About NAFA
History
of NAFA...How it all started...
The North American Fastpitch Association (NAFA)
annually hosts the largest men's fastpitch softball tournament in the world.
This incredible fastpitch organization was founded in Chicago in March of 1993
by Pat Bucknell, Jim Williamson, Loren Lathrop, Ronn Kopp, Roger Regez, Milt
Waschow and Bill Musolf. It was founded by and for fastpitch players to serve
the fastpitch community of North America.
We are in every U.S. State that plays fastpitch, seven Canadian Provinces, and
Mexico. In our World Series we have had players from all over the world
including New Zealand, Argentina, Australia and Japan. NAFA World Series team
participation has grown from 61 teams in 1993 to an expected record
of over 250 teams this year. Our regular World Series have been
held in Crystal Lake, IL, Salt Lake City, UT, Hutchinson, KS, Salem, OR,
Albuquerque, NM, Fargo, ND, Eau Claire, WI, Des Moines, Iowa and
Appleton-Kimberly, Wisconsin, Mankato, Minnesota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Our Specialty World Series events for the "OPEN" Division is held
annually in Middleton(Madison), Wisconsin at Bowling Green Sports Complex on
the last weekend in July and our Masters East has also been held there and in
Rockford, Illinois and (Middleton, Wisconsin) and our West Masters has been
held in Carson City(Reno), Nevada and our AA-Major event has been held in Bay
City, Michigan as well.
The 2010 World Series dates and locations are posted after October 15th
each year on this website. The Masters World Series is being held in
two locations for all classes, one being held in Carson City, NV, September
17-19, 2010 and in Rockford, Illinois September 10-12, 2010. The 2010 World
Series has been awarded to DesMoines, Iowa and the 2011 Bid presentations will
be made soon. We have the most extensive men's fastpitch database in the world
with over 2,700 teams. Our major sponsors are A.D Starr, DeMarini,
Gamewearteamsports.com, Chappell Insurance and Delp's Awards. We promote men's
fastpitch year round.
Philosophies
that made us #1...
NAFA
is an international organization run by fastpitch people to help all levels of
men's fastpitch teams and especially those teams at the A, A-Major, AA and
AA-Major levels of play considered Intermediate and lower although in the past
3 years, NAFA has taken more of a leadership role in the Open Division to help
keep that level alive which helps to foster the levels below that for continued
success.
The founding principles (which still ring true today are)
1) No
Time Limit
2) No
Tie Breaker
3) Use a
real FP Ball
4) Have
an enforceable pitching rule and don't over-penalize for violating it
5) Play
on real FP fields with homerun fences at proper distances
6)
Provide an early method of qualifying for the World Series by allowing time to
raise money and plan a quality trip.
7)
Provide a unique 3 Game Guarantee Bracket so that teams could stay longer and
enjoy the World Series.
8) Pick
the best fields and cities for our teams to enjoy their event.
Our mission has always been to provide a set of rules to help the game and
promote the sport.
Qualifying
for the NAFA World Series...
Over
time we have adjusted our qualifying method to allow any team that plays in a
sanctioned NAFA Tournament or League to attend the World Series in all states
but Wisconsin, Kansas, Minnesota, Michigan and California who have healthy
grass roots programs, large state tournaments and have developed their own
qualifying method. Any Team or Tournament Director can sanction a league or
tournament with NAFA for $25. If no qualifier or league exists in your area
(especially for Open, AAA, and AA-Major teams) they can receive a direct berth
from the Executive Director through the President.
Today's
Leadership...
The organization is led by Executive Director
Benjie Hedgecock, who assumed those duties September 1, 2003 from NAFA's
founders Pat Bucknell and Jim Williamson, who still both serve as Director's
Emeriti for NAFA. NAFA has a 13 person Executive Board and has State
Directors in most states and Canada. Our International Umpire Staff is
recognized as one of the best in the World. We work closely with the
ASA, ISC and Softball Canada. See our Contact List of Directors for a
contact in your area.
Today's
Challenges...Team Classification, etc...
