Norwegian Softball and Baseball Federation
1. Recap the basic history of your National Federation and the origins of baseball in your country
The Norwegian Softball and Baseball Federation was formed in 1991, and became a full member of the Norwegian Confederation of Sports and Olympic and Paralympic Committee in 1999. National Teams in softball and baseball committed in their first European Championships in 1994.
2. Describe your National Team programmes
The Norwegian Softball and Baseball Federation currently forms a senior national team in baseball.
3. Describe your top-level competition (teams, cities involved, format)
The Elite Series in baseball consists of six teams and is organized in the biggest cities in the southern half of Norway. The cities involved are Trondheim, Bergen, Stavanger, Kristiansand and Oslo, consisting of the the Trondheim Hell Hounds, Bergen Wet Sox, Sola Aviators, Kristiansand Suns, ØHIL Royals, Oslo Pretenders and VIF Baseball. The Elite Series is played over a three-game series, finalized by play-offs where the Series Champion is crowned. The National Baseball Championships is organized as a double elimination Championship over one weekend.
4. Describe your grass-root activity
Our grass-root activity consists of a federation league, which organises lower level, cross age group games. In addition we offer a Co-Ed league for former Elite Series and fastpitch players. The federation also offers adapted ball games, and is looking to develop Baseball5 as student and school activity.
5. Please give an estimate of how many people play baseball and softball in your country.
Approximately 600 active members play baseball and softball in the federation’s leagues and activities.
WBSC eBASEBALL: POWER PROS
1. What do you hope to achieve by participating in WBSC eBASEBALL: POWER PROS?
We hope that it will create greater engagement and knowledge about our sport, and in this contribute to the general growth of our sport in Norway.
2. How will your presence at WBSC eBASEBALL: POWER PROS benefit your baseball and softball communities?
eBASEBALL™ will hopefully attract new members and create a different avenue for involvement in our sport.
3. What skills from eBASEBALL do you believe will transfer to actual baseball?
We believe that eBASEBALL™ can help with game understanding and developing skills in baseball and softball strategy, in particular with new and younger players.
4. How does your participation in WBSC eBASEBALL: POWER PROS align with the overall strategy or mission of your federation?
Participating in eBASEBALL™ creates more opportunities for people to be involved with our sport, across age groups and communities. It also creates an avenue for participation for those that are not already involved in our sports, or for different reasons do not have the opportunity to participate.
5. What benefits do you believe that you can bring to WBSC eBASEBALL: POWER PROS?
We believe that participating in the WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS will further contribute to the understanding that baseball is a global game.
6. What advice would you give to other NFs who are interested in being part of WBSC eBASEBALL: POWER PROS?
In a fast paced and ever changing world we have to be open to new ways of creating engagement with youth and children, and attracting new membership. eBASEBALL is a great tool that can be used to achieve this.
7. What are you looking forward to most in relation to WBSC eBASEBALL: POWER PROS?
To see engagement among children and hopefully meeting new people that want to be involved with our community.
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