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Founded in the spring of 1987, The London Softball League (LSL) is London’s premier mixed-gender slowpitch softball league. With over 50 teams from beginners to top competitive levels, playing weeknights over the summer at a variety of London Parks and fields across London such as Regents Park and Wandsworth Common. The league are the largest and only open softball league in Greater London, meaning that new teams are welcome irrespective of background or affiliation. Enquiries from new teams are welcome year round.

The league is affiliated with the British Softball Federation.

History
The league was founded in 1987. Originally it was divided into divisions based on teams’ location, but in 1988 it switched to a ranked format of two divisions involving 26 teams and has continued to grow since then.

In 2010, in order to encourage growth of softball at both the intermediate and entry levels, the league divided into two halves: the Majors and the Minors. Today, the Majors comprises 3 ranked divisions; the Minors comprises 3 ranked divisions.

In 2020 the league voted to change its name from the Greater London Softball League to the London Softball League. Along with the name change it also changed its logo for the first time in 10 years. It has been only the 3rd time the logo has been changed.

Events
During the the year the league hosts two weekend tournaments during the season open to teams within the league, across all divisions. Teams that win their division the previous year get to represent London Softball League at the British Softball Federation‘s League Nationals tournament in late summer.

At the end of the season, the London Softball League All-Star Day features players nominated by each team in a series of 3 combined divisional grudge matches.

Development
For new players, the league offers Development Nights (Softball 101) on Mondays in Regent’s Park, where those interested in learning softball are taught the basics of the game. At the end of the season these players create a new team to compete in the LSL Lastball tournament in August and to enter the Minors the following year. This has proved a fun and effective way to introduce people to the game since 2003. The league has produced 17 Development teams with 11 still playing to this day.

Umpiring
The league offers 3 levels of training throughout the year. Gold, Silver and Bronze. Silver and Bronze allow players to become qualified umpires to umpire within the london Softball League, Silver being a plate umpire qualification and Bronze a field umpire qualification. Gold players to the opportunity to become a BASU Softball qualified umpire, once they pass their assessment they are registered and organised via the associated British Association Of Softball Umpires (BASU), their official body in the UK.

Rules
London Softball League follow the World Baseball Softball Confederation rules, with a few modifications aimed at making the game more accessible for all who play.

Organisational structure
The league is governed by the committee, which made up of current and ex players from the league. The committee consists of 16 members: Director (Currently shared position), Secretary, Treasurer, Technical Officer, Umpire Officer, New Players and Teams Officer, Communications Officer, Fixtures Officer, Development Officer, Tournaments Officer, Social Officer and General Officers (2 Majors reps and 1 Minors Rep - 1 vacant spot).

Governing Bodies

 * BaseballSoftballUK - the dual sports' development agency
 * British Softball Federation - Official British Softball governing body
 * European Softball Federation - Official European Softball governing Body
 * World Baseball Softball Confederation - Official World Governing Body for Baseball and Softball

Category:Softball organizations Category:Softball in the United Kingdom Softball