RUN A DIAMOND5 EVENT

The easiest way to get kids into Softball!​​​​​

Bring your school, club or community together for a day of Diamond5. Five players on each side, a rubber ball and a suitable space are enough to get started. Players hit with their hand, run the bases and work together in the field. You do not need bats, gloves or a softball park.

Start with a small event, give everyone plenty of turns and keep the focus on enjoying the game. This guide will help you choose a venue, organise teams, set up games and find people who can help.

What is Diamond5?

Diamond5  is a simple way to introduce the skills of softball and baseball. The international format is called Baseball5. It brings together hand hitting, throwing, catching and base running in a small space.

It suits school PE, interschool days, holiday programmes, community events and workplace or whānau activities. Short games and small teams help people get involved quickly. Players can enjoy Diamond5  in its own right or use it as a starting point for other forms of softball and baseball.

  • Five players take the field for each team. Reserves can rotate
  • The hitter starts with the ball and hits it with their hand. No pitchers
  • Teams take turns hitting and fielding. A player scores one run by safely completing the circuit of bases and returning home.
  • Choose a short session, a half day or a full event to suit your group.

You don't need much gear

Start with one suitable rubber ball per game, plus a spare if possible, and a way to mark the playing area. Use a Diamond5 ball designed for hand hitting where available. Ask Softball New Zealand for advice on a ball suitable for your players and surface. Do not use a hard fastpitch softball or baseball.

  • Flat markers, chalk or approved floor tape for four bases, boundaries and the hitting area.
  • Cones outside the running lanes to make the area easy to see.
  • A timer or phone and a simple score sheet.
  • Optional bibs or team colours to tell teams apart.
  • First aid supplies, drinking water and outdoor sun protection as part of your event setup.

No bats or fielding gloves are needed. Players should wear suitable sports clothing and covered sports shoes. Borrow markers and bibs from a school, club or community provider before buying new equipment.

You can play anywhere

A school court, gym, sports hall, recreation centre, artificial turf or suitable area of a local park can work. A flat grass area can also suit an introductory day if the ball rolls and bounces reliably. Indoor venues make Diamond5 an option during winter or wet weather.

Walk the space first. Choose a level, non-slip surface with room for the whole playing area and clear space beyond it. Keep games away from roads, windows, walls, poles and other activities. Leave room for teams waiting to play, spectators and people moving between courts.

Get permission from the venue owner, check access to toilets and drinking water, and agree what happens if the weather or surface becomes unsuitable. Use venue-approved tape indoors and agree rules for walls, ceilings and out-of-bounds areas before play.

Keep games short & give everyone a turn

For a school or community day, a practical starting point is a 15-minute slot: up to 12 minutes of play and three minutes to record the score and change teams. This is a suggested event format, not an official game length.

Explain the finishing rule before the event. One option is to stop starting new innings after nine minutes, finish the current inning if time allows, and stop play at 12 minutes.

If teams have had unequal batting turns, use the score at the end of the last completed inning. Pool games can finish in a draw. Agree in advance whether tied placing games will share the placing.

For brand-new players, use extra practice time, another attempt at a miss or an illegal hit, or a turn each before swapping sides. Keep teams small and rotate reserves between games.

Offer a walking version or other adaptations where they help people take part.

Where to go for help

You do not have to organise your Diamond5 day on your own. Start locally, explain your plans and ask for the specific help you need. Softball New Zealand can also help you get started, understand the game, find local support and work out what equipment you need.

Useful local contacts include:

  • Your local softball association or club: Ask about a game demonstration, volunteers, game leaders, links to other teams and equipment that may be available to borrow.

  • Your regional sports organisation or trust: Ask for connections to schools, community groups, accessible venues and people who support participation events. They may also be able to advise on local funding opportunities.

  • College Sport or your local school sport organisation: Ask about contacting secondary schools, avoiding clashes with the school sport calendar and organising an interschool day. PE teachers and school sports coordinators are also useful starting points.

  • Your local council, recreation centre or venue operator: Ask about suitable courts or halls, bookings, permissions, toilets, accessible facilities and event requirements.

  • Local baseball clubs and community organisations: Explore a shared event, volunteer support or help reaching new participants. Youth groups, disability sport providers and community leaders can help shape a day that works for their people.

For support from Softball New Zealand, email snz@softball.org.nz with the subject Diamond5 Day support. Include:

  • Your name, organisation and location.

  • Your proposed date and venue, if known.

  • The number and ages of participants.

  • The help you need, such as planning advice, a demonstration, volunteers or equipment.

  • If you need equipment, what you already have and what you are missing.

We can discuss suitable options and help you explore what support may be available. Support and equipment availability will vary, so make contact early and agree any costs or responsibilities before confirming your event.