Project European Regional INTERLEAGUE AUTHOR: Petra Čizmić Pokrajac DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

Softball interleague is competition in softball (fastpitch) for women and juniors played on cross border regional level. Founded in 2014 by Croatia, Hungary and Slovakia. Aim of interleague is to build a competition with international impact and credit. 2016 Development Commission

Objective of interleague is to make it notable and attractive for player as well as for parents and potential sponsors. With stepping over country borders this competition gives teams more opportunities; players enjoy and leverage European spirit. 2016 Development Commission

Challenges turned into benefits: Teams with low number of teams in country competitions Teams with higher number of players looking for bigger program Limited budgets Desire to play and grow Step over country borders to give teams more opportunities Enjoy and leverage European spirit Build a competition with international impact and credit Minimal costs for the league Make it notable and attractive for player as well as for parents and potential sponsors 2016 Development Commission

How we grow: 2014 – 6 teams, 3 countries (3 tournaments, 39 games) 2016 Development Commission

How it works? Three weekend tournaments (Sat & Sun) in spring and late summer/autumn 6 game days, where 5 dedicated to double round robin, last Sunday is for playoffs For two years each founder country hosted one tournament Two fields in parallel required for each tournament Minimal yearly entry fee (30 eur for team to cover trophies budget) Balls and umpires costs covered by ESF in 2015 Trophies given to first three teams (15 medals and cup) All organization for tournament and interleague on volunteer basis Promotion done so far online, via Facebook and with support of ESF media 2016 Development Commission

Future Improve promotion of Interleague Involve more participants Solution can be adopted across Europe on regional basis Considering regional champions to play final tournament (strong budget dependency) Explore additional options for support (EU funds, partners) 2016 Development Commission

Plan for next 4 years is to make it an European league, that will be played all over Europe, through different regions: Central Europe (Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, northern Italy) Eastern Europe (Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania, Greece) Northern Europe (Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Poland, northern Germany) Southern Europe (Spain, south France, western Italy) Western Europe (Netherland, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland)

Questions / Contacts Petra Cizmic Pokrajac pcizmic@gmail.com  skype : petracizmicpokrajac  mobile: +385-915-198 900 Michal Klasek league manager michal.klasek@gmail.com  skype : michal_klasek  mobile: +421-911-385 183  2016 Development Commission