Editing Softball (section)

==International competition==
Softball is played in over a hundred countries around the world.<ref name="Softball Australia History">{{cite web|url=http://www.softball.org.au/default.asp?Page=22259&MenuID=About/4215/0 |title=About Softball |publisher=[[Australian Softball Federation]] |access-date=2006-12-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829020032/http://www.softball.org.au/default.asp?Page=22259 |archive-date=August 29, 2007 }}</ref> The highest [[sport governing body|governing body]] for the sport, the [[World Baseball Softball Confederation]] (WBSC), has 190 member countries (excluding dependent territories).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Organisation - wbsc.org |url=https://www.wbsc.org/en/organisation |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=www.wbsc.org}}</ref> The WBSC holds world championships in several categories.

[[USA Softball]] is the National Governing Body of Softball for the [[United States]] pursuant to the 1976 Amateur Sports Act. Due to the popularity of the sport, there are a multitude of governing bodies such as the [[United States Specialty Sports Association]], [[International Softball Congress]] and the [[National Softball Association]].

The WBSC holds the [[Women's Softball World Cup]] tournaments in several categories. The tournament in each category is held every four years—two years from 2010. The most recent tournament was XII Women's World Championship in June, 2010. All World Championships use a [[Page playoff system]]<ref name="ISF Technical and venue manual">{{cite web|title=Technical & Venue Manual for Olympic, World Championships, Regional, and Multi-sport Competitions |url=http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/rules_standards/technical_venue_man.pdf |publisher=International Softball Federation |year=1952–2003 |page=4 |access-date=2007-03-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025144555/http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/rules_standards/technical_venue_man.pdf |archive-date=October 25, 2006 }}</ref> and are in fastpitch. There are also several World Cups held at 4-year intervals in different categories.<ref name="Past results">{{cite web|title=Past Results |url=http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/events/past_results.asp |publisher=International Softball Federation |access-date=2007-03-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222193113/http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/events/past_results.asp |archive-date=February 22, 2007 }}</ref><ref name=Calendar>{{cite web|title=Events Calendar |publisher=[[International Softball Federation]] |url=http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/events/calendar.asp |access-date=2007-03-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302122815/http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/events/calendar.asp |archive-date=March 2, 2007 }}</ref>

[[New Zealand]] became the Men's World Champions winning the world title in 2013. Prior to that, Australia won the World Championship in 2009 and New Zealand had won the previous three tournaments before that.<ref name="Men's World Championships">{{cite web|title=New Zealand Three-peats at Men's World Championships |url=http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/events/04_02_09_mens_world.asp |first=Andrea |last=Blackshaw |date=2004-02-09 |access-date=2007-03-18 |publisher=[[International Softball Federation]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025154200/http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/events/04_02_09_mens_world.asp |archive-date=October 25, 2006 }}</ref>

In the Junior Men's World Champions in 2012, Team Argentina won the world title.<ref name="Junior Men's World Championships">{{cite web|title=Australia Claims Jr. Men's World Championships |url=http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/events/jmwc08_results.asp |date=2008-07-01 |publisher=[[International Softball Federation]] |access-date=2009-10-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312051302/http://internationalsoftball.com/english/events/jmwc08_results.asp |archive-date=March 12, 2009 }}</ref>

===Summer Olympics===
{{Update|section|date=March 2021}}

In the [[Women's Softball World Championships]] the United States is the most dominant team, having won three of the past four [[Softball at the Summer Olympics|Olympic tournaments]] and the past seven World Championships.<ref name="Women's World Championships 2006">{{cite web|title=USA Wins 2006 Women's World Championship |date=2006-09-05 |publisher=[[International Softball Federation]] |url=http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/events/06_09_05_wwc.asp |access-date=2007-03-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070304214343/http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/events/06_09_05_wwc.asp |archive-date=March 4, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="Women's World Championships">{{cite web|url=http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/events/02_08_04_womens_world.asp |title=Four Teams Qualify for 2004 Olympic Games |date=2002-08-04 |publisher=International Softball Federation |access-date=2007-03-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025154233/http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/events/02_08_04_womens_world.asp |archive-date=October 25, 2006 }}</ref> The current Junior Women's World Champion is the United States.<ref name="Junior">{{cite web|title=Japan Dethroned as World Champs |date=2007-06-30 |publisher=International Softball Federation |url=http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/latest_news/2007_jwwc_result.asp |access-date=2007-07-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707015236/http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/latest_news/2007_jwwc_result.asp |archive-date=July 7, 2007 }}</ref>

Women's softball debuted at the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] and was removed from the program following the [[2008 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoplease.com/spot/summer-olympics-softball.html |title=Olympic Preview: Softball |publisher=Infoplease.com |date=2000-07-01 |access-date=2012-10-29}}</ref> Softball and Baseball were unable to have their sport included in the program at the [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012]] and [[2016 Summer Olympics]]. In 2012 the heads of the [[International Softball and Baseball Federations]] announced their united effort to be included in the program in 2020. "The proposal calls for men's baseball and women's softball to be played at a single venue during 7 to 10 days. Each tournament would feature eight teams. Baseball and softball would be two disciplines under a single sports banner. The proposal awaits formal endorsement from the congress of both federations. Other sports which sought to be included in the 2020 program, when only one spot is up for filling, were: karate, roller sports, squash, sports climbing, wakeboard and wushu. The [[International Olympic Committee|IOC executive board]] were to decide at their May meeting which sport to recommend for inclusion. The final decision was made in a vote of the full IOC in Buenos Aires in September 2013. Softball and Baseball were re-included in the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, which was held in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baseball Softball |url=https://olympics.com/en/sports/baseball-softball/ |website=Olympics}}</ref> The American team had entered the gold medal match with an undefeated record, facing Japan. United States was defeated 2–0 by Japan, naming Japan the Tokyo 2020 Softball Olympic Gold Medalists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goh |first=ZK |date=April 14, 2021 |title=Olympic Softball at Tokyo 2020: Top five things to know |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/olympic-softball-at-tokyo-2020-top-five-things-to-know |website=Olympics}}</ref>

Softball was not included in the [[2024 Summer Olympics]] but will return for the [[2028 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Singh, Sanjesh |agency= |title=Why is there no baseball and softball at the 2024 Olympics? |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/paris-2024-summer-olympics/why-no-baseball-softball-2024-olympics/3442334/ |quote= |newspaper=[[NBC Los Angeles]] |date=2024-07-23 |access-date=2024-08-08 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Perry, Dayn |agency= |title=2024 Paris Olympics: Why baseball and softball are missing, and how MLB stars are pushing to play in 2028 |url=https://www.cbssports.com/olympics/news/2024-paris-olympics-why-baseball-and-softball-are-missing-and-how-mlb-stars-are-pushing-to-play-in-2028/ |quote= |newspaper=[[CBS Sports]] |date=2024-07-26 |access-date=2024-08-08 }}</ref>

Even though the 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in LA, the softball and baseball events will be held in Oklahoma. 

===Participating countries and areas===

====New Zealand====
[[Black Socks|New Zealand]] is the most successful nation at men's world championship softball, having won their eighth title in 2019. The [[New Zealand women's national softball team|New Zealand women's team]] have also won a number of World Championship titles in the past. The game is widely played in New Zealand and is the second most popular summer sport behind [[cricket]].

====Australia====
{{main|Softball in Australia}}
Softball is played in all states and territories in Australia and at all levels of academic education. The game is widely promoted to maintain [[physical fitness|fitness]], health, personal achievements and pleasure. Australia has produced several of the world's great men's softball players, including Adam Folkard and Andrew Kirkpatrick, widely considered all-time greats in men's softball. Australia has excellent softball teams which are a reflection of its coaching, education and training system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.softball.org.au/ |title=Softball Australia &#124; Softball Australia |website=Softball.org.au |access-date=2017-01-28}}</ref>

====Japan====
Japan has had a long tradition of softball which is played at all levels in the country. Many high schools and colleges have sports programs which include softball. Like baseball, softball in Japan is intensely competitive. Japan's win over the United States at the 2008 Olympics<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fastpitchsoftballteam.com/tournaments.html |title=Fastpitch Softball Tournaments |access-date=2016-02-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819015732/http://www.fastpitchsoftballteam.com/tournaments.html |archive-date=2014-08-19 }}</ref> reflects the advanced level of play in this [[East Asia]]n country.

====China====
Since the silver medal at the [[1996 Summer Olympics|Atlanta Olympics]], the Chinese have now made softball a priority at all levels.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://softball.sport.org.cn/ |title=中国垒球协会官方网站 |website=Chinese Softball Association |access-date=2019-05-14 |archive-date=2019-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506165225/http://softball.sport.org.cn/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Europe====
Softball is played in almost every country in Europe, mainly fastpitch. Every two years an open women's [[ESF Women's Championship|European fastpitch championship]] is held with over twenty nationals teams. Italy and Netherlands are the best nations, and both have an almost professional championship where athletes from the US, Australia and China play. In the men's division eight to ten national teams compete for the [[ESF Men's Championship|European championship]], with the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Denmark leading the way.

====United States====
[[File:2014 WCWS Championship Series Game.jpg|thumb|2014 [[Women's College World Series]] Championship Series]]

In America, there are more than 1,500 college softball teams spanning five different levels: NCAA Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]], and NJCAA.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How to Find the Right College Softball Team for You|url=https://www.ncsasports.org/softball/find-colleges#:~:text=There%20are%20more%20than%201%2C500,Division%203%2C%20NAIA%20and%20NJCAA.|access-date=2021-03-08|website=NCSA| date=22 March 2018 }}</ref> There are 5 professional softball teams: the Aussie Peppers, the Chicago Bandits, the Cleveland Comets, the California Commotion, and the Canadian Wild.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nation Pro Fastpitch|url=https://profastpitch.com/rosters/|url-status=usurped|access-date=2021-03-08|website=the National Pro Fastpitch|archive-date=2021-03-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301224828/https://profastpitch.com/rosters/}}</ref>

Competitive [[fastpitch softball]] for girls is growing increasingly popular.{{quantify|date=November 2017}} All over the US, there are thousands of teams that compete year-round at tournaments. During most of these tournaments the biggest goal is not winning the tournament, but attempting to get as many college coaches as possible to observe (a) particular player or players. Competitive teams are now beginning around eight years old, if not younger. Depending on the team they can travel all over the United States or even out of the country such as to Canada, the summer and fall for many weeks and days at a time.{{original research inline|date=November 2017}}

[[USA Softball|US Softball]] (founded in 1933 as Amateur Softball Association) is known as the national governing body of softball, one of the largest governing bodies for the game in the United States with over 240,000 teams, and sponsors annual sectional and World Series championships. The [[World Baseball Softball Confederation]] (WBSC) regulates rules of play in more than 110 countries, including the United States and Canada; before the WBSC was formed in 2013, the [[International Softball Federation]] (ISF) filled this role. The United States also has a competitive women's softball team that competes in international tournaments. They represented the US each time at the Olympics until softball was removed from the Olympics.<ref>{{cite web |title=USA Softball |url=http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615063047/http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball |archive-date=June 15, 2013 |access-date=2017-01-28 |website=Teamusa.org |format=PDF}}</ref> The USA Softball Men's Fast Pitch National Team has won five World Championships (1966, 1968, 1976, 1980 and 1988) and three other medals. In the Pan-American Games, Team USA has made the finals in all seven appearances at the Games when Men's Fast Pitch was played.<ref>{{cite web |title=International Medal History; USA Softball |url=https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/Team-USA/History/Mens-Fast-Pitch/International-Medal-History |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010005937/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/Team-USA/History/Mens-Fast-Pitch/International-Medal-History |archive-date=2017-10-10 |access-date=2017-10-09 |website=teamusa.org}}</ref>

Other national and regional sanctioning bodies also exist, including: [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]], [[National Federation of State High School Associations|NFHS]], [[USSSA]], ISA, NSA, WSL, USFA, Triple Crown and SASL just to name a few. The USSSA, founded in 1968 as the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association, but renamed in 1997 to the United States Specialty Sports Association, is the only association that still has a men's major slow-pitch program alive. Currently, the USSSA program is run out of Viera, FL.