FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 21, 2017

USA Softball announces partnership with National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)

OKLAHOMA CITY – USA Softball, the National Governing Body (NGB) of Softball in the U.S., is proud to announce its designation as an National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Official Convention Sponsor.  Comprised of fast pitch softball coaches from all competitive levels of play, the NFCA annually hosts a Convention, which offers networking opportunities, divisional meetings and educational speaker sessions with some of the game’s most successful coaches.

“We are proud to partner with the NFCA and expand upon the relationship we’ve established for many years,” said USA Softball Executive Director, Craig Cress.  “As the National Governing Body of Softball, it is our responsibility to grow the game and provide as many educational and development opportunities for coaches.  By partnering with the NFCA, who has a very strong and respected presence in the fast pitch softball community, we will be able to not only continue our support of these grassroots initiatives but also provide additional assets to our ACE Coach Education Program.”

As part of the partnership, USA Softball and NFCA will work jointly to create additional education material for the ACE (Aspire, Challenge, Encourage) Coach Education Program along with select international softball clinics.  Developed by USA Softball, the ACE Coach Education program is designed to provide softball coaches of all levels – from beginning coaches to experienced veterans – an opportunity to be educated as a coach with a national softball organization.  In addition to education material, ACE Coaches will also have an opportunity to purchase a discounted membership to join the NFCA.

USA Softball will also serve as the title sponsor of the Softball Summit during the NFCA Convention.  The summit serves as an open forum for the NFCA membership to discuss business and relevant issues across the landscape of softball.

"The NFCA is thrilled to partner with USA Softball as an NFCA Official Convention sponsor,” said NFCA Executive Director Carol Bruggeman. “The partnership highlights education and awareness; two items critical to continued growth of the sport. As the title sponsor of the Softball Summit, USA Softball demonstrates their continued support of diversity and inclusion.  To partner with the National Governing Body of Softball, especially with the excitement of softball being back in the 2020 Olympic Games, provides our members a front row seat to athletes on a national and international stage.”

About USA Softball

USA Softball is a 501(c)(3) not-for profit organization headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla., and is designated as the National Governing Body (NGB) of Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. One of the nation’s largest sports organizations, USA Softball sanctions competition in every state through a network of 70 local associations and has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 150,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than 2 million.  USA Softball is dedicated to providing people of all ages the opportunity to play the game they love at a variety of levels by offering recreational, league, tournament and competitive play for fast pitch, slow pitch and modified pitch.  USA Softball annually conducts thousands of tournaments throughout the country including over 100 National Championships.  The USA Softball umpire program is among the nation’s largest and are widely known as the best trained umpires in the game. 

As the NGB for the sport of softball, USA Softball is responsible for training, equipping and promoting the six USA Softball National Teams that compete in events such as the Olympics, Pan American Games, World Championships and other international and domestic events. For more information on USA Softball, including its founding and history as the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA), please visit, www.USASoftball.com.

 

About NFCA
Established in 1983, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) is the professional growth organization for fastpitch softball coaches from all competitive levels of play. The national office, located in the Crescent Hill community of Louisville, Ky., moved to the Bluegrass State in 2012.

Although collegiate coaches comprised the majority of the organization's membership in the early days, today they are joined by high school, travel ball, professional and international coaches, along with umpires, clubs, businesses and fans of fastpitch softball. Growing from 40 members in 1983 to nearly 5,000 today, the NFCA boasts members from all 50 states and nine international countries- Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore and Sweden.

There are many services offered to the membership. Highlighted by the All-America teams, the awards program is about recognizing student-athletes for their athletic and academic prowess and coaches for their contributions both on and off the field.

Education is one of the NFCA’s highest priorities. It hosts an annual National Convention in December, conducts eight coaches clinics and provides in-person and online educational classes (NFCC) to its members. The Association also runs collegiate tournaments and hosts skills and academic camps throughout the nation. Additionally the NFCA works with USA Today in producing polls for NCAA Division I and high school softball as well as compiling NCAA Division II and Division III national polls. 

 

Codi Warren I Managing Director of Communications

USA Softball

2801 NE 50th Street

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111
405-425-3431 (O)

Visit Us Online: USASoftball.com

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