ISC Reorganization and Championship Berth Qualifying

[Al's Fastball News]

ISC Reorganization and Championship Berth Qualifying


Monday, October 2, 2006 


For the first time in its 60+ year history, the International
Softball Congress is entering into a complete reorganization
that affects personnel as well as how teams qualify for berths
to the World Tournament and ISC II Tournament of Champions.
 
Here is a summary of the changes.
 
Internal Changes
 
The ISC has eliminated 12 positions in the commissioner ranks
and at the same time, changed team qualifying from an Area basis
to a Regional basis.  There will no longer be the former Area
Qualifying tournaments as we used to know them.
 
We are now divided into 5 Regions; US West, US Central, US East,
Canada West and Canada East.  Each of these regions is headed
by a Regional Vice President.  Under each VP are 1 - 4 Regional
Commissioners all of whom are former Area or Travel League Commissioners.
 
The definitions of these regions is on the ISC web site www.iscfastpitch.com.
 Click on Rules and Forms link in left margin.  It also has the
revised Letter of 
Intent Form for regions rather than areas.  We suggest managers
and players review the region definitions are there are some
"open" areas included.
 
Here is a breakdown of these regions, championship berth allocations
and the personnel involved.
 
US West (4 WT, 3 ISC II)

 

Regional VP – Chris Santos

Regional Commissioners – Keith Erkenbrack (with help from CaL’s)

Commissioners at Large – Dick Mason, Jim Williamson, Dave Blackburn
& Milt Stark EDE

Specialists – Jim Flanagan and Ron Chambers

 

 

US Central (10 WT, 9 ISC II)

 

Regional VP – Dave LeBlanc

Regional Commissioners – Dean Oscar, Les Novak, Tom Crouch and
Pat Sullivan

Commissioners at Large – Wayne Fisher, Floyd Hammen, Ed Kirner,
Royce Heath & Charlie Smith

Specialists –Judd Berthiaume, Gary Baughman, Bret Baughman, Hank
DeWild & Tony Schaaf

 

US East (6 WT excluding defending champ, 5 ISC II)

 

Regional VP – Bill Howell

Regional Commissioners – Billy Smith and Lee Isenhart

Commissioners at Large – Larry Fisher, Bill Hillhouse, Robert
Gray & Tom Stasik

Specialists – Doug Gillis & Rick Havercroft

 

Canada West  (2 WT, 3 ISC II)

 

Regional VP – Ferdi Nelissen

Regional Commissioners – Todd McCabe and Craig Donaldson

Commissioners at Large – None

Specialists – None

 

Canada East (4 WT excluding host, 9 ISC II excluding champ, runner
up & host)

 

Regional VP – Bob McGowan

Regional Commissioners – Colin Smith and Blair Setford

Commissioners at Large – None

Specialists – Al Doran, Bruce Bierman and Todd Idenouye

 

International (4 WT, 0 ISC II)

International Commissioner - Bill Hillhouse

 

Qualifying Processes

 

Each VP and his Regional Commissioners have been asked to have
their qualifying 

events decided by November 1.  They can use any of the following
options to

qualify teams.

 

1.  Invitational Tournaments - Subject to tournaments agreeing
to some ISC conditions.

     A.  Above can be "open" to teams from any location

     B.  Above can be "restricted" to teams from within the region

 

2.  Travel League - Must meet ISC criteria and be concluded by
July 15 or 

played with champion gaining berth for the following years championship.

 

3.  Region Tournament - An extension of the former area tournaments
but now

includes teams from the entire region.

 

Use of Invitational Tournaments as Qualifiers


 

The following are recommended guidelines for invitational tournaments
to be granted status as an ISC Qualifying Tournament.

 

Tournament must agree to use ISC rules, ISC recommended ball
and all umpires dressed in official ISC umpire attire.  We may
ask some to use an “experimental” ball.

Tournament must be publicized as either an “open” tournament
for teams from any location or a “restricted” tournament for
teams within the ISC region.  An “open” tournament may restrict
WT or II berths to only those teams from within the region. 
To qualify for a berth, the team must play the tournament with
100% of its ISC roster and no team may use players who are on
the roster of another ISC or ISC II team. 
Teams already having a WT or II berth cannot be excluded from
participation. 
Participation in some type of ISC Qualifier is mandatory for
teams to be considered for an invitation berth to World Tournament
or ISC II Tournament of Champ 
Must provide timely, complete tournament results to Al Doran
for distribution and posting. 
 

Teams Winning berths in '06 for '07 championships

 

Three teams, Orillia Riversharks (WT), Thomson Area Merchants
(WT) and Kitchener Phoenix Outlaws (ISC II) won '07 championship
berths by winning '06 ISC Travel Leagues.  These championship
berth commitments will be honored and these teams 

have berths secured for '07.

 

Thanks 

 

On a personal note, each ISC person whose position was eliminated,
was contacted

by phone and explained the reasons for the decision.  In each
case, the individuals

understood and graciously accepted the decision.  They made a
tough job much 

easier by their understanding and acceptance of the needed changes.
 To each of the eliminated people, my sincere thanks for the
manner in which you accepted the news. 

 

Ken Hackmeister
ISC Executive Director
iscken at comcast.net

http://www.iscfastpitch.com/

 

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