1 2014 – 2017 Published by the International Softball Federation (ISF) Communications Department 1900 So. Park Road Plant City, Florida 33563 USA www.ISFsoftball.org All rights reserved. No part of this book can be reprinted or resold or utilized in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher. 2 2014-2017 OFFICIAL RULES OF SOFTBALL 2014-2015 TECHNICAL CODE ISF SECRETARIAT 1900 So. Park Road Plant City, Florida 33563-8113 USA Tel.: (1.813) 864 0100 Fax: (1.813) 864 0105 Website: www.ISFsoftball.org E-mail: [email protected] President: Dale McMann Secretary General: Beng Choo Low Director General: Tamara (Toma) Malikoff Director of Competition: Laurie Gouthro Development/Communication Coordinator: Lori Nolan Spanish Translator: Teresa Mulqueen Director of Umpires: Robert (Bob) Stanton Chief Medical Officer: Robert (Bob) Terrell, M.D. THE RULES AND REGULATIONS IN THIS BOOK ARE BINDING ON ALL MEMBER FEDERATIONS. THE OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES FOR ALL ISF COMPETITIONS ARE THE RULES SET BY THE ISF PLAYING RULES COMMISSION. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS President’s Message………………………………………………………………………5 Member Countries and Federation Officers ……………………….………………...…6-8 ISF Technical & Procedural Code…………………………………………………......9-34 Official Rules of Softball…………………………………………………………....35-104 Official Dimensions for Softball Diamonds….……………………………………104-109 Distance Tables…………………………………………………………………………110 Diamond Layout………………………………………………………………………..111 Ball Standards…………………………………………………………………………..112 Glove Specifications…………………………………………………………………....113 Rules index………………………………………………………………….……...114-136 4 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT On behalf of the International Softball Federation, our Board of Directors and Staff, I want to welcome you to the great sport of Softball. The International Softball Federation is the International Olympic Committee recognized governing body for softball internationally. Recently we have combined with our friends and partners in baseball to form the World Baseball Softball Confederation. Together we represent one of the world’s most global sports with over 130 member national federations, over 65 million active participants world-wide and events and disciplines for men and women, girls and boys of all ages. The International Softball Federation (ISF) remains the organization responsible for all operational aspects of the sport of softball internationally. The ISF holds two (2) World Championships each year with the Senior Women’s and Junior Men’s held in one year and the Senior Men’s and Junior Women’s World Championships held in the alternate year. In addition to World Championships the ISF holds a number of International events and World Cups for various disciplines of softball. Additionally, the ISF is responsible for the growth and expansion of our sport on a global basis. To help achieve this growth the ISF has partnered with a number of sporting goods manufacturers to provide softball equipment to those areas and countries in the World where it is most needed and least available. To date almost $4 million of equipment has been sent to over 100 countries. At the ISF we have also partnered with National and Regional Federations to provide coaching clinics to athletes and coaches from every continent (the exception is Antarctica). The ISF introduced a very successful Umpire certification program a number of years ago and clinics that assist umpires in developing their skills and moving toward full ISF certification are now held in a number of locations annually. If it’s fast-pitch softball, slow-pitch softball, beach softball, arena softball, wheelchair softball, men’s or women’s, girls or boys’ softball the ISF has programs, competitions, rules and contacts that will assist in growing the game at an international level. We are proud and pleased to work with our National Federations, Regional Federations and Corporate partners in operating, growing and developing the great game of softball internationally. Softball offers something for everyone from World class international competitions with professional and Olympic athletes to a more recreational game for those who want a fun atmosphere and physical activity in a more social environment. Please visit the ISF website for more information on our International Federation or information on the sport of softball. Dale McMann President, International Softball Federation 5 International Softball Federation National Federations affiliated with the ISF AFRICA (19) Colombia Malaysia Lithuania Botswana Costa Rica Mongolia Malta Burkina Faso Cuba Nepal Moldova Cameroon Curacao P.R. of Korea Netherlands Gambia Dominican Republic Pakistan Norway Guinea Ecuador Philippines Poland Guinea-Bissau El Salvador Singapore Romania Kenya Guatemala Thailand Russia Lesotho Haiti Uzbekistan San Marino Liberia Honduras Vietnam Serbia Mali Jamaica Slovakia Namibia Mexico EUROPE (39) Slovenia Nigeria Nicaragua Armenia Spain Senegal Panama Austria Sweden Sierra Leone Peru Azerbaijan Switzerland South Africa Puerto Rico Belarus Turkey Tunisia Turks & Caicos Is. Belgium Ukraine Uganda Uruguay Bulgaria Zambia USA Croatia OCEANIA (12) Zimbabwe Venezuela Cyprus American Samoa Virgin Islands (U.S.) Czech Republic Australia AMERICAS (34) Denmark Cook Islands Anguilla ASIA (22) Estonia Guam Antigua & Barbuda Brunei Finland Mariana Islands Argentina China France Marshall Islands Aruba Chinese Taipei Georgia Micronesia Bahamas Hong Kong Germany New Zealand Barbados India Great Britain Palau Belize Indonesia Greece Papua New Guinea Bermuda Iraq Guernsey Samoa Bolivia Islamic Rep. of Iran Hungary Solomon Islands Brazil Japan Ireland B.V. Islands Jordan Israel Canada Kazakhstan Italy Cayman Islands Korea 6 FEDERATION OFFICERS HONORARY -PRESIDENT PRESIDENT Don E. PORTER Dale MCMANN USA Canada SECRETARY GENERAL st 2nd VICE 1 VICE PRESIDENT Beng Choo LOW PRESIDENT Darryl CLOUT Malaysia Jesus SUNIAGA Australia Venezuela VICE PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT Asia Africa Africa Asia Taeko UTSUGI Fridah SHIROYA Tirelo MUKOKOMANI Yin TAN Kenya Botswana Japan China 7 VICE PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT Europe Europe Latin America Latin America Francesca FABRETTO André van OVERBEEK Antonio MORALES Tommy VELAZQUEZ Austria Netherlands Colombia Puerto Rico VICE PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT North America Non-Spanish-Speaking Oceania Oceania E.T. COLVIN Caribbean Rex CAPIL Bob STEFFY, Sr. USA Endy CROES New Zealand Guam Aruba IOC MEMBER IOC MEMBER TREASURER Beatrice ALLEN Melitón SÁNCHEZ Javier ANAYA Gambia Panama Colombia Athlete Representative Athlete Representative Bobby ROSTHENHAUSLER Maria SOTO USA Venezuela 8 ISF COMPETITION & TECHNICAL CODE for WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS and OLYMPIC GAMES (INCLUDING QUALIFYING COMPETITIONS for the OLYMPIC GAMES) (As adopted September 18, 1952 with amendments through 2013) ARTICLE 1 BID PROCEDURES FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 1.01 Bid procedures for World Championships are as follows: a. World Championships shall be bid three (3) years in advance. Detailed bids shall be presented to the Secretary General not less than three (3)months prior to the meeting at which bids will be considered and shall be mailed to each member Federation not less than two (2)months prior to such meeting. b. Bids shall be in writing on the proper form provided by the ISF Secretariat. c. Bids must contain and provide the following minimum guaranteed: 1. All local transportation, including airport arrival, airport to hotel, and hotel to the playing site and return to the airport on departure of each delegation, umpires, ISF Staff and up to eight ISF Representatives (the “ISF Representatives”). 2. Suitable and acceptable hotel accommodations and meals for umpires, ISF Staff and the ISF Representatives. 3. Playing facilities must provide adequate spectator seating and equipped with lights for night play. 4. Any proposed contract for television, radio or other electronic distribution of the Championship competition 5. Final contracts must be signed by the ISF and the successful bidder within 90 days of notification of the acceptance of the bid and the successful bidder must provide to the ISF a good faith deposit of five percent of the minimum financial guarantee in the bid at the time of execution of the contract. In addition the successful bidder must provide to the ISF an additional fifteen percent of the minimum financial guarantee one year prior to the start of the tournament. If the successful bidder does not fulfill its obligations to host the World Championship, in addition to any other legal rights of the ISF, the deposit will be forfeited. 6. Bids must contain the following minimum financial guarantee to the ISF: Women’s - $100,000USD Junior Women’s - $75,000USD Junior Men’s - $75,000 USD Men’s - $100,000 USD (NOTE – Bids may contain larger guarantees). 7. Net Revenues, including but not limited to rights fees and advertising, from the electronic distribution or reproduction of the World Championship by any 9 means including but not limited to television or radio broadcast, streaming media, internet distribution or other new media whether now in existence or discovered in the future, shall be shared between the ISF and the (successful bidder) host committee equally. An ISF representative will visit the site of the World Championship at least six (6) months prior to the opening of the Championship and meet with the organizing commission and inspect playing facilities. The Representative will, immediately following that visit,