The WBSC Integrity Unit held the first-ever on-site safeguarding workshop during the XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup this past summer and received overwhelming positive feedback. The WBSC Integrity Unit has been promoting #SafeCall safeguarding campaign since 2021.
TAIPEI, Taiwan | As the teams participating in the XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup held in Taipei and Taichung Cities in August this year were getting ready to play on the field, the WBSC’s IOC-certified Safeguarding Officer Amy Park was also warming up for the first-ever on-site safeguarding workshop during the tournament. “While it is equally important for everyone involved in the tournament to understand the importance of safeguarding issues, it is a great opportunity to bring the concept of safeguarding to the young athletes and to discuss the issues face to face,” said Park.
The WBSC launched its Safeguarding Campaign in 2021. The WBSC Integrity Unit delivered educational workshops to all appointed officials in every WBSC World Cup in 2023.
USA U-18 Baseball National Team manager Michael Cuddyer, a former Major League Baseball (MLB) player, couldn't agree more with Park. "I definitely think it's useful, needed, and should continue to be done because sportsmanship and anti-bullying are concepts players need to be aware of. Those social issues are critical," said Cuddyer.
The USA is among the teams that have offered similar courses to the athletes before, and so have Spain, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
To prepare for the workshop during the U-18 tournament, the #Safecall Guidelines were distributed to all teams and officials ahead of the event, and the materials were prepared in eight different languages (English, Spanish, Dutch, Czech, Korean, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Papiamento) for the participating teams, also being available in the clubhouses and dugouts.
“It was a good learning experience. It was very clear that what we have to do to be safe here,” said Keegan Pieternella of the Netherlands. “And it was fun, too. [We] got some activities to win prizes.”
Pieternella described the seminar experience as “going to a classroom with your team and figuring out the rules and how to protect yourself and be safe around the new environment.”
The workshop included education focused on defining and identifying harassment and abuse and the proper procedures to report the incidents.
Seven (Australia, Spain, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, and the US) out of the 12 U-18 Baseball World Cup teams attended the seminar, with over one hundred and forty athletes participating. It was also the first time for Australia, Japan, and the Netherlands to be introduced to such a workshop.
Luis Enrique Aguayo Garcia of Mexico admitted that the experience was something he had never expected: “At first, I thought it was going to be boring, but no, it was enjoyable and extremely informative. I think (WBSC) should continue with these activities because it is a critical issue for athletes, and people in general too.”
Secretary General Jorge Migueliez of the Royal Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation also pointed out that the workshop should be “for kids, for adults, and for everyone.”
“We introduced the anti-doping seminar this year for the first time, and a workshop like this is great because it was interactive, and we could understand what is important and what we need to be thinking about regarding our own activities and operations.
“Sometimes we forgot about what was happening on the field and in the hotel in the middle of the tournament. So, for me, to have the consideration [of safeguarding] and to have the workshop like this, this is great.”
More information about #Safecall Guidelines can be foundhere
