Softball equipment being packed into boxes at the ISF headquarters. What's shown above is headed for Guatemala.

GROWTH OF THE SPORT ONGOING
2006-04-24

Beginning next month there are at least ten major national or international softball tournaments happening in various parts of the world over a span of just a few months. Is the sport’s popularity and participation growing? You bet.

Fittingly, the activity at the International Softball Federation (ISF) almost mirrors the preparations that teams go through to get ready for these tournaments, only in the world governing body’s case, the work presently being done is just a continuation of what has been going on at the headquarters for years. Instead of getting ready, the ISF is keeping up with the trickle down effect of visible tournaments – more people wanting to play softball, and play it better.

This week alone at the world headquarters facility, equipment shipments are being packed for Guatemala (see photo above) and Great Britain, following one picked up last week that’s headed for Micronesia and another the week before that left the ISF, destined for Sweden.

Earlier this month in Seoul at the SportAccord conference, representatives from 202 National Olympic Committees heard from ISF President Don Porter, who gave a presentation on “Sporting Goods to Go.”

In just the first four months of 2006 alone, the ISF has already shipped equipment valued at a quarter of a million (U.S.) dollars to 16 different countries. The goods – ranging from balls to bats to gloves, batting helmets, uniforms, and more – were to be used by the various national softball federations for the likes of club & national teams, school programs, and general development of the sport.

These countries just may be developing the next elite athletes that will play in some of these major tournaments in the near future.