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What is the Amateur Softball Association?
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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 93 state and metro associations. The ASA has grown from a few
hundred teams in the early days to over 250,000 teams today,
representing a membership of more than four million.
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What is the purpose of ASA?
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To promote softball for all
persons, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national
origin or ancestry.
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To establish uniform softball
rules and regulations.
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To provide the sport with
proper safeguards in accordance with the spirit of true sportsmanship
and establish principles for ethical behavior.
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To encourage the union of all
eligible teams, organizations or groups into active membership in the
ASA, with the united purpose of advancing the sport of softball.
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To establish and maintain, by
allied membership, alliance with nonprofit associations or
organizations devoted to the promotion and development of the game of
softball on a state, regional or national level.
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To promote and conduct annual
softball championships at the local, state, regional and national
levels.
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To educate and teach the
proper skills and rules of the game by promoting and developing
clinics, seminars and training materials.
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South Florida ASA
Mission Statement
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WHAT IS
SOUTH FLORIDA ASA?
South Florida ASA is a moniker for two
not-for-profit organizations incorporated in the State of Florida, those
being South Florida ASA, Inc. and South Florida Youth ASA, Inc. South
Florida ASA, Inc. is responsible for the adult softball program while
South Florida Youth ASA, Inc. is responsible for the youth softball
program. South Florida Youth ASA, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
organization while South Florida ASA, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt
organization.
South Florida ASA is affiliated with
the Amateur Softball Association of America, which is designated by the
United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body of
Softball. South Florida ASA represents athletes, coaches and
administrators of softball programs at all levels. Currently, South
Florida ASA provides education, leadership, and guidance for the game of
softball in the six Southeastern Florida counties (Broward, Martin,
Miami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie).
The membership
of South Florida ASA includes championship play teams, recreational
leagues, and umpires. South Florida ASA is committed to diversity.
This means encouraging and recruiting participants and members of
diverse backgrounds. South Florida ASA membership is open to interested
parties, regardless of gender, race, age, sex, sexual orientation, and
geography or physical capability.
Both South
Florida ASA, Inc. and South Florida Youth ASA, Inc. are governed by
their own Board of Directors. The South Florida ASA Commissioner, along
with his staff, is also board member to both entities.
WHAT DO WE DO?
As the local
affiliate of the National Governing Body of Softball, South Florida
ASA’s responsibilities are, but not limited to, the following:
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Instruct, train, and
certify coaches, athletes, and officials;
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Register teams, athletes,
and officials;
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Promote proper ethical
behavior and good sportsmanship;
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Interpret softball rules
and regulations;
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Provide literature and
instruction on proper game safeguards;
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Provide structured and
enjoyable environments at all levels of
play;
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Promote the game of softball in the South Florida ASA area; and
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Support, develop, and bid
on softball events that encourage tourism and economic growth.
HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?
You may contact us by going to the
“Contact Us” link on our website and sending an email to any member of
the Commissioner’s staff.
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