The Ontario Amateur Softball Association (OASA) is a division of Softball Ontario designed to promote the developement of amateur softball in Ontario.
| Sport | Softball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1923, in Ontario, Canada |
| Motto | Play the Game |
| Country(ies) | Canada |
| Official website | http://www.oasa.ca |
Contents |
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]
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.
The Ontario Amateur Softball Association is acknowledged as a dignified developmental frame for softball in Ontario and Canada.
The objectives of the OASA shall be to[5]:
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.
For a more comprehensive list of rules please visit Softball Ontario.
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 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:
In addition, the baselines must be 9.81 m (65 ft.) apart with a pitching distance of 15.2 m (50 ft.)[9]
There are three (3) types of Softball played in Ontario:
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 |
The following list consits of the leagues which operate under the OASA designation:[11]
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]
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]
The following athletes were nominated for the Quest for Gold Program: [13]
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 |