The European Softball Federation (Fédération Européenne Softball, ESF), is the governing body of softball

Softball

Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...

 within Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

. The ESF was founded in 1976 with 6 members, which were Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

, France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

, Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

, Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

, Netherlands

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

 and Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

. Currently, there are 36 members.

The Federation is responsible for operation of the European Women's Softball Championship

ESF Women's Championship

The European Softball Women Division A Championship is the main championship tournament between national women softball teams in Europe, governed by the European Softball Federation.-Results:...

, European Men's Softball Championship

ESF Men's Championship

The European Softball Men's Championship is the main championship tournament between national men's softball teams in Europe, governed by the European Softball Federation.-Results:-Medal table:-References:...

 and the European Co-Ed Softball Championship

ESF coed national championships

The European Coed Slowpitch Championship is a championship tournament between national coeducational softball teams in Europe, governed by the European Softball Federation.-Results:-Medal table:-External links:*...

 for national senior teams.

The Federation is responsible for operation of the European Junior Girl's Softball Championship

ESF Junior Girls Championship

The European Softball Junior Girls Championship is the main championship tournament between national junior girls softball teams in Europe, governed by the European Softball Federation.-Results:-Medal table:-References:...

, European Junior Boy's softball Championship

ESF Junior Boys Championship

The European Softball Junior Boys Championship is the main championship tournament between national junior boys softball teams in Europe, governed by the European Softball Federation.-Results:-Medal table:-References:...

, European Cadet Girl's Softball Championship and the European Minime Girl's Softball Championship for junior national teams.

The Federation is responsible for operation of the European Women's Cup Championship, European Women's Cup Winners Cup Championship, European Men's Cup Championship

ESF men's EC club championships

The ESF mens European Cup Club Championship is a championship tournament between national club champions for mens fastpich softball teams in Europe, governed by the European Softball Federation.-Results:-Medal table:-External links:*...

, European Men's Cup Winners Cup Championship

ESF men's CWC club championships

The European Cup Winners Cup Club Championship is a championship tournament between national club cup winners for mens softball teams in Europe, governed by the European Softball Federation. If a cup tournament is not held the tournament is also open for the runner up of the national...

 and the European coed club Championship

ESF coed club championships

The European Coed Club Slowpitch Championship is a championship tournament between national club champions for coed softball teams in Europe, governed by the European Softball Federation.-Results:-Medal table:-External links:*...

 for club teams.

Members

Armenia Armenia Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia... Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Finland France

Georgia Georgia (country) Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of... Germany Great Britain Greece Guernsey Guernsey Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet... Hungary Ireland Israel Italy

Jersey Malta Moldova Moldova Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part... Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

San Marino San Marino San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino , is a state situated on the Italian Peninsula on the eastern side of the Apennine Mountains. It is an enclave surrounded by Italy. Its size is just over with an estimated population of over 30,000. Its capital is the City of San Marino... Serbia Serbia Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans... Slovakia Slovenia Slovenia Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of... Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...

Observers

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to... Belarus Belarus Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,... Cyprus Cyprus Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the... Estonia Estonia Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies... Lithuania Lithuania Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...