- Ontario Amateur Softball Association
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The Ontario Amateur Softball Association (OASA) is a division of Softball Ontario designed to promote the developement of amateur softball in Ontario.
Ontario Amateur Softball Association 
Sport Softball Founded 1923, in Ontario, Canada Motto Play the Game Country(ies) Canada Official website http://www.oasa.ca Contents
History
Beginning in the early 1890s, softball, an indoor derivative of baseball, extended into Canada as a popular summer activity. While initially only played indoors, in 1908, softball was played outdoors at Burlington Beach, Ontario. Two years later in 1910, an informal public-school league was formed in Hamilton, Ontario. The creation of this league spawned many of the leaders who would later become a catalyst for the emergence of Softball in Ontario.[1]
In 1923, the OASA formed and became the first amateur softball organization the world had ever seen. As a result, the game has spread throughout the world and has become a fairly popular sport. During World War II, Canadians introduced the sport to Holland, Netherlands, where it has remained popular since;[2] in fact, the Netherlands acquired and published the official OASA rules in 1946.[1] Softball has been an olympic sport since 1996, but was dropped by the International Olympic Committee for the 2012[3] and 2016 Olympics.[4]
About the OASA
The Ontario Amateur Softball Association was formed in 1923 as a member of Softball Ontario. Since its creation, it has continued to promote and encourage both male and female softball and fastball.
Vision Statement
The Ontario Amateur Softball Association is acknowledged as a dignified developmental frame for softball in Ontario and Canada.
Mission Statement
The objectives of the OASA shall be to[5]:
- Coordinate, organize and create structure for participants of all ages in the game of softball in Ontario through:
- provision of guidelines and venues for competition
- preparation of an environment where players, coaches, officials and other individuals and groups in the softball community can learn
- promoting availability of the game to any who wish to play, officiate or coach
- provision of a forum for members to converse with the larger softball community
- representation of its members at the local, provincial, national, and international levels
- creation of opportunities for individuals and groups in Ontario to:
- compete on a fair basis
- partake in the game of softball on a local,provincial, national and international level
- develop skills
- Recognize excellence through:
- provision of awards for individual, team and member establishment achievements
- publication of individual, team, and member organization accomplishments
- Promote yearlong support of the game of softball.
Game Play
A "Windmill" Fastpitch
The OASA follows the same guidelines as Softball Canada and Softball Ontario. The seven inning game consists of two teams competing against each other with the end-goal of attaining more runs than the opposing team. Each team is permitted to have nine players on the field in fastpitch softball, while slo-pitch allows for the inclusion of a tenth.[6] Another key difference between the two types of softball is the pitching style.
In fastpitch, a "windmill" style of pitching is utilized, as the pitcher's arm makes a complete backwards rotation before completing the pitch. With this style of pitching, the ball travels considerably faster as pitchers have been known to reach around 60 mph.[7]
In contrast, the "slo-pitch" style - as one might gather from the name - has a far slower style of pitching. While rules will vary depending on age and level of competition, the ball is typically lofted towards the plate at a slow speed.
A "Slo-Pitch"For a more comprehensive list of rules please visit Softball Ontario.
Players
Each player on the team must belong to the appropriate age category for their division. Each player must wear a uniform of the same colour, style and trim as that of the rest of the team. Ball caps are permitted but all players must wear the same colour.[8] All participating players in any single game must be included in the line-up card submitted to the official umpires prior to the beginning of the game.
The Field
The OASA requires field dimensions to follow those as directed by Softball Ontario. Each diamond must have a clear, unobstructed playing area with the following minimum radii:
- 68.2 m (225 ft.) for Females
- 83.3 m (275 ft.) for Co-Ed
- 83.3 m (275 ft.) for Men[9]
In addition, the baselines must be 9.81 m (65 ft.) apart with a pitching distance of 15.2 m (50 ft.)[9]
Types of Softball
There are three (3) types of Softball played in Ontario:
- Fast-Pitch Softball
- Slo-Pitch Softball
- Orthodox / Modified Softball
Softball is often played Co-EdAge and Divisions
The following table lists the age classification for Ontario's amateur softball athletes:[10]
Division Age T-Ball 8 and under Junior Rookie Ball 8 and under Senior Rookie Ball 9 and under Minor Mosquito 10 and under Mosquito 11 and under Minor Peewee 12 and under Peewee Girls 13 and under Peewee 13 and under Minor Bantam 14 and under Bantam 15 and under Bantam Girls 16 and under Minor Midget 16 and under Midget 18 and under Junior 21 and under Leagues in Ontario
The following list consits of the leagues which operate under the OASA designation:[11]
There are many softball leagues throughout Ontario- Blackburn Men's Fastball
- Bracebridge Softball
- Blue Water Fastball
- Erie Fastball
- Golden Horseshoe Fastball
- Greater Ottawa Fastball
- Kitchener Fastball
- Kitchener/Waterloo Fastball
- Loughborough Fastball
- InterCounty Baseball
- Mississauga Sportsmen Fastball
- North Leeds Fastball
- Oshawa City & District Fastball
- Richmond Hill Minor Softball Association
- Schneider's ISC Alliance
- Simcoe Rural Fastball
- South Perth Fastball
- St. Thomas & District Fastball
- Tri-County Fastball
- Upper Ottawa Valley Fastball
- Waterdown Fastball
- Windsor Regional Fastball
Rule Changes
The OASA uses the rules set forth by Softball Ontario. Every two years, a conference is held to discuss rules changes. These conferences occur every two years, with the next one happening in November 2012. Each association sends three delegates, and one of these delegates may vote on proposed rule changes. Rules changes are only approved is there is a two-thirds majority in favour if the change.[9]
Quest for Gold
The Quest for Gold Ontario Athlete Assistance Program is an initiative set forth by the Ministry of Heath Promotion and Sport of Ontario. Its purpose is to promote and assist exceptional athletes in Ontario. This is accomplished by compensation for potential earnings lost due to summer training, increased access to high quality coaching, and enhanced opportunities for training and copetition. The Quest for Gold program also is intended to encourage athletes continue to live and train in Ontario. Athletes chosen for the Quest for Gold program are also heavily encouraged to pursue post-secondary education. The OASA nominates several athletes for the program every year through the sport specific selection criteria.[12]
Nominees
The following athletes were nominated for the Quest for Gold Program: [13]
- Adam Alexander
- Jordon Grubb
- Tyler Kuntz
- Caleb Keeshig
- Adam Stuck
- Mike Legace-Roote
- Eric Draper
- Adam Stroud
- Abe Leahy
- Joe Terwoord
- Jordon Turcotte
- Brandon Parks
- Corey Way
- Brandon Roach
- Steve Ashbridge
Executive
The following table illustrates the OASA's organizational hierarchy:[14]
Position Name Executive Officers President Gary Wren Executive Vice President Roy Patenaude Vice President George Ryder Vice President Brad Thomson Secretary Christine Patenaude Treasurer Paddy Fitzgerald-Nolan Registrar Mary Myers Other Executive Officers Immediate Past President Larry Sherwin Past Presidents Representative Keith Fleming Elected Executive Jeff Geddes Elected Executive Gilles Butcher Elected Executive Bruce Young Elected Executive Dave Northern Elected Executive Garry Waugh Elected Executive Jamie Simpson Other Officers NSA Representative Peter Handley High and Inside Editor Paddy Fitzgerald-Nolan Insurance Ron Taylor Insurance Sharon Taylor External links
- ^ a b Unknown. "Canada Formed First Official Softball Group". The News and Eastern Townships Advocate. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=l4QuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=syoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1858,5677485&dq=oasa+1923+softball&hl=en.
- ^ William Humber. "Baseball". Historica-Dominion. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0000544.
- ^ Associated Press (9 July 2005). "They'rrre out! Olympics drop baseball, softball". NBC Sports. http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/8504326/site/21683474/print/1/displaymode/1098/. Retrieved 15 August 2008. "Rogge has basically conspired against the sports to get them removed"
- ^ Wilson, Stephen. "Golf, rugby backed by IOC board for 2016 Games". Article. The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2009656175_apolyiocnewsports.html. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
- ^ "About the OASA". Ontario Amateur Softball Association. http://www.oasa.ca/about.htm.
- ^ "Rules on how to Play Softball". Demand Media inc.. http://www.livestrong.com/article/426838-rules-on-how-to-play-softball/.
- ^ "Range of Speed (in MPH) for Various Fastpitch Softball Pitches by Age Group". http://www.efastball.com/fastpitch/pitching/average-pitching-speed-by-age-group/.
- ^ "International Softball Rulebook 2002". International Softball Federation Playing Rules Committee. http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/rules_standards/Rulebook_2002.pdf.
- ^ a b c "Official Dimensions for Slo-Pitch Softball Diamonds". Softball Canada. http://www.softball.ca/files/SPPlayingFieldEN.pdf.
- ^ "Baseball Ontario 2010 Constitution". Baseball Ontario. http://www.baseballontario.com/filestore/htmleditattachedfiles/2010%20Constitution%20No%20Ads%20for%20Web2010-03-09T15-36-11v001_by_292.pdf.
- ^ "OASA Links". Ontario Amateur Softball Association. http://www.oasa.ca/links.htm.
- ^ "Program Description". http://www.questforgold.ca/athletes/Default.aspx.
- ^ "Quest for Gold 2011". Ontario Amateur Softball Association. http://www.oasa.ca/quest4gold.htm.
- ^ "OASA Contact". Ontario Amateur Softball Association. http://www.oasa.ca/contact.htm.
Categories:- Sport in Ontario
- Coordinate, organize and create structure for participants of all ages in the game of softball in Ontario through:
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