The Amateur Softball Association of America

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The Amateur Softball Association of
America Mission Statement To develop, direct and
promote the sport of softball to ensure maximum
participation, optimal performance and
educational excellence. Partner with the ASA to
enhance your local softball programs. Visit
asasoftball.com to find the contact information
for your local commissioner today or call the ASA
National Headquarters at 800-654-8337.
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Why the ASA

• The ASA, a national not-for-profit corporation
  based in Oklahoma City, was formed in 1933 and
  has remained the official rules writer and
  interpreter for the sport of softball
• The Amateur Softball Association of America
  (ASA) is recognized by the United States Olympic
  Committee (USOC) as the National Governing Body
  (NGB) for the sport of softball pursuant to the
  Ted Stevens Amateur Sports Act of 1978
• Under the banner of USA Softball, the ASA is
  responsible for training, equipping and
  promoting, womens, mens, junior girls and
  junior boys National Teams that compete in
  international and domestic competition
• ASA conducts youth and adult softball programs
  in every state and virtually every city in the
  United States through a network of 87 local
  associations
• According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers
  Association (SGMA), the ASA registers and
  sanctions 67 of the softball marketplace

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ASA by the Numbers
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ASA Youth Softball Program

• Fastest growing segment of the sport
• The ASAs Junior Olympic (JO) program (youth) was
  instituted in 1974
• Growth of the program is the result of strong
  local ASA leagues, the ASA tournament structure
  and overall growth in female athletics
• The ASA Girls Fast Pitch National Championships
  are among the hottest properties in amateur youth
  sports
• The ASA currently has over 100 JO commissioners
  (local administrators) implementing local youth
  programming
• According to documented research, 80 of all
  collegiate players were recruited from ASA
  programs
• Over 30 cities bid to host ASA JO National
  Championships each year

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Softball Demographics

• 16.9 million softball players ages 6 up in the
  U.S.
• 53 male/47 female (slow pitch)
• 25 male/75 female (fast pitch)
• 62 are 18-54 average age 32.7 (slow pitch)
• 50 are 6-17 average age 17.8 (fast pitch)
• 1.2 million girls (85,000 teams) play in ASA
  programs
• Average Income 69,400 slow pitch
  playersAverage Income 60,500 fast pitch
  players
• One of the few sports left in America that is
  commonly played by both dads and their daughters

Source SGMA
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ASA Regional Breakdown
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ASA Quick Facts

• The ASA annually registers over 230,000 softball
  teams comprising over 3.5 million players
• The ASA annually registers over 85,000 Junior
  Olympic (youth) softball teams comprising over
  1.2 million players
• The ASA annually registers over 35,000 certified
  umpires
• Every season the ASA conducts over 100 National
  Championships in which 30,000 players compete
• Membership publications are produced on yearly
  basis and are distributed to 300,000 softball
  players and coaches
• The ASA has 84 local associations across America
  capable of implementing any event or promotion at
  the local and regional level
• The ASAs website, www.asasoftball.com, averages
  over 7,000 visitors per day focusing on ASA
  tournament information, updated softball player
  and team information and trivia contests

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The Popularity of Softball
31
MILLION
Total number of people who watched softball on TV
in 2006
Source Nielsen NPower 2006 1/06 8/06
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ASA Member Benefits

• A very structured national grassroots
  organization involved in all facets of softball
  including youth fast/slow pitch, adult fast/slow
  pitch, modified pitch, coed, seniors and umpiring
• ASA softball related publications
• 5 player and team discount at bsnsports.com/asa
  (ID ID 997142)
• Individual registration product
• ASA ACE Coaching Certification Program
• Championship Play competitions in every state and
  major metropolitan area
• ASA Insurance Program
• ASA Equipment Certification Program
• ASA family of websites
• USA Softball National Team program
• National Softball Hall of Fame Stadium

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ASA Member Benefits

• Each ASA registered team and umpire receives
• the following
• Copy of the Official Rules of Softball
• Balls Strikes Softball Magazine
• ASA Scorebook
• Team ID card featuring additional membership
  benefits including rental car airline discounts,
  ASA merchandise and much more
• Opportunity to receive the best insurance
  coverage available in the softball marketplace

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ASA Member Benefits Grassroots Structure

• As the largest softball organization in the
  Unites States, the ASA prides itself on providing
  quality local service
• In every state and major metropolitan area in the
  United States, the ASA maintains a local
  association serviced by an ASA commissioner,
  youth coordinator, athlete representative and
  umpire-in-chief
• All ASA state offices use district commissioners
  to ensure direct local contact at every level,
  while ASA metropolitan areas often communicate
  directly with leagues and park/rec departments
• The ASA is governed by a board of directors and a
  voting Council Membership of 270 members
  including all 84 local ASA Commissioners,
  regional umpires, Junior Olympic Commissioners
  and player representatives, and ASA past
  presidents among others
• The ASA voting council ensures that a democratic
  process is followed when the ASA Code and Playing
  Rules are acted upon and the best interests of
  the sport of softball are met in all matters

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ASA Member Benefits National Events Branding

• Sponsorships/Event Marketing
• The ASA will continue to create new events
• profiling the USA Softball Womens National Team
  in an
• effort to attract corporate America to softball.
  Properties
• owned and operated by the ASA featuring the USA
• Softball brand include but are not limited to the
• following
• World Cup of Softball
• Road to Beijing
• USA Softball College Showcase
• espn.com/USA Softball Top 25
• USA Softball Player of the Year

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ASA Member Benefits Youth (JO) Program

• ASA National Coaching Certification Program
  a.k.a., ACE Program (see following slide for
  program details)
• 5 player and team discount at bsnsports.com/asa
  (ID ID 997142)
• ASA National Coaching Schools
• ASA Youth Clinics and Camps
• Complete ASA insurance coverage for league teams,
  players and league administrators if all players
  are individually registered
• Tournament opportunities for each recognized
  classification of play
• Structured and enforced classification system
  allowing for fair competition among local leagues
  and travel teams
• Collegiate scholarship opportunities for ASA
  players (over 80 of all collegiate softball
  players played in ASA league and tournament
  programs)
• Opportunity to host events that generate millions
  of dollars for the local community

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ACE Coaching Certification Program

• AAchieve A Certain base of knowledge
• CCertify To confirm that a coach has obtained a
  level of understanding over which he/she has been
  tested on
• EEducate To assist with the gathering of
  knowledge and information
• To ensure that our youth coaches understand that
  coaching a youth softball team means more than
  just knowing the nuts and bolts of softball
• A national program, with a national registration
  fee, the program is administered by the local ASA
  association to their leagues and teams
• Video based, certification takes less than 90
  minutes to complete, program is easy to run and
  administer
• Benefits of the ACE program include 5,000,000
  liability insurance policy (only if coaching a
  registered team), take home ACE Certification
  Manual, Personalized ACE ID card, ACE
  certificate, ACE gift, discount coupons on ASA
  merchandise and training videotapes

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ASA Member Benefits Adult Program

• Structured and enforced classification system
  allowing for fair competition among local leagues
  and tournament teams
• The finest umpiring organization in softball
• 5 player and team discount at bsnsports.com/asa
  (ID ID 997142)
• Opportunities for local tournaments to have
  berths to the National Championships Series and
  other National Championship competitions
• Opportunity to host ASA National Championship
  Events that generate millions of dollars for the
  local community
• National Championship Play structure
• The crown jewel for Mens and Womens Adult Slow
  Pitch is the Hooters Championship Series in which
  the East meets the West to vie for the title of
  ASA National Champion
• Exciting and progressive tournament competitions
  featuring cash prizes, vacation packages and
  equipment donations

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ASA Member Benefits Umpire Program

• All ASA umpires receive additional accident and
  liability insurance
• National Umpire Schools and Clinics The ASA
  conducts multiple training schools across every
  region of the country
• Advanced Umpire Schools Held on an annual basis,
  this school is designed for umpires who aspire to
  work at the highest level of competition
• Every other year, the ASA conducts a National UIC
  workshop at ASAs Headquarters in Oklahoma City
• Medals and National Indicator Fraternity awards
  program
• Opportunity to gain ISF (International)
  Certification
• Educational resources including umpire training
  manuals, instructional videos and CD-Roms
• ASA Properties Catalog, website and 800 for
  discounted umpire uniforms and equipment
• ASA provides every ASA registered umpire the
  opportunity to work in National Championship
  competitions

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ASA Member Benefits Championship Play

• Every city in the United States has the
  opportunity to host an ASA National Championship
  event by presenting a tournament bid before the
  ASA National Council
• Democratic voting process (270 voting ASA Council
  Members) determines location of ASA National
  Championship events
• ASA National Championships are known for their
  outstanding organization and quality umpires
  first class trophy packages, updated tournament
  results, and at certain adult tournaments,
  jackets, cash prizes, airline tickets and
  All-American recognition
• As the National Governing Body, the ASA holds the
  only truly recognized National Championship
  competitions
• Each local association is given a minimum number
  of qualifiers to ensure that every registered
  team has the opportunity to compete in ASA
  Championship Play
• The ASA maintains rigid classification guidelines
  and procedures ensuring fair competitions
  throughout all levels of Championship Play
• Competitions like the ASA Championship Series
  make ASA the leader in the softball industry
• The ASA conducts a National Championship in every
  recognized classification of play from girls
  10-under fast pitch to mens seniors slow pitch

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ASA Member Benefits Insurance Program

• The ASA can provide insurance for every softball
  game through very affordable liability coverage
  for field owners
• Opportunity for member teams and individually
  registered players to purchase accident insurance
  at low group rates
• Comprehensive general liability coverage in the
  amount of 2 million for league officers if 100
  of the teams are registered with ASA
• Comprehensive general liability coverage in the
  amount of 2 million for the local umpire
  association if 100 of the umpires are registered
  with the ASA

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ASA Member Benefits Equipment Certification

• The ASA has established the strictest performance
  standards of any softball organization in the
  world for bats and balls
• The ASA has spent millions of dollars in research
  and development of a bat and ball testing program
• The program is designed to maintain the integrity
  of the game for current and future players
• The ASA performs random policing each year to
  make sure all licensed manufacturers are meeting
  current standards
• Local leagues and municipalities have the option
  to adopt the current ASA rules governing
  championship play, or make modifications based on
  local market conditions

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ASA Member Benefits www.asasoftball.com

• Updated daily with the latest softball news,
  tournament information and other softball related
  items
• Direct links to all 84 local state/metro
  associations using a zip code search feature
• Historical database of tournaments featuring
  results and awards dating back to the 1950s
• Online registration program designed for local
  ASA organizations to register their member teams,
  players and umpires with ASA Headquarters

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ASA Member Benefits Diamond Dynasty

• The worlds most elite team, the USA Softball
  Womens National Team, is selected, promoted and
  equipped for competition by the ASA
• As a member of the ASA, you have the opportunity
  to host events featuring the USA Softball Womens
  National Team generating additional funds and
  awareness for your local softball program and
  community
• The USA Softball Womens National Team has played
  on cable or network television over thirty times
  the last three years, highlighting the ASAs
  effort to promote the sport of fast pitch
  softball
• The ASA conducts a grass roots tour with the USA
  Softball Womens National Team, building a bridge
  between the youth of America and their Olympic
  dreams
• The 2004 USA Softball National Team was selected
  as the team of the year by the United States
  Olympic Committee and featured on the cover of
  Sports Illustrated after winning the gold medal
  at the Athens Olympic Games

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ASA Member Benefits Hall of Fame Complex

• As the recognized NGB for softball, it is the
  ASAs responsibility to keep a historical record
  of softball and its team and individual
  achievements
• In 1986, the ASA built the worlds finest
  softball facility which currently hosts ASA
  National Championship competitions as well as the
  World Cup of Softball and NCAA Womens College
  World Series
• Measuring well over 10,000 square feet, the ASA
  National Softball Hall of Fame Museum features
  the greatest softball players, coaches and
  administrators in the world

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ASA Promotional Concepts

• Following is a list detailing some promotional
  concepts you can try in your local area in an
  effort to stimulate
• participation in softball. Additional
  information on each of these programs can be
  obtained by calling ASA
• Headquarters
• ASA Sponsored, Summer Fun Softball Initiatives
  through PLAY BALL USA.
• Institute a free agent softball program thereby
  allowing any individual that inquires the ability
  to join a team
• Develop a special coed league for high school and
  college aged kids with less restrictive rules on
  the number of females per team-encourages
  participation
• Join forces with a local radio station to run
  PSAs or co-op advertising promoting league
  registrations
• Provide free league registration to local media
  outlets (free publicity) and encourage local
  restaurants to form teams
• Homerun contest or a skills contest during a
  special league night
• Buddy Ball/Two man softball geared towards
  hitting at targets, players accumulate points
  towards prizes and recognition
• Equipment demo day in conjunction with a local
  rep or sporting goods store
• Broken league schedules (4 weeks on/4 weeks off)
• Enhance awards during league and tournament play
  through equipment donations and cash prizes
• Faster paced games during tournaments to ensure
  games stay on schedule
• Contact your local Major/Minor League Baseball
  promotions office to develop a softball day at
  the park
• Bid on an ASA National Championship event to
  bring nationwide attention to your facility
• Organize a League Championship Series (LCS)
  where all league winners from a major
  metropolitan area face each other in a weekend
  tournament with entry fees going to support cash
  prizes or free league entries the following year
• Contact a local beer distributor to arrange a
  social night at the park encouraging coed
  softball

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AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA 2801 NE
50TH STREET OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73111 Phone
[phone] Fax [phone] Web
www.asasoftball.com