Official rankings published by the European Softball Federation prior to the 2013 season show British teams holding their own across the various competition formats and categories.
Slowpitch
The GB Slowpitch Team
leads the way, ranked #1 in the European Slowpitch Championship. The GB Team will defend its title next summer in the Czech Republic against what could be the largest field the competition has seen.
GB ranks #2 in the European Slowpitch Cup, behind Slovenia, after the Chromies lost in the final of this summer's event to the Slovenian team Lisicke. After winning the Premier Nationals this past summer to qualify for Europe once again, the Chromies will be hoping to reverse that result the next time the competition is held, which is likely to be in 2014.
Fastpitch National Teams
In senior fastpitch competitions, both the GB Women's Team and GB Men's Team are ranked #3 in Europe, and both teams have qualified and taken part in the last two World Championships. The GB Men will be attending their third ISF Men's World Championship in March 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand, while the GB Women will be attempting to qualify next summer for the 2014 Women's World Championship in the Netherlands.
As far as youth teams are concerned, the GB Under-19 Women's Team moved up from ninth to sixth place this past summer at the European Junior Championships, continuing a steady upward rise over the past four years.
The GB Under-16 Girls' Team, currently ranked #7 in Europe, will attempt to improve on that ranking at European Cadette Championships next summer.
The GB Under-13 Girls' Team, along with a club team called the London Cubs, both took part this past summer in the Massimo Romeo Youth Cup, formerly the European Minime (Under-13) Championships. As this is now an open tournament, the ESF does not issue official rankings, but both British teams wound up at the bottom of the standings this summer and will look to move up when the competition is next played, either in 2013 or 2014.
The GB Under-19 Men's Team re-formed in 2011 and entered the European Junior Men's Championship that year for the first time since 2004, finishing fourth. Next summer, the team will be looking to move up and bring home a medal.
Fastpitch Cups
Great Britain has sent only one team to European Fastpitch Cup competitions over the past two years, with the London Angels taking part in the European Women's Cup B Pool tournament. This past summer, the Angels moved up several places to finish #3 in the B Pool and will have a go at promotion to the A Pool next summer.