Formation 1952 President Dale McMann Type of business Sports federation | Official language English, Spanish Founded 1952 | |
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Membership 127 National Governing Bodies Similar USA Softball, World Flying Disc Federation, International Association for Sports, International Olympic Committee, United States Olympic | ||
The International Softball Federation is the international governing body for the sport of softball. The ISF is a non-profit corporation recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and SportAccord (formerly the General Association of International Sports Federations).
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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, 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 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.
Medal of Honor
For a list of recipients, see footnote.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.