USSSA

The USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association) is a volunteer, sports governing body, non-profit organization based in Kissimmee, Florida. It was founded in 1968, originally in Petersburg, Virginia. It was announced at the 2015 National Conference that USSSA would be moving to a new headquarters in 2017. Space Coast Stadium in Viera, FL will become the new headquarters on Florida's Space Coast beginning in the spring of 2017. USSSA will be taking over the Space Coast Stadium complex from the Washington Nationals baseball club. An additional 8 multi-purpose all turf fields will join the existing 7 fields to bring to a total of 15 fields plus the stadium. The new facility will feature an 18,000 square foot building next to the quad that will host the USSSA National Hall of Fame and Sports Museum.

Originally USSSA stood for United States Slow-pitch Softball Association. However, in 1998 USSSA rebranded the name to United States Specialty Sports Association and expanded into other sports including youth girls fast-pitch and boys baseball. Currently USSSA governs 13 sports across the US, Puerto Rico, various US Military bases, and Canada and has a membership of over 3.7 million.

The USSSA organization was formed in the spring of 1968 after the founder's ideas were turned down at a different national softball association's national meeting. The founders of the organization are Robert Mueller, James DiOrio, Ray Ernst, Frank Ciaccia and Ted Mazza. They used their newly formed organization to implement new developments. These developments include longer fences, 65 foot base paths, a smaller batter's box, widened media coverage, and encouraged greater financial support. Their experimental world tournament in 1968 was a success. There were 50 different teams from 15 states.

That first decade was a turbulent one. As teams flocked to the new association with progressive ideas, the older organization enacted policies designed to keep teams from participating in USSSA sanctioned events. The battle ended up in a Federal courtroom in Nashville, TN where USSSA prevailed but not until after a long and expensive ordeal.

By 1971, USSSA was struggling in debt and directors began resigning. In the fall of that year, a historic meeting was held in Petersburg, Va for discussions on whether or not to abandon their efforts. The decision was made to move forward and the Executive Board elected 40 year old Al Ramsey of Petersburg,Va as Chief Executive Officer. The constitution was completely overhauled and Ramsey instructed the board to pledge itself to operate on a sound business basis and launch an all-out campaign for new qualified personnel. The USSSA National Headquarters was incorporated in the state of Virginia as a non-profit organization.

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