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Softball is fast becoming the biggest small sport in the UK. With over 6 leagues and 48 teams in central London alone and tournaments almost every weekend, the sport is set to become one of the most popular and simultaneously least well known recreational summer sports.

The majority of teams at the moment are mixed, meaning both men and women play on the same team (5 or 6 each), but there are also men’s-only tournaments routinely held throughout the country.

The fast rising popularity of the game seems to be down to its causal nature, short learning curve and the social prospects that mixed teams offer. As London and other cities are also finding more and more American and Canadian expats, there are plenty of more experienced players around to train up the green Brits.

Softball in London

In London there are currently 6 divisions, three minor and three major, the majors being aimed at the more experienced and competitive players. The only dedicated softball/baseball pitch in London is in Finsbury Park so games are usually held in open areas in parks with lines marked out. The majority of teams are based around Regent’s Park/Primrose Hill, Finsbury Park, Wandsworth Common or Clapham Common.

The season currently lasts from April to August, though tournaments and ad-hoc training groups are held throughout the winter. Like any recreational sport there are players and teams who often take it a bit too seriously but for most people the onus is purely on having fun.

Joining a team is often a great way to meet a bizarre mix of people and nationalities.  On one team you may have a web-entrepreneur, an Olympic construction site supervisor, a PETA activist and a social worker. On and off the field these distinctions fade away quickly and team members all develop a sense of camaraderie that transcends their superficial socio-economic and national differences. In a city where you rarely mix with people outside your immediate circle of friends and from different strata of society, the opportunity to meet such a broad range of people is one that should be eagerly taken up.

The style of game itself is slow-pitch softball, which basically means the rules are identical to baseball except that the pitcher throws the ball underarm, which then travels slower. On the whole the game is fairly similar to rounders (baring a few key differences) so Brits shouldn’t feel to out of their depth when first joining in.

The future of softball in the UK

The sport is currently held back by a weak infrastructure and promotional system. But the organizational body behind the sport, Baseball/Softball UK, has recently been given a multi-million pound grant that should help redress these issues. In a few years I wouldn’t be surprised if softball become one of the most popular summer sports in the country.

Another barrier to the games popularity seems to be the notion that it is both a “girls game” and “American”. The former accusation seems especially ridiculous when you consider that soccer is labeled much the same way in America. The latter objection is ludicrous on many levels; if you watch American TV and films, eat American food, listen to American music, why not play American sport too?

For more details on leagues, tournaments and joining teams visit www.baseballsoftballuk.com