Amateur Softball Association
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| Formation | 1933 |
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| Type | Sport governing body |
| Headquarters | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States |
| Coordinates | 35°31′24″N 97°27′47″W / 35.523338°N 97.463182°W |
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Membership
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2 million players, 230,000 teams, 30,000 umpires |
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Executive Director
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Craig Cress |
| Website | https://usasoftball.com |
USA Softball is the governing body for the United States national softball team. In addition, it oversees more than 150,000 amateur teams nationwide.
USA Softball was founded in 1933 as the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) with a tournament held in Chicago that was organized by Leo Fischer and Michael J. Pauley. The following year, the 1934 National Recreation Congress recognized the ASA. Shortly afterward, USA Softball was located in Newark, New Jersey. A world amateur softball tournament was held by USA Softball at Chicago's Soldier Field that started on September 7, 1939. USA Softball relocated to its new headquarters in Oklahoma City on January 1, 1966.
Since 2005, it has run the World Cup of Softball. ASA Hall of Fame Stadium also hosts the NCAA Women's College World Series and the Big 12 Conference softball championship.
In 1978, the United States Olympic Committee named USA Softball the national governing body of softball in the United States. Due to this designation, USA Softball is responsible for training, equipping, and promoting the six USA softball national teams that compete in events such as the Olympics, Pan American Games, World Championships and other international and domestic events. In 1996, the USA softball women's national team became the first American softball team to compete in the Olympics.
The USA softball youth program began in 1974. Over 80,000 teams, 1.3 million players, and 300,000 coaches participate in ASA youth softball on an annual basis.
The ASA adult program began in 1934. With over 170,000 teams, 2.5 millions players, and 500,000 coaches involved on an annual basis, the adult program is the largest program within the Amateur Softball Association. The ASA provides programs of competition for adults including fast pitch, slow pitch and modified pitch for men and women.
The National Softball Hall of Fame was dedicated May 26, 1973, in Oklahoma City. It has 337 members with 125 deceased, including players, managers, umpires, and other suitable individuals.
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