Running a youth baseball league takes a lot of work. League leaders juggle registration, schedules, coaches, umpires, uniforms, and fields, often with a small budget and a team of volunteers. With so much to manage, replacing old bases can slip down the priority list.

Seventh Base Foundation exists to help with exactly that. We are dedicated to preventing injuries by funding breakaway bases for youth baseball and softball programs across the United States. Here's how we support leagues.

Why Bases Matter

It's easy to overlook the bases. They're always there, and as long as they're white and in the right spot, they seem fine. But traditional stationary bases are fixed to posts in the ground, and when a player slides into one hard, the base doesn't give. The player does.

Research shared on our site shows that sliding into stationary bases is one of the most common causes of injury in recreational baseball and softball. Breakaway bases, which release on forceful impact, have been shown to prevent most of those injuries. That's why the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends them for fields at all levels, and why Little League International has required bases that disengage from their anchors in all U.S. leagues since 2008.

Our founder, Zach Ritts, saw firsthand how worn, outdated, or unsafe bases led to injuries during his years playing Little League and college baseball. He started the foundation so every child could play on a safe, well-maintained field.

1. Breakaway Base Funding

Our core service is funding new breakaway bases for leagues that need them. We help programs replace old, hazardous, or non-breakaway bases with breakaway models that reduce the risk of sliding injuries.

A full set for one youth field includes three breakaway bases with a double first base in orange or green to match the league's field. The bases and anchors replace the old fixed bases, so players slide into a base that gives way instead of their ankle.

2. Field Safety Assessments

Not every league knows whether its bases are safe. We help leagues identify unsafe bases and recommend safer equipment upgrades so their fields meet current safety standards. For a busy league board, having a clear picture of what needs to change is a valuable first step.

3. Organizational Partnerships

We work with schools, leagues, and corporate sponsors to expand access to breakaway bases nationwide. These partnerships help every donated dollar go further, and they connect local businesses with the youth programs in their own communities.

4. Awareness and Education

Many parents and coaches have never thought about base safety. Through community outreach, social media, and work with sports organizations, we help spread the word about why breakaway bases matter. Our goal is simple: every youth athlete should play on a safe field.

How Leagues Apply for Bases

If your league needs safer bases, the process starts with a short application on our website.

We review applications based on safety need, program impact, and community benefit, including:

·         The league's demonstrated need for breakaway bases

·         The number of athletes the bases will reach

·         The program's overall need and support

Selected organizations are notified directly within one week of applying. Programs that receive bases may also be featured by the foundation and become part of our network of supported programs.

What Happens After You're Selected

Once a league is selected, we confirm the field and match it with a sponsored set of bases. The breakaway bases and anchors are installed in place of the old fixed bases. From there, every player who takes the field benefits, season after season.

Who Can Benefit

We support youth baseball and softball leagues and organizations across the country, especially those that need help the most. Whether you run a small community league or a larger program with several fields, if your players are still sliding into old or stationary bases, we'd like to hear from you.

Support From the Whole Community

Our work with leagues is made possible by donors, volunteers, and community partners. Donations fund the bases. Volunteers help with outreach, events, field assessments, and advocacy. Local businesses and organizations partner with us to bring safer fields to their own neighborhoods.

Let's Make Your Field Safer

Your players trust that the field they step onto is safe. We're here to help make sure it is.

Apply for base support today, or contact us at 877-200-7970 or info@seventhbase.org with any questions. Together, we can protect young athletes, one base at a time.