Representatives from the British Softball Federation attended the WBSC Europe Congress 2026 in Malta, joining delegates from across the continent to discuss development priorities, celebrate milestones and highlight opportunities for growth across baseball and softball. WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari and WBSC Europe President Kruno Karin addressed delegates with a message of new opportunities and ambition for the next cycle, encouraging national federations to pursue expanded engagement and collaboration. This address underlined WBSC Europe’s commitment to supporting all disciplines, including softball, through increased visibility and shared strategic priorities across the confederation.
At the Congress, adaptable formats of the sports such as Baseball5 were highlighted as a major initiative to broaden participation and engagement in bat-and-ball sport formats across Europe. While Baseball5 is a separate discipline to softball, the emphasis on accessible, easily adaptable and youth focused formats signals a wider strategy by WBSC Europe to grow grassroots involvement. The interest in supporting growth was later supported by the WBSC Europe Development Progress Report.
Congress sessions also showcased WBSC’s expanding digital strategy, including growth in digital and esports platforms. This reflects a broader drive to engage younger audiences and diversify the ways bat-and-ball sports connect with volunteers, participants and fans — an area the British Softball Federation will explore further for softball engagement and promotion.
WBSC Europe presented its Progress Report for the 2025 season, giving a clear snapshot of federation activities and priorities spanning coach education, development, participation and competition. In 2025 the European Baseball Softball Coaches Association (EBSCA) ran in Sisak, Croatia. Annually the EBSCA event runs in October, with a training camp and convention open to youth softball players (13-22) and coaches (all levels) (learn more about the event). The report sets the foundation for the upcoming 2026 Development Funding Call, which will open soon and offers financial support for national federations’ projects — including initiatives that could benefit softball coaching, umpiring, youth programmes and community growth. Any clubs or leagues interested in submiting an application for the development fund should in the first place contact Jessica Hastings.
The congress also provided good reminder of the current rules for Athlete Transfer that came into action on the 1st January 2025. An International Transfer Certificate (ITC) is required for all transfers of athletes between clubs affiliated with different National Federations (NFs) in different countries. For transfers between NFs within the same continent, the Continental Association (CA) shall handle the process. For transfers involving NFs from different continents, the WBSC will issue the certificate. The process is expected to take seven working days, therefore should be completed well ahead of roster submissions. Further informaiton on Athlete Transfer rules can be found on the WBSC website.