Meet Celine Lassaigne, who manages the Super League organization for the FFBS. Two years into this new competition, what’s the verdict? Next, hear from the three champions of the 2024 edition: Enora Simon, Yasmine Derbal, and Capucine Meiss
BTVF: After two years of Super League, what lessons has the organization learned in terms of strengths and weaknesses?
The Super League Softball concept was initially designed post-COVID by the National Technical Directorate. The format was reshaped to adapt to constraints and opportunities, launching in 2023. The Super League wouldn’t exist without partnerships with clubs. In the first season, we sought stability in the competition venue to minimize surprises. The club of Évry hosted the event every weekend.
In this second season, clubs like Saint-Raphaël and Colombes approached us to host the event.
For the third season, we aim to open the competition to all clubs through a call for applications, just like other national competitions.
The Super League’s strengths lie in its flexible format and originality: team and individual play, faster-paced games, constant action, and different matchups each weekend. This format pushes teams and players to treat every inning like it’s their last, aiming not just to win the game but also the AB and the inning.
Weaknesses include increasing complexity in scheduling due to conflicts with D1 championships and club events. It’s also challenging regarding facilities, as hosting clubs often have only one specific field, which the Super League monopolizes all weekend, blocking other club activities. Despite securing private and institutional partners, the financial cost of organizing the event could threaten its sustainability.
BTVF: Regarding the players, what are the successes, and how can this be transformed into recruiting new enthusiasts?
To answer this, it’s important to recall the project’s origins and the objectives behind creating the Super League.
- Gathering the best French athletes to organize high-level matches and develop a ‘France’ culture and style, compensating for the limited opportunities for teamwork at the national level
- Creating an exceptional competition with adjustments, especially on Sundays, featuring specific game situations each inning to develop players’ adaptability and desensitize them to stressful situations
- Showcasing national team athletes to the public and demonstrating high-level softball through quality broadcasts, often unknown to clubs and new licensees
- Creating a more flexible model for athletes and dynamic management to engage the public
We haven’t yet reviewed the just-concluded second edition, but from the first season and initial impressions of this second season, we’ve seen the impact of this format on players: they know each other better, communication on and off the field has improved, athletes gain autonomy and adaptability, and they deliver a highly interesting level of play. As for the public, attendance remains mixed, often consisting of players’ relatives or die-hard fans.
Currently, the Super League Softball allows organizing clubs to promote the women’s discipline in their communities, showcasing its appeal and encouraging municipal investment in their clubs. It’s difficult to say if the Super League Softball recruits new enthusiasts, but it undoubtedly introduces our discipline from an angle clubs and licensees aren’t used to seeing.
The Super League Softball, in its current form, aims to develop the level of the best athletes. However, its concept can and will help develop softball at all levels. The goal is to expand it across regions, with a project in the Hauts-de-France region potentially launching in May 2024.
Enora Simon
For me, this competition allows the national team to play together and create a competition with the best French level. It provides additional playing time and sharing between different generations. It also highlights French high-level softball with significant media coverage.
Personally, I played again with my EDF teammates. I also got to experience individual competition in our sport. The principle is to be the best in a team sport, which teaches us many things. But the most important thing is the sharing of experiences and perspectives. This allows us to evolve even in uncomfortable situations (special situation, new position, etc.). I particularly enjoyed being the captain, even though it brings stress and the need to manage many things in addition to oneself, which is not always simple depending on the situation.
Yasmine Derbal
Firstly, this competition allows us to play with players we’re not used to, which is ideal for preparing for federal events. The competition’s scoring format encourages collective rather than individual play. This format adds six high-level matches per weekend, providing players with more experience. We learn from each other. Don’t forget that on Sundays, situations are drawn by the referees, helping us work on stress management and adaptability.
I take only positives from this competition. I had a great time playing! All the matches were intense and enjoyable. Having spent two years in the United States and playing in Italy in 2024, this competition allowed me to play in France again with former teammates or even players I didn’t know, which was a pleasure and reassured me for the future. As captain, I had to compose my team and lineup, realizing that selection, alignment, and player rotations on the field are more complex than one might think.
Capucine Meiss
I think it’s a great competition that serves several purposes; it brings together players from the national team or those who could join it, which is important for training together and preparing for the European Championships this summer. It also creates a high-level tournament that’s interesting to play and watch. With individual points, all players’ performances are highlighted independently while maintaining the importance of winning innings and matches with collective points that bring in a lot.
Personally, I participated in both seasons of the SL, during which I learned a lot alongside the best players in France, and I think it gave me more confidence in my game, both defensively and offensively. Changing teams every weekend is also a good challenge to learn to organize in each new team and function together with everyone’s qualities.
