 | |
| Formation | 1952 [1] |
|---|---|
| Type | Sports federation |
| Headquarters | Plant City, Florida, United States |
Membership | 127 National Governing Bodies |
Official language | English, Spanish |
President | Dale McMann |
| Website | www |
The International Softball Federation (ISF) is the former 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]
- ^ "International Softball Federation – The ISF: The History of Softball". Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2009-10-10.
- ^ "ISF CERTIFICATION". www.asasoftball.com. Retrieved 2017-05-31.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "New World Baseball Softball Body born at historic Tokyo Congress" (Press release). International Baseball Federation. 2013-04-14. Retrieved 2013-04-15.