Ontario PWSA reverses its anti-college stance

[Inthestands]

The PWSA.....Ontario's monopoly governing body for girls fastball has reversed its poorly designed rule regarding team participation.

By way of brief background, PWSA has no governance over College or University softball in Canada (such as it is). PWSA governs rep ball at the provincial level by way of a self imposed monopoly. The rule stated, in short, that a player who affiliated with a PWSA club team must play with that club team at any and every event it had scheduled or face punitive action from the PWSA (sickness or injury excepted). No release would be allowed for a player wishing to play elsewhere even if this included her summer College or University team.

The rule forced players to chose between their summer club team, usually used to stay in shape and tuned up over the summer break, and their University/College team if there was a conflict. Chose your College and you would be sanctioned in various ways by the PWSA. The PWSA flatly refused to change this rule and warned if it is violated, they would be bared from participating on Team Ontario at the Canada Summer Games, their individual affiliation would be cancelled and they would be denied the opportunity to try out for Team Canada for the Junior World team. Hardly a way to foster the development of softball and that was well recognized by everyone....except of course PWSA.

In a recent test case, University players asked their summer teams for a release to be able to play for their University team on a conflict weekend. The summer team coach was highly supportive and informed PWSA that she would willingly grant the release as the University team took precedence over her summer team....as far as she and her players were concerned.

Enter the head coach of a Canadian University Team. He called PWSA directly.....and although we are not aware of the words exchanged.....the rule has been tossed. Players will be able to play in the event if a conflict with their University team and no punitive action will be taken. This then sets a precedence for this poorly thought out rule to be tossed completely.

This is being posted here as Canadian Fastpitch forum is no longer online.....please see posting in the "Canada" section of regional news regarding this.