Receiving ISF certification is a program for the elite ASA
Umpire, not available to any other softball organization. Once
the umpire is certified as an ISF umpire, he/she is available
to umpire at World (adult or junior men's and women's) or
Regional Softball Championships, including the Pan American
Games and the Olympics. Certification can be achieved in fast
pitch, slow pitch, or modified pitch levels.
A total of 213 U.S. umpires have been certified in this
program since it began in 1978. Considering there have been
nearly 100,000 registered umpires during that span of time, it
is indeed an honor to hold this certification. Of that total,
only 129 are active - 57 in fast pitch, 28 in slow pitch and
44 in modified pitch.
In international competition the highest assignment an
umpire can achieve is a World Tournament and/or the Olympics.
Following is a list of ASA ISF umpires that have worked the
Olympics:
| Umpire |
Hometown |
Olympic Year |
| Emily Alexander |
Phoenix, AZ |
1996 |
| Jeff Hanson |
Fremont, NE |
1996 |
| Julie Johnson |
Alexandria, IN |
1996 |
| Kathy Straham |
Nashville, IN |
1996 |
| Jim Lykins |
Las Vegas, NV |
2000 |
| Lisa Rudloff |
Stockton, CA |
2000 |
| Debbi Lauderback |
Lakewood, CA |
2004 |
| Marty Makar |
Phoenix, AZ |
2004 |
| Leilani Okuda |
Honolulu, HI |
2004 |
| Lori Bish |
Tacoma, WA |
2008 |
| Traci Stoelting |
Avon, IN |
2008 |
|
To achieve this honor, an umpire must have umpired in three
national championships - two of which must be in the major
division of the category applying for. In fast pitch, this
includes the Men's and/or Women's Major and "A" divisions, the
Men's 40-Over or the Girls 18-UGold. In Slow Pitch it includes
the Men's Super, Men's or Women's Major and "A" Divisions,
Men's Major and "A" Industrial divisions. In Modified, it
includes the Men's Major and "A" or Women's Major divisions.
In whichever championship the umpire applies, he/she must have
the highest possible rating. Once this has been accomplished,
the umpire can apply through the ISF headquarters to attend a
five day "Certification" Seminar, which includes evaluations
in live competition, evaluations on plate mechanics calling
balls and strikes, evaluations on responding to mechanic and
case plays, and being taught the difference in ASA and ISF
Rules and passing a written exam on the rules.
For those who qualify, applications are available from the
national office or from the ISF World Headquarters and
Training Center at 1900 South Park Road, Plant City, FL 33566.
Telephone (813) 707-7204 or E-Mail: ISF@internationalsoftball.com