International Baseball Federation (IBAF)

**NewEnglandAmazins** · 07-06-2011, 12:27 PM

As much as the IBAF is mentioned on this forum; they have never to my knowledge had a thread dedicated to them. It will probably be like putting out a new dead horse for us to beat up on...

**NewEnglandAmazins** · 07-06-2011, 12:28 PM

Anyway, are there any thoughts on the upcoming IBAF 12U Baseball World Championships? Here are the participating nations:
Group A- Brazil, Taiwan, Cuba, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Japan and Lithuania

Group B- Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, the Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela and Zimbabwe

There are some notable absentees like the United States, Canada, Australia, Puerto Rico, the Netherlands, Dominican Republic, Curacao, Panama, etc.

**desslok** · 07-06-2011, 01:46 PM

I don't think little leaguers can participate because the Championships are not sanctioned by the Little League. Probably same for other leagues.

**USA101** · 07-06-2011, 02:22 PM

I am sure they could play but the US baseball federation does not have a 12u team and to start one for a tournament that might not be around in 5 or so years is quite silly.

**desslok** · 07-11-2011, 04:47 AM

Originally Posted by USA101

but the US baseball federation does not have a 12u team

This is correct. (I don't know about being gone in 5 years.) The lowest is the 14U team. But if you look up its page, USA Baseball has relevant organizations to field a 12U team, the most notable being the Little League.
http://web.usabaseball.com/about/nmo.jsp

So why not? The Little League obviously doesn't want to be part of the IBAF 12U and wants to have its own Championships where the US berth to the very final match is guaranteed.

The real question is, if they don't want to be part of various IBAF tournaments, why are organizations such as the Little League members of USA Baseball in the first place?

**USA101** · 07-11-2011, 12:17 PM

Ya, seriously but they could have formed a team full of Cal Ripken league or Pony baseball. It doesn't matter to me, as long as Equador wins.

**titorondon** · 07-11-2011, 07:58 PM

Or Cameroon...

**NewEnglandAmazins** · 07-11-2011, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by USA101

I am sure they could play but the US baseball federation does not have a 12u team and to start one for a tournament that might not be around in 5 or so years is quite silly.

I believe the 12U tournament is going to last longer than five years, because the IBAF is trying to develop the game and what better way to do it; than at the youth level. I'm not sure if this development project is on MLB's dime or their own. Cameroon is not participating, but Zimbabwe withdrew at the last minute; resulting in no African representation at the event.

**USA101** · 07-12-2011, 11:42 AM

Equador killed Hong Kong, that just proves North American dominance throughout baseball. A nation who i believe was unranked from North American beat up on a 8-10 Asian team. Asia might have both Classics, but thier is no dening NA's depth now.

**NewEnglandAmazins** · 07-12-2011, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by USA101

Equador killed Hong Kong, that just proves North American dominance throughout baseball. A nation who i believe was unranked from North American beat up on a 8-10 Asian team. Asia might have both Classics, but thier is no dening NA's depth now.

You're right about the Americas being deeper, but Ecuador is in South America: https://www.cia.gov/library/publicat...k/geos/ec.html

**USA101** · 07-14-2011, 08:11 PM

I meant COPABe nations sorry about that.

**NewEnglandAmazins** · 07-17-2011, 06:53 PM

Cuba v. Taiwan in the final and the host wins it...
http://www.ibaf.org/en/news/2011/07/...8-b5586a7c57c2

Final Standings IBAF 12U Baseball World Championship
1 Chinese Taipei
2 Cuba
3 Venezuela
4 Mexico
5 Japan
6 Brazil
7 Korea
8 Italy
9 Philippines
10 Ecuador
11 Hong Kong
12 Indonesia
13 Lithuania

I wonder if the IBAF will include these results in their rankings

Does anyone think they'll introduce a Youth Baseball ranking?

**USA101** · 07-19-2011, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by NewEnglandAmazins

Cuba v. Taiwan in the final and the host wins it...
http://www.ibaf.org/en/news/2011/07/...8-b5586a7c57c2

Final Standings IBAF 12U Baseball World Championship
1 Chinese Taipei
2 Cuba
3 Venezuela
4 Mexico
5 Japan
6 Brazil
7 Korea
8 Italy
9 Philippines
10 Ecuador
11 Hong Kong
12 Indonesia
13 Lithuania

I wonder if the IBAF will include these results in their rankings

Does anyone think they'll introduce a Youth Baseball ranking?

I could see them introducing a youth ranking if they were to add a 14u tournament.

Also, I was shocked Brazil beat Korea, but then again this is 12u.

Anyway, with Chinese Taipei winning this and success at the port tournament. I think it would be fair to say they are on their way up.

**NewEnglandAmazins** · 07-19-2011, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by USA101

I could see them introducing a youth ranking if they were to add a 14u tournament.

Also, I was shocked Brazil beat Korea, but then again this is 12u.

Anyway, with Chinese Taipei winning this and success at the port tournament. I think it would be fair to say they are on their way up.

I agree with you; a youth ranking only if the IBAF adds a 14U tournament; and I'm not too shocked about Brazil they played Japan tough twice and they beat all the lesser talented teams. The 12U division can get crowded pretty fast as you may have witnessed in the current Little League regionals. How many teams do you think the IBAF will allow in the 12U tournament until they setup qualifiers for it?

**USA101** · 07-21-2011, 11:33 AM

I say keep it invitational for a couple of times and make it 16 teamd four pools and single elimination all the way to championship after pool play.

Also, i suspect a 14u tourney may be in the works after they sold out the Championship games. Please, if they do make it 14u have them play 60/90 with 7 inning games with less pitching restrictions.

**NewEnglandAmazins** · 07-27-2011, 02:09 PM

Here is the most recent IBAF article...

All IBAF Executive members are expected to be present...

Important themes of discussions include:

IBAF-MLB Agreement
Long -Term IBAF Global Tournaments Calendar
Commission Appointment
Olympic Reinstatement Reports

The meeting agenda will also include the status updates on the 16U World Championship and Baseball World Cup and IBAF global media plans will be presented by representatives of MP & Silva, IBAF Media Advisor.

The host of the meeting is also Local Organizing Committee for the upcoming World Cup and discussions around the tournament preparations will also take place.

**NewEnglandAmazins** · 12-04-2011, 09:12 AM

Some of the IBAF Congress "highlights":

COPABE elects new President

Israel Roldan (Puerto Rico) is the new President of the COPABE, the Confederation of the Americas. He succeeds Eduardo De Bello (Panama) who had been in office for 12 years.

MLB introduces World Baseball Classic to Delegates

The Qualifiers to the 2013 World Baseball Classic, to be held in March 2013, will see 16 teams participate. The teams will be divided into 4 groups. Each one of the groups will qualify (through a double elimination format) 1 to the third World Baseball Classic, the first that will award the winners as the World Champions.

The update on the tournament was introduced to the delegates of the IBAF XXVI Congress by MLB Senior Vice President International Business Operations Paul Archey....Archey talked about the future of the tournament and the hope that it will help showcase the best players: "To do this, we may need to make the tournament shorter".

Joint bid with Softball

President Fraccari introduced and thanked Don Porter, the President of the International Softball Federation (ISF), for sharing the vision of Olympic Reinstatement and the need of a joint bid.

Porter confirmed: “Our Congress in Oklahoma City voted a resolution to support the work we have already began doing together to regain Olympic status for both our sports”.
Porter remembered the huge effort done by former President Bob Smith in the 1980s and said he is confident baseball and softball have a good chance “If they work together”.

Lifetime Ban on John Ostermeyer

IBAF President Riccardo Fraccari's speech to the Congress

Baseball's exclusion from the Olympics had a negative financial impact, since IOC's contribution went from $ 8 million over the 4 year Olympic cycle to $ 20,000 a year. The IBAF revenue went from $ 11.7 million in 2008 to $ 3.487 million in 2009.

"We had to make drastic cuts in spending" said Fraccari.

Fraccari noted a lack of cooperation from some of the Federations: "Many of you have not even responded to any of the numerous reminders or requests, which to me reflects not only the lack of practice in participating in the IBAF....Talking about the senior tournaments, Fraccari wanted to make clear: "There's been talk of the elimination of the IBAF Baseball World Cup: it is not so! Really it is the World Baseball Classic that has been 'transformed' from an invitation only tournament into a true World Championship".

IBAF Congress approves new Format of International Tournaments

After the role call, IBAF Secretary General Israel Roldan admitted to the Congress the representatives of 63 Federations.... Treasurer René Laforce reported on the last 2 years: "The main reasons that helped the IBAF through this difficult period are the cuts made on expense side and the fee received for the World Cup in Panama".
Laforce added that the situation at the end of 2011 would be "Extremely serious" if the IBAF hadn't reached an agreement with Major League Baseball.

The IBAF statutes had been approved in 1995 and went through modifications in 1996 and 1999. The main 2011 modifications are about the article 7 of chapter 3.

The affiliated members will be divided into:

-> Full members (Federations recognized by the localNOCs)

-> Provisional members (Federations not entitled to vote but able to participate in tournaments)

-> Associated members (for instance, professional organizations) with a right to speak but not to vote at the Congress

A very important part of the Congress was the voting of the new scheme of International Tournaments. The Congress voted on 2 different propositions and the one approved offers a totally different perspective to the International schedule, including modifications to the age groups.

The World Baseball Classic will be the main tournament sanctioned by the IBAF. The next edition will happen in 2013 and in 2012 will be played the first ever Qualifier.
In 2012 the IBAF will also sanction the AAA (18 and under) World Cup (starting 2013 it will become the 18 and Under World Baseball Classic), the AA (that was a 16 and under but will become a 15 and Under tournament) World Cup and the Women World Cup.

The IBAF will sanction 2 brand new tournaments: the 21 and Under World Cup in 2014 and the IBAF Premier 12 (a senior tournament involving the best 12 teams of the world) in 2015.

The 21 and Under World Cup will happen every other year (as the 15 and Under, the 18 and Under Classic and the Women World Cup), while the Premier 12 will happen every fourth year.

"There is still work to do on eligibility rules for the players and we will have to agree on very strict time frames for the tournaments" said President Fraccari "But I am confident we have a great chance to see the revenues rise dramatically".

**titorondon** · 12-04-2011, 09:25 AM

Comments:
"Israel Roldan (Puerto Rico) is the new President of the COPABE"
Roldan is an admirer of Cuba and does everything the Cubans suggest. This means Cuba will be the second power in COPABE after MLB.
"baseball and softball have a good chance “If they work together”"
In most of the world baseball is for men and softball for women; this joint effort is logical. Remember both sports were thrown out together...
When Fraccari said IBAF would still have World Cups he scared me; I worked with him in a World Cup and he is very stubborn, but now it is obvious he meant for the 21 and under divisions. This is tough because these championships are expensive and do not attract enough fans.

**NewEnglandAmazins** · 12-04-2011, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by titorondon

When Fraccari said IBAF would still have World Cups he scared me; I worked with him in a World Cup and he is very stubborn, but now it is obvious he meant for the 21 and under divisions. This is tough because these championships are expensive and do not attract enough fans.

Can you elaborate on how much money is spent on organizing a championship?

**Richard** · 12-04-2011, 05:37 PM

Maybe MLB will partially fund these tournaments until it becomes viable.

**USA101** · 12-05-2011, 02:38 PM

I think MLB will start another professional league (abl) before it funds low level tournaments. The problem where do they fund a new pro league?
S. Africa(possibility)
Europe(talks of it before)
S. America(unlikely)
China(seems most probable to me)

**NewEnglandAmazins** · 12-06-2011, 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by USA101

I think MLB will start another professional league (abl) before it funds low level tournaments. The problem where do they fund a new pro league?
S. Africa(possibility)
Europe(talks of it before)
S. America(unlikely)
China(seems most probable to me)

I agree, my guess is that they won't invest in any foreign leagues until the ABL is more self sufficient; then maybe Europe will get an MLB backed league.