How could you teach baseball, if they never heard of it before?

[joecook]

Do you realize there's a country where no one is ever heard of baseball before?

As great as baseball is, it should be be played in every countries in this world.

I think baseball is the greatest sport on this planet and I have to behonest, it will always be.

I went to this country where no one is ever heard of baseball before and wanted to introduce them about baseball 101. I thought it was that easy for me to teach them the fundamental of baseball. After 4 years of teaching baseball in this unknown baseball countrie's, I needed helps.

Cambodia is located in Southeast Asia, border of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Population is about 14.5 millions. The weather is always great for baseball, it's about 78-90s year round. Rainy during June to October. People is absolutely wonderful.

I guess the hardest part for me is teach or show them how to play baseball. Not because I don't know baseball, it's because the entire country have no clue what baseball is. They actually never heard of it before, until I began to introduced in late of 2002. To these date, still it less 1% of the people heard about baseball.

Maybe you could help us out, some. I appreciates your help and I'm looking forward to hear your advises. To learn more, please visit www.cambodiabaseball.com or email to me: joecook@cambodiabaseball.com.

Thank you,

Joe Cook

[swingbuster]

The same way you coach here because these kids know so little

[virg]

They have to see it played in one of its simple forms such as one-cat. Help them get them involved with that, and the real game will look more interesting.

[Jake Patterson]

I guess the hardest part for me is teach or show them how to play baseball. Not because I don't know baseball, it's because the entire country have no clue what baseball is. They actually never heard of it before, until I began to introduced in late of 2002. To these date, still it less 1% of the people heard about baseball.

Joe,
Several suggestions (Most of which you may already be doing):

1. It may be easier to get the opinions of those who have experience in this area. Baseball is such a part of our social makeup we may have difficulty offering help at such a rudimentary level. Russia went through this in the early 70's when there was a move to seriously introduce baseball in that country. I am sure you can Google Russian Baseball and find connections there.

2. Little League International should be able to provide help. I am certain they have been involved with similar situations.

3. Having travelled that part of the world - I am certain you could get qualified coaches here in the US to travel there to train children and coaches. I would think this would be a great addition to anyone's baseball resume.

4. There are baseball companies here that specialize in training coaches. I am certain they would be willing to donate their time to train potential coaches if there is a way to get them here. If this is of interest I can get you in touch with several potentials.

5. "Adopt a Cambodian Team" - If you have a league organized you may be able to get kids here interested in raising money and donating equipment for a specific team in Cambodia. Not sure how you would get this going. Little League International may be a good start.

6. Training Information - We (Coaches who have been at the game a while) all have information - books, tapes, DVD's etc, available- some we no longer use. Maybe Baseball Fever or other similar websites might take this on as a project. I know it deviates from their primary mission, but asking costs nothing...

Send me your address to pattersonsports@yahoo.com and I will send you some training materials.

Good Luck!
I wish I were twenty years younger I would love to return to SE Asia, especially to coach baseball.

Jake