The Seattle Chinese Athletic Association (SCAA) was formed in 1968 by a group of Seattle Asian Community members with the goal of providing a place for community youth to participate in athletics.
The idea of the organization was born in July of that year at a retirement party for Gene Boyd held at the Washington Athletic Club. Boyd had been the director of the Collins Field House—located across the street from the Buddhist Church. Al Mar, Phil Mar, Pudge Eng, John Dong, Glen Yee, Cal Chin, Ed Wong and others had participated in athletics at the field house in their youth.
Gathered at the party, the men lamented that their children did not participate in group athletic activity. That evening they took the initiative to create an organization to change that. Shortly thereafter, they met with Ruth Smith, who was the director of the Jefferson Community Center. It was at that meeting that SCAA became a reality.
The original enrollment was just 35 boys who played softball, tennis and basketball. Today more than 260 boys and girls participate on 24 SCAA teams.
