More than 30 teachers from across Queensland recently discovered why Baseball5 is one of the fastest-growing emerging sports in schools, taking part in a highly successful professional development workshop delivered as part of an ACHPER Queensland Personal Development Day in Brisbane.

Held on Friday, 22 May at the West Rugby Fields in Toowong, the workshop formed part of the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation Queensland Branch’s ( ACHPER QLD ) Emerging Trends in Sport program. The event brought together health and physical education teachers from across the state, with some participants travelling from as far as Rockhampton to experience Baseball5 firsthand.

As Queensland’s leading professional association for health and physical education professionals, ACHPER Queensland plays a vital role in supporting, educating and connecting teachers through professional learning opportunities that enhance student outcomes. Baseball5’s inclusion in the program highlights the growing recognition of the sport as an innovative, accessible and engaging addition to school sport programs.

The session was led by Baseball Queensland Gold Coast Development Officer Stephen Redfern and Baseball5 Coordinator Joe Surrentino, who guided participants through both the theory and practical elements of delivering Baseball5 in school environments.

Teachers were highly engaged throughout the day, exploring the unique features that make Baseball5 such an attractive option for schools. With minimal equipment requirements, simple rules and the ability to be played in almost any space, participants quickly saw why the sport is gaining momentum across Queensland classrooms and sporting programs.

When it was time to put theory into practice, the teachers embraced the challenge with enthusiasm. The hands-on component saw participants stepping onto the field and experiencing the fast-paced, inclusive nature of the game for themselves.

Among those in attendance was Mango Hill State Secondary College teacher Nick Hill, who was impressed by both the simplicity of the sport and its ability to engage students immediately.

“It’s so easy for kids to pick up they can have fun playing it straight away,” Mr Hill said.

Mr Hill also highlighted the strong links between Baseball5 and the Health and Physical Education curriculum, noting how easily the sport can be incorporated into existing teaching programs.

“You can fit it into catching and throwing, you can fit it into striking and fielding,” he said.

For Mr Hill, one of the sport’s greatest strengths is its ability to bring students together regardless of age, ability or experience level.

“You don’t have to worry about age gaps, skill gaps or gender gaps,” he said. “It’s a great thing that anyone can play and be as competitive as you like.”

Those sentiments were echoed by Browns Plains State High School teacher Chris Papadimitriou, who saw immediate opportunities to introduce Baseball5 to students at his school.

“It’s something different, something that we don’t really touch on,” Mr Papadimitriou said. “We don’t even really play much regular baseball but this was just so engaging, even on such a small scale.”

Mr Papadimitriou believes the sport has the potential to connect students across multiple year levels through its simple and inclusive format.

“It would be great to get anyone and everyone at our school involved all the way from Grade 7 to Grade 12,” he said.

Like many teachers attending the workshop, Mr Papadimitriou was particularly impressed by the accessibility of the game.

“The main thing that stood out to me was how inclusive it was and there wasn’t a high skill cap, which is amazing for any kid to be able to play,” he said.

The feedback from both teachers reflects the qualities that continue to drive Baseball5’s growth throughout Queensland. The sport’s adaptability allows it to support curriculum outcomes while creating opportunities for students of all backgrounds and abilities to participate and experience success.

The day concluded with some friendly competition between participants and several giveaways to celebrate the occasion. Mr Hill walked away with an official Baseball5 hat and water bottle, while Mr Papadimitriou was the lucky recipient of an official Baseball5 Teachers Kit.

The Teachers Kit, available through Baseball Queensland for $275, provides educators with everything they need to begin delivering Baseball5 programs at their school. Its affordability and ease of implementation further reinforce the sport’s accessibility for schools of all sizes and locations.

Beyond the prizes and practical learning, the event represented another significant milestone in the continued growth of Baseball5 across Queensland. The strong attendance and enthusiasm demonstrated by teachers reflected the increasing demand for inclusive, engaging and easy-to-deliver sporting opportunities within schools.

Baseball Queensland extends its thanks to Nyree Wood and the team at ACHPER Queensland for their support in delivering one of the largest Baseball5 teacher upskilling and professional development events held in the state to date.

As Baseball5 continues to break new ground across Queensland and Australia, workshops like these are helping build a network of passionate teacher ambassadors who will introduce the sport to thousands of students in the years ahead.

If you’ve ever met Phil Hearn, chances are the conversation has eventually turned to baseball.

In fact, Phil proudly describes himself as the owner of the largest private baseball memorabilia collection outside of the United States and Canada. From rare collectables to treasured pieces of baseball history, his collection tells the story of a lifelong passion that began with a single trip.

In 2016, Phil travelled to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where he attended his very first baseball game at the SkyDome.

Having never experienced baseball in person before, he had no idea what was waiting for him.

“It was absolutely incredible,” Phil recalled. “There were more than 40,000 people screaming, singing the national anthem and completely invested in the game. Once it started, you were absolutely attracted to what was happening on the field.”

Trying to describe the atmosphere back home isn’t easy.

“The closest thing I can compare it to in Australia is a T20 cricket match,” he said. “But even that doesn’t come close.”

That one experience sparked an obsession that has lasted decades.

For Phil, baseball isn’t just about collecting memorabilia or watching games—it’s about sharing the sport with others.

“It’s about taking my passion and sharing it with the community.”

Now he’s on a mission to introduce baseball to the next generation in Rockhampton.

Every weekend, Phil packs up his equipment and heads to a local park in Edenbrook, where he runs free T-ball sessions for children in the community. There are no registration fees, no expectations and no pressure—just a chance for kids to pick up a bat, throw a ball and discover a sport many have never had the opportunity to try.

He doesn’t have to look hard to see the impact these games have on the local children.

“When you’re standing there looking at all the kids squealing and laughing with delight, having fun, loving to catch the ball. They all want to hit the ball out of the park.”

Week after week, more families are joining in, proving that all it takes is someone willing to create an opportunity.

“They come up to you afterwards and say when’s the next one, we want to do it again… Now we play every weekend!”

Now, Phil’s efforts are set to reach even further.

Working alongside Baseball Queensland, he will help deliver introductory baseball programs to schools, Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services, kindergartens and childcare centres throughout the Rockhampton region.

The partnership aims to bring baseball directly to where children already learn and play, making it easier than ever for young Queenslanders to experience the game in a fun, welcoming environment.

It’s a significant step towards growing the sport in Central Queensland and creating pathways for children who may never have considered baseball before.

For Baseball Queensland, community champions like Phil are invaluable.

While his memorabilia collection may be extraordinary, it’s his willingness to invest his time, energy and enthusiasm into local families that makes the biggest difference. Every child who picks up a glove, every family who discovers the sport and every smile at a Saturday T-ball session is helping build something much bigger than a collection.

It’s building a baseball community.

From one unforgettable game in Canada to inspiring the next generation in regional Queensland, Phil Hearn is proving that passion really can change a community—one swing at a time.

Behind every great baseball game is an umpire making the calls, managing the contest and helping create a positive experience for players, coaches and families.

Throughout the 2025/26 season, Queensland’s umpiring community once again demonstrated its importance to the game, with community volunteers, developing officials and experienced representatives all playing a vital role across local, state and national events.

In a historic effort, the Baseball Queensland State Championships, drew on an incredible 52 umpires to cover the sheer number of teams competing across multiple divisions and locations.

According to State Director of Community Umpiring (Little League Umpires) Barry Foat, the effort from community umpires and parent volunteers was one of his highlights of the year.

“In most cases these were parents and community-level umpires who stepped forward and did an outstanding job,” Foat said.

“Without those people being willing to help, tournaments of that size simply don’t happen.”

The championships also highlighted the strength of Queensland’s umpire development pathway, with experienced Queensland Baseball Umpires Association (QBUA) members mentoring and supporting emerging officials throughout the season.

Foat said it had been particularly pleasing to see younger umpires continue to take opportunities and progress through the ranks.

“QBUA continues to provide highly experienced panel members to tournaments, but we’re also seeing a number of younger and up-and-coming umpires stepping forward and gaining valuable experience,” he said.

That development will continue next month, with Queensland supplying eight officials, including three junior umpires, to the Australian Little League Girls National Championships at Redcliffe.

More Than Just Making Calls

For Foat, who has been involved in baseball for more than 35 years, umpiring remains one of the most rewarding ways to stay connected to the game.

“When I first started umpiring, all I wanted to do was learn more about baseball so I could better understand what was happening when my son played,” he said.

“What I discovered was that the umpire really does have the best seat in the house.”

As baseball continues to grow across Queensland, Foat believes there is a significant opportunity for more parents and community members to become involved.

One of the most common responses received when clubs ask for volunteer umpires is, “I don’t know enough about the game” or “I couldn’t do what you do.”

The reality is that community umpiring is designed to help people learn.

Community Umpire Accreditation provides the foundation required to officiate junior baseball, with QBUA delivering courses throughout the year that cover basic mechanics, positioning and rules knowledge.

“Baseball is a game of throwing, hitting, catching and running,” Foat said.

“We can teach people the mechanics and rules. What we need are people who are willing to get involved and support the game.”

Community umpire courses will recommence ahead of the 2026/27 season, while QBUA’s annual Association Umpire Course will again provide opportunities for officials looking to advance through higher levels of competition.

Queensland Representation Across Australia

Queensland umpires once again featured prominently on the national stage throughout 2026.

The year began with Brad Donald and Mark Stone representing Queensland at the Australian Youth Championship in Melbourne.

At the Australian Women’s Championship, Carla Pinder and Alisha Jewry were selected, while Cassandra Hall and Liliana Ostara attended the Australian Women’s Youth Championship. Earlier in the year, Alisha Jewry and Eton Calder also travelled to the United States to attend the renowned Wendelstedt Umpire School.

Queensland officials continued their strong presence at Little League events across the country, with Alisha Jewry, Cameron Montague, Carla Pinder, Cassandra Hall and Kevin Ryan all receiving appointments to national tournaments.

Queensland also provided tournament coordinators Mark Bramwell, Paul Latta and Tom West to support event delivery.

The season culminated with the Australian Little League Championship in Sydney, where Mark Stone and John Proper represented Queensland.

Stone’s appointment to the 2026 Little League World Series in Williamsport is among the highest honours available within the Little League system and continues Queensland’s proud history of international representation.

He joins previous Queensland representatives Dan Del Nido and Cassandra Hall as officials selected to umpire at Little League World Series events.

For Foat, the continued success of Queensland umpires at all levels reflects the strength of the state’s development pathway and the commitment of volunteers who continue to give back to the game.

“Most umpires won’t go on to national or international appointments,” he said.

“But every umpire plays an important role. Whether you’re helping at a local junior game or representing Australia overseas, the most important thing is that you’re enjoying the experience and helping young people play the game.”

Interested in becoming an umpire? Contact your local club or Barry at [email protected] to learn more about upcoming Community Umpire Accreditation courses before the start of the 2026/27 season.