Swiss Baseball & Softball Federation
General Questions about the National Federations
1. Recap the basic history of your National Federation and the origins of baseball in your country
The first baseball game in Switzerland took place on 11 November 1980 on the Ruopigenwiese in Reussbühl. The "White Sox" from Lucerne and the "Challengers" from Zurich stopped the game in the freezing cold halfway through, but it still marks the beginning of our history. The following summer, on 26 July 1981, the Federazione Svizzera Baseball Softball or the Swiss Baseball and Softball Association (SBSV) was founded in the Clarida restaurant in Meggen near Lucerne. Since around 2008 the official name is the Swiss Baseball & Softball Federation (SBSF). In 1990 SBSF became a full member of the Swiss Olympic Committee. The Baseball National Team competed in their first European Championships in 1987 whereas the Softball National Team played their first European Championships in 1995.
2. Describe your National Team programmes
The federation currently has seven National Teams. Elite, U-22 & U-18 on the softball women's side and elite, U-23, U-18 & U-15 on the men’s baseball side.
3. Describe your top-level competition (teams, cities involved, format)
In 2023 the men’s top league ‘Nationalliga A’ in baseball consisted of five teams, however, usually the top league is an eight-team league. The cities involved are Zürich (two teams), Therwil, Wil, Bern. There is a regular season with play-offs where the Swiss Champion is crowned. On the softball side there is the women’s top league ‘Nationalliga A’ with currently six teams. The cities involved are Wittenbach, Zürich (two teams), Luzern, Bern and Sissach. There is a regular season with play-offs where the Swiss champion is crowned.
4. Describe your grass-root activity
We are having currently a U-10 Coach Pitch Gameday style ‘League’ for the youngest. In 2023 Juveniles U-12 league with regular season in three groups and a ‘Final 4‘ Playoff Tournament and Cadets U-15 league in four groups with playoffs. In addition we offer a Co-Ed Slowpitch Softball league for everyone.
5. Please give an estimate of how many people play baseball and softball in your country.
Approximately there are 1,000 active members playing baseball and softball in the federation’s leagues and activities.
WBSC eBASEBALL: POWER PROS
1. What do you hope to achieve by participating in the WBSC eBASEBALL: POWER PROS?
We hope to get more exposure for our sport with media, social media and streaming activities and with this contribute to the general growth of our sport in Switzerland. We hope, sooner than later, to continue our own eBaseball activities and possibly have a second SBEL Swiss Baseball eSports League or similar. Unleash the power of eSports and attract more and new communities into our federation
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 people to become involved 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 develop 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 sports, 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 series will 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.
