MS Gulf Coast Buddy Sports, Inc.

Buddy Ball Baseball

Buddy Ball Baseball is played during March and April on Wednesday evenings at the Gulfport Sportsplex, across from the waterpark in Gulfport, MS.

There is no cost to play. Complete and submit an online registration form located on this website during January/February.

Buddy Ball Baseball Guidelines

Games are played at the Gulfport Sportsplex on the synthetic turf fields 10 and 11. Community Home players play at 5:00pm. Players ages 5 years old to around 12-13 years old play at 6:00pm. Players 13-14 years old and older play at 7:00 pm. Teams will be created after registration ends.

Players get jerseys on the first game night from their coaches. Volunteers will get jerseys from the Buddy Sports tent located between fields 10 and 11.

There is no cost to play or participate. Players receive a jersey and cap. Players can wear whatever closed toe shoes they like. Cleats are okay, but no steel cleats. The game is played with hard, plastic bats and soft foam baseballs. Everybody hits, runs, scores, and plays in the field. Games last 2-3 innings each night. Gloves and helmets are not needed but can be used If the player so choses to bring their own. Most do not. Balls are hit off a tee or pitched softly to the batter. An announcer plays music, announces the players, and narrates the game. Snacks for players and their volunteer buddies are provided after the games. The last game night we will give players medals and have a free picture booth.

Registration forms for players and volunteers must be completed online on the MS Gulf Coast Buddy Sports web page under the player and volunteer registration tab. We use volunteers ages

12 and older as player buddies and coaches. We document volunteer hours as needed/requested.

1. A parent/guardian of the 5- to 9-year-old players must be the player’s buddy. If the parent/guardian cannot be the player’s buddy, then the parent/guardian is responsible for providing a buddy for their child. The child will not be allowed to play without the parent/guardian or the parent/guardian assigned buddy being on the field with the child. MGCBS will not be providing volunteer buddies for the 5-to 9-year-olds. It must be the parent/guardian or someone else the parent assigns to play with the child.

2. Inappropriate behaviors, including aggression like spitting, hitting, slapping, pushing, tearing up any part of the fields or dugouts, throwing items other than a ball, etc. will not be tolerated, and parents may be asked to remove their child from the field. In addition, players that lay on the field and are difficult to get up and out of the way of others may need to be removed from the field if the behavior cannot be corrected appropriately.

3. Everyone on the baseball field must wear shoes and appropriate clothing at all times. This is a health concern and a liability issue for our organization and the City of Gulfport.

4. Extra volunteers, parents, and guardians that are not assigned to help players or requested by coaches or MGCBS board members to help with game activities must remain outside the dugout and field fence. Please take time to relax and enjoy the games and encourage the players from the stands or along the outside of the fence.

Buddy Ball Baseball Schedule for Spring 2026

Thursday, January 15, 2026:

Registration opens.

Sunday, February 8, 2026:

Registration ends

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Wednesday, March 11, 2026:

First games at 5:00, 6:00, and 7:00 as scheduled.

Wednesday March 18, 2026:

games at 5:00, 6:00, and 7:00 as scheduled.

Wednesday March 25, 2026:

games at 5:00, 6:00, and 7:00 as scheduled.