Softball is a way of life for thousands of people each year, and their choice for softball is the Amateur Softball Association, the national governing body of softball in the United States. The Illinois Amateur Softball Association is the local franchise for softball in Illinois.

In 2007 the Illinois ASA celebrated it’s 75th year of existence. When it began in 1934 the Illinois ASA offered championships in onlt adult fastpitch for men and women. In 2007 we registered over 6500 teams and over 600 umpires and offered 20 state tournaments in numerous divisions. Not every team can come home with a state or national championship, but the ASA softball program gives people an opportunity to have clean, competitive fun playing slow pitch, fast pitch or modified pitch, at levels ranging from district to national championship.

Since its founding, the Illinois Amateur Softball Association has given the sport direction and strived to have the best program possible for the millions of people who play amateur softball each summer. Many of them started playing in the ASA's Junior Olympic program before moving up to the adult divisions of play.

ASA has kept its hand on the pulse of the softball community in America and, when needed, has added divisions of championship play to meet the interests of those involved in the ASA program.

Today, ASA has more than 90 national championships, ranging from 10-under fast pitch to 75-over slow pitch. Annually more than 40,000 players participate in ASA National Championship Finals and they are assured of playing some of the best teams in America. The Illinois ASA has more than 20 state championships, ranging from 10-under fast pitch to Class D Slowpitch. Annually more than 1,000 players participate in Illinois ASA State Championship and they are assured of playing some of the best teams in America.

The tournaments they participate in are run by well-qualified tournament staffs who care about the players participating in their state or national tournament and want them to enjoy playing in an ASA adult championship.

It's the substance behind ASA national championships and Illinois ASA State Tournaments that make them the best of the rest and teams realize they have accomplished something they can be proud of for a lifetime.

Besides well-run championships, the participants are assured of nothing but the best in umpiring. Each year more than 40,000 umpires register nationally and over 850 locally with ASA . The ASA annually hosts local, state and national umpire clinics, which cover the nation and bring together the best instruction available in the sport to all 15 regions of the ASA. The ASA strives to make its umpires the best they can be, and ASA umpires are known for their professionalism and expertise.

As the NGB of softball, the ASA is the only softball organization that can offer players the opportunity to play in these prestigious events, which are often held throughout the world. The 2008 Olympics, for example, will be held in China, and USA Softball is responsible for selecting and training the USA Olympic Team for the 2008 Games. In the past three Olympics, 1996, 2000, and 2004 the USA National Team has won the gold medal.

To help players improve their skills for not only these prestigious events but for national championships as well, the ASA offers clinics, camps, publications and videos, all designed to help people become better playing America's summer pastime - softball.