WBSC GLOBAL NEWSLETTER October 2020

November 2, 2020

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WBSC establishes new Integrity Unit to safeguard future of baseball and softball


The mission of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Integrity Unit is to enhance fair play and transparency, protect athletes' rights and promote inclusiveness, and further enhance governance. The Unit will be chaired by WBSC Secretary General Beng Choo Low. "The Integrity Unit reinforces the WBSC's commitment, as the world governing body of the sport, to good governance and protecting the rights of all athletes and members of the baseball-softball family, as our sport is practiced by approximately 65 million athletes across more than 140 countries and territories," Choo Low said.
 
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https://www.wbsc.org/news/wbsc-establishes-new-integrity-unit-to-safeguard-future-of-baseball-and-softball



New WBSC Academy opens first online courses in push to further globalise baseball, softball    


The WBSC Academy will help facilitate athletes, coaches, officials and National Federations to conduct efficient self-learning of the various topics related to Baseball, Softball and Baseball5. This new online learning platform adds another powerful tool to further develop our sport globally, particularly in new and emerging baseball/softball territories. It is important that we continue adapting to the new norm and that we find new ways to support our community at a time when COVID-19 continues to restrict peoples' movements," WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said.   
 
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https://www.wbsc.org/news/new-wbsc-academy-opens-first-online-courses-in-push-to-further-globalise-baseball-softball


New WBSC Integrity Unit releases updated Baseball5 official ball certification programme    


The certification rules, which are also available in Spanish, specify the Baseball5 ball requirements and standard dimensions for manufacturers which will ensure that athletes are competing under the same conditions in every country. A rigorous application process is also outlined to ensure that all certified Baseball5 balls are of high-quality and competition ready, while a third party certified testing facility is tasked with receiving and evaluating the samples and delivering the results.
     
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https://www.wbsc.org/news/new-wbsc-integrity-unit-releases-updated-baseball5-official-ball-certification-programme

Federation Focus: Iran Baseball Softball Association banks on Baseball5 as cost-effective way to grow the game


With seven baseball teams and five softball teams currently active and running their own programmes and the total number of players numbering 250 in baseball and 150 in softball, new President of the Iran Baseball and Softball Association (IBSA) Houman Mansourian has his eyes on the WBSC's new urban discipline Baseball5 in helping grow baseball and softball in the country.
      
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https://www.wbsc.org/news/federation-focus-iran-baseball-softball-association-fights-financial-problems-invests-on-baseball5

 

Former International Softball Fed President Dale McMann named chair of WBSC Softball Hall of Fame Commision


The WBSC Softball Hall of Fame serves to honour its members, athletes, coaches, umpires and administrators who have contributed to the growth and development of the game worldwide. McMann also served as the WBSC Softball Division Chairman from 2013 to 2017 and played a pivotal role in the merger of the international baseball and softball federations into the WBSC.
       
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WBSC Members vote to hold IV Congress in March 2022
 

The IV WBSC Congress, previously set to be held in November 2021, will now officially take place in March 2022 in Taipei. WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said: "I am pleased to see that our members have overwhelmingly agreed with the Executive Board's recommendation to move the WBSC Congress to March 2022.This decision was made in the interest of our Member Federations and Executive Board Members who will have an exceptionally busy calendar next year, including our highly anticipated Olympic comeback in Tokyo, and provides the full opportunity for members to attend in person for what is a very important elective-Congress."

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https://www.wbsc.org/news/wbsc-members-vote-to-hold-iv-congress-in-march-2022

 

WBSC confirms new dates for inaugural U-18 Women's Softball World Cup in Lima, Peru      



The WBSC announced that the inaugural WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup® has been rescheduled for 27 March to 4 April 2021 in Lima, Peru, due to ongoing COVID-19 international and national restrictions. Due to the one-year postponement of the tournament, all players who would have been eligible to participate in the 2020 WBSC global tournament will be able to play in next year's World Cup.
 
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https://www.wbsc.org/news/wbsc-confirms-new-dates-for-inaugural-u-18-womens-softball-world-cup-in-lima-peru

On this day in 2003: Japan wins the WBSC Junior Women's Softball World Championship in Nanjing, China


On 20 October 2003, the VII WBSC Junior Women's Softball World Championship came to an end in Nanjing, China, with an electric final between Japan and USA. The Japanese team successfully defended their title with an eight-inning, 3-2 victory over rivals USA, taking home their fourth world title. This tournament was the first-ever softball world championship to be played in China and marked the debut of the 20-second pitching clock in international softball competitions.
       
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https://www.wbsc.org/news/17-years-ago-today-japan-claims-2003-junior-womens-softball-world-championship-in-nanjing-china



34,000-seat Yokohama Stadium, future site of Olympic Baseball/Softball, to be tested with packed crowds



Officials in Japan will stage a three-day trial filling the 34,000-seat Yokohama Stadium, in order to monitor the measures that aim at preventing the spreading of COVID-19. Regular games will be played during the three days, beginning on 30 October, with the stadium set to be filled to up to 80 percent of its capacity on the first day and potentially a 100 percent 'sellout crowd' by day three of the trial, if the trial goes according to plan.
 
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https://www.wbsc.org/news/japan-to-test-yokohama-stadium-at-full-capacity-starting-30-october

 

New Zealand White Sox completes Tri Series in Auckland   


New Zealand Softball launched their women's national team programme 2020 with a three-team series in Auckland. A total of 44 players participated in the six games, including the New Zealand White Sox, New Zealand A and the U-18 New Zealand national softball team. All four White Sox games were aired by Sky Sports.  
 
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https://www.wbsc.org/news/new-zealand-white-sox-completes-tri-series-in-auckland



Mexican National Softball Team, Fernando Valenzuela honoured with nation's top sports award


The Mexican Women's National Softball Team has been awarded with the Mexican National Sports Award, the most prestigious sports prize in Mexico. In addition, Mexican MLB legend Fernando Valenzuela was also the latest recipient of the award for his outstanding career. The awards ceremony will be hosted by Mexican President and WBSC Global Ambassador Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on 20 November.
 
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https://www.wbsc.org/news/mexican-national-softball-team-fernando-valenzuela-honoured-with-nations-top-sports-award