How Long Has The CCSL Been An Organization?
The league was formed in 1993 and consisted of five teams that constituted one Open Division. In 1994, the CCSL became a member of the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) which allowed our league to send representatives to the Gay Softball World Series held each year.
The Cactus Cities Softball League is incorporated in the State of Arizona as a non-profit corporation. The IRS has determined that the Corporation also conforms to the requirements for a 501(c)(3) organization. Therefore, any individual contributions are tax deductible.
Continuous growth has transformed the league into two divisions, an Open Division and Women’s Division. In 1998 the CCSL added a fall league in addition to the fall open play days for new and unaffiliated players. The league had its first world championship in 2000 with Sensuous, Ah So Nasty The Adult Shoppe winning the women's alternative division crown in Toronto. The 2002 spring league consisted of 11 Open Division teams and 9 Women’s Division teams.
Open play dates are always scheduled at the beginning of each season to allow new and returning unaffiliated players the chance to participate.
What Makes Up Each Division?
The 2002 CCSL spring league was composed of 9 Women's Division teams and 11 Open Division teams.
The Open Division was further divided into two subdivisions, Diamondback and Sidewinder. The Diamondback Division consisted of teams with experienced players that enjoy playing at a higher level of intensity (this generally corresponds to A, B and upper C level teams in NAGAAA). The Sidewinder Division consisted of teams with players that range in skill levels from beginning to intermediate (generally, lower C and D level teams in NAGAAA). The Sidewinder Division promotes a great atmosphere of fun and sportsmanship. Furthermore, the low-pressure setting is ideal for players interested in improving their skill levels and attaining a better understanding of the game. Because women are welcome to play in the Open Division, about half the teams in Open have one or more women players.
The Women’s Division is exclusive to women. Their skill levels range from beginner to competitive. This division provides a terrific avenue for bringing the lesbian community together in an environment of independence, friendship, and competition. The Women's Division is further split into two subdivisions, Competitive and Alternative. These divisions are reflective of the skill level of the players on each team and the team's past competitive record.
The CCSL is proud to be an organization that provides gays and lesbians individuality while creating a spirit of sportsmanship that inspirationally unites these groups into one strong community.
How Do I Get Placed On A Team?
Attending an open play date is the best way to sign up.
Open play dates take place at the beginning of each season. The fall league provides more opportunities for connecting with teams as we usually have open rosters during this season. You can register at the fields on the open play dates.
Unaffiliated individual players may be placed on existing teams that have openings on their rosters for league play. If all existing teams have full rosters, the league will attempt to form new teams to accommodate new players. Players will be placed on teams with other players that are at similar level of experience and skill; furthermore, any request to be rostered with a friend is normally granted. Once the league has assigned a new player to a team, the coach or a league representative will contact the participants.
The league will also try to accommodate existing teams that want to join the league. If you are on a team that is interested in playing in the Cactus Cities Softball League, contact the league by phone or email.
What Is NAGAAA?
Created in 1977, the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance is a non-profit, international organization comprised of men and women dedicated to promoting amateur athletics for the gay community. NAGAAA was formed to encourage the participation of gay men and women in organized softball competition.
Currently, almost 50 gay softball leagues in about 30 cities in the United States and Canada are members of NAGAAA. Teams representing these leagues participate in NAGAAA's Gay Softball World Series ("GSWS"), hosted each year by a different member city.
NAGAAA currently has two divisions: Open and Women's. The Women's Division is comprised exclusively of women’s teams and has two divisions - a competitive and an alternative. The Open Division is comprised of teams made up of men and women or teams that are exclusively male. In addition, the Open Division is further classified into four divisions: A, B, C and D. These divisions pertain to the competitive level of play.
