International Softball Federation
Federación Internacional de Softbol
Formation1952 (1952) [1]
TypeSports federation
HeadquartersPlant City, Florida, United States
Membership
127 National Governing Bodies
Official language
English, Spanish
President
Dale McMann
Websitehttp://www.ISFsoftball.org
Map of member states.

The International Softball Federation (ISF) is the international governing body for the sport of softball with its world headquarters and training centre at Plant City, Florida.[2] The ISF is a non-profit corporation recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and SportAccord (formerly the General Association of International Sports Federations).

In 2013 a merger between the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and International Softball Federation (ISF), the world governing bodies for baseball and softball, created the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) which now serves as the overarching world governing body for the sports of baseball, softball, and Baseball5. The ISF represents the softball division.

The ISF organizes and conducts world championship competition in women's & men's fast pitch, junior women's & junior men's fast pitch (19-and-under), women's, men's & coed slow pitch, and women's & men's modified pitch. The ISF sanctions regional championships and provides technical support to Regional (Multi-Sport) Games. Additionally the ISF qualifies teams for Olympic softball competition in coordination with the IOC. The ISF provides the official playing rules for international competition including: Olympic Games, world championships, regional championships, regional games and other sanctioned competitions.

As part of a campaign to return softball to the Olympic Games in time for 2020, in April 2013, the ISF began a process of merging with the International Baseball Federation to form a new combined federation for both sports,[3] the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).[4]

Hall of Fame

For a list of inductees and their biographical sketches, see footnote[5] The ISF Hall of Fame has inducted members every other year since 1981. Inductees include players, coaches, umpires, and administrators (plus individuals in the Meritorious Service category). Individuals are nominated by the national governing body for softball in their country. Nominees are considered by the ISF Hall of Fame Commission. Voting is conducted at the biennial ISF congress. The ISF is planning to build an ISF Hall of Fame & Museum at its world headquarters in Plant City, Florida, USA.[5][6]

Medal of Honor

For a list of recipients, see footnote[7] The ISF Medal of Honor was first awarded in 1990.[7]

List of members

The ISF considers some dependent territories, such as the British Virgin Islands, to be "countries" for the purposes of international competition. Those dependent territories compete separately from their "parent" country. There are members from every continent in the world, except Antarctica.

The national governing body for softball in each of the countries listed below is considered to be a member of the ISF. [8]

Africa

There are 18 member countries.

  •  Botswana
  •  Burkina Faso
  •  Cameroon
  •  Gambia
  •  Guinea
  •  Guinea-Bissau
  •  Kenya
  •  Lesotho
  •  Liberia
  •  Mali
  •  Namibia
  •  Nigeria

Americas

There are 33 countries and dependent territories.

Asia

There are 22 member countries and dependent territories.

Europe

There are 39 countries and dependent territories.

Oceania

There are 12 member countries and dependent territories.

  •  American Samoa
  •  Australia
  •  Cook Islands
  •  Guam
  •  Northern Mariana Islands (Mariana Islands)
  •  Marshall Islands
  •  Micronesia
  •  New Zealand
  •  Palau
  •  Papua New Guinea
  •  Samoa
  •  Solomon Islands

See also

References

  1. ↑ "International Softball Federation - The ISF: The History of Softball". Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2009-10-10.
  2. ↑ "ISF CERTIFICATION". www.asasoftball.com. Retrieved 2017-05-31.
  3. ↑ "World Baseball and Softball Set for Milestone in Bid for Olympic Games Program Inclusion". International Softball Federation. 2013-04-08. Archived from the original on 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
  4. ↑ "New World Baseball Softball Body born at historic Tokyo Congress" (Press release). International Baseball Federation. 2013-04-14. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
  5. 1 2 "Inductees/Bios". International Softball Federation. Archived from the original on 2015-06-27. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  6. ↑ "Architectural rendering, proposed ISF Hall of Fame & Museum". YouTube. International Softball Federation. October 15, 2008. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  7. 1 2 Medal of Honor recipients are listed in the right-hand column at "Inductees/Bios". International Softball Federation. Archived from the original on 2015-06-27. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  8. ↑ "International Softball Federation Directory/Member Countries". Archived from the original on 2013-04-24. Retrieved 2013-03-22.
  9. ↑ "New Kosova Report - Kosovo Softball Federation wins international recognition". Archived from the original on 2008-09-07.
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