WOMEN'S FASTBALL IN NORTH AMERICA

• Among the top 3 sports of female participation in Canada, and the #1 summer sport.
  
  
• Among the top 3 watched team sports at the Olympics of 2004, based on attendance.
  
  
• 35 College/University teams in Canada.
  
  
• No. 1 College/University sport for women in U.S.A. (900+ teams).

WOMEN'S FASTBALL GROWTH IN CANADA AND ALBERTA

• No. 1 summer sport for women in Canada based on participation.
  
  
• 1980 - Simon Fraser University enters team in U.S.A. - National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
  
  
• 1981 - OCAA (Ontario College Athletic Association) formation of 8 team league; 2006 - OCAA Level 2 Conference of 7 teams.
  
  
• 2002 - Formation of AIWFA (Alberta Intercollegiate Women's Fastball Association) with 5 teams in Alberta: University of Lethbridge, Medicine Hat College, University of Calgary, Mount Royal College, SAIT.
  
  
• 2002 - Formation of OIWFA (Ontario Intercollegiate Women's Fastball Association) with 12 university teams in Ontario.
  
  
• 2003 - AIWFA - adds Red College and NAIT.
  
  
• 2003 - New Brunswick - 4 university teams.
  
  
• 2004 - AIWFA adds University of Alberta (Green).
  
  
• 2005 - AIWFA adds University of Alberta (Gold) and Olds College.
  Discussion: Promoting establishment of High School Girls' Fastball as feeder for the post-secondary institutions.
  
  
• 2006 - AIWFA adds University of Regina.
  
  
• 2007 - October 6-8 - National University Championships ("Structured Invitational") hosted by University of Calgary Lady Dinos.
  
  
• 2007-2008 Scholarship Development Program.

AIWFA - IT'S DEVELOPMENT- IT'S DRIVING FORCES

A year of discussions commencing in the autumn of 2001 culminated in the autumn of 2002 with a series of exhibition games. The ensuing November meeting inaugurated the Alberta Intercollegiate Women's Fastball Association and League to commence league play in September 2003. A momentous occasion it was attended by coaches who were visionaries and risk-takers, in particular led by Barry Johnson (President of AIWFA) and Len Trottier (Executive Director of AIWFA and League Convenor).

Fastball in the autumn: It was introduced as an autumn sport (September-October) in the universities and colleges of Alberta with long term intent to be accepted as a conference in Canadian Intervarsity Sport West (CIS West) and Alberta Colleges Athletic Commission (ACAC).

ACAC in 2007: Interested in potentially adding a new conference, Women's Fastball to commence in 2008. Proposal and approval by ACAC Athletic Directors (at least 4) will make this a reality. Readiness by coaches and athletes at 4 or more respective colleges will cause Athletic Directors to make this a reality, optimistically by the end of 2007.

A similar approach toward achieving a university women's fastball conference will be attempted with CIS West.

AIWFA, the association: It was formed as the parent and promotional organization behind the League. Its main goals included:

Complimentary responses about the league:

• The most positive endeavour ever attempted in fastball! Athletes are excited about the opportunity to represent their institution and about the rapid growth in the quality of competition.
  
  
• In their minds, athletes have expressed excitement to compete at the college and university level in Canada and less interested in the travel and expense of attending institutions out of country.
  
  
• League developments have moved forward buoyed by athlete response.

Cost considerations issue:

• A concern with most institutions in the adoption of new intercollegiate programs.
  
  
• Fastball has managed to operate a 20-game schedule and championships at costs considerably less expensive than intercollegiate sport leagues in CIS and ACAC.

Athletic Directors' comments:

• 2005 - ACAC Athletic Directors complimented AIWFA on it's, "excellent work that very well promotes women's fastball within the Alberta colleges sport system."
  
  
• ACAC past president, Al Ferchuk has commented on the, "professionalism in planning and organization of AIWFA".
  
  
• 2007 - Dr. Richard Day, the Executive Director of ACAC suggests that, "they are interested in women's fastball because of its readiness for the next step, that it could be the next conference league in ACAC". This information is supported by an ACAC survey of Athletic Directors.

Growth of player talent pool:

• Notably, teams have drawn players from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, and the USA.
  
  
• Players who have competed on our teams come from prestigious backgrounds; in the National team pool, award winners at National Championships in Midget, Junior and Senior "A".

Great support at University of Alberta:
Gold medallist (2006) University of Alberta Green, and Silver medallist U of A Gold were congratulated by Universisty Board Chairman (Brian Heidecker) who in turn made a point of information to President (Dr. Indira Samarasekera) and Provost (Dr. Carl Amrhein). The Athletic Director in turn has expressed support for Women's Fastball as a future college and university sport.

Grand success story:
AIWFA teams versus United States teams namely, University of Wyoming (NAIA), Dawson College (NJCAA, Div. 1), and University of Great Falls (NAIA) resulted in 7 wins, 2 losses, and 1 tie. At the feature weekend in Regina Mount Royal College (MRC) went through the tournament undefeated. University of Regina was also undefeated only to lose the final game to MRC. Clearly there has been a growth in the caliber of our teams.

First National University Championship:

• Hosted by the University of Calgary Lady Dinos in 2007, Thanksgiving weekend: A "structured invitational event" (8 teams); Four teams from Ontario (OIWFA) and New Brunswick, the Universities of Regina, Lethbridge, Calgary and Alberta.
  
  
• National College Championship is planned currently in 2008 likely to be held in Ontario (Durham College).