Frequently Asked Questions

Registration/ Insurance

What is Individual Registration?
As the National Governing Body for the sport of softball, ASA/USA Softball is committed to the goal of providing accident and liability insurance for all participants in the Junior Olympic (youth) program.
The ID card serves three purposes:

Indisputable proof of age
Signature and photo ID card (now required for ASA championship play)
Proof of Insurance

Why do I need team Insurance?
With the rising cost of health care insurance and some employer's reducing/eliminating health benefits, now is the time to look at team insurance. For a limited cost, youth and adult teams can purchase team accident insurance through the ASA insurance carrier Bollinger, now entering their 41st year in working with the ASA. The insurance premiums vary from $0-500 deductible options. Many teams are now including this cost to the sponsor as part of their team costs. Coverage is effective through December 31 of the current year. You can apply online for the most convenient and quickest way to secure coverage at: www.BollingerASA.com or call Bollinger at 800.526.1379.

How do I register my team ASA?
Check with your league director to verify if they register all their teams ASA. If yes, the league director will take care of your team registration. If not, you may call a local ASA board member for a registration form, call the Michigan Recreation and Park Association for a form (517.485.9888), or go to the MDASA website at www.metrodetroitasa.com for a team registration form.

Can I register my kickball teams and youth baseball teams ASA?
Yes! The same benefits for youth and adult slow pitch and fast teams will apply to all kickball teams and youth baseball teams including insurance benefits for the agency and the teams.

Umpire Program

How do I register as an ASA umpire?
You may call a member of the local ASA umpire board for a registration form, call the Michigan Recreation and Park Association for a form (517.485.9888), or go to the MDASA website at www.metrodetroitasa.com for an umpire registration form.

What benefits do I get as an umpire?
As an ASA registered umpire, you are provided with comprehensive insurance when umpiring ASA games with ASA registered teams. A supplemental insurance program is also available for umpires that work other sports for a reasonable fee.

How can I get assigned games to umpire?
An initial contact should be made with the local umpire association or the agency that oversees the league. You may call a member from the MDASA umpire staff for further information on local umpire associations.

How can I umpire in tournaments?
If the tournament is conducted by a local agency, please contact them directly. If the tournament is an ASA sponsored tournament, assignments are made by the Umpire-in-Chief for that tournament. You may call a member from the MDASA umpire staff for further information.

Tournament Information

How can my team enter a local/state tournament?
Metro Detroit ASA offers tournaments for Junior Olympic and adult teams. Tournaments are normally held in July for JO teams and in August for adult teams. Please call Dennis Troshak for information on the JO tournaments (248.451.1900 X210) or Tom Willette for information on adult tournaments - 734.416.7766 (days) or at 734.416.0843 (evenings).

How can my team advance to a national tournament?
Teams must first compete at the local/state level if a tournament is held for that division of play. Please call Dennis Troshak for information on the JO tournaments (248.451.1900 X210) or Tom Willette for information on adult tournaments - 734.416.7766 (days) or at 734.416.0843 (evenings). ASA offers more than 90 national championships for Junior Olympic (boys and girls) teams as well as for adult teams - both men and women, fast and slow pitch. Consult the national ASA website for a complete listing of all national championships offered - www.asasoftball.com.

MDASA Participation

How can a community, league, or city become involved with ASA?
You can initially contact the Metro Detroit ASA Commissioner Stu Alderman…or any Metro Detroit ASA board member. You may also call the Michigan Recreation and Park Association/Leisure Pursuits Incorporated rep for MDASA for information (517.485.9888).

Can I attend a Detroit ASA Board meeting?
All Metro Detroit ASA board meetings are open to the public. The board normally meets the second Wednesday every other month in Troy. Upcoming meetings are scheduled in February, April, June, August, October, and December. Call the MDASA President for further details.

Equipment and Rule Information

Where can I find information about the ASA's Bat and Ball Testing program?
You can download a listing of FAQ's or browse our listing of banned bats or softballs by clicking here
www.asasoftball.com/about/certified_equipment.asp

Where can I get a copy of you Official Rules of Softball?
ASA Rule Books are only distributed at the local level upon payment of a team registration - Adult & Youth Team Registration

Please contact the MDASA UIC This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or the Region UIC This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Coaching

Where can I find information about the ASA's coaching education program?
ASA announced the establishment of the ACE (Achieve – Certify – Educate) Coaching Certification as more than 26,000 coaches nationwide were registered in 2009. The ACE Coaching Certification program has added a background check feature as a process of certification. The background checks will be conducted by ChoicePoint, a Lexis Nexis company.

ACE Certified Coaches will also receive coaching tips and a blog from two-time Olympic head coach Mike Candrea that will be part of email blasts delivered once a month. All of these changes will undoubtedly enhance the ACE Experience for coaches and the ASA is looking forward to seeing more coaches become ACE Certified in 2010. To begin your ACE Certification today, log on at http://ace.usasoftball.com/ace/home.asp. and get ACE Certified!