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The ACT Softball Association was established in 1959 under the guidance of a small group of dedicated people who began by organising local club fixtures in Canberra, but who also had the foresight to plan for the sport’s steady growth.
The Association, known then as the Federal Districts Women’s Softball Association, was affiliated with the New South Wales Softball Association. An early application was made to the Australian Women’s Softball Council (later known as the Australian Softball Federation) for the ACT and surrounding region be recognised as a separate ‘State’ body in its own right.
The application was successful, ‘statehood’ was granted in March 1961 and the name was changed to the ACT Women’s Softball Association. The Association entered its first representative team in the Open Women’s National Championship in Adelaide in 1962.
In 1973/74 there was recognition that the Association needed to broaden its horizons to cover softball for both genders and the word “Women’s” was dropped from the title. In order to give its members legal protection available under ACT legislation a decision was taken in 1980 to incorporate the Association.
'This was achieved in May 1981 and the Association became known as the ACT Softball Association Incorporated.
To assist the development of softball in the region the Umpires Association (SUAACT) was formed in 1965 with 10 foundation members. SUAACT has been very successful in its endeavours with a number of its members achieving qualifications at the national and international levels. Additionally it has had at least 1 representative on the National Umpiring Committee every year since 1985.
The early administrators also recognised that the future of the Association lay in the promotion and development of softball at the junior level. With this in mind the Woden Valley Association was formed in 1968, followed by North Canberra in 1970.
Junior Associations in Weston Creek, Tuggeranong and Queanbeyan followed soon after. Changing demographic patterns have seen changes in this area with Weston Creek and Queanbeyan Associations having been wound up and new associations established in south Tuggeranong and the Central Canberra/Gungahlin area. Efforts are currently under way to establish an association in Jerrabomberra.
The first ACT Junior Championships were held at Mawson in 1978 with teams from Woden Valley, North Canberra, Weston Creek and Queanbeyan taking part. TSARA made its debut in 1979.
The Football Park Softball League was formed in the mid 1980’s to foster and promote men’s softball in the ACT. Games were originally played under lights at Football Park, Phillip. After moving its activities from Football Park to Hawker the name was changed to the Fast Pitch Softball League Incorporated. A men’s team was first entered the Open Men’s Australian Championship in Brisbane in 1987.
The Association currently has about 4000 registered members.
The Association has had considerable success at ASF National Championships. It won the first of its 3 Open Women’s title in Hobart in 1978 and has also won a number of titles at the women’s Under 16 and Under 19 Championships.
The men’s teams have also been very successful at National Championships and we made a big impression when we claimed 4 consecutive U19 Men's Championship Titles from 2001 to 2004.
Over the years the Association has been able to produce players and officials of a high standard with a significant number of players and officials having been selected in Australian teams. This includes 2 players who took part in the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000 along with 4 players and 1 official representing Australia at the Men's World Series in NZ in 2004.
The ACT Softball Association holds a number of annual events;
This year(2006) will be the inaugural event.
An annual Men's tournament hosted by Softball Canberra in two grades, A Grade and B Grade, both play for prize money, for more information see main article.
An Annual Juniors event held over the Australia Day long weekend at the end of January. The Carnival caters for both boys and girls in the following;
Various ACT teams also compete in the New South Wales Softball Association's annual events;
The ACT attends all ASF National Championships
In recent times ACT softball has become the powerhouse of Men's softball in Australia and also produced some of the best male softballers in the world.
In 2000 the ACT under 16 Boy's team claimed their first National Title in Canberra, ACT. This team saw the birth of some future Australian and World softball stars. This team saw the start of outstanding careers of Andrew Kirkpatrick, Nick Norton and Nick Shailes as well as outstanding catcher Matt Norton.
The following year the majority of this team would compete at the Australian Under 19 Men's Nationals in Calbooture. With 10 of the 15 players only 16 years old the team overcame the huge age difference to secure their first of four consecutive National Titles at the under 19 level. This team also saw the inclusion of Michael Tanner, James Darby, Peter Albee, and Adam Thomas.
The Australian Capital Territory is made up of 7 Associations;
And one Umpires Association;
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