NATIONAL TEAMS​​​​​​​

National Performance Teams 

National Performance Teams, operating under the Baseball New Zealand banner, compete in international events and exhibition games, showcasing the best talent and skills in the country.

  • DIAMONDBLACKS - Men's Open National Team
  • u23's New Zealand Diamondblacks - ages 18 - 22 yrs 
  • u18's New Zealand Diamondblacks - ages 15-17

New Zealand Youth Development team/s

New Zealand Youth Development Teams, under the banner of Baseball New Zealand, are specially selected to represent the nation in international competitions or events. While these teams are not deemed as national teams, rather nationally identified wider development squads.

Aimed at players aged 12-14, these teams offer higher-level playing opportunities against other national and higher calibre teams.

NATIONAL PERFORMANCE SQUAD

aims to provide top-level support to baseball athletes, enabling them to excel in various performance environments. Athletes in the squad are identified at a national level by Baseball New Zealand.

CRITERIA:
- Diamondbacks: Men's Open National Squad & Team
- U23's New Zealand Diamondbacks Squad & Team (ages 18-22 years)
- U18's New Zealand Diamondbacks Squad & Team (ages 15-17 years)
- Nationally Identified/US college/Professional

ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS:
- Domestic National Squad & Team Camps
- National Showcase Series for U23 & U18 Athletes
- Testing and Data collection days
- International Exhibition, Tours, and Activities
- WBSC events
- WBC events (Diamondbacks)

    Observation and Player ID process

    In order to be a part of the New Zealand Performance Program and National Performance teams, there will be many player identification touchpoints, including the National Development Camp, Baseball New Zealand National Champs and tournaments, and National Development Squad.


    National Development SQUAD

    "The National Development squad is designed to promote athletic development and establish a strong performance base. It aims to prepare athletes for future national teams, events, and performance environments. The program has been established to aid in identifying future New Zealand teams and the national performance program, as well as to promote broader development across New Zealand."

    CRITERIA:

    • New Zealand Youth Development Teams 
    • Identified athletes 

    ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS:

    • National Development Team tours and events
    • National Development Camp
    • National Champs/tournaments 

    Observation and Player ID process

    In order to be a part of the New Zealand Development Squad and National Development teams, there will be many player identification touchpoints, including the National Development Camp, National Baseball Festival, National Champs, and Regional Pathways programs and clinics.

    REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 

    Regional Development is the starting point of the player development pathway, while athletes will not have direct contact with Baseball New Zealand the regional development will provide athletes with skills that can progress into the national pathways programs. Fostering player development keeping to our player development plan of wider development

    CRITERIA:

    • Regional Representative player
    • Club Baseballer with aspirations for further development

    ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS:

    • Baseball New Zealand Pitching Project
    • Little League playoffs
    • Regional Tournaments 
    • Regional Representation 
    • Local clinics and programs endorsed by Baseball New Zealand 


    PLAYER PATHWAYS MAP BY AGE

    BASEBALL NEW ZEALAND PLAYER ROAD MAP

    Baseball New Zealand is adopting a targeted approach for athlete identification and development within its player development system.

    The national pathways will start at the development stage of an athlete's journey, with athletes being selected for the national development squad through various benchmarking events and tournaments. The goal is to align athletes with the development stream that best suits their current skill levels. Athletes will have the flexibility to move between the stages as needed. Baseball New Zealand will track, monitor, and review their progress on an ongoing basis.

    National Player Testing Benchmarks