September-December - International Softball Federation

September-December - International Softball Federation

English/Español
Sommaire français
en pages 13 et 14
Official Publication of the International Softball Federation
September - December 2009
Volume 37 Number 3
Show your support for the
Olympic reinstatement campaign.
Visit the Back Softball website for more information and click
on the merchandise link to help the drive to 2016 at
www.BackSoftball.com
INTERNATIONAL SOFTBALL FEDERATION
1900 So. Park Road • Plant City, FL 33563 USA
Telephone: (+1.813) 864.0100 • Fax: (+1.813) 864.0105
An Initiative Of
President’s
Message
Published at the Secretariat of the
International Softball Federation
Executive Council
President
Don E. Porter
Secretary General
Andrew S. Loechner, Jr.
First Vice President
Clovis M. Lodewijks
Deputy Secretary General Ms. Low Beng Choo
Vice Presidents
Africa
Marumo Morule
Asia
Steven S. W. Huang
Masanori Ozaki
Europe
Mrs. Jelena Cusak
Mike Jennings
Latin America
Dr. Fernando Jorge Aren
Jesús Suniaga
North America
Dale McMann
Oceania
Bob Leveloff
Council Members at Large Beatrice Allen
Annie Constantinides
Meliton Sanchez
Ms. Fridah Shiroya
Athlete Representative
Ms. Peta Edebone
J
uly, August, and September were big and important months for softball
with many regional and world competitions being played and, in
conclusion, all were successful.
Not only the competitive side has been successful but the sport’s
development continues to make inroads into many countries with new
national federations being formed and active competitions being started.
While the sport continues its efforts in development it will also continue
to work to bring back Olympic recognition, which to-date has seen four
Olympiads where overall softball was successful in giving Olympic dreams
and opportunities to numerous young athletes.
As softball continues to expand on a global basis it will take more effort
and work by member federations and the International Softball Federation
to find support at the national, regional, and world levels in sustaining the
sport in its quest to bring back Olympic status.
INTERNATIONAL SOFTBALL FEDERATION
1900 So. Park Road
Plant City, FL 33563
USA
Telephone: (1.813) 864 01 00 Fax: (1.813) 864 01 05
www.internationalsoftball.com
Unless otherwise noted, all stories written by World Softball
Magazine Editor Bruce R. Wawrzyniak, ISF Director of
Communications.
Spanish translation: Teresa Mulqueen
Advertising rates available upon request.
Although advertising is screened,
acceptance of the advertisement does not
necessarily imply ISF endorsement of the
product.
Cover photos, left to right: (top row) by John Corley,
Martin Salajka, Murray Johnson, (middle row) Vision
Quest, Shanon Melnyk, courtesy of Kaohsiung
Organizing Committee, (bottom row) Jose M. Peñalver,
David Adiel, courtesy of JSA
(Photo courtesy of YWC Organizing Committee)
Maison du Sport International
Avenue de Rhodaine 54
1007 Lausanne
Switzerland
Telephone: (41.21) 601 6387
ISF President Don Porter speaking in
the Czech Republic in August during
the Opening Ceremony of the Easton
Foundation Youth Softball World Cup.
Calendar of Events
Cups Full Of Softball
In Four Countries
Pgs. 4-5
2009
WORLD MASTERS GAMES
– SYDNEY, AUS.; OCTOBER 10-18
XXIV ISF CONGRESS
– MARGARITA ISLAND, VEN.; OCTOBER 22-25
9TH CENTRAL AMERICAN GAMES
(Men’s & Women’s Softball, Dec. 6-10)
– SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS; DECEMBER 4-12
2010
IX SOUTH AMERICAN GAMES (Women’s Softball)
– MEDELLIN, COL.; MARCH 10-21
ISF XII WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
– OKLAHOMA, USA; JULY 16-26
XXI CENTRAL AMERICAN & CARIBBEAN GAMES
(Men’s & Women’s Softball)
– MAYAGUEZ, PR; JULY 17-AUGUST 1
3RD WORLD UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
– MACERATA, ITA.; AUGUST
16TH ASIAN GAMES (Women’s Softball)
– GUANGZHOU; CHN.; NOVEMBER 12-27
‘Games’ Put Softball
On Five Continents
Pg. 7
The host, Venezuela, was one of 20 countries
represented at the VII Pan American Softball
Championship for Women. Their team was able to
celebrate a bronze medal finish.
(Photo by Jose M. Peñalver)
Behind The Plate
Pg. 11
Aussie Men Complete Ascent
W
exclusive online content was (and still is)
available via the ISF’s YouTube channel,
in the form of post-game player and
coach interviews.
Other highlights from the tournament
included Venezuela
having finished fifth,
after they came in
eleventh place at the
last edition of this
event. They would
finish round robin
play in Saskatoon
with three of the top
five leaders in batting
average.
In addition, a team
like Botswana, who
finished 1-6, showed
resiliency in not only
Capacity crowds were the norm at Bob Van Impe Stadium
getting their first
throughout the tournament.
victory after an 0-6
start by defeating
eventual playoff
Canada) beyond capacity. They even got
participant Great Britain, 5-1, but in
to see their team finish third out of the
having played an extremely close game
16 countries that competed over those
with four place finisher USA, who won
ten days in July. Canada’s bronze medal
just 2-1 in their round robin game versus
finish came by virtue of an 8-5 loss to
Botswana.
New Zealand that sent the Black Sox on
Fireworks in the form of home runs kept
to face the Aussies in the tournament’s
fans entertained, specifically from the
last game, which oddsmakers would’ve
bat of Puerto Rico’s Eduardo Galarza,
surely installed the former as the
favorites for.
But Folkard was not to be
stopped as he set down the last
16 batters in a row after having
started the game with a lead-off
walk and then issued another
base-on-balls with two outs in the
top of the second inning.
Scores of viewers around
the world got to watch the
excitement of the two medal
Australia shut down the New Zealand bats in the gold games thanks to television
broadcasts done to 60 countries.
medal game, making something like this pop-up an
This close play at first base in what was a
accomplishment for the Kiwis.
Rogers Sportsnet in Canada
close game (8-6 Argentina over Puerto Rico)
showed them throughout the
exemplifies the excitement that was the 2009
host country, while Eurosport 2 beamed
Men’s World Championship.
game in his team’s 5-0 title game victory.
the Australia-New Zealand showdown
He struck out ten Kiwi batters and Aaron
to 58 countries, who got the game
Cockman went 2-for-2 at the plate with
who batted .529 during round robin play,
four different times. They also made it
two runs batted in to lead the Australian
including five balls hit out of the park
available on mobile devices as well as
offense.
online via the Eurosport Player. And,
For those that preferred watching hitters
It’s important to remember that the team
New Zealanders saw both medal games
held at bay there was the pitching of
that took the silver medals in defeat
thanks to Maori Television, who also
Great Britain’s James Darby, who threw
had been the three-time defending ISF
plans to air a Black Sox documentary
24 innings, the most during round robin
men’s world champions. This was no
filmed in part at the 2009 tournament in
play, over which time he struck out 34
small accomplishment for Australia, who,
Saskatoon.
batters, a figure topped only by Adam
arguably, reached the pinnacle thanks
There was also live webstreaming of all
Folkard’s 41.
to three pitchers that combined for a
66 games throughout the tournament.
9-1 won-lost record and had earned run
In addition,
averages under two (1.68 for Adam
Continued to page 4
(Photo by Shanon Melnyk)
Humble) and one (0.79 for Folkard and
0.00 for Andrew Kirkpatrick).
Of course the biggest winners were
the fans, who packed Bob Van Impe
Stadium in Saskatoon (Saskatchewan,
(Photo by Shanon Melnyk)
(Photo by Shanon Melnyk)
ith the success that national
softball teams from Australia have
had over the last ten years or so,
it’s hard to believe that as recently as
1988 their men’s squad was just playing
in the International Softball Federation
Men’s World Championship for the
first time. After all, the first-ever world
championship of any kind for softball,
the women’s, was held way back in 1965
in, yup, Australia.
And with the way the men’s team – and
maybe even more so their junior men’s
team – has been looking this decade, it
was natural to assume that their program
has been around just as long.
At the ISF X Men’s World Championship
in 2000 in South Africa, the Aussies
finished with a 3-4 won-lost record in
round robin play, and then four years
later their first medal finish was achieved
when they took home the bronze from
the 15-nation event.
Now they have reached the summit. Oh,
and in what grand fashion they did so.
Not only did the Aussie Steelers defeat
the defending world champions (New
Zealand’s Black Sox) in the 2009 gold
medal game, but they were near perfect
in doing so!
Two walks issued were all that separated
pitcher Adam Folkard from a perfect
3
A
Cups Full Of Softball In Four Countries
the seventh, her teammates responded
.400), Jennifer Yee (.395), and Caitlin
offensively. With one out in the bottom
Lever (.371) combined with the pitching
half of the inning, Natasha Watley scored
of Danielle Lawrie (55 strikeouts in 50�
on a sacrifice fly to left field, followed by
innings) and Jenna Caira (0.00 earned
a Jennie Finch at-bat that saw her reach
run average over 21 innings pitched) in
first base on a fielder’s choice while the
a silver medal finish. Canada battled
back from a 4-4 won-lost record in round winning run was scoring in the person of
Caitlin Lowe.
robin play to go 3-1 in the first four
playoff games, including a 6-0 victory
WORLD CUP OF SOFTBALL 4
over Venezuela that put them into the
Almost immediately thereafter (less than
title game.
a week) the World Cup of Softball 4
Facing Team USA the Canadians quickly
tournament took place in Oklahoma City
overcame a
(USA). Like the
run scored
Canada Cup,
by the
the World Cup
Americans
of Softball is
in the
an invitational
bottom of
event
the fifth by
sanctioned
putting up
by the
two runs in
International
the top of
Softball
the sixth.
Federation
However,
and this year’s
after U.S.
lineup included
pitcher Cat
Australia,
Osterman
Canada, Italy,
The site of next year’s ISF XII Women’s World
struck out
Japan, the
Championship, the stadium in Oklahoma City was
Team Canada’s Jenn Salling won
all three
Netherlands,
another softball venue in 2009 packed with fans
a silver medal at the Canada Cup
Team
and Team USA.
watching international softball, in this case the World
less than two months after having
Canada
Cup of Softball 4.
played on the national champion
This one was
batters in
college team in the U.S.
all Team USA
the top of
as they finished unbeaten for the gold
medal. Like the Canada Cup finish,
Aussie Men Complete Ascent continued from page 3
however, it was not without a strong
The volunteers, the organizing committee, and Mother Nature were additional
challenge in the last game.
high points for an event that garnered terrific media coverage, including the front
The host team took a 3-0 lead in the
page of the host city’s newspaper everyday.
bottom of the third inning, only to see
Certainly there will be lasting memories from Saskatoon to Australia.
Australia’s Stacey Porter come right
Re-live the tournament, starting from http://www.internationalsoftball.com/
back in the top of the fourth with a
english/latest_news/mwc09_gfinal.asp
solo home run that cut the lead to two
runs. However, that would be all the
offense the Aussies would have left as
FINAL ORDER OF FINISH:
U.S. pitchers Monica Abbott and Cat
1.
Australia
Osterman shut down the visitors’ bats
2.
New Zealand
the rest of the way.
3.
Canada
Canada finished as the event’s bronze
medalists.
4.
USA
6TH JAPAN CUP
5.
Venezuela
Next up came the 6th Japan Cup,
6.
Japan
featuring Australia, Chinese Taipei,
7.
Argentina
Japan, and USA. The women’s fast
8.
Great Britain
pitch tournament in Sendai offered a
9.
Czech Republic
chance for fans there to see half of the
participants from last year’s Olympic
10.
Philippines
softball competition in China, including
11.
Denmark
their country’s national team, which won
12.
Puerto Rico
A Mexico baserunner (green uniform)
gold at the 2008 Games in Beijing.
rounds second base while a Botswana
13.
Botswana
Last year’s highest podium finish came
infielder (foreground) charges into
14.
Mexico
by virtue of a victory over Team USA,
position.
who turned the tables by getting past
15.
South Africa
(Photo by Shanon Melnyk)
(Photo by Vision Quest)
(Photo by Murray Johnson)
nother year, another successful
Canada Cup.
The 16th edition of the annual
event in British Columbia this year
featured the likes of Australia, Canada,
the Netherlands, USA, and Venezuela,
plus American and Canadian club teams
going head-to-head at “Softball City.”
To the delight of the fans who every
year continue to pack the facility, the
host nation put its best cleat forward.
The trio of Victoria Hayward (batted
16.
Indonesia
4
continued to page 5
Cups Full of Softball continued from page 4
Chinese Taipei got ten hits and
outlasted Australia in this
Japan Cup game, 4-3.
double to seal the win.
Australia picked up another medal by
finishing third.
That tournament began at the end
of July and finished in the first days
of August, which would also be the
time that the Easton Foundation Youth
Softball World Cup took place (Aug.
9-16).
YOUTH WORLD CUP
Held in Prague, Czech Republic, the
(age) 16-and-under girls’ fast pitch
tournament featured eleven countries.
Japan and Puerto Rico were the two
that stood out as favorites after they
each finished round robin play with
unbeaten records (5-0). As the playoffs
progressed, they continued their
success… until.
Puerto Rico finally met defeat when the
Netherlands won an extra-inning affair,
5-4, to send the Dutch on to face Japan
in the gold medal game, leaving Puerto
Rico as the bronze medalists.
The Netherlands had made an
impressive playoff run after having
been 3-2 in round robin play. Their
Cinderella story would not have a
The tournament featured broadcasts
by Czech National TV and culminated
with ISF Secretary General Andy
Loechner and the Czech Republic’s Mr.
Marek Benda (Member of Parliament)
presenting the gold medals during
Closing Ceremonies.
Based on the event’s success, plans are
already being made for a tournament
of a similar nature next year at the ISF’s
world headquarters complex in Plant
City, Florida. And based on all four of
the events reported on here, softball
tournaments around the world are sure
to continue growing in popularity and
participation for years to come.
(Photo by Martin Salajka)
(Photo courtesy of JSA)
Japan, 2-0, in the gold medal game
of the 2009 Japan Cup. Jennie Finch
both pitched a complete-game shutout
with eight strikeouts and drove in both
of her team’s runs with a first inning
The Netherlands and Puerto Rico went head-to-head
(almost literally in this photo) for the right to advance to
the gold medal game at the Youth World Cup.
Youth World Cup final
order of finish:
1. Japan
2. Netherlands
3. Puerto Rico
4. Dominican Republic
5. Canada
6. Czech Republic
7. Venezuela
8. Italy
9. Russia
10. China
11. South Africa
happy ending, however, as Japan
posted a big shutout victory when it
counted the most.
Netherlands, Belgium, & USA Claim Regional Titles
Regional championships and/or 2010
world championship berths were on the
line at events that took place in Spain,
Belgium, and Venezuela in July.
The XVI European Championship
Women “A” featured ten teams and
spots in next year’s marquee ISF event
for the top three finishers.
Played every two years, this event was
last seen in 2007 in the Netherlands
where Italy took the title. The 2009
edition was held in Valencia, Spain,
and had a surprise finish in that the
defending champions did not medal this
time around.
The Dutch team set the standard
this time around, going undefeated
throughout the entire tournament,
finishing with a 9-0 (won-lost) record,
including a 4-0 win over Great Britain
in the gold medal game. The winners
put up three runs in the bottom of the
fourth inning and added an insurance
tally in the bottom of the sixth while
Dagmar Bloeming pitched a completegame, two-hitter with three strikeouts.
Great Britain had advanced to the title
game with a 6-1 win over the Czech
Republic that left the latter with the
bronze medals, but also gave them a
berth – along with the Dutch and the
Brits – in next year’s ISF XII Women’s
World Championship in Oklahoma
(USA). Morgan Parkerson had the big
hit for Great Britain, smacking a basesloaded double to right center field
in the bottom of the third inning that
would provide all the offense her team
would need en route to the victory.
The Czechs actually outhit the winners,
6-5, and not only could take solace in
still getting a world championship berth
in defeat, but also in having three of the
European tournament’s top five hitters,
5
including Lucie Petraskova, who hit .548
(17-for-31) over nine games.
The tournament was rounded out as
follows: 4th place – Russia, 5th place
– Germany, 6th place – Italy, 7th place
– Austria, 8th place – Spain, 9th place
– France, 10th place – Slovakia.
Meanwhile, at the same time that the
tournament in Spain was taking place,
eleven teams were contesting the VIII
European Championship Women “B” in
Hoboken, Belgium.
For the local fans attending the
tournament, there was plenty to cheer
about.
Belgium won all eight of their games,
including a big 10-1 victory over
Sweden in the event’s title game. Third
place finisher Croatia, whom Sweden
defeated 7-2 to set up their showdown
with the host team, was the closest
challenge for the Belgians, having taken
continued to page 6
Regional Titles continued from page 5
(Photo by Jose M. Peñalver)
And from big
to bigger to
biggest, the VII
Pan American
Softball
Championship
for Women
took place
in Venezuela
with 20 teams
participating. A
lot was on the
line besides
just regional
bragging rights.
The tournament
not only
brought with it
berths in next
year’s ISF XII
Being called ‘out’ by the umpire as she slides into second is a
Women’s World
baserunner from the Netherlands Antilles, one of 20 teams that
competed in the VII Pan American Softball Championship for Women.
Championship
but the 2011
Pan American
Games in
Mexico AND
them to a one-run decision (a 12-11
the 2010 Central American & Caribbean
Belgium win) on the second-last day of
Games!
play.
The event began with elaborate
The host team also landed the
opening ceremonies attended by 15,000
tournament’s individual awards.
spectators and ended with a victory
Belgium’s Nathalie Hosten won the
by the U.S. team, who actually didn’t
Best Batter honor, while teammates
even need a top five finish in order
Veronique Van Braeken and Patty Van
to guarantee a spot in next year’s ISF
Wymelbeke earned the Best Pitcher
tournament, since they get an automatic
and Most Valuable Player awards,
entry as the host country.
respectively.
However, they can call themselves
The final order of finish beyond the top
champions of the Americas following
three was as follows: Israel (4th place),
a 3-1 victory over Canada that was led
Ukraine (5th), Bulgaria (6th), Slovenia
by a complete-game, seven-strikeout
(7th), Poland (8th), Switzerland (9th),
pitching performance from Monica
Hungary (10th), and Denmark (11th).
Abbott. The U.S. broke a 1-1 tie with
runs in the bottom of the third and
fourth innings to avenge a loss to
Canada two days earlier by the same
score.
Canada had earned a berth in the title
game with a big shutout victory over
Venezuela in a match-up of what had
been two unbeaten teams. Winning
pitcher Jenna Caira threw a no-hitter
and struck out nine Venezuelan batters
in a five-inning (run-ahead rule) victory
that saw Sheena Lawrick lead the
offensive charge with two home runs.
Venezuela would then lose to the U.S.,
2-0, before the Americans topped
Canada in the gold medal game.
The final order of finish for the VII Pan American Softball Championship for Women (www.
panamericanoaraguasf2009.com.ve) was as follows:
1. USA (2010 WWC host)²
11. Mexico (2011 Pan Am Games host)
2. Canada¹ ²
12. El Salvador³
3. Venezuela¹ ² ³
13. Aruba
4. Cuba¹ ² ³
14. Netherlands Antilles
5. Argentina¹ ²
15. British Virgin Islands
6. Dominican Republic¹ ² ³
16. Belize
7. Puerto Rico² ³
17. Ecuador
8. Colombia³
18. Jamaica
9. Brazil³
19. Panama
10. Guatemala³
20. Peru
¹ - qualified for ISF XII Women’s World Championship (in addition to the host team)
² - qualified for 2011 Pan American Games (in addition to the host team)
³ - qualified for 2010 Central American & Caribbean Games
6
‘Games’ Put Softball On Five Continents
D
the event will go to Belfast, Northern
was published, additional details
Ireland.
remained online at www.maccabiah.
com.
Softball is on the programme of
No sooner was that competition drawing
approximately 15 different multi-sport
to a close than was the women’s
games. During the cover dates of this
fast pitch softball tournament in the
edition of World Softball, the scene
World Games beginning in Taiwan.
will shift to Sydney, Australia, for the
Participating there were
teams from Canada, Chinese
Taipei, Japan, (South) Korea,
Russia, and Singapore.
In addition to
International Softball
Federation President
Don Porter, Deputy
Secretary General
Ms. Low Beng Choo
(Malaysia), and VP/
North America Dale
McMann (Canada),
numerous VIPs visited
A Japan player goes airborne to make a play in a game
the softball games. The
during the softball competition at the World Games.
competition also had
tremendous attendance spectator7th World Masters Games. Teams
Venezuela’s third baseman is in position as a pitch
wise, plus audiences at home for
from eleven countries were set to
is thrown in his team’s game against USA at the
the two medal games, which were
participate in the softball competition,
Maccabiah Games.
televised.
which was to be the second-largest
The host team appeared to be the
Olympics,” the quadrennial event had
sport in the Games in terms of the total
‘favorite,’ having won all five of their
31 sports as part of its 2009 edition,
number of athletes out of the 28 sports
preliminary round games. However,
with almost 7,500 athletes taking part.
being contested from October 10despite having beaten them 6-0 earlier
Softball first became a part of the event
18. Organizers indicated just over 200
in the tournament, Chinese Taipei lost
in 1981 and this year had participants
registered softball teams, which projects
to Japan, 2-1, in a nine-inning playoff
from Argentina, Canada, Israel, Mexico,
to an actual number of softball players
game.
USA, and Venezuela.
between 2500 and 2800. The games
They turned things around the next
were to be played at Blacktown Olympic
Men’s play concluded with high drama
day, though, with a 7-0 victory over
Park, the site of the 2000 Olympic
as each of the two medal games was
Korea that left the latter with the bronze
softball competition.
decided by one run. The U.S. team
medals and advanced Chinese Taipei
outlasted Mexico, 9-8, to leave the latter
to a rematch with Japan for the gold
with the bronze medals and send the
medal. However, Japan broke a 2-2 tie
Americans on to the gold medal game.
with a pair of runs in the seventh inning
Canada, however, was waiting with an
to win 4-2.
unbeaten record and kept that mark
The multi-sport games spotlight then
intact, winning 2-1 to finish with a wonswung to North America where the
lost mark of 10-0.
World Police & Fire Games were taking
The women’s side was a somewhat
place. Featuring
modified version of that finish, however.
men’s, women’s,
There it was the Canadian team that
and coed
fell in a game that left them with the
entries, a total
bronze medals, being defeated, 7-1, by
of 48 teams
Argentina, who then advanced to the
took part in
gold medal game, only to then be on
the softball
the wrong end of another big decision,
competition
a 16-0 victory for the Americans. The
in British
women’s team from the U.S. had a
Columbia.
To close out the year and softball’s
perfect 8-0 record.
continued global presence at multi-sport
The multi-sport
There was also a Men’s Masters division
games, both men’s and women’s play is
event was established in 1985 and
(age 35-and-over), which saw Venezuela
set for the 9th Central American Games
takes place every other year. Past host
as the bronze medalists after a loss to
in December in Honduras.
countries have included the likes of
Canada, who then was defeated by the
Australia, Spain, and Sweden. The 2011
Stay tuned in 2010. Softball will
U.S. in the gold medal game.
World Police & Fire Games will be held
continue at more multi-sport events in
in New York City and two years later
At the time this issue of World Softball
more countries!
(Photo courtesy of Kaohsiung Organizing
Committee)
(Photo by David Adiel)
uring the cover dates of the
previous issue of World Softball
the sport was a part of three
different multi-sport games on as many
continents, and before 2009 ends there
will be two more that will showcase the
sport in a pair of other regions.
The 18th Maccabiah Games were
held in mid-July in Israel, where both
men’s and women’s softball was
played. Known to some as the “Jewish
7
S
BackSoftball Followed Its Blueprint
(Photo by Vision Quest)
o many people have been so hard
World Cup of Softball 4 in Oklahoma
all of whom would be part of the
at work in numerous countries and
City (USA).
presentation. In addition, ISF VP/North
initiatives that it’s easy to forget
America and BackSoftball Co-Chair
Those attending the numerous
that Olympic reinstatement efforts were
Dale McMann (Canada) was on-hand,
international softball tournaments
needed because of events from now
as were Athlete Ambassadors Gergana
weren’t the only ones getting exposed
more than four years ago. While not
Handjiyska (Bulgaria), Jessica Mendoza
to the sport though. BackSoftball’s
as far in the past, the branding of those
(USA), and Michele Smith (USA), plus ISF
efforts as ‘BackSoftball’ came two years
Director General Tamara “Toma”
later (and, coincidentally, two years
Malikoff.
ago now) accompanied by a ten-point
The presence in the ‘Olympic
blueprint.
capital’ was bolstered by the
While there was plenty of time to
surprise attendance of HRH
execute the two hands full of goals, one
Prince Feisal al Hussein, who
could almost argue that most if not all of
changed his travel plans to divert
them were certainly exemplified in the
to Lausanne to show support for
softball.
middle-third of 2009 alone!
There was no time to rest
Since the last issue of World Softball,
following that presentation,
representatives of the Olympic
however, as a similar opportunity
reinstatement campaign covered lots
would be afforded in early July
of ground – literally – in the lead-up to
in Nigeria at the Association of
the International Olympic Committee’s
National Olympic Committees
Executive Board meeting in August in
Berlin.
of Africa General Assembly.
There, Mr. Porter, ISF VP/Africa
The period from May-August was chock
Marumo Morule (Botswana),
full of activity that spoke to one or more
and, again, Lynn Alexander
of the initiatives, starting with efforts to
delivered a speech - highlighted
reach out to more young people, which
by multimedia - to the delegates
is what current and former softballers
ISF VP/North America & BackSoftball Task
on the worldwide achievements
from the Netherlands and Japan did.
Force Co-Chair Dale McMann listens as
BackSoftball had been making.
Former Japanese Olympic softball team
Athlete Ambassadors Danielle Stewart (holding
The trio was also supported
microphone) and Saskia Kosterink talk to the
coach Taeko Utsugi, an International
in Abuja by Gambia Softball
crowd at the Canada Cup about the Olympic
Softball Federation Hall of Famer, was
Federation President Beatrice
reinstatement campaign.
joined by former Japanese Olympic
Allen.
softball pitcher Yuri Takayama in giving
Two of the Athlete Ambassadors were
softball masterclasses at a high school
blueprint item that pledged to gain
utilizing tournaments they were playing
in the United Kingdom. From there
further coverage for the sport on
in to make speeches of their own so
they moved on to the Japanese School
television was playing out in many
as to educate and gain further support
of Amsterdam, where they were joined
countries. Games from the World Cup
from the spectators. Danielle Stewart
by new Netherlands national team
of Softball 4 had broadcasts to 146
and Saskia Kosterink teamed up to talk
Head Coach Craig Montvidas and 2008
countries around the world by ESPN
to fans, both from the field and then in
Olympians Rebecca Soumeru (pitcher)
and its family of networks. At almost
person in the stands with them, at the
and Saskia Kosterink (outfielder),
the same time, the final games of the
Canada Cup in British Columbia and the
the latter a BackSoftball Athlete
softball competition at the World Games
Ambassador.
in Taiwan were being televised as well.
Right after that, the medal games from
When the calendar hit
the ISF XII Men’s World Championship
June, softball was ready
were being produced for broadcast to
to make its presentation
60 countries. That was then followed
to the IOC Executive
by the VII Pan American Softball
Board. ISF President
Championship for Women, which had
Don Porter went to
nationwide TV broadcasts in the host
Lausanne, Switzerland,
country (Venezuela). Finally, Czech
with a delegation that
National TV showed four games from
included ISF Deputy
the Youth Softball World Cup in Prague
Secretary General
in August.
Ms. Low Beng Choo
(Malaysia), BackSoftball
Further to television exposure were
Task Force Co-Chair
outreach efforts to the primarily
Donna de Varona, and
written press, as ISF Director of
Athlete Ambassadors
Communications Bruce Wawrzyniak
The BackSoftball representatives that presented to the IOC
Lynn Alexander (South
attended the annual Congress or
Executive Board in Switzerland in June (left to right) Lynn
Africa), Rubilena Rojas
convention of each of the following
Alexander, Danielle Stewart, Low Beng Choo, Don Porter,
(Venezuela), and Danielle
three organizations: International Sports
Donna de Varona, and Gergana Handjiyska.
Stewart (Australia),
continued to page 9
8
BackSoftball continued from page 8
(Photo courtesy of NBC)
Press Association, Association of
Women in Sports Media, and Associated
Press Sports Editors. Joining him for the
AWSM event was Kaila Holtz, a pitcher
who played for Team Canada at the
2004 Olympics in Athens and competed
in two ISF world championships, among
other high-profile international softball
events.
BackSoftball continued to highlight the
sport’s 100% clean record at all four of
its Olympic appearances too, with a
press release issued along the campaign
trail under the headline of SOFTBALL
TELLS IOC: ‘A VOTE FOR US IS A VOTE
FOR CLEAN SPORT.’ ISF President
Don Porter was quoted in the release
as saying, “Softball leads the way in the
fight against doping and exemplifies
the Olympic values that sport and the
Olympic movement aim to promote. I
want to reassure the IOC that we will
never be complacent in promoting the
importance of clean competition.”
A competitor from a winter Olympic
sport came
forward to
voice support
for softball’s
efforts to get
reinstated to
the Summer
Games.
Three-time
Games
medalist
Angela
Ruggiero
Winter Olympian (ice
(ice hockey)
hockey) Angela Ruggiero said, “I truly
(USA) voiced her support
believe that
for softball’s Olympic
this team
reinstatement.
sport, like
my own, provides the Olympics with
was the better for the countless
the ingredients it seeks to provide
advances that had been made through
opportunities for these gifted women
the global efforts of so many under the
from more than 125 nations to play for
BackSoftball campaign.
Olympic gold on the world’s greatest
ISF President Don Porter summed it
stage.
up best that day when, following the
“I’m proud to lend my name and full
IOC’s announcement, he said, “The
support to the reinstatement of softball
ISF has worked tirelessly for more than
to the programme of the 2016 Olympic
four years since we were voted off the
Games.”
2012 Olympic programme and we
have made tremendous advances in
And then it finally came time for the
that time… Softball players continue to
IOC Executive Board’s meeting in Berlin
dream of Olympic gold, the ultimate
and their decision on which two of the
prize in our sport, and we will carry on
seven candidate sports to shortlist for a
our campaign for Olympic reinstatement
recommendation to the IOC Session to
to prove to the IOC that our sport fits
vote on in October.
with Olympic values and ambitions and
Softball had one last stand before the
deserves a place on merit on the Games
verdict could be reached however, and
Programme.”
seized the opportunity by putting on
a clinic there in Germany with Athlete
Ambassadors Handjiyska and Rojas, who
offered tips to young players ranging
in age from 3-16. The pair showed
techniques for pitching,
batting, and fielding
before returning to their
business attire for the
decision from the IOC
body.
In the end it would be
golf and rugby, not
softball (or any of the
other candidates) that the
Executive Board would
put forth as the two they
are recommending for the
October vote. However,
softball’s representatives
left Berlin with confidence
Athlete Ambassadors Rubilena Rojas (third from left) and
in the fact that no stone
Gergana Handjiyska (third from right) with children in Berlin
had been left unturned
that they gave softball tips to in August.
and the sport worldwide
ISF VP/North America & BackSoftball Task
Force Co-Chair Dale McMann listens as
Athlete Ambassadors Danielle Stewart
(holding microphone) and Saskia Kosterink
talk toJune
the crowd
at the
Canada
nother
13 came
and
went,Cup
butaboutWorld Softball Day for what in 2009
Olympic
reinstatement
the the
2009
date was
as notablecampaign.
if not
would be five years in a row.
A
World Softball Day 2009 Another Hit
more than its occurrence each of
the last four years.
Back in April of 2005, International
Softball Federation President Don
Porter announced that beginning two
months later, June 13 of each year
would be known as “World Softball
Day.” The basis for the occasion is in
coinciding with the date in 1991 when
the International Olympic Committee
announced that, beginning with the
1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, softball
was being added to the Olympic
programme.
So, countries have been celebrating
However, this year’s had a twist.
The world governing body encouraged
its member federations to go with
a Back Softball Day theme for June
13, 2009, to spotlight the Olympic
reinstatement campaign.
Botswana, for one, certainly seized on
that. At the Grand Palm in Gaborone,
the national softball association held a
dinner whose theme was BackSoftball.
Past softball players and administrators
were invited along with National
Olympic Committee and senior
government officials.
9
In addition, earlier in the day they
launched a national youth development
program, to be run outside the normal
schools program. They did this with the
‘starter kits’ they’d received from the ISF
and the launch featured senior national
team players conducting an introduction
to softball lesson for the beginners
(mostly 9-14 year olds).
Over in Asia, ceremonies of World
Softball Day were held jointly by the
China Softball Association and Chinese
Society of Education at four locations,
including the National Stadium (“Bird’s
Nest”), the Olympic Training Center in
Beijing, as well as both Zhengzhou and
Chengdu. The theme of the ceremonies
there was “Celebrate World Softball
Day, Support Back Softball.” Leaders
from the CSA and CSE, about 600
students from universities and schools,
and more than 20 media participated
in the ceremonies in Beijing along with
thousands of softball fans, students,
and media reporters in Zhengzhou and
Chengdu.
Besides the main theme, the CSA,
during the ceremony, announced ten
teaching drills for Tee-ball and the
beginning of the registration process
for slowpitch softball clubs. The flash,
video, and teaching plans of the drills
were released at the same time for
downloading. The CSA donated
Tee-ball equipment to the schools at
the end of the event to support their
developments.
Elsewhere in that region, activity
in Pakistan saw the Sindh Softball
Association hold competitions on
June 13 in all regions of Sindh, where
the sport had recently been a part of
the Sindh
leagues).
Southeast of there, the Serbian Softball
Federation held the 6th annual Belgrade
Trophy tournament, although this time
the event (held over two days) was for
both cadettes (ages 9-14) and juniors
(ages 14-18). Three teams from the host
country as well as a combined cadette/
junior team from Bulgaria participated,
with the visitors coming away as the
winners. Andrea Miletic, an 11-year old
from Belgrade, was awarded the trophy
for Most Improved Player.
And, in Switzerland, some of the
BackSoftball Athlete Ambassadors were
on-hand at the Dorigny Sports Centre
by Lake Geneva for a softball game
with employees and families of sports
federations based in Lausanne. There
were also fun practice routines that had
been devised to promote the game to a
younger audience.
(Photo by Marco Stoovelaar)
(Photo courtesy of DRSF)
Games for the first time.
On yet a third continent, the 1st Cup
“World Softball Day” was held in the
Dominican Republic, with plans to
make it an annual event. Two women’s
teams and two men’s teams participated
at the Villa Fundación softball stadium in
the city of Bani.
Also in the Americas, Peru was an
active participant in the June 13, 2009,
festivities, as depicted in the photo
accompanying this story.
The worldwide celebrations didn’t stop
there though, extending to Europe as
well.
The national softball team of the
Netherlands, including five players
that competed in last year’s Olympics,
conducted a clinic for youth players
from the Haarlem area, giving them
instruction on hitting, fielding, throwing,
and catching. The team also played
two games against a foreign all-star
team (consisting of players from seven
different countries in the Dutch softball
An instructor speaks to the girls participating
in the Dominican Republic Softball
Federation’s event centered around
World Softball Day.
(Photo courtesy of PSF)
Youth players in the Netherlands pose for a group picture
with the Dutch women’s national softball team.
Children in Botswana pariticpate in a clinic
put on as part of World Softball Day 2009.
10
(Photo courtesy of SSF)
A huge turnout in the National Stadium
(a.k.a. Bird’s Nest) in Beijing, China,
for the softball activities staged in
conjunction with the sport’s annual
worldwide celebration of June 13.
Rubilena Rojas (far left) prepares to catch a ball thrown
by Michele Smith (BackSoftball shirt) as part of the
demonstration put on in Lausanne, Switzerland.
(Photo courtesy of BSA)
(Photo courtesy of CSA)
Peru had a large turnout for their World Softball Day celebration.
Many of the participants in the 6th Belgrade
Trophy tournament in Serbia.
Umpires Do Give Back To The Game
By Bob Stanton
ISF Director of Umpires
11
For those of you who are certified but have not yet been to a
world championship or cup recently or never have been, there
are things that you can do to help yourself get nominated and
selected.
1. Let your national federation know that you are
interested in being nominated. You should do this
annually.
2. Keep up on the rules.
3. Work as many highly competitive or elite level
games as you can.
4. Try to do national and regional championships
yearly or at least every two years.
5. Attend or teach umpire clinics in your country
or region.
6. Keep up to date on ISF mechanics. Talk to umpires
who have returned from a world championship or cup
to get the latest in mechanics and rule interpretations.
7. Check the ISF website for rule interpretations or
technical bulletins.
8. Stay physically and mental prepared.
In 2010, the ISF hopes to hold a number of umpire clinics
and certification seminars around the world. Talk to your
federation’s umpire-in-chief about hosting one in your country
or getting together with a country close by to host a clinic or
certification seminar.
Staying on top of your umpiring game takes work. We can
never stop acquiring better rule knowledge, improving on our
mechanics and positioning and enhancing our game control
skills. Keep it up.
May your next game be the perfect one we are all looking to
umpire.
(Photo by Shanon Melnyk)
July and August saw the playing of
two very good competitions, the XII
Men’s World Championship and the
Easton Foundation Youth World Cup.
We also saw a high level of softball
being played at the Canada Cup in
British Columbia; the World Games
in Taiwan; the World Cup of Softball
4 in Oklahoma City (USA), and the
Pan American Softball Championship
for Women in Venezuela. At each of
Bob Stanton
these prestigious events certified ISF
ISF Director of Umpires
umpires were used almost exclusively
to officiate the games.
On behalf of the International Softball Federation, I take this
opportunity to thank each and every one of these umpires for
giving of their time to work these events. The ISF knows that
in more than one case individuals have paid the airfare out
of their own funds to get to the tournament. While the ideal
situation is for an umpire’s federation to pay, we know that
this is not always possible. We are truly impressed with the
dedication and love of softball that is shown by our umpires
time and time again.
Umpires are nominated for selection to a world championship
or world cup by their federation. A selection committee
reviews the nominations and selects the umpires for the
particular event based on the needs of the tournament and the
abilities of the umpires nominated. Once selected the work
begins for those umpires long before the championship or cup
begins.
Preparing for an international championship or cup takes
more than just arranging for airfare. Umpires must prepare
themselves physically and mentally. Umpires are expected
to be in good physical condition when they arrive at a
championship or cup tournament. They will be expected
to umpire multiple games each day for an 8-10 day period.
They must review the ISF rules and mechanics to be aware
of differences that may exist between the ISF and their own
federation. In addition, they must arrange for time away from
their work and families. On the social side of things, umpires
traditionally bring something of their home country to the
tournament to give to their fellow umpires.
It is always amazing to watch the members of a crew come
together over the duration of a championship or cup. During
those tentative first days everyone is hit with information
overload and tries to get their feet under them to where the
crew learns to rely on and trust in each other. Once that trust
is established on the field the crew quickly gels professionally
and socially. It truly is wonderful to see a group of individuals
from different countries, cultures, and languages find a way to
communicate and to pull together to attain the common goal
of providing the best officiating that they can for the teams,
the fans, and the tournament organizers. It is little wonder
as they go through the pressures of championship play that
lifelong friendships become established and flourish in the
years long after the championship.
Shown are the umpires that worked July’s ISF XII Men’s
World Championship in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Canada),
plus ISF Director of Umpires Bob Stanton (left end, middle
row), who was assisted by Brian Van Os (right end, middle
row) and Julie Johnson (next to Van Os).
T
he International Softball Federation’s Executive Council grew by one in May when Beatrice Allen
was added by ISF President Don Porter. An International Olympic Committee Member and the
president of the Gambia Softball Association, Ms. Allen had presided over the African Softball Forum
held in her country one month earlier. Her addition maintains the ISF’s impressive percentage of female
representation on the world governing body’s Executive Council, which far exceeds the minimum preferred
by the IOC.
At the time of her appointment Ms. Allen said, “I am extremely honored to join the ISF Executive Council
and I believe that I can help the sport grow even more across the African continent. Softball is a sport for
humanity in Africa.”
S
everal softball officials continue to have a presence among the hierarchy of numerous National Olympic
Committees or the sports ministry. Many of these individuals have been reported on previously, and
now (since the last issue of World Softball magazine) there are more who have gained or retained such
positions. International Softball Federation Executive Council member at-large Fridah Shiroya (pictured)
was re-elected as treasurer of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya. Nicaragua Softball Federation
President Roberto Espinoza Zapata was elected as third vice president of his country’s NOC. In June ISF
Deputy Secretary General Ms. Low Beng Choo was re-elected to her vice presidency with the Olympic
Council of Malaysia. And, the ISF Executive Council’s newest member, Beatrice Allen, was elected as 1st
Vice President of the Gambia National Olympic Committee Bureau.
T
wo notable developments came from the ISF’s European office in July. One is that softball is now included in the sports
program of the two main universities in Lausanne (Switzerland, where the ISF satellite location is). As a result, around
9,000 students will have access to the sport. The other initiative was in conjunction with the Sport Teachers Conference,
which was going to allow an opportunity for a softball presentation to the attendees. The hope was to also organize a softball
game for the 60-70 sports teachers that were expected to participate in the conference.
There was also an eye on October and the potential to introduce softball to children in Lausanne as
well as engaging with their parents and teachers during the “Olympic Week” event organized by
the International Olympic Committee. The week-long celebration of sports introduces children to
Olympism and sports in general. More than 40 sports and cultural events are organized during that
week, attracting more than 4,500 children between ages 9-15.
I
(Photo by Bob Gray)
n August the ISF announced plans with Olympafrica that will result in the world governing body
providing equipment and coaches conducting workshops in 14 different African countries. Plus, the
two organizations will jointly determine funding for new sports projects, with additional equipment and
support provided across the continent by the ISF. The two sides had agreed in principle and were to
formally execute a Memorandum of Understanding in September in Plant City when Olympafrica officials
would visit the world headquarters.
Olympafrica Executive Director Thierno Diack said, “Olympafrica has seen how committed the ISF is to
Africa in recent years and we’re proud to be signing an MOU with them. Softball is growing in Africa at a
tremendous rate and this agreement will help us to build on that and use softball to promote sport across
the continent.”
S
oftball played by those above the traditional athlete age was again featured this June as the 8th Senior
World Cup played out in Salem, Virginia (USA). The eighth edition of the annual event featured teams
from as far away as Colombia (pictured) and divisions as high as age 70-plus. Men’s and women’s teams
competed with approximately 60 teams in all taking part in the tournament.
12
Sommaire français
Septembre - Décembre 2009
EN BREF
L
e Président de la FIS écrit
que (comme l’indique la page
couverture) les mois de juillet, août
et septembre ont été des mois très
occupés pour notre sport partout dans
le monde et que les compétitions qui
ont eu lieu (sur la scène régionale et
mondiale) ont connu le succès.
M Porter continue en indiquant que le
softball « continuera à travailler dans
le but de ramener la reconnaissance olympique qui à ce jour,
a connu quatre Olympiades au cours desquelles le softball a
permis à de nombreuses jeunes athlètes de réaliser leur rêve
». Il a ajouté « même si le softball continue son expansion
partout dans le monde, il faudra plus d’efforts et de travail de
la part des Fédérations membres et de la FIS pour obtenir des
appuis tant sur la scène nationale, régionale et mondiale, pour
soutenir notre sport dans sa reconquête du statut de sport
olympique ».
n tête de liste des nouvelles, l’article revient sur le XIIe
Championnat du monde senior masculin de la FIS qui
s’est tenu au mois de juillet au Canada et qui auquel
participaient 16 pays, ce qui est le maximum permis par le
Code de la FIS. Toutes les cinq régions étaient représentées
(l’Afrique, les Amériques, l’Asie, l’Europe et l’Océanie). Le
tournoi de dix jours a bénéficié d’une bonne météo, a connu
de bonnes foules et une bonne couverture médiatique. Cette
couverture s’est élargie avec la télédiffusion des parties
comptant pour
des médailles
dans 60 pays
et plusieurs de
ces pays ont
profité d’une
transmission
multiple
d’Eurosport 2.
L’Australie a
remporté son
tout premier Championnat du monde masculin de la FIS par
blanchissage sur la Nouvelle Zélande, championne en titre,
après s’être taillé une place pour le titre de 2009, par une
victoire sur le Canada qui lui, a mérité la médaille de bronze.
Le tournoi a débuté le 17 juillet par le premier lancer effectué
par Mike Chambers, Président du Comité olympique canadien,
au cours des célébrations officielles qui ont officiellement
ouvert le tournoi.
E
13
E
nsuite, on y retrouve un article traitant de quatre
différents tournois qui ont tous eu lieu au cours des mois
couverts par le dernier numéro de World Softball (maiaoût). Chacun de ces tournois était un événement invitation
sanctionné par la FIS. On commence avec la 16e Coupe
Canada qui se tient annuellement en Colombie-Britannique et
qui attire régulièrement des foules totalisant plus de 100 000
personnes pour la durée du tournoi. Les spectateurs de cette
année ont vu l’équipe É.-U., revenir de l’arrière au cours de
la dernière manche pour arracher une victoire de 3-2 sur le
Canada et remporter la médaille d’or. La Canada avait atteint
la finale à la suite d’une victoire de 6-0 sur le Venezuela qui a
finalement remporté la médaille de bronze.
Peu de temps après, s’est tenu le Tournoi de la Coupe du
monde de softball à Oklahoma (É.-U.), où les É-U ont remporté
la victoire par la marque de 3 à 1 devant l’Australie, lors de la
partie comptant pour la médaille d’or. Le Canada a remporté
la médaille de bronze et les amateurs de partout dans le
monde ont été des gagnants puisque 146 pays ont pu capter
la télédiffusion des parties via la famille de réseaux ESPN,
certaines parties étant diffusées en direct sur ESPN360.com. À
la fin du mois de juillet, la 6e Coupe du Japon s’est tenue à
Sendai et les Étasuniennes ont quitté avec une victoire de 2-0
sur les médaillées d’or des Jeux olympiques de l’an dernier.
L’Australie a remporté la médaille de bronze de ce tournoi.
Finalement, à la mi-août, la République Tchèque fut l’hôte
de la Coupe du monde de softball jeunesse de la Fondation
Easton, un événement de softball de balle rapide pour jeunes
filles de moins de 16 ans. Douze pays ont envoyé une équipe
à ce tournoi de Prague, et les quatre dernières parties ont été
télédiffusées en direct, sur le réseau national de la télévision
tchèque. Le Japon a remporté la médaille d’or suivi des PaysBas (argent) et de Puerto Rico (bronze).
vec encore plus d’activités à rapporter – comme
l’annoncent la page couverture et le message du
Président – ce numéro (septembre-décembre 2009) se
tourne ensuite vers les championnats régionaux. Disputé à
Valence en Espagne, le XVIe Championnat féminin d’Europe
« A » a présenté dix équipes et a identifié des vedettes du
championnat de la FIS de l’an prochain chez les membres des
équipes qui ont terminé première, deuxième et troisième. La
partie comptant pour le titre a permis de voir les Pays-Bas
blanchir la Grande-Bretagne 4-0 et d’assister à la qualification
de la République Tchèque pour le XIIe Championnat du monde
féminin de la FIS en raison de sa troisième place.
Pendant ce temps, la Belgique, le pays hôte remportait le VIIIe
Championnat féminin d’Europe « B » en défaisant la Suède
lors de la partie de la médaille d’or. La Croatie a terminé au
troisième rang dans ce tournoi à
A
suite pour paginer 14
suite de la page 13
onze équipes. Par la suite, un immense tournoi s’est déroulé
au Venezuela où 20 pays étaient de la compétition du VIIe
Championnat de softball féminin panaméricain. Ironiquement,
les finissantes des trois premiers rangs ont été les mêmes que
lors de la Coupe Canada, avec les É-U premiers, le Canada
deuxième, et le Venezuela troisième. Dans la foulée, cinq pays
se sont qualifiés pour les XIIe Championnat du monde féminin
de la FIS de l’an prochain, en plus des équipes qui se sont
qualifiées pour les Jeux Panaméricains de 2011 et les Jeux
de l’Amérique Centrale et des Caraïbes de 2010. Le dernier
article où il est question de balles et prises, de victoires et de
défaites sur le terrain, porte sur la participation du sport du
softball à trois différents Jeux multisports entre les mois de mai
et d’août. Premièrement, il y a eu les Jeux Maccabiah en Israël,
événement également connu comme les « Olympiques juives »
et qui a le softball à son programme depuis 1981. Les équipes
canadienne, américaine et mexicaine ont remporté l’or, l’argent
et le bronze respectivement du côté masculin. La version
féminine a donné des résultats quelque peu différents, les É-U
remportant l’or, l’Argentine l’argent et le Canada le bronze. Il
y avait également une division Maître masculin (35 ans et plus)
et la médaille de bronze est allée au Venezuela après sa défaite
aux mains du Canada qui a par la suite été défait par les É-U
lors de la partie de la médaille d’or.
Ensuite s’est déroulée la compétition de balle rapide féminine
aux Jeux Mondiaux de Taiwan, où le Japon a défait le pays
hôte 4-2 pour s’emparer du titre. La Corée a remporté la
médaille de bronze
au cours de cette
manifestation qui
a aussi profité
d’une couverture
télévisuelle
Enfin, les Jeux
mondiaux des
Policiers et des
Pompiers se sont
tenus dans l’Ouest
canadien et ils
présentaient de
la compétition dans les catégories masculines, féminines et
mixtes pour un total de 48 équipes de softball. Au cours des
dates couvertes dans ce numéro de World Softball, Sydney
en Australie, sera l’hôte des 7e Jeux Mondiaux des Maîtres
alors que le softball présentera la deuxième plus grande
participation des 28 sports en compétition (l’importance
étant définie en termes du nombre d’athlètes). Les Jeux
se dérouleront au Parc Olympique Blacktown, le site des
compétitions de softball des Olympiques de 2000.
Pour terminer l’année et la présence continue du softball dans
les jeux multisports, des parties tant chez les hommes que
chez les femmes sont prévues lors des 9e Jeux de l’Amérique
Centrale durant le mois de décembre au Honduras.
près vient un écrit qui attire l’attention du lecteur sur les
nombreuses réalisations de la campagne BackSoftball
pour la réinstallation olympique. Depuis le dernier
numéro de World Softball, il y a eu des cliniques aux PaysBas données par deux ex-olympiens japonais (softball), une
présentation sur le softball par six personnes au Conseil
exécutif du Comité international olympique (au mois de juin
en Suisse) et une présentation similaire au Nigeria au mois
de juillet aux Comités nationaux olympiques de l’Assemblée
générale d’Afrique. De plus, sur le sujet des discours, deux des
Athlètes ambassadrices profitaient
A
14
des tournois auxquelles elles participaient pour prononcer leur
propre discours afin de renseigner les spectateurs et de gagner
leur appui. Danielle Stewart (Australie) et Saskia Kosterink
(Pays-Bas) ont fait équipe pour s’adresser aux amateurs, toutes
les deux à partir du terrain et ensuite en personne dans les
gradins avec les partisans, lors de Coupe Canada en ColombieBritannique et aux 4 Tournois de la Coupe du monde de
Softball à Oklahoma City (É.-U.).
Parlant d’Olympiennes, une médaillée à trois reprises des Jeux
d’hiver a manifesté son appui à la réinstallation du softball
aux Olympiques d’été. Angela Ruggiero (hockey sur glace)
a exprimé publiquement son engagement pour un retour du
softball au programme des Jeux de 2016.
Le point culminant fut, sans contredit, la réunion du Conseil
exécutif du CIO le 13 août en Allemagne. Juste avant cela,
dans les faits, deux des Athlètes ambassadrices (Rubilena
Rojas du Venezuela et Gergana Handjiyska de la Bulgarie) ont
passé du temps sur le terrain de jeu à Berlin, pour donner des
conseils de softball à des enfants du milieu âgés de trois à seize
ans. Cependant, le Conseil exécutif du CIO a recommandé
que le golf et le rugby soient les deux sports sur lesquels la
Session du CIO se prononcera au début du mois d’octobre
au Danemark. Toutefois, le Softball a promis de continuer sa
quête pour que ce sport revienne sur la scène olympique.
xactement deux mois plus tôt, - le 13 juin – c’était la
Journée mondiale du softball. Pour la cinquième année
consécutive, il y a eu à travers le monde, des activités
commémorant la date magique de 1991, jour où le CIO avait
annoncé que le softball serait ajouté au programme des
Olympiques d’été à compter des Jeux d’Atlanta de 1996. Les
différentes façons de célébrer la journée mondiale du softball
2009 au Botswana, en Chine, en République Dominicaine, aux
Pays-Bas, au Pakistan, au Pérou, en Serbie et en Suisse sont
expliquées.
nsuite, le Directeur des arbitres de
la FIS Bob Stanton, dans sa rubrique
“Behind the Plate” (Derrière le
marbre), aborde le dévouement des
arbitres non seulement sur, mais aussi hors
du terrain. De plus, il donne des conseils
aux arbitres pour qu’ils puissent être
choisis pour travailler à un événement de
la FIS.
n dernier lieu, la page « Nouvelles
et Notes » jette un regard rapide
sur les points suivants : Beatrice
Allen membre du CIO (Gambie) a joint le Conseil exécutif de
la FIS, plusieurs officiels du softball continuent d’avoir une
présence hiérarchique sur de nombreux Comités nationaux
olympiques ou ministères des sports (les derniers nommés
l’ont été au Kenya, au Nicaragua, en Malaisie et en Gambie),
de nouvelles opportunités pour notre sport que le Bureau
Européen de la FIS en Suisse a été en mesure d’initier, des
plans avec Olympafrica que la FIS a annoncé au mois d’août
qui – parmi d’autres efforts – résulteront en un conseil mondial
d’administration fournissant de l’équipement et des entraîneurs
pour diriger des ateliers dans 14 pays africains différents et
finalement, la Coupe du monde senior et qui s’est tenue au
mois de juin, rassemblant 60 équipes dont certaines venaient
d’aussi loin que la Colombie et des divisions regroupant des
joueurs âgés de plus de 70 ans.
E
E
E
COVERING ALL THE BASES
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