m.asasoftball.comAbout USA Softball - USA Softball

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When USA Softball entered the 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. USA Softball 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, USA Softball has become one of the nation’s largest and fastest growing sports organizations and now sanctions competition in every state through a network of state/metro associations. USA Softball has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 120,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than one million. Vision To make softball the preeminent sport in the U.S. by connecting and inspiring the softball community from the recreational to international levels. Mission To provide opportunities for participation through competition, education and leadership with a commitment to promote the growth and development of the sport. Values Education and Safety Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Integrity and Passion Teamwork and Sportsmanship Goals Structure the organization to effectively respond to changing softball demographics and to set national standards. Provide initiatives for the growth of the game in collaboration with bat and ball sports. Increase opportunities and resources to create a culture of equity and inclusion. Foster an environment where safety and physical and mental well-bring are top priorities of all USA Softball participants. Leverage partnerships and industry-leading technology for the benefit of our membership. Promote an atmosphere that reflects the gold standard of teamwork, camaraderie and enthusiasm. Objectives As defined in Article 103 of the USA Softball Code, the objectives of USA Softball 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 USA Softball Council and Board of Directors. To encourage the union of all eligible teams, organizations or groups into such separate associations with active membership in USA Softball 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. Organizational Structure Players, Coaches & Umpires USA Softball has a membership of more than one million. Membership is made up of players, coaches and umpires from all 50 states in the U.S. Teams These players and coaches form teams that compete in league and tournament play across the country. USA Softball has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 120,000 teams today. Travel teams looking to fulfill their competitive desires begin traveling, often crossing city and state boundaries, competing in USA Softball organized, county, district, state, regional and national tournaments. Teams compete in a network of qualifying tournaments through their state/metro associations for a chance to compete for the ultimate prize in softball-USA Softball National Championships. An estimated twenty percent of USA Softball registered softball teams compete at some level of Championship Play. Leagues USA Softball’s membership base has been built from thousands of local (recreational) softball leagues throughout the United States. These leagues are organized through local park and recreation offices, private softball complexes or directly through one of the state/metro associations of USA Softball. Districts Leagues often times fall into the parameters of a local USA Softball district. These districts provide local organization to the teams and leagues that fall within it boundaries. At times, districts are the mediators between the state/metro association and teams. State/Metro Associations There are local USA Softball associations across the United States that are administered by individuals known as Commissioners. These Commissioners have a staff comprised of a youth (JO) Commissioner, Umpire-in-Chief (UIC) and At-Large-Player Representative. Based on the number of teams registered in their area and the number of tournaments conducted locally, the staff is increased accordingly. Many of these administrators maintain voting privileges on USA Softball’s council that ultimately votes on the rules of softball and the code that governs USA Softball. Regions USA Softball is comprised of 10 Regions that span across the United States. National Office The USA Softball National Office Staff is based out of the Headquarters in Oklahoma City, Okla. Click here to see a list of National Office Staff . Board of Directors The USA Softball Board of Directors is comprised of USA Softball Council Members and athlete representatives. Each Region votes for one representatives to serve on their behalf, while there is also an At-Large Director and four Elite Athlete Representatives. The current USA Softball President, Past-President and President-Elect also serve as board members. Click here to view the list of USA Softball Board of Directors . USA SOFTBALL – AT A GLANCE History of ASA/USA Softball Softball was invented inside the Farragut Boat Club on a blustery, winter day in November, 1887, in Chicago, IL. A bunch of Yale and Harvard alumni anxiously awaited the results of the Harvard-Yale football game, and when the news came that Yale had defeated Harvard, 17-8, one Yale supporter, overcome with...