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SUGGESTION BOX
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Posted by:
JaNeal Date/Time: 8/14/2007 8:16:23 PM
Message:
 hi i am JaNeal i am 13 years old, i am on a summer team we took 5th at State, I am a picher for a 16U team. My comment is that they should have Olympic camps in the West Side of the US.like in Montana,and just all over.Will i think that Softball is kick butt!! see ya later peace love, JaNeal
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Laurie Date/Time: 7/23/2007 2:37:46 PM
Message:
 Having high-level softball televised nationally is a wonderful opportunity for young players to see the game the way it was meant to be played. As a young player in the mid 1970s I had little opportunity to actually see other females playing the game I loved. Eventually, a Sports Illustrated magazine, held by my mom, met me at the door after school one day. In it was a piece on then-Connecticut Falcons ace Joan Joyce. I treasured that article and was inspired to learn there was a fledgling pro league for softball. I found an ASA Major team locally and avidly followed them until the invite came to join them. To see, or even play, ball on television would have been beyond imagination, as would the chance to see softball Olympians compete on a world stage. Today, we look for answers on how to get our game back into the Olympics and how to drum up support for pro ball. Let’s face it, in large media markets full of major pro men’s sports, we can only hope to claim an avid, but smallish, cult-following. Not exactly a commercial (read: money-making) success. So, the inevitable call comes to change the game. Move the mound, add offense-friendly rules, etc. To this, I state that you risk alienating the purists, the real lovers of the sport, in favor of casual fans that may pop in in May to check out the CWS or in summer a few times a decade to see Olympians. The game is the game. Complaints that it is pitcher-dominated reflect the obvious--it IS. Viewers are seeing the game at its highest ability level, and so the finest pitchers in the world are on stage. As baseball and softball people know, good pitching and defense will beat good hitting. Checking out local games among HS or even college players will see much more offense. Also, enforcing rules such as the look-back rule to the point where the integrity of the game is compromised, as it was during the World Cup final, doesn’t help add offense. The game isn’t broken, but perhaps the presentation of it is. Watching the CWS or World Cup I appreciate the color commentary by a Michelle Smith or other former players. I would add a more fan-friendly intro of players. College players come and go, and the Olympian and WC athletes also change. Tell me something about them as individuals, make me care about them and their teams. Link these world class athletes to their younger counterparts through photos or anecdotes or interviews about their youth ball experiences. Make them come alive so girls can claim them as heroes. We have precious few names that stay consistantly in the public eye. We have evolved beyond the era of players who don’t meet the commercial standard of femininity or beauty, so there is no reason to hide softball players with long camera shots.There are enough ambassadors of the game to create more of a profile. Find a way into a major sport magazine once in a while or get newspaper coverage or profiles of major players. This is a publicity issue that can be solved, even if by paid pages similar to what the fishing world does. Bat and glove companies would have to kick in their share, but the end result would create success for all. As for the game itself, there would be no need to move the mound if the umpires would simply call the standard strike zone. The same argument has been made in pro baseball. Just watching the final world cup game would tell even the casual fan that the wide strike zone favors pitchers who quite frankly don’t need the help. Make them come over the plate and give hitters a chance to see a fastball they can actually reach. Leave the game alone, just find a way to market it as it is, but realize there are fundamental limits on how commercial it can be. We need to get the most out of the actual fans of the sport as they are the market.
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
2 concerned players Date/Time: 7/16/2007 11:46:11 PM
Message:
 We think that women should be neither presidents (h.c.) nor umpires! especially after the world cup games.
Mail Me! Country: usa
Posted by:
jenn Date/Time: 7/14/2007 12:31:50 PM
Message:
 moving the mound and such isn’t what i would suggest at all since these girls have not only played but learned/love this sport the way the rules were set way back in time, plus it’s not pratical or safe for young girls. Why do you think girls end up with torn ACL/MCL injuries and such? the way it is, i believe after high school the rules change like it does in baseball, and "running while at bat" should be stopped if they leave the box, at least that rule was enforced in high school play, why does it change because we age as an adult, not a young child first learning. I do agree with that aspect because there isn’t much action like it is in younger athletes, and those girls should be the one honored and splashed all over front page since these girls are the one’s who bring the true meaning of pitching and playing back to back in 110 degree heat! The out-witting the pitcher is key to game then good defense, as I do think it’s okay to get a good running start to make base, I have watched way to many players leave the box before the ball is hit, which is against the rules! It takes the sport out of the game. I also believe to make a change don’t treat softball as you do baseball! First and upmost suggestion cause this is the one that bothers me the MOST!! IS THE GAME IS ABOUT THE TEAM, NOT JUST THE PITCHER!! If it was about the pitcher and nothing but then there would be no use for other members on the squad, start by making a big deal about EVERYONE on the team, their life and history, splash ALL of these girls on the red carpet, in advertising and such, even if it means doing it one by one but make sure each and every individual gets full and good coverage! It’s only fair they all work hard to get where they are at, at not an individual level but together as a team! I also feel that alot of awesome girls who love to play ball can’t because they can not afford college. This needs to change too! I been an avid softball player, and mostly a pitcher since I was little, and all this comes from experience. I came from a tiny town with no chance and no scouts to come look at my team for college ball, which I lost my chance not only because of that, but mainly my family was broke. I didn’t get a chance at a scholarship even being recognized as an All Star Player, National Player, etc. etc. Small town girls struggle to get piece of the action as some of these big town girls do. I hope that the stipulations on girls wanting to play is taken in to consideration, not only for 2 yr colleges but also for girls don’t have a fighting chance to make that team because of one condition, money..... Another thing, the rules and regulations need to take in consideration somewhere, the young girl softball players of our future! I started as a extremely young fast pitch pitcher, and never could go back to pitching slow because of the stress the arm endures. You need to be advocates of not only knowing that teaching girls/coaches/schools at a young age to pitch can ruin their arms if not taught properly but also any other aspects of the game! There is not enough if any teachings on safety, especially when children are in the first stages of learning the game. Advertising is next to none for softball which needs to be stepped up, start early, especially in schools, small towns, (not just the capital of the state, don’t depend on these big town people to advertise it in the small towns) and t.v./newspaper advertisements don’t reach everyone because not everyone has them! Mass mail media, signs, posters, find a way to get a softball club with a president and such like they do with v.f.w. people going in towns, making sure to emphasize that members need to be softball players from past, present, future. Use the past people to be your leaders and represent your sport, set examples and being a role model. As well as a way out for trouble kids, I again, was one of these, my saving grace was softball, it saved my life and have a mucher higher love for the game but also the players. I always had an escape for the beatings I endured at home, an excuse by saying I had practice, so please think of this too! Young kids are our future but you must set the example today!
Mail Me! Country: usa
Posted by:
Robert Henry Date/Time: 7/14/2007 11:31:07 AM
Message:
 I would suggest that you compress the phots on the various areas of your web site meant for downloading. I realize that it would effect the quality but it would speed up the download. You could have a link for phots only and not compress those for the press and other who wanted quality phots. Just a thought Keep up the great work for SOFTBALL!
Mail Me! Country: U S A
Posted by:
byung won choi Date/Time: 7/5/2007 8:59:58 PM
Message:
 Dear ISF.I would like make suggestion about korean softball team.Softball in korea is sadly not popular as baseball.Women in korea deserve to have fun play softball like men enjoy play baseball.We don,t have men,s league yet i think.I hope ISF help develop men,s softball league in korea.Mostly is women,s softball first.I hope koreans know more about women,s softball and help them to get lot experience.Please let korean softball team know about all upcoming games and event so they can much games under their belt as possible and support them please.I hope i can help too.I know there is now canadacup is going on and please contact them and help them attend many games.Thanks.
Mail Me! Country: korea
Posted by:
Bruce W., ISF Dir. of Comm. Date/Time: 7/13/2006 6:38:31 AM
Message:
 Spencer - There already is a link from our website to the ESF’s website. It’s on the Regional Confederations page in the "The ISF" section.
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Spencer Date/Time: 7/13/2006 3:01:40 AM
Message:
 It would be a good idea if they was a limk from the ISF to the ESF site, do you realise how hard it is to do a search for the ESF site?
Mail Me! Country: Great Britain - England
Posted by:
Willie Cooper Date/Time: 11/23/2005 8:22:57 AM
Message:
 Maybe there should be two sections for the message board and players seeking teams in other countries as a lot of the posted messages seem to deal with players just in the USA alone. Maybe there should be one section for North America, or Americas, and a seperate section for the Rest of the World. Just a suggestion?
Mail Me! Country: New Zealand
Posted by:
Romina Date/Time: 11/20/2005 3:15:40 AM
Message:
 I suggest that you change the link to the ’Maltese Association Baseball Softball’ in the ’member countries’ page to the correct one; http://www.baseballsoftballmalta.org/
Mail Me! Country: Malta
Posted by:
Julie Nemeth Date/Time: 10/3/2005 12:45:37 AM
Message:
 Hi all, ISF it would be great if you could have photos on your website. Good softball photos are really hard to find. I use Webshots and download photos all the time and I would like to increase my collection of softball photos.
Mail Me! Country: Australia
Posted by:
Christopher Hendrickson Date/Time: 9/22/2005 10:24:17 AM
Message:
 I have 2 girls ages 9 and 7. They have started playing softball(fastpitch). After taking them out to practice, we were watching a college womens softball game on ESPN. After watching for a little while both daughters started to lose interest because of the lack of actual play. What I mean is, it seems womens softball was set up for the pitcher and thats it. Mostly strikeouts or walks, most games low scoring, and more than half of the batters run as the pitch is being thrown and just try to poke at the ball and beat the throw. I don’t understand why you wouldn’t move the pitchers mound back alittle(to give the hitters a little more time to take a real swing) and also make the bases a little longer(so the defense can make a diving stop and still have some time to make a throw). THis would allow for more defense (instead of just who is pitching), and this would also let the women stand in the box and actually take a real swing. I believe this would make the game more exciting and I believe there would be more hits, more good defensive plays. As of right now the game lacks some excitement. P.S. - Every other sport is trying to attract more fans by making changes to better the game for fans as well as its players. I think Womens softball needs to do the same. Thanks, Chris
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Carley Date/Time: 8/21/2005 3:29:07 PM
Message:
 hi my name is Carley, i am 11 yrs. old and have played softball sense kindergarden. i am on a travel team and our team was one of 8 teams left in the state! i think that softball is a lot more fun to watch on tv then baseball so i think softball should be on more!
Mail Me! Country: usa
Posted by:
Mandi Date/Time: 6/7/2005 2:04:32 PM
Message:
 Dear African members: May I suggest that time has come to relook on the organisations of Softball & baseball in our continent? I do propose that an African Softball Federation be formed and also re look on the location. ABSA has not served members as expected and maybe because of the work load in administering the two sports. Think about the ground (development) we can cover with two separate Federations? More advantages are there!!
Mail Me! Country: ZIMBABWE
 

 

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