Travel Suggestions for Entering the US for 2025 Season
Blair Setford • April 18, 2025
Travel Suggestions for Players Coming Into the US
Reminder for all out-of-region (OOR) players that they must send an email to iscfastpitch@gmail.com stating their name, their hometown, state/province and country that they currently live in along with the name of the team that they intend to play for and the ISC region of that team. The deadline for OOR player registration is June 15, 2025.
With the heightened emphasis on security at the U.S. border, the following are suggestions for teams and players to potentially smooth entry across borders.
- Flying vs driving - while potentially not as affordable, travellers may find flying from airports with U.S. pre-clearance is more convenient than crossing at a land-border.
- Using the CBP Mobile Passport Control (MPC) App to expedite clearance through U.S. customs. Available to U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Canadian B1/B2 citizen visitors and returning Visa Waiver Program travelers with approved ESTA. The app is free to use and is available for both Android and Apple devices.
- Enrol in the Global Entry Program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers from selected countries upon arrival in the United States.
- The SENTRI Program provides a streamlined arrival process for international travelers coming into the U.S. from Mexico and the NEXUS program provides similar, streamlined arrivals and is available for Canadians. The wait time to successfully enrol in any of the Trusted Traveler Programs may be 12 months or more, however your SENTRI or NEXUS card is good for five years from the date you are approved.
We urge all international players to arrange required travel documentation early to avoid disappointment.
The ISC is setting the entry fee for the World Tournament and Legends Championship at $750 US starting in 2026, with the differential from the previous charge of $600 dedicated to streaming to ensure coverage of every game. “This was not a decision that we made lightly to raise the entry fee,” said ISC President Chris Santos. “We want to ensure that every game played at the ISC World Tournament is streamed and we are putting every dollar of the fee increase into our streaming operation.” “Our plan is to work with our streaming partner Softball Premier TV to have full multi-camera coverage, including commentary, on two diamonds and cover the third and fourth diamonds with a single camera that is connected to GameChanger so fans will have the informative score ribbon,” said ISC VP Communications Blair Setford. “Streaming is one of the best tools that we have to get our great game in front of a broader audience and we need to take every available step to continue to grow our ISC brand of fastpitch,” said Santos. Businesses and other potential sponsors who would consider an ad on the ISC Network streaming program should contact Blair Setford through the ISC Website Contact Us page. In 2025, there were over 225,000 views on the Softball Premier and ISC Fastpitch YouTube pages just from the ISC World Tournament games.
This year, the International Softball Congress looks for new ways to enhance the ISC World Tournament and ISC Legends Tournament experience for players, coaches, officials, and fans. As part of that commitment, we are excited to launch the 2025 ISC Player Poll, open to every player who competed in this year’s World Tournament or Legends division. Your feedback is incredibly important to us. Whether it’s insights on facilities, scheduling, transportation, host city features, game operations, or anything else that shaped your tournament experience, your input directly helps the ISC and future tournament hosts raise the bar. 💬 100% Anonymous — Your Voice, Your Impact The survey is completely anonymous. We want honest, unfiltered responses from the athletes who know the event best — the ones on the field. Your perspective helps us identify what worked well, what needs improvement, and what can be introduced in the future to elevate the ISC experience for everyone. 🎯 Why Your Feedback Matters Player feedback is used to: Improve host selection and preparation Enhance facility and field requirements Refine scheduling, transportation, and accommodations Support host cities with real data from athletes Strengthen the overall competitive environment Continue building the standard of excellence ISC events are known for Your voice has the power to shape the future of the World Tournament and Legends division for years to come. 🔗 Complete the Poll You can fill out the 2025 Player Poll here: 👉 Click here to access the player poll Please take a few minutes to complete it. Your feedback matters — and it truly helps the ISC continue investing in the growth and excellence of men’s fastpitch softball. Thank you to every player who took the field this year. Your dedication, passion, and insight keep this sport moving forward.