The History Of Boy's Asa Softball

With over 80,000 teams and 1.3 million players, the youth division of the Amateur Softball Association is the largest youth sports organization in the United States. The ASA youth division was founded in 1974 and has since evolved into a recreational and competitive experience for boys.

History of Softball

George Hancock, a reporter for the Chicago Board of Trade, set up the first softball game in 1887. Using a tightly-laced boxing glove for a ball and a piece of chalk to mark bases, Hancock organized two groups of men into teams. The game, then called indoor-outdoor, gained popularity among firefighters as a method of keeping in shape during their idle time. The popularity of the sport became widespread throughout the country by the early 1900s.

Overview of the ASA

In 1933, Leo Fischer and Michael J. Pauley created the ASA based on their idea of organizing local teams into a national organization. Before the founding of the ASA, the rules of softball were not standardized. The ASA merged with the Joint Rules Committee in 1934 to provide regulations. The mission of the ASA is to "develop, administer and promote the sport of softball to provide opportunities for participation and the best possible experience for those involved."

Boy's League

The boy's division of the ASA is a branch of the youth division, which is the fastest growing division of the ASA. The purpose of the ASA youth division is to teach the sport of softball to boys in a positive and safe environment. The ASA offers fast pitch and slow pitch divisions as well as divisions for various age groups. With tournaments in every state, ASA softball provides a quality athletic opportunity for boys nationwide.

Opportunity for Boys

The ASA is now one of the largest sports organizations in the United States. The youth division of the ASA is known as the Junior Olympic program, and many boys who participate in ASA softball are aspiring Olympic or major league athletes. The U.S. Olympic Training Center hosts a camp for ASA boys aged 14 to 17 in Chula Vista, California, giving boys the opportunity to improve their skills and make a name for themselves as athletes.