On behalf of the Amateur Softball Association of South Florida, Inc. staff and board members, I would like to welcome you to the official website for South Florida ASA.  It is our hope that this website will be helpful and informative to all South Florida ASA members, as well as prospective members. 

Please surf through the website.  You are now able to download and print whatever forms you will need in order to register your teams, whether recreational (adult or youth) or championship play (adult or youth).  Just go to the “Adult” or “Youth” link.  For umpires, go to the “Umpire” link.  If you are unable to download or print the forms, then email the appropriate staff member and they will gladly fax or mail you the forms.

 South Florida ASA will continue to provide additional information to the website as it becomes available.  Please let us know how we can enhance the website to better serve your needs.  South Florida ASA would be more than willing to add your organization/team information or link to the website.

 The Amateur Softball Association of South Florida, Inc. is a “Not-For-Profit” corporation organized in the State of Florida and is a tax-exempt organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.  A Board of Directors governs the corporate entity.  SOUTH FLORIDA ASA is a moniker for the organization.

 Along with my appointed staff, it will be the Board of Directors that will establish the governance of the corporate entity.  The corporate entity has a set of Bylaws that it will follow, along with following the ASA Code, which governs all of ASA.

 As the Commissioner for South Florida ASA, I am the principal liaison between the ASA community in the South Florida ASA area and the ASA National Office located in Oklahoma City.  As such, my duties are defined within the ASA Code.

 Part of my duties involves the appointment of my staff.  Please see the “Contact Us” section of the website for my staff.  If you should have any questions, these are the individuals that you should contact.

 How do you become involved with South Florida ASA?  First, you must register your league and/or team.  Once registered, your league and/or team will be provided with a rulebook and scorebook for each team, and the appropriate paperwork depending upon if a league or team registers.  If you are a league, also make sure your umpires are also registered with South Florida ASA.  All registration forms can be found on the website.

 Second, request to become a Board Member.  Board Member elections are conducted during the Annual Board Meeting conducted in early December.  Remember, it is the Board of Directors that establishes the governance for the South Florida ASA playing community.  Don’t sit back and complain about the operation of the organization, but volunteer your time and become a Board Member!

 South Florida ASA will be conducting Championship Play during the calendar year 2009 for both the adult and Junior Olympic programs.  In addition, the Men’s Modified Pitch 9 “Major” and “A” National Championship Tournament will be conducted during the Labor Day weekend. 

 For the adult program, ten (10) berths will be available for the B-C-D men’s slow pitch classification into the ASA National Championship Finals.  Five (5) berths will be available for the C-D women’s slow pitch classification into the ASA National Championship Finals.  For Coed teams interested in going to the ASA National Championship Finals, please contact a staff member.  With a minimum of four (4) teams, South Florida ASA will conduct a local Championship Play tournament.  Depending upon your division of play, you may be required to participate at the local level in order to attend a National Championship Finals tournament.

 For the Junior Olympic program, South Florida ASA was awarded a berth into the USA/ASA Girls’ Fast Pitch “A” National Championship Finals Tournament for each age group.  South Florida ASA will conduct its local championship tournament in the Palm Beach County area in June.  In addition, the Southern Region Gold event will be conducted during July.

 The other local ASA associations in the State of Florida will also be conducting Championship Play during May and June.  In order to participate in their events, your team must be registered with South Florida ASA prior to participating in those events.  The 2009 Florida Sunshine State Games will be played in Plant City.

 Any team that does not win a berth into the USA/ASA Girls’ Fast Pitch “A” National Championship Finals Tournament automatically secures a berth into the ASA Girls’ Fast Pitch “A” National Tournament, in which the top two places automatically secure a berth into the following year’s USA/ASA Girls’ Fast Pitch “A” National Championship Finals Tournament.

 Finally, if there is interest, South Florida ASA will also conduct a local championship tournament for the Girls’ Fast Pitch “B” classification prior to their National Championship Finals Tournament.  The winner will receive a berth into the Girls’ Fast Pitch “B” National Championship Finals Tournament.  For a “B” team that did participate in the local championship and not secure a berth, that team will be allowed to advance to the Southern Region “B” tournament, which will also provide a berth into the Girls’ Fast Pitch “B” National Championship Finals.

 Help support South Florida ASA by registering your teams and becoming an active member of the Board.

 Once again, welcome to the South Florida ASA website.

 Yours in ASA Softball!

 Moris L. Uhler

Commissioner

South Florida ASA