Fastpitch softball in the UK and around the world is played mainly (but not exclusively) by women and girls and is the international competition format of the sport.
Women's fastpitch softball was the Olympic format while the sport was on the Olympic Games programme from 1996-2008 and will rejoin the Olympic programme if and when the 2020 Tokyo Games are staged in the summer of 2021. Fastpitch is more challenging than slowpitch softball, and requires more skill and game awareness, but it is a tremendously rewarding game and the format is growing in both quantity and quality in the UK.
Most fastpitch activity is based in the southeast of England, but there is also fastpitch activity in the East Midlands, Manchester and Chichester, and this will soon be expanding to other areas of the country.
Getting involved
When the Covid-19 pandemic eases and fastpitch "try it" and training sessions aimed at new players are resumed, these sessions will be listed on this page. Meanwhile, below are some opportunities that will hopefully be back in the summer and autumn of 2021.
GREAT BRITAIN FASTPITCH LEAGUE
The Great Britain Fastpitch League (GBFL) is open to all players, female and male, from 14 years upwards. There are men's and women's leagues playing on a number of weekend days throughout the summer season. There is more information on the GBFL's own website: www.fastpitchsoftball.co.uk.
The league plays at the Farnham Park Baseball and Softball Complex, Beaconsfield Road, Farnham Royal, Slough SL2 3BP.
New players are always welcome, regardless of ability or previous experience with fastpitch softball or any form of softball. If you would like to get involved, email admin@fastpitchsoftball.co.uk.
BASEBALLSOFTBALLUK ACADEMY
BaseballSoftballUK (BSUK) runs National and Regional Academy fastpitch softball sessions over the winter months from October through April, open to all female and male players from 10-25 years of age. For information on dates, venues and cost for sessions that can hopefully resume in the autumn of 2021, go to the Academy Page on the BSUK website.
BASEBALLSOFTBALLUK HIGH PERFORMANCE ACADEMY
BSUK also runs a High Performance Academy over the winter, by trial and invitation, for players aged 14-20. For more information or to trial for a place, contact Alyson Spinas-Valainis.