NAGAAA

North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance

North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance

Non-profit organization

The North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) is a non-profit, international association of gay and lesbian softball leagues.[1] As of 2023, NAGAAA rebranded to International Pride Softball.

NAGAAA was founded in 1977 and the first elected Commissioner was Warren Shepell, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It currently has 54 member leagues in the United States and Canada. The current Commissioner is Jeff Sloan.

NAGAAA recognizes seven divisions of play, from the competitive A division through B, C, D and E, plus two Legends Divisions for players age 50 and above. NAGAAA also maintains a player rating system used to evaluate player skill levels to ensure safety and competitive play. While each member city operates independently, NAGAAA membership allows for a consistent framework for operating interleague play during numerous tournaments hosted by member cities and at the two annual NAGAAA hosted tournaments, the Gay Softball World Series (GSWS) for all divisions, and the NAGAAA Cup Invitational tournament for teams from A and B divisions and the two Legends divisions. The 2019 GSWS held in Kansas City includes "208 teams and is expected to attract more than 5,000 people."[2] The NAGAAA has grown to more than 3,000 teams and 25,000 participants.[2] The GSWS is the largest annual, LGBTQ, "single-sport, week-long athletic competition in the world."[2]

Prior to 2007, there was also a division for all female teams but the Amateur Sports Alliance of North America was formed from NAGAAA in 2007.

Current member leagues

54 member leagues:

Gay Softball World Series

Each year teams representing these leagues participate in the NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series (GSWS), hosted each year in a different member city.

Each member city is allowed to send an unlimited number of teams in the A division and up to three team in each of the B, C, D and E divisions based on the size of the local league, with larger cities allowed more teams. Members cities are encouraged to send at least one team to the GSWS each year.

Future sites for the Gay Softball World Series
2024 - Las Vegas, Nevada
2025 - Houston, Texas
2026 - to be determined
2027 - San Francisco, California (50th GSWS)

Gay Softball World Series Champions

More information Year, Host City ...
  • Co-Champions have been declared in 2010 and 2018 for some divisions due to inclement weather.

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Home". North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  2. [2]
    "Gay Softball World Series draws 5,000 people to Kansas City". KMBZ FM. September 3, 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
  3. [3]
    Minneapolis Region to Host 2022 Gay Softball World Series | Sports Minneapolis
  4. [4]
    NAGAAA News | GSWS 2020 Update
  5. [5]
    NAGAAA 2012 Gay Softball World Series | Lavender Magazine
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