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.

The 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.

Eligibility criteria for the squad include membership in the following teams:
- 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

The activities and events organized for the squad include:
- 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)

National Development SQUAD

The National Development squad is built to foster development, and create a foundation of performance. Preparing athletes for future national teams, events and performance enviroments. The program has been set up to assist the idenfitication for future New Zealand teams and the natioanl performance program. As well as promote wider development across New Zealand

CRITERA:

• New Zealand Youth Development Teams 
• Identified athletes 

ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS:

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

Observation and Player Id process

in order to be apart of the New Zealand performance program and National Performance teams there will be many player identifiaction touch points. 

• National Development Camp
• National Baseball Festivial and National Champs
• 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