommodation, meals, local transportations, equipment, uniforms, recreational activities, travel insurance, etc.
(2) WCBF is NOT responsible for travel to and from the participants’ homes and their local airport.
(3) WCBF is NOT responsible for any fees regarding the acquisition of passports and visas for the participants.
(4) Chaperone will have the same expense coverage and with no additional allowance to be provided.

PASSPORT:
Participants must have valid HKSAR passport.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:
・We will send five children to participate (Male or Female) and one chaperone (Male or Female)

PARTICIPANTS’ (CHILDREN) QUALIFICATIONS:
Children’s Age Requirement:
・MUST be 10 or 11 years old as of 30th July 2025.
・Birth date must be between 31st July 2013 and 30th July 2015.
・Must be The Baseball Association of Hong Kong, China member
・Must have attended at least one activity with The Baseball Association of Hong Kong, China between 1st April 2024 and 31st March 2025.
・Have outgoing character
・Be proactive trying new things


PREREQUISITES OF CHAPERONE 
A chaperone should:

• A chaperon is a volunteer and does not receive coaching allowances; the servicing hours can count as CPD hours under BAHKC Coach Registration system.
• Must be a registered baseball coach/instructor of The Baseball Association of Hong Kong, China.
• Be an adult (over 21 years of age).
• Have experience dealing with groups of children of this age.
• NOT be a parent or relative of a participating child.
• Be able to discipline a child when necessary.
• SPEAK ENGLISH FLUENTLY (He / She will be requested to submit a report in English to us after the fair.)
• Have good knowledge and interest in baseball.
• *While gender does not matter, it is recommended that the chaperone be male if your federation is planning on sending 4 or more male children.
• Duties and responsibilities of all chaperones:
• Ensure that the children behave and follow all instructions.
• Ensure that the children are never left alone to wander around unsupervised.
• Ensure that the children get enough rest/sleep.
• Be aware of each child’s medical history and be able to administer any medicine that is required.
• Ensure that the children’s personal items (passports, money, etc.) are safe.
• Ensure that there is a name tag on each item that the child has brought with him/her, or received.
• Beware that they will be working with WBSC coaches during the clinics and will be asked to teach children from countries other than their own.
• Chaperone is required to submit a RESUME (in any form) which briefly tells their baseball career and job history

Application deadline: 23th April 2025 at 23:59

Interview with chaperone applicants: 24th April 2025 via Zoom

Interview with players: in the evening on 25th April 2025

Please submit your application thought below Google form.  Thank you.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8qx9TApgp41w8CB8INFmRtNaStvl1kno6nWTTZXGoFUKPaw/viewform?usp=dialog

Should you have any questions, please feel to contact us at 2504 8330, Email us at office@hkbaseball.org or contact King HO.