HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Map of member states., 400px, right The International Softball Federation (ISF) is the international governing body for the sport of
softball Softball is a game similar to baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Softball is played competitively at club levels, the college level, and the professional level. The game was first created in 1887 in Chicago by George Hanc ...
with its world headquarters and training centre at
Plant City, Florida Plant City is an incorporated city in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States, approximately midway between Brandon and Lakeland along Interstate 4. The population was 39,764 at the 2020 census. Despite many thinking it was named for flor ...
. The ISF is a non-profit corporation recognized by the
International Olympic Committee The International Olympic Committee (IOC; french: link=no, Comité international olympique, ''CIO'') is a non-governmental sports organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swis ...
(IOC) and
SportAccord Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) is the umbrella organisation for all (Olympic and non-Olympic) international sports federations as well as organisers of multi-sports games and sport-related international association ...
(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 Baseball5 (B5) is an internationally played safe haven game with many of the same rules as baseball and softball, which is governed alongside those sports by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). The game revolves around two teams ...
. 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 The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a multi ...
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, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).


Hall of Fame

For a list of inductees and their biographical sketches, see footnote The ISF
Hall of Fame A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actual halls or muse ...
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 Plant City is an incorporated city in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States, approximately midway between Brandon and Lakeland along Interstate 4. The population was 39,764 at the 2020 census. Despite many thinking it was named for flor ...
, USA.


Medal of Honor

For a list of recipients, see footnoteMedal of Honor recipients are listed in the right-hand column at The ISF Medal of Honor was first awarded in 1990.


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.


Africa

There are 18 member countries.


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.


See also

* World Baseball Softball Confederation


References


External links

*
Ecuador Official Softball WebsiteIrish Softball AssociationAmateur Softball Association of the PhilippinesDanish Softball FederationHellenic Amateur Softball Federation
{{Authority control
Softball Softball is a game similar to baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Softball is played competitively at club levels, the college level, and the professional level. The game was first created in 1887 in Chicago by George Hanc ...
Organizations based in Florida Softball in the United States Softball organizations Sports in Hillsborough County, Florida Sports organizations established in 1952