Key workshops and Executive Board meeting highlight opening day of WBSC Congress in Bangkok, Thailand

The opening day of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Congress, taking place from 16 to 18 October at the Grand Fourwings Hotel in Bangkok, featured a full programme of activities, including four dedicated workshops and a meeting of the WBSC Executive Board.

The workshops focused on the new Athlete Transfer Rules, Baseball5, the MyWBSC digital platform, and eSports, providing Member Federations with updates, practical guidance, and interactive discussions on these key areas of development.

WBSC Executive Board Meeting

The day began with a meeting of the WBSC Executive Board, which gathered to review the Confederation’s strategic priorities, upcoming events, and progress across all disciplines. The Board also previewed Saturday's Congress meeting and approved South Sudan as a new member, pending Congress approval.

This meeting marked the start of an important three-day Congress that will bring together delegates from around the world to shape the future of Baseball/Softball.

Workshops

Athlete Transfer Rules

The WBSC introduced the Athlete Transfer Rules to promote athlete mobility while ensuring transparency, fairness, and ethical standards. These rules are designed to safeguard the rights and obligations of both athletes and clubs during transfers.

Developed by a six-member working group and approved by the WBSC Executive Board on 11 May 2024, the rules have been in force since January 2025. They apply to transfers between clubs belonging to different WBSC Member Federations and to athletes aged 18 and older.

Transfers between Member Federations now require an International Transfer Certificate (ITC). For transfers within the same continent, the relevant Continental Association will process the ITC. The entire process is managed digitally through the MyWBSC platform, with all members having received a dedicated manual for guidance.

To uphold the integrity of the system, the WBSC may impose sanctions on clubs, individuals, National Federations, and Continental Associations that fail to comply with or enforce the rules.

Baseball5

Baseball5, the fast-paced, five-on-five, co-ed urban version of Baseball/Softball, was introduced by the WBSC in 2017. In just eight years, the discipline has grown exponentially hosting two World Cups, two Youth World Cups, and earning a place in the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

The WBSC currently ranks 65 Baseball5 programmes worldwide, with the top 10 featuring strong representation from Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Official documents and game rules are available on the WBSC website, supporting the continued global expansion of the sport.

eSports

The WBSC’s eSports initiative began in 2021 with the Olympic Virtual Series, followed by the 2023 launch of WBSC eBASEBALL: POWER PROS by KONAMI. The third edition of the WBSC eBaseball Series is currently underway, with the World Finals scheduled for November in North Carolina, USA.

Between 2023 and 2025, WBSC eSports events expanded from 10 to 24, underscoring the rapid growth of this digital frontier. The workshop also highlighted successful case studies from the Italian Baseball and Softball Federation (FIBS) and USA Baseball, demonstrating the potential of eSports to engage new audiences and athletes.

The WBSC’s partnership with Newdin, the global leader in baseball simulation, has further strengthened this area. Their collaboration produced the WBSC Virtual Cup X Strikezon in 2022, attracting over 8,000 participants across four host countries.

At the Congress, WBSC and Newdin showcased Strikezon, the world’s first pitching and batting simulator. The next WBSC Virtual Cup will run from 2026 to 2028, offering National Federations opportunities to host qualifiers and events. Newdin also announced plans to expand its technology to softball.

MyWBSC Platform

The MyWBSC digital suite serves as a comprehensive ecosystem connecting Continental Confederations, National Federations, and Associate Members. Designed for scalability and autonomy, MyWBSC offers a multi-level access system, allowing members to manage their operations independently.

The suite includes:

• A Content Management System for editing blog posts, pages, multimedia content, and documents;
• An Event Management System; and
• Game Statistics tools for data tracking and analysis.

By centralising registration and administrative processes, MyWBSC significantly reduces paperwork, enhances efficiency, and promotes greater collaboration and data sharing across the global WBSC community.