Yesterday, a joint decision was reached by the San Francisco Softball League Office and the Umpires Union (NCUA) that, as of the start of the Summer 2010 season, ASA Approved OPTIC YELLOW softballs WILL BE ALLOWED in all Slow Pitch games in San Francisco. OPTIC YELLOW softballs MUST meet all of the other standards for regulation softballs in San Francisco (see below) -- among which are .375 Compression, red stitching, 44 COR, and synthetic center core construction (ie: no cork-centered balls are allowed).

Why the sudden change? The truth is, we did not want to switch to the Optic Yellow softballs, either. You in the San Francisco Softball community have let us know by your responses on the San Francisco Softball Survey that you prefer the traditional white softballs for Slow Pitch games by a 70 - 30 margin. And frankly, we prefer them too! However, the fact is that softball manufacturing companies have simply stopped manufacturing white ASA-compliant softballs -- and they did so without any warning. Likely they did this because ASA (our national  governing body) has gone to the optic yellow balls for all Tournament and Championship play. So manufacturers have simply stopped making the white variety. Retailers are getting rid of their existing stocks of white ASA softballs. We have spent the last couple of months relentlessly searching around for reliable long term sources of white ASA regulation softballs and there simply aren't any out there. Once the existing stocks of white ASA softballs are gone, that's it. No more will be made.

Given this abrupt reality (again, Leagues were not notified in advance of this change) -- for Summer 2010 San Francisco Softball -- Slow pitch games may use a combination of the white and optic yellow balls. WE ENCOURAGE ALL TEAMS TO USE UP YOUR EXISTING STOCKS OF WHITE ASA SOFTBALLS NOW as in the future optic yellow softballs ONLY will be allowed in Slow Pitch games in San Francisco. It's not ideal to have "mixed" white and optic yellow balls in play in one game, but we wanted teams to be able to preserve their investments in the white balls they may already have purchased. Again, we urge you to use up your stocks of white ASA Softballs AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. If you have any questions, please call the League Office at (415) 831-6316.

Here is a link showing some ASA Optic Yellow Softballs (note - not all balls and sources pictured may meet the other standards, please see below for more detail. And below is the official Rules and Regulations section governing regulation Softballs. Note the text "OR OPTIC YELLOW" has been added where appropriate.

1. BALLS: Only OFFICIAL ASA softballs bearing this certification mark may be used in league games. Softballs must also meet the additional requirements, below. 

 A. All Fast Pitch Leagues will use optic yellow red stitch, 12-inch ball, with a Ball COR of .47 and a Ball Compression of 375.

B. The white cover OR OPTIC YELLOW , red-stitch, (and/or red or black indelible stamping as approved by the ASA) 11-inch ball, with a COR .44, and a Ball Compression of 375** will be used by Women’s Slow Pitch Leagues and for all female batters in COED leagues.

C. The white cover OR OPTIC YELLOW, red-stitch, (and/or red or black indelible stamping as approved by the ASA) 12-inch ball with a Ball COR of .44, and a Ball Compression of 375** will be used by Seniors, and Open Slow Pitch leagues, and for all male batters in CO-ED leagues.

D. If available, ASA softballs can be purchased from umpires, park directors or the League office.

E. Balls will be provided for playoff games only.

**no cork center balls allowed.

2.) TONIGHT!!! Friday 6/4 - Special Registration NIGHT and Party at Sports Basement (Presidio)

Come on down after work tonight!!! It's back by popular demand! SF Softball has once again partnered with Sports Basement! On Friday, June 4th from 6-8pm you are invited to come to the Presidio Sports Basementstore (directions below) to sign your team up for the Summer 2010 Softball Season. SF Softball Personnel will be on hand accepting Rosters and payments for the 2010 Summer Season of SF Softball. Sports Basement will provide complimentary snacks and drinks (yes, beer and wine too!) and will also offer a 15% discount to everyone that attends! The discount includes all services and products including all the softball gear you need (including league approved softballs for the season) -- as well as skis, bikes and even sale items!  

Sports Basement also offers a full uniform and printing shop. Teams can order jerseys and printing options that night and have them ready by the first game ... all orders placed that night will also receive 15% off!    

Sports Basement is a sporting goods and outdoor store that offers the best brands at basement prices.  Come check out the huge warehouse packed with merchandise all at 10-60% below retail. Top brands include: The North Face, Mountain Hardwear, Burton, Asics, Adidas, Under Armour and many more!  www.sportsbasement.com 

*For the uniform printing you will need to gather the team's details to place the order.  Use the order form to record your uniform and printing needs, player sizes, names and numbers:  http://www.sportsbasement.com/General_info.asp.  Bring this with you to make the process easier. 

** You must RSVP for this special event by sending an email to Patty at pprislin@sportsbasement.com. Players as well as Team Managers are all welcome and encouraged to attend this special event.

(In your RSVP email please indicate the expected number of people from your team that will be attending.)

IT IS REAL IMPORTANT THAT YOU RSVP… Why? Well, for one reason, the San Francisco Softball League brings Registration materials to the event based on how many RSVPs we get.  Even though we brought twice as many registration packets as we had RSVPs for the Spring Registration Night, due to the large turnout we did run out of registration packets before the end of the night.

Also, Sports Basement provides party provisions (food/drinks) based on RSVPs, so please RSVP with your team name and how many will be attending so we have plenty of “stuff” for everybody! Thanks!

 The Presidio Sports Basement Store is located at: 610 OLD Mason St, San Francisco between Crissy Field and the Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District.

Click Here for a Map to the Presidio Sports Basement Store.