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André van Overbeek Vice-President ISF; More news
 Nederlandse tekst
JUAN GRIEGO, Isla Margarita (Venezuela) - During the XXIV Congress of the International Softball Federation (ISF) at Isla Margarita (Venezuela), Dutch Executive André van Overbeek was elected one of two Vice-Presidents for Europe in the ISF-Council.
On February 7 of this year, Van Overbeek already was elected President of the European Softball Federation (ESF).
Also during the ISF Congress, more new officials were elected and some rules were changed or adapted.
In September 2004, André van Overbeek (pictured left) took over the softball-position in the Board of the Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Federation (KNBSB) and was officially elected as member of the Board in March in 2005 for a 4-year term.
During the elections of March 2009, Van Overbeek, who was not up for re-election, was succeeded by Anton Kops, but stays on as interim-boardmember for a few additional months, while the latter recovers from an illness.
Also elected as ISF Vice-President for Europe is Ami Baran from Israel.
Van Overbeek and Baran succeed Mike Jennings and Jelena Cusak.
ISF-President Don Porter (pictured right) was re-elected for a new 4-year term, as there were no opposing candidates for the post.
However, another era ended, as Secretary-General Andrew Loechner retired after having filled the postion for 22 years (1987-2009).
The American was succeeded by Ms. Beng-Choo Low from Malaysia, who already was the Deputy Secretary-General.
Ms. Low becomes only the third Secretary-General in the history of the ISF.
Also retiring was Clovis Lodewijks from the Netherlands Antilles, who was the 1st Vice-President of the ISF.
He was succeeded by Dale McMann (Canada), who was the Vice-President for North America.
Departing Secretary-General Andrew Loechner and 1st Vice-President Clovis Lodewijks were awarded the ISF Medal of Honor.
Former Vice-President for Oceania Bob Leveloff (New Zealand) was elected for the new position of 2nd Vice-President.
Succeeding McMann as Vice-President for North America is E.T. Colvin (USA), while Romell Knowles (Bahamas) was named the first Vice-President for Non-Spanish speaking Caribbean countries.
From now on, Latin America, Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania all will have two Vice-Presidents.
Besides the election of André van Overbeek and Ami Baran for Europe, Jesús Suniaga (Venezuela) and Antonio Morales (Colombia) were both re-elected for Latin America.
Xiuyun Jiang (China) and Taeko Utsugi (Japan) were both elected for Asia.
Ms. Utsugi was coach of the National Japanese Softball Team which captured the bronze medal during the Olympic Games of 2004 in Athens (Greece).
On April 8 of this year, Ms. Utsugi joined several members of the Dutch National Softball Team during a visit to the Japanese School of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, where she gave a clinic to students with Dutch players Saskia Kosterink and Rebecca Soumeru.
On the photo at left Taeko Utsugi is pictured with Dutch National Softball Team Head Coach Craig Montvidas.
Africa and Oceania, which both previously had one Vice-President, now also will have two.
Marumo Morule (Bostwana) was re-elected as Vice-President for Africa and will be joined by Gusllo Marapjane (South Africa).
As Bob Leveloff became the new 2nd Vice-President, Oceania gets a new representation with Darryl Clout (Australia) and Bob Steffy (Guam).
During the Congress, two tournaments were awarded to be organized.
The 2012 IX Junior Men Softball World Championship (19 and under) was awarded to Parana (Argentina) to become the first ISF World Championship being organized in South America.
The 2013 XIII Men Softball World Championship was awarded to North Shore City in New Zealand, which also organized the event in 2004.
The ISF Hall of Fame, which was established in 1981, got 18 new electees, including seven players, three umpires, five administrators, one coach and two for meritorious service.
It was also confirmed that the Easton Foundation Youth Softball World Championships Under 16 will be continued.
In August of this year, the first edition was held in Czech capital Prague and was won by Japan.
In Prague, the Netherlands Junior Team played a strong tournament and reached the final, but then lost to Japan.
The second edition will be held December 30, 2010 through January 6, 2011 in Plant City (Florida) on the site of the ISF Headquarters in the USA.
The dates for the III World University Softball Championships, which will be played in Macerata (Italy), were set for August 29-September 5, 2010.
Kosovo and Nepal, which were provisional members, were confirmed as 127th and 128th member country of the International Softball Federation.
During meetings of the Rule Committee of the ISF, some rules were changed or adapted.
Enclosed therein was the run-ahead (or mercy) rule. Before a game could be stopped in or after the third inning with a 20-run difference, a 15-run rule in or after the fourth and a 10-run difference in or after the fifth inning.
In the new rules, the run-differences will be 15, 10 and 7 respectively.
Also, the rule for pitching in women games will become similar to that of men games, meaning leaping also will be allowed in women games.
More detailed information about the rule-changes is expected soon.
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