When you register to play USA Softball, you join a membership of over one million players, coaches and umpires from all across the country. As the National Governing Body of Softball in the U.S. and one of the nation’s largest sports organizations, USA Softball sanctions competition in every state through a network of local associations while being the only softball organization with the opportunity to field an Olympic softball team, giving athletes a chance to embark on their Path to the Podium while remaining dedicated to providing people of all ages the chance to Softball…Play the Game America Plays!®. Learn more about USA Softball membership opportunities below or by contacting your Local Association Commissioner.
Why Become a Member of USA Softball?
USA Softball affords millions of players, fans, coaches, administrators, umpires and parents with benefits upon registering. While each USA Softball local association and member league offers unique opportunities upon registering, certain benefits exist for everyone just by being part of the program.
National Governing Body (NGB)
USA Softball in the ONLY organization that serves as the Pipeline to the USA Softball National Team Program — competing in international events such as World Championships, Pan American Games and the pinnacle sporting event for the sport of softball – The Olympic Games
Investment in the Sport
All funds generated from the USA Softball Grassroots program are reinvested to enhance and promote the sport.
Top-Tier Facilities
USA Softball operates Devon Park, known as the Softball Capital of the World®, and the host of the NCAA Women’s College World Series, Border Battle, and GOLD National Championship.
Blues Across America
USA Softball has one of the largest officiating organizations in the nation, featuring the best trained and most proficient umpires in softball.
How do I Register?
Through its network of state/metro associations, USA Softball provides online registrations for teams and leagues. Most state/metro associations that use RegisterUSASoftball.com to process registrations will have specific, detailed instructions posted on their website to guide the user through the registration process. NOTE: Some associations do not allow online registrations but will provide instructions on how to register your team or league.
How much does it cost?
Costs are determined locally, and vary with each Local Association. Please contact your local association to find out more information on costs for registration.
Individual Membership Categories
Athlete members are those individuals who are eligible for competition in the sport of softball and are competitive athletes who register and pay the applicable registration fee to their Local Association. Athlete members shall include those persons who individually register as Athlete members with an applicable Local Association, and also those persons listed on a team roster that registers its team with an applicable Local Association. Athlete members shall pay an annual membership fee to USA Softball (USAS) as determined by the USAS Board.
Elite Athlete members are those individuals who are invited or selected to participate in USA Softball’s National Team activities and are eligible for elite competition in the sport of softball. Elite Athlete members place their membership with USAS and there is no annual membership fee for Elite Athlete members.
Coach members are those individuals who are active coaches who register with and pay the applicable registration fee to their Local Association.
Scorekeeper members are those individuals who are active scorekeepers who register with and pay the applicable registration fee to their Local Association.
Umpire members are those individuals who are active umpires who register with and pay the applicable registration fee to their Local Association.
Commissioner members are those individuals, as designated by the USAS Board and as accepted by the applicable Local Association, to act as a liaison to USAS on behalf of a Local Association. Commissioner members place their membership with USAS and there is no annual membership fee for Commissioner members. Commissioner members shall also include those Commissioner members who have been approved by the USAS Board to be Commissioner Emeritus members, who are defined as those members having fifteen (15) years of service, or ten (10) years of service if the Commissioner is over 70 years of age. The aforementioned years of previous service as a Commissioner does not need to be consecutive.
JO Commissioner members are those individuals, as designated by each Commissioner member and as accepted by the applicable Local Association Member, to promote the USAS JO Program within the geographic boundaries of a Local Association. Junior Olympic (JO) Commissioner members place their membership with the applicable Local Association and there is no annual membership fee for Junior Olympic (JO) Commissioner members.
National Council members are those persons, as defined in Section 9.3 of these Bylaws, and who have voting rights on the National Council. National Council members who are existing members by virtue of other membership within USAS place their membership with their applicable Local Association, and there shall be no need for further membership specifically as a National Council member. To the extent there is no applicable Local Association or other applicable membership category, then such National Council member shall place his or her membership with USAS pursuant to any eligibility requirements for National Council membership as determined by the USAS Board. National Council members shall also include those National Council members who have been approved by the USAS Board to be National Council Member Emeritus members, who are defined as those members having fifteen (15) years of previous tenure on the USAS National Council. The aforementioned fifteen (15) years of previous service on the National Council does not need to be consecutive.
Life members are those individuals who desire to aid in the promotion of the game of Softball, and who previously have been members of USA Softball or served as members of the National Council. Life members shall register with and pay a lifetime membership fee to USA Softball as determined by the USA Softball Board of Directors. For more information, please contact your respective Board member.
Supporter members are those individuals who register with and are recognized by USAS as supporters of USAS and its programs. Supporter members place their membership with USAS and meet any eligibility requirements for Supporter membership as determined by the USAS Board. Supporter members shall pay annual membership fee to USAS as determined by the USAS Board.
Team Membership Categories
Team members are those teams who register with and pay the applicable registration fee to their local association. However, if a local association does not offer a softball program, and the team is associated with an Allied Association, then the team may register directly with and pay the applicable registration fee to USA Softball.
Organizational Membership Categories
Organizational members are divided into three categories: Local Association Members, Affiliated Members and Allied Members
Local Association Members are those entities recognized by the USAS Board. See Section 6.1 of the USA Softball Bylaws. Recognition authorizes the Local Association to accept membership registrations and promote the sport of amateur softball within their applicable designated geographic boundaries.
USA Softball of Northern California
USA Softball of Southern California
USA Softball of Central California
USA Softball of Colorado
USA Softball of Dallas/Fort Worth
USA Softball of Piedmont Virginia
Affiliated Organization members are those non-profit sports organizations that conduct a national program or regular national athletic
competition in the sport of softball on a level of proficiency appropriate for the selection of amateur athletes to represent the United States in international amateur athlete competitions in the sport of softball.
They ensure that the representation reflects the nature, scope, quality, and strength of the programs and competitions of the applicable organization in relation to all other programs and competitions in the sport in the United States. In addition to any other organization who would meet this criterion, an organization accepted as an Allied member, who also meets the criteria, may apply for and be accepted as an Affiliated Organization member. Affiliated Organization members shall pay an annual membership fee to USAS as determined by the USAS Board.
| Affiliated Member | Category |
|---|---|
| U.S Armed Forces | Armed Forces |
| National Junior College Athletic Association | Educational Based |
| National Federation of State High Schools | Educational Based |
| National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) | Educational Based |
| National FP Coaches Association | Promotional Organization |
Allied Member organizations are alliances with non-profit associations or organizations devoted wholly or partially to the promotion and development of the game of softball on a state, regional or national level. Examples include Armed forces members, disabled sports organizations, educational based members, national based softball promotional organizations, etc.
Armed Forces members: The Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy and Marines, provided they register with and pay an annual membership fee to USAS as determined by the USA Board.
Disabled Sports Organization members: Non-profit organizations that conduct national softball competitions designated exclusively for individuals who are physically or mentally disabled. Disabled Sports Organization members shall pay an annual membership fee to USAS as determined by the USAS Board.
Educational Based members: Non-profit organizations comprised of member educational institutions. Educational Based members shall pay an annual membership fee to USAS as determined by the USAS Board.
Promotional Organization members: Non-profit organizations which conduct player or coach clinics or camps, conduct softball competitions or are engaged in other activities that promote the sport of softball on a national level in accordance with the objectives of USAS. Promotional Organization members shall pay an annual membership fee to USAS as determined by the USAS Board.
State Games Organization member: The State Games Organization member is the National Congress of State Games, provided it registers with and pays an annual membership fee to USAS as determined by the USAS Board.
State Park and Recreation Organization/Association members: Non-profit organizations whose primary purpose is to promote parks and recreation activities, which include softball, in their respective jurisdictions. State Park and Recreation Organization/Association members shall pay an annual membership fee to USAS as determined by the USAS Board.
Philanthropic and Instructional Organization members: Non-profit organizations that are philanthropic in nature or that primarily promote the instruction of the game of softball in a clinical or other setting and do not conduct any national softball competition. Philanthropic and Instructional Organization members shall pay an annual membership fee to USAS as determined by the USAS Board.
Regional or Nationally Based Softball Organizations: Organizations which have member affiliates in a minimum of 30 states and which conduct national softball competition on a level of proficiency appropriate for the selection of softball players to represent the United States in international play shall be eligible for membership under this classification.
National Based Softball Promotional Organizations: Organizations which are national in scope and which conduct player or coach clinics or camps, softball competition or which are engaged in any other activities that promote the sport of amateur softball on a national level in accordance with the objectives of USA Softball shall be eligible for membership under this classification
Other Organizations: Organizations which are not members of a national organization eligible for membership as an Allied Member and which conduct softball competition, clinics, player camps, or which are engaged in any other activities that promote the sport of amateur softball on a city, county, state or regional level in accordance with the objectives of USA Softball shall be eligible for membership under this classification.
| Allied Member | Category |
|---|---|
| USA Patriots | Disabled Sports Organization |
| Special Olympics International | Disabled Sports Organization |
| National Wheelchair Softball Association | Disabled Sports Organization |
| California Park & Recreation Society | State Parks and Recreation Organization/Association |
| Alabama Recreation & Parks Association | State Parks and Recreation Organization/Association |
| Missouri Park & Recreation Association | State Parks and Recreation Organization/Association |
| Texas Amateur Athletic Federation | State Parks and Recreation Organization/Association |
| City of Salem Oregon Parks and Recreation | State Parks and Recreation Organization/Association |
| Nebraska Softball Foundation | Philanthropic and Instructional Organization |
| League of Dreams | Philanthropic and Instructional Organization |
| PONY Softball | Nationally Based Softball Promotional Organization |
| North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance | Nationally Based Softball Promotional Organization |
| BC Sports Foundation | Nationally Based Softball Promotional Organization |
| Special Olympics Oregon | Other Organization |
| Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation | Other Organization |
| KC MLB Urban Youth Academy | Other Organization |
| Sportsplex Operators and Developers Association | Other Organization |
| Sports Association of Northern California Recreation Agencies | Other Organization |
| Lee County Sports Authority | Other Organization |
| Columbus Georgia Sports Council | Other Organization |