By: Shannon McCarty, Newton Park
132 years ago, the game of softball was created. Since then, the game has stolen heart of millions around the world.
Since softball is such a hit in the sports world, the International Softball Federation (ISF) has announced June 13th as World Softball Day.
George Hancock chalked up the idea of softball from a boxing glove, an improvised large soft ball, and a broomstick in 1887. Since then, softball has expanded to little leagues, high schools, colleges, and even the Summer Olympics in 1996.
In 2005 the first World Softball Day was celebrated internationally in efforts to familiarize people with the game. Countries such as Moscow, Zimbabwe, the Republic of Georgia, China, and many others created programs and clinics to teach the game of softball as well as host tournaments for kids to play in.
In 2009, shortly after the decision to remove softball from the Olympics, the ISF renamed World Softball Day to Back Softball Dayin efforts to bring it back to the Summer Olympics. Many countries supported the campaign by developing programs that allowed players to compete against foreign players.
After ISF’s efforts and many petitions later, softball made a grand slam accomplishment and is now in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo!
Newton Park is proud to host LaVille Youth Sports softball teams for the first time this 2019 season! Our Hall of Fame facility provides softball players the opportunity to play on gorgeous fields while learning the game loved by so many around the world.
Now, Newton Park has the opportunity to celebrate softball every day beyond World Softball Day.
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