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Amateur Softball Association of America
Source: ASA Website: About Us
The Amateur Softball Association (ASA), a volunteer driven, not-for-profit organization based in Oklahoma City, OK, was founded in 1933 and has evolved into the strongest softball organization in the country. The growth and development of the association led the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to name the ASA the National Governing Body of Softball, pursuant to the Amateur Sports Act of 1978. The ASA has many important responsibilities as the national governing body of softball in the United States, including regulating competition to insure fairness and equal opportunity to the millions of player who annually play the sport.
When the ASA entered the softball picture in 1933, the sport was in a state of confusion with no unified set of playing rules and no national governing body to provide guidance and stability. The ASA changed all that by adopting softball’s first universally accepted rules of play and by organizing consistent and fair competition across the nation. From this beginning, the ASA has become one of the nation’s largest and fastest growing sports organizations and now sanctions competition in every state through a network of 74 local associations. The ASA has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 200,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than four million.
There are many ways you can get involved with ASA/USA Softball whether it be through hosting an event as the National team tours the country each summer, donating to one of the many funds dedicated to supporting the athletes of USA Softball of by joining our tradition of excellence as a sponsor or business partner.Be sure to check out all the ways you can be a part of USA Softball and see which one is best for you!
Quick Facts About ASA/USA Softball
The Amateur Softball Association was founded in 1933 by Leo Fisher and Michael J. Pauley. Fischer and Pauley laid the foundation for softball’s future by adopting a universal set of rules, setting the stage for what would become softball’s national governing body.
The ASA was named the National Governing Body of Softball (NGB) in the United States by the United States Olympic Committee in 1978.
ASA/USA Softball provides people of all ages the opportunity to play the game they love at a variety of levels. ASA/USA offers recreational, league, tournament and National Championship play for fast pitch, slow pitch and modified pitch and annually conducts over 100 National Championships.
ASA is the primary funding source for the USA Softball National teams programs! All five programs (Junior Women, Junior Men, Women, Men, and Men’s Slow Pitch) are still alive and well because of the efforts of the ASA and keeping athletes wearing the Red, White and Blue is a top priority. We are the only softball association who supports this effort and provides financially to these teams!
ASA/USA Softball continues to give back to athletes and coaches through the National Team Program. Our USA Softball athletes put on youth clinics, attend our JO ASA/USA Softball National Championships and participate on the National Council. Our National Team coaches also promote softball through National Coaching Schools and training camps for youth coaches and athletes.
ASA/USA Softball is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization which mean’s our goal is not to make a profit. Every dollar generated from grassroots softball goes directly back into improving and furthering the sport.
ASA/USA Softball’s National Office is located in Oklahoma City and has 74 local associations that register teams and organize leagues around the country.
ASA/USA Softballregisters over 245,000 softball teams comprising over 3.5 million players and annually registers over 83,000 youth girls’ fast pitch softball teams comprising over 1.2 million girls.
ASA/USA Softball established the ACE (Achieve, Certify, Educate) Coaching Certification Program to provide softball coaches of all levels – from beginning coaches to experienced veterans – an opportunity to certify as a coach with a national softball organization.
ASA/USA Softball completes over 70,000 background checks a year on coaches and personnel who surround our game because we care about the athletes safety and protecting our athletes and environment is our TOP priority!
The ASA annually registers over 38,000 certified umpires and is the ONLY softball association to offer complete training and bi-annual Umpire-in-Chief (UIC) clinics to help umpires achieve their goals and promote a positive experience for athletes and coaches.
Each year, ASA/USA’s Equipment Testing and Certification committee examines the current rules and specifications governing various items of equipment.
The ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City has served as host of the NCAA Women’s College World Series more than any other site.
ASA/USA is actively involved with bettering youth sports through the Liberty Mutual Insurance Responsible Sports (LMIRS) Program, which provides expert advice for coaches and parents.
ASA/USA Softball has a national partnership with Special Olympics Softball that we assist and administer our sports National Games each and every year. Our umpires volunteer their time and efforts and ASA/USA donates thousands of score books to teams across the nation to help their programs grow. Several of Special Olympic Associations have teamed up with our local ASA/USA Associations in providing venues and services to grow the Special Olympics softball efforts.
Strategic Plan Summary
Vision: ASA will be the standard of excellence in softball
Mission: The Amateur Softball Association is the National Governing Body of softball in the United States. We develop, administer and promote the sport of softball to provide opportunities for participation and the best possible experience for those involved.
Values:
Teamwork
Fair Play
Common Good
Promotion and Education
Goals:
Ensure our future success as the leader in softball by improving the leadership and governance of our organization.
Continue and enhance our long standing focus on the player, the quality of the game, quality of service, and overall service.
Be accountable to each other and our sport in our mutual efforts to be the international leader in the sport of softball.
Focus on financial and organization effectiveness that enhances our service, products and image.
Craft effective external and internal connections with our players, officials, parents affiliates and the public.
Create an internationally recognized, world class venue that meets our needs, and supports our mission and vision.
Objectives:
As defined in Article 103 of the ASA Code, the objectives of the ASA shall be:
To promote amateur softball for all persons regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry.
To establish uniform softball rules and regulations.
To provide it with proper safeguards in accordance with the spirit of true sportsmanship and establish principles for ethical behavior and matters relating to conflict of interest as provided by the ASA Council and Board of Directors.
To encourage the union of all eligible teams, organizations or groups into such separate associations with active membership in the ASA as may from time to time be deemed best adapted to advance the cause of amateur softball.
To establish and maintain by allied membership, alliances with non-profit associations or organizations devoted wholly or partially to the promotion and development of the game of softball on a state, regional or national level.
To promote and conduct annual amateur softball championships.
To educate and train in the proper skills of amateur softball play and rules of the game through promoting, organizing, and conducting clinics, seminars and training courses.
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