Before we begin, a few helpful German words to know: Vereine are clubs; Verbände are associations of clubs; Mannschaft is a team; Geschäftsstelle is an administration office.

Softball and Baseball

There have been postings in the Expatica discussion forum by people looking for a softball team.

Below are links to associations of baseball and softball leagues throughout Germany.

Baden-Württembergischer Baseball und Softball Verband e.V. Geschäftsstelle (Administration Office): Filderbahnstr. 62, 70794 Filderstadt
Tel: 0711/705682
Fax: 0711/702418
Email: jvdberg@t-online.de
Website: www.bw-baseball.de

Baseball und Softball Verband Berlin/Brandenburg e.V.
Geschäftsstelle: Geßlerstr. 11, 10829 Berlin
Tel: 030/78708132
Fax: 030/78708132
Email: info@bsvbb.de
Web: www.bsvbb.de

Baseball und Softball Verband Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V.
Geschäftsstelle: Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 362, 42117 Wuppertal
Tel: 0202/7160695
Fax: 0202/7160772
Email: gs@bsvnrw.de
Website: www.bsvnrw.de

Bayerischer Baseball und Softball Verband e.V.
Geschäftsstelle: BusinessPark Osthofener Straße 17, 93055 Regensburg
Tel: 0941/31380
Fax: 0941/37336
Email: info@bbsv.de
Website: www.bbsv.de

Hamburger Baseball und Softball Verband e.V.
Geschäftsstelle: Detmerstr. 6, 22305 Hamburg
Tel: 040/6929311
Fax: 040/6929311
Email: info@hbvnet.de
Website: www.hbvnet.de

Hessischer Baseball und Softball Verband e.V.
Geschäftsstelle: Brucknerstr. 1, 64347 Griesheim
Tel: 06155/880188
Fax: 06155/880189
Email: HBSV-Griesheim@t-online.de
Website: www.hbsv.de

Mitteldeutscher Baseball und Softball Verband e.V.
Geschäftsstelle: Am Hausberg 9, 07552 Gera/Langenberg
Tel: 03658/303207
Fax: 03658/303209
Email: praesident@mbsv.de
Website: www.mbsv.de

Niedersächsischer Baseball und Softball Verband e.V.
Geschäftsstelle: Rostocker Str. 101, 38444 Wolfsburg
Tel: 05361/772733
Fax: 05361/774555
Email: Huhnholz@t-online.de
Website: www.nbsv.de

Schleswig-Holsteinischer Baseball und Softball Verband e.V.
Geschäftsstelle: Kieler Weg 108, 24145 Kiel
Tel: 0431/7165235
Fax: 0431/711508
Email: Geschaeftsstelle@SHBVnet.de
Website: www.shbvnet.de

Südwestdeutscher Baseball und Softball Verband e.V.
Geschäftsstelle: c/o Olaf Boldt Am Stiftswingert 6, 55131 Mainz
Tel: 06131/277350
Fax: 06131/277351
Email: înfo@swbsv.de
Website: www.swbsv.de

Rugby

To get yourself in the middle of a scrum, simply join a team. Leagues abound, with teams for men, women, youths, and of course "golden oldies".

Fritz Feyerherm, the president of the Berliner Rugby-Club, a team in the Budesliga, said anyone is welcome to get involved.

Feyerherm is especially looking for forwards. So, if you are a forward and live in Berlin, give him a ring. Though he has had players from English-speaking countries in the past, his team currently has no such representative. He does have an Italian, a Tunisian, and a Frenchman; the rest are German.

To get involved with the Berliner Rugby-Club, visit their website at www.berliner-rugby-club.de

Go to www.scrum.de to locate a team near you by using their links section.

Soccer

It's Germany's number one sport, and the most popular sport in the world. If you have wanted to join a team, but have been unable to find one, you obviously didn't venture beyond your doorstep.

To find a team where you can make like Pele, visit Weltfussball.de. Click on "Vereine" in their links section, then when the new page loads click on "Verbände" in their links section. Then "Europa", then "Deutschland", and then use the scroll bar for "Regional" to locate your area. A team is waiting for you!

Football, American

While jogging around the Plötzensee in Berlin one day, I heard the unmistakable sound of crashing football pads. I followed the sounds to a football field where big padded brutes were practising. Brutes that turned out to be the youth team!

Christoph Sonka, a young man donning a University of Iowa sweater that day, is the president of the Berlin Adlers, an American football team in Berlin.

He told me his team is always looking for good players, and that there are many teams across Germany.

So, if you feel like playing American Football, the real deal, with all the hitting, visit the excellent Adlers site at www.berlinadler.de.

There are also teams for women, youth and even flag football for those who prefer the fun without the potential of serious bodily damage. Go to www.afvd.de for links to teams

American Football Verband Deutschland e.V.
Geschäftstelle: Otto-Fleck-Schneise 12, 60528 Frankfurt am Main
Tel: 069/96740267
Fax: 0 69/96734148
Email: office@afvd.de

Basketball

This country is big on basketball as evidenced by the number of public (playground) basketball courts. As all Americans know, the best b-ball is learned on the playground, so go teach some kids a proper crossover.

The Berliner Basketball Verband e.V. has a fabulous site at http://home.t-online.de/home/berlin.basket if you're seeking to join a team. Go to their "infos and links" page, and when there, click on "links" in the left field to find the "Verband" for your area.

For professional spectators

Below are all the links you'll need to follow your favorite professional German teams.

Basketball Bundesliga

If you were waking up at three in the morning to watch the Answer of the Sixers take on Shaq and Kobe of the Lakers, then you're definitely a basketball fan. Game 1 was one of the best final games ever!

There is also some good basketball over here in Germany. Visit the s.Oliver BBL at http://www.basketball-bundesliga.de/ for information on all the teams in the league, stats and links to your team.

Soccer

What more can be said of the quality of German football (soccer) than that Bayern Münich won the Champions League. Go to www.finalwhistle.com for a good site in English with all the latest soccer news. They have links to all the official sites of the teams in the German Bundesliga.

American Football

Go to the NFL Europe site at www.nfleurope.com for information. Get your tickets for next year! I guarantee you'll enjoy the NFL Europe experience.