LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In its continued investment into the sport of softball, Major League Baseball (MLB)
has signed a multi-year extension as an Official Sponsor of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
The leader in the bat-ball industry, MLB, has shown its commitment to advance the growth of softball, not only with the NFCA, but also its backing of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), a first-of-its-kind partnership with a women’s professional sports league. It will play a significant role with the NFCA’s educational and access & opportunity platforms through membership opportunities, Convention programming, Coaches Clinics and recruiting seminars.
MLB will host an “MLB Together” session at the 2025 and 2026 Conventions in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, N.J. This is an opportunity for coaches to discuss various topics to enhance access and opportunity. Attendees can ask questions, share information, or just listen to best practices for helping student-athletes and coaches.
“Extending our partnership with Major League Baseball is transformative for the softball community,” said NFCA CEO Carol Bruggeman. “MLB took a chance on the NFCA with its first-ever Official Sponsorship and we are honored to continue our work together. The mutual respect, trust, and admiration both parties have developed through various initiatives has helped grow the game of softball. From scholarships, to youth memberships, to clinic attendance, to broadcasting games from our Division I Leadoff Classic Tournament on MLB Network, this newly expanded sponsorship will open new doors for many in the softball community. This partnership will extend the NFCA's visibility and reach for access and professional development. We applaud MLB's commitment to the continued growth of softball.”
The partnership has also grown on the field as well. At the 2024 Leadoff Classic, Major League Baseball, teamed up with GameChanger and the Association to broadcast three games, on MLB Network, the first live collegiate softball contests to be televised on MLB Network. The success of those broadcasts led to a second straight year of three televised softball matchups on the network.
Additionally, the NFCA and Major League Baseball will host MLB’s highly-regarded PLAY BALL activations at select 2026 and 2027 NFCA Leadoff Classics. Taking place the day prior to the start of the tournament, this free event for local youths is designed to generate interest and introduce youth to softball related activities, demonstrating the verity of ways the game can be played in nearly any setting, while also providing players, parents and coaches with the information and resources to help with proper technique and instruction. Additionally, student-athletes from the tournament’s participating schools will assist with the events as instructors.
Tying into Access & Opportunity initiatives, this sponsorship will afford all head coaches from Historically Black Colleges or Universities to have their NFCA memberships provided at no cost to them through the 2026 calendar year. In conjunction, one HBCU head coach will receive a full scholarship to attend the 2025 and 2026 Conventions.
Prioritizing growth at the grassroots level, some youth coaches from MLB’s Nike RBI and Youth Academy network will receive an NFCA membership for the 2025 and 2026 calendar years. MLB’s youth coaching network will also benefit from access to the NFCA’s annual Recruiting Seminar, and the NFCA will have one representative lead an in-person recruiting session at an MLB Develops event in 2025 and 2026.
On top of that, MLB will cover enrollment for a select number of coaches in the 2025-26 and 2026-27 NFCA Regional Coaches Clinics.
“Major League Baseball’s continued investment in the softball space underscores the League’s commitment to increasing opportunities for women and girls across all levels of the sport,” said MLB Chief Baseball Development Officer, Tony Reagins. “Our continued partnership with the NFCA enhances our ability to broaden access and create meaningful pathways for those who play the game. We look forward to the impact this collaboration will have in further strengthening and growing the softball community.”
MLB will be the title sponsor of the 2025 and 2026 “What’s Next Coach” Mentoring Session. This annual event provides current student-athletes with the opportunity to explore future careers within the game from coaching to administration and umpiring. The NFCA and MLB are excited to pave the way for future leaders of the diamond sports.
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its extensive awards and scholarships program, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from NFCA podcasts to a comprehensive drills database, to in-person events and a National Convention.
Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining our lineup of 7,000 coaches today!
