GeorgiaASA.com

Junior Olympic

2012 ASA Rule and Code Changes
The ASA National Office has published the 2012 ASA Rule Changes which went into effect January 1, 2012. The rule changes include (but are not limited to) extending the base distance in men's slow pitch to 70 feet, the legal use of senior bats in the senior slow game,  pitch, clarification on grip tape used on bats and the outlawing of heating/warming devices for bats. As always, ASA rules are written for ASA Championship Play. Teams should always check with their league directors and tournament directors to understand what rules will be in play in a specific game. ASA also has updated the 2012 changes to the ASA Code.

JO Commissioner, Katie Kay, Hospitalized
We are sad to report that JO Commissioner, Katie Kay, is in the hospital. We ask that any Junior Olympic related questions and/or questions around tournaments that Katie is running, please contact co-JO Commissioner Kim Townsend until further notice. We also ask that you keep Katie, her husband and the rest of the family in your prayers.

2012 Junior Olympic National Berth Tournaments Finalized
The 2012 JO National Berth Tournament Schedule has been finalized. The list is broken down by age group and includes Association, Region and National Berths (played in the region). In addition, the list includes qualifiers to the Hall of Fame Classic. For 2012, Georgia ASA will award five berths per age division to ASA/USA National Championships as an association. The South Atlantic Region will award two additional berths per age division. Each age division will also host a National Qualifier somewhere in the region with one additional berth to be awarded. The region will host two berths per age division to the Hall of Fame Classic in Oklahoma City, OK. The Hall of Fame will award eight berths per age division to the ASA/USA National Championships. Also check out the list of All Tournaments by Date which includes qualifiers and non-qualifiers.

Time to Register for 2012 Season ... New Registration Deadlines
Softball season is here. Time to get your players and teams registered for the 2012 season. Do so by going to RegisterASA.COM Web site. This Web is not run by Georgia ASA, but all Georgia teams are expected to register their teams through RegisterASA.com. If you'd step-by-step instructions on how to register a TEAM, GO HERE. If you need further instructions on how to register a LEAGUE, GO HERE. NEW FOR 2012!!!...Teams MUST be registered TWO WEEKS prior to the first qualifier the team is registered to participate ... this INCLUDES having ACE/Background Checks completed. Additional players added to the ASA redlined rosters MUST be registered and added FIVE (5) DAYS prior to a team's first game in a qualifier. The last day to add a player to the ASA Roster is Friday, June 29, 2012. The 2012 deadline dates for each qualifier is as follows:

2012 Hall of Fame Classic Dates Set; 10U Age Division Added
ASA announced the dates of its 2012 Hall of Fame Classic Tournaments being held at the ASA Hall of Fame Complex and Stadium in Oklahoma City, adjacent to the ASA National Office. Starting in 2012, the 10-Under age division will be added to the existing 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U age divisions. Each age division will feature 26 teams from around the nation (one from each region and one additional team from regions 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 15 plus the winner of 2011's East and West qualifiers) competing for the Hall of Fame Classic title and eight berths to the that age division's USA/ASA National Championship. Georgia teams, as part of Region 4, will have a chance to earn one of the region's two berths in each age division at Hall of Fame qualifiers on dates to be determined in the next few weeks. The dates of The Hall of Fame Classic for each age division are as follows:

• 10 and Under – May 18-20, 2012 (Friday – Sunday)
• 12 and Under – June 8-10, 2012 (Friday – Sunday)
• 14 and Under – June 15-17, 2012 (Friday – Sunday)
• 16 and Under – June 21-23, 2012 (Thursday – Saturday)
• 18 and Under – June 23-25, 2012 (Saturday – Monday)

Sign up for 2012 Summer Camps
Emory University is offering three camps this summer. This a great chance for new and experiences players to work on their game. For more information and to register contact Lee Dobbins at (423) 552-0490 | lee.dobbins@emory.edu. The open clinics are as follows:

• June 11-15: 2012: "Emory Little Eagles Softball Camp" (Ages 5-12). 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Daily (After care available until 6 p.m.) Lunch included each day and camp T-Shirt | Cost: $225.00/participant or $200.00/participant for Emory Employee | Registration Form
• June 19-20: "Emory Softball Ernie Parker Pitching and Catching Clinic" (Ages 8-18) 10 a.m. -3 p.m. on June 19, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on June 20 | Cost: $100.00 per participant | Registration Form
• July 17-19: "Emory Softball High School Team Camp" (High School Teams and middle school players associated with team) 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on July 17-18, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on July 19 | $150.00 team fee plus $45 per player | Registration Form

Georgia ASA Featured in December 2011 Ball and Strikes Magazine
Check out the December 2011 edition of Ball and Strikes Magazine. Georgia ASA is the featured association on page 40 of the magazine (pg 42 of the linked pdf file). In addition, the magazine reviews the 2011 ASA season and recaps the ASA National Convention with highlights of 2012 Playing Rule Changes and gives an insiders look at USA Softball.

Georgia ASA Shines at 2011 Nationals Championships
Georgia ASA had an outstanding year at ASA/USA Nationals in 2011. Seven Georgia teams (of the 56 which went to "A" level USA/ASA National Championships) finished in the Top 10 of its respective age division Georgia was particularly strong at the 16A in Chattanooga, TN where where Georgia took 2nd (Georgia Impact-Strother), 3rd (Southern Force-Archibald) and 4th place (Atlanta Vipers-Giles) in a field of 172 teams from around the country. In another large tournament (103 teams) for the 14A in Midland, TX, Georgia had 10 teams participate which was lead by the Georgia Impact '97-Bass who finished 3rd overall and Georgia Impact-Silver who placed 7th. The 18A was lead by GAC who placed 5th our of 104 teams. The 12A featured the Worth Cobras who finished. Click on Georgia ASA's 2011 National Tournament Section for a full list of results of Georgia teams at Nationals.

Georgia ASA Awarded Two National Tournaments for 2013
Georgia ASA has been awarded two 2013 National Championships at the 80th Annual ASA National Council Meeting in Myrtle Beach, SC in mid-November, 2011. Georgia ASA will be hosting the following 2013 National Championships:

• ASA Men’s Slow Pitch Southern Class "D" - Cumming, GA
• Girls’ 12-Under Class "A" Southern  - Columbus, GA

Many J.O. Fast Pitch Class "A" teams from around Georgia will be working toward a National Title in 2013. The USA/ASA Class "A" National Locations for 2013 are as follows:

• USA/ASA Girls’ 10-Under “A” Fast Pitch – Bowing Green, KY
• USA/ASA Girls’ 12-Under “A” Fast Pitch – Chattanooga, TN
• USA/ASA Girls’ 14-Under “A” Fast Pitch – Normal, IL
• USA/ASA Girls’ 16-Under “A” Fast Pitch – Sunnyvale, CA
• USA/ASA Girls’ 18-Under “A” Fast Pitch – Sterling, VA
• USA/ASA Girls’ 18-Under GOLD Fast Pitch – Clearwater, FL

Click HERE for a full list of 2013 National Championships.

Georgia ASA is preparing for two National Championships in 2012. This coming season's National Tournaments in Georgia are as follows:

• Girls' 14-Under Class "A" Fast Pitch Southern - Columbus, GA
• Girls' 16-Under Class "B" Fast Pitch Southern - Lagrange, GA

 The J.O. Fast Pitch USA/ASA Class "A" National Championship Locations for 2012 are as follows:

• USA/ASA Girls’ 10-Under “A” Fast Pitch – Bloomington, IN
• USA/ASA Girls’ 12-Under “A” Fast Pitch – Moline, IL
• USA/ASA Girls’ 14-Under “A” Fast Pitch – Sioux Falls, SD
• USA/ASA Girls’ 16-Under “A” Fast Pitch – Montgomery, AL
• USA/ASA Girls’ 18-Under “A” Fast Pitch – Johnson City, TN
• USA/ASA Girls’ 18-Under GOLD Fast Pitch – Oklahoma City, OK

Click HERE for a full list of 2012 Championships.

Georgia ASA Crowns 2011 State Champions
Teams from all around Georgia competed for the Class "A" and Class "C" Titles over the past two weeks. The 16s and 18s played in Cobb County while the 10s, 12s and 14s will battlied in Forsyth. The Class "C" teams competed over the Independence Day weekend to produce four State Champions (click here for the Class "C" Official Order of Finish). Great job by all participating teams. The 2011 Georgia ASA State Champions are as follows:

• 18U-A GEORGIA ASA STATE CHAMPION: Georgia Raiders
• 16U-A GEORGIA ASA STATE CHAMPION: Georgia Impact (Anderson)
• 14U-A GEORGIA ASA STATE CHAMPION: Georgia Impact (Bass) |  COMPLETED BRACKET
• 12U-A GEORGIA ASA STATE CHAMPION:  Atlanta Vipers (Miller) | COMPLETED BRACKET
• 10U-A GEORGIA ASA STATE CHAMPION:  Atlanta Vipers  | COMPLETED BRACKET
• 13O-C GEORGIA ASA STATE CHAMPION:  Walton Shock  | ORDER OF FINISH
• 12U-C GEORGIA ASA STATE CHAMPION:  Dacula Falcons | ORDER OF FINISH
• 10U-C GEORGIA ASA STATE CHAMPION:  Walton County | ORDER OF FINISH
• 8U-C GEORGIA ASA STATE CHAMPION:  Twin Creek | ORDER OF FINISH

Georgia ASA Wins Second 2011 ASA Hall of Fame Classic with the Georgia Impact Win at 14A In Oklahoma City
Congratulations to the 14A Georgia Impact for going undefeated (6-0) to win the 2011 14A ASA Hall of Fame Classic in Oklahoma City! The 14A Impact were the second Georgia ASA team to capture a 2011 HoF title ('98 Georgia Impact won the 12A Hall of Fame Classic the previous week). The 14A Impact shutout the Texas Glory, 4-0, to take the title in the 24-team tournament which included teams from 14 states. Normally the top eight teams at the Hall of Fame Classic will earn a berth to the 2011 ASA National Championships. Because The Impact had already secured a national berth prior to trip to Oklahoma, the berth was awarded to another team. The Impact will be traveling to Midland, TX in August for the 2011 14A National Championship. See a list of all Georgia teams going to Nationals at the Georgia ASA Berth Report.

'98 Georgia Impact Wins 2011 12A Hall of Fame Classic In Oklahoma City
Congratulations to the '98 Georgia Impact for winning the 12A Hall of Fame Classic in Oklahoma City! Heading into the the Championship Game undefeated, the Impact came up one-run short (5-4) in the Championship Game to RPS '98 of  Pasadena, TX. But the Impact came out swinging in the “if necessary” Championship Game with a 7-1 victory at the the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium to earn the 2011 12A Hall of Fame Classic title. A total of 24 teams from 11 states participated in the prestigious tournament.

Is Dirt a Foreign Substance In Regards to Fast Pitch Pitching Rule?
There has been a lot of discussion locally and nationally about this rule recently ... particularly if the pitcher in the ASA fast pitch game chooses to place dirt on his/her hand, must they first wipe (or appear to wipe) the dirt off before touching the ball to avoid an illegal pitch. The short answer is NO. Dirt is NOT be considered a foreign substance. The pitcher touching dirt and going directly to the ball would NOT constitute and illegal pitch due to placing a foreign substance on the ball (in other words ... this IS legal). For more detailed information about this rule, please open this link to ASA's National Director of Umpires, Kevin Ryan, who addressed this issue in 2010. Any further questions, please contact Georgia ASA Umpire-In-Chief, Jimmy Derrick.