The Amateur Softball Association of America (or just ASA) is the national governing body of softball and the organizer of the ASA softball slow pitch competition and some others, such as fast pitch or modified pitch for both men and women. The association was founded in 1933 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Its first tournament was in Chicago and it was organized by Leo Fischer and Michael Pauley. A year later, ASA was recognized by the National Recreation Congress and the first official world tournament organized by ASA was held in 1939, also in Chicago. Currently, the association offers programs in 83 state or metro associations in the United States. Among the programs offered by ASA there are fast pitch, slow pitch, modified pitch and 16-inch slow pitch. These are the competitions organized by the association in different programs.
Until ASA was founded, there was a certain confusion in what concerns softball because depending on the state the games were played, there were different rules. Especially in the rules which establish the length of the bases and pitcher’s box. Slow pitch softball is not as popular as fast pitch softball since the last one was included in the Olympic program. Though, the ASA softball slowpitch can be played at various levels. The ASA holds over 90 National Championships in all softball’s disciplines. In order to qualify to the ASA National Championship the competitors must participate in a network of qualifying tournaments during the season. The lowest level for qualifying is the local league championship, state championships or sometimes, the national qualifiers. Each year, over 30.000 players qualify to these competitions in the ASA.
The main difference between slowpitch softball and fastpitch softball is the speed, which in slow pitch varies between 25mph and 35 mph while in fast pitch it can reach a speed of up to 65mph. The technique is also different, while in slow pitch is used a high-arc technique which causes the ball to fall slowly in the strike zone, in fast pitch the technique is called windmill pitching. It is used because it increases the speed of the pitch and it also allows the pitchers to throw in different ways and various types of pitches (drop, curve, rise, change).
In what rules concerns, they are basically the same excepting some of the batting rules. In slow pitch, if you miss the third strike you are out. Also, the equipment is different. Currently, the ASA only allows using a 2000 or 2004 certified bats. Bats used in slow pitch can be made of metal, wood or composite material while in fast pitch the wooden bats are not allowed. The ASA softball slow pitch competition is one of the tournaments organized by the ASA, at the highest level in the United States.