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At the heart of the 2025–2026 call are three priority areas that reflect the evolving needs of the European baseball and softball community:
Enhancing Global Participation
WBSC Europe encourages federations to bring Little League to new cities, new schools, and new communities. Whether by establishing new teams, launching school partnerships, or expanding local competitions, projects under this priority aim to welcome more young athletes than ever before.
Youth Field Safety Development
Safe fields mean confident, protected young players. Federations can propose projects that improve youth fields, upgrade essential safety equipment, or ensure that playing environments meet basic standards for children. These improvements not only benefit Little League today but create safer clubs for years to come.
Female Participation
Growing the game for girls remains a core strategic priority. Projects promoting girls’ involvement—whether through all-girl teams, mentoring programs, female-led coaching pathways, or inclusive training events—are strongly encouraged. The goal is simple: open more doors and empower more girls to step onto the field.
This year, WBSC Europe is introducing a simplified Lump Sum funding model, allowing federations to choose the level of support that best matches their project: €1,500, €3,000, €5,000, €10,000.
Eighty percent of the funds are paid upfront, giving federations immediate resources to launch activities. The remaining twenty percent is awarded once the project is completed and fully reported.
All funds must be used during 2026, and the deadline for applications is 31 December 2025.
Importantly, federations that received WBSC Europe funding in 2025—whether from the Little League call or the general development call—are not eligible for this cycle. This ensures fair rotation and opens opportunities for more members across Europe.
The full documentation package is available here:
- Development Requests Procedures – Little League 2025–2026
- Development Request Form – Little League 2025–2026
Strengthening the Future of European Baseball and Softball
The Little League Development Grant Call reflects more than just funding. It is an invitation to build, innovate, and reimagine how young athletes experience our sport. From safer fields to new programs for girls, from expanded local leagues to fresh school initiatives, each project contributes to the long-term health of European baseball and softball.
National Federations are encouraged to review the documentation, prepare their proposals, and submit their applications by 31 December 2025 to: development@wbsceurope.org
