Softball is a variant of baseball played on a smaller field with a giant, softer ball, seven innings as opposed to nine, and underarm pitching. The game emerged in the United States in the late 19th century from an indoor baseball variant.
Softball is a trendy sport in the United States and is primarily represented by the USA Softball. Continue reading for more information about Softball USA.
What is USA Softball?
The United States national softball team is governed by USA Softball, previously known as the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) and ASA/USA Softball (USA Softball’s predecessor organization).
It is a member of the World Baseball Softball Confederation, the sport’s international governing organization (WBSC). The organization also oversees more than 150,000 amateur teams. According to IRS regulations, it’s a non-profit organization popular in the US.
The History of USA Softball
In 1933, Leo Fischer and Michael J. Pauley arranged a tournament in Chicago to kick off the Amateur Softball Association (ASA), which eventually became the Amateur Softball Association (ASA). Next year, the National Recreation Congress acknowledged the ASA, founded in 1934.
The ASA hosted a global amateur softball championship on September 7, 1939, at Chicago’s Soldier Field. A short time later, the ASA relocated to Newark, New Jersey, where it remains today. Beginning on January 1, 1966, the ASA was housed in a new building in Oklahoma City.
The ASA provided the highest level of college softball competition between 1982 and 1985 when the NCAA first sanctioned college softball. The University of South Florida claimed the ASA National Championship for two consecutive years.
It was announced on June 30, 2016, that the Amateur Softball Association of ASA/USA Softball will be rebranding as “USA Softball” beginning on January 1, 2017, along with a new logo.
Since 2005, the World Cup of Softball has been organized by the organization. It also contains the NCAA Women’s College World Series and the Big 12 Conference Softball Championship.
USA Softball: National Team
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) designated USA Softball as the country’s national softball regulatory organization in 1978. As a result of this position, USA Softball is in charge of preparing, outfitting, and publicizing the six USA softball national teams participating in international and local competitions such as the Olympics Championship, Pan American Games, and World Championships Games.
The women’s national softball team of the United States of America competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics for the first time. Currently, the USA roster consists of 15 regulars and three backups.
Over 120,000 softball teams, totaling nearly two million players, are registered with USA Softball. Because USA Softball is a non-profit organization, every dollar it makes is reinvested in the growth and development of the sport.
The main goal of Team USA is to improve the sport of softball for future generations and to allow players of all ages to participate in it.
Final Words
Since its inception as the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball in 1933, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based USA Softball has grown into the nation’s most potent softball federation.
Since it is the national governing body for softball in the United States, USA Softball is charged with a wide range of duties, including ensuring that the millions of Americans participating in the softball sport each year are treated equally.
This is all you must know about Softball USA and its influence on the sports industry of the United States.