Convention Faces Region, Ball Issues

Dec. 1, 2014

TUPELO, MISS. – Senior Softball-USA delegates enacted penalties for icing or altering softballs, approved a new transgender policy and launched a major study into team regions during the SSUSA/ISA Annual Convention here Dec. 2-5.

In other action, the SSUSA Rules Committee also approved 12 defensive players in the new 85 division and defeated a proposal to combine the 70 Major and Major-Plus divisions. The committee appointed a task force to further study the Major-Major Plus merger proposal and to review a recommendation to use screens.

The new penalty for altering softballs – including icing – is the forfeiture of the game. A second offense in the same tournament results in ejection from the tournament and possible suspension.

The committee also made it clear that simply throwing in the wrong ball during a game was not the same as using an altered ball. The penalty for throwing in the wrong ball is an out. A second offense is an inning-ending out.

Reacting to several requests to review the state-and-bordering-state restrictions on team rosters, the committee instructed the SSUSA staff to complete a study of player density by region and report back within 90 days.

“The original state-and-bordering-state regions were adopted as a compromise with the other national senior softball associations at the 1999 Summit,” said Terry Hennessy, SSUSA chief executive officer. “Our original regions were designed to reflect the number of players in a region and the natural geographic areas that cross several states, as in the Northeast.”

The region compromise was part of a larger agreement designed to ensure roster requirements were the same among all associations.

Today only two associations, SPA and SSUSA, actually check rosters, said Hennessy, so it is a good time to re-evaluate regions.

A proposal to merge the 70 Major and Major-Plus divisions, which included abolishing tracking of player ratings, restricting two states (California and Florida), and keeping the 5-run equalizer when currently rated Major-Plus teams play Major teams was defeated.

However, the committee approved a further study of the ideas proposed.

Donna McGuire, Midwest UIC, was elected 2015-2016 Rules Chair. For a complete summary of Rules Committee action, please go to www.seniorsoftball.com.

In addition during the Convention three people were inducted into the SSUSA Hall of Fame for 2014: Mike Vetovich of Washington in the Player category, Top Gun Softball Association of California in the Specialty category, and Jerry Jackson in the Director category.

Elected to the 2015 Hall of Fame were Bill Ruth, Lifetime Achievement; Michael Boone, Player category, and Chuck Towne, Manager category. They will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the National Convention next year.

Other SSUSA Awards included: Umpire of Year: KC Craig, Complex of the Year: Aurora (CO) Sports Complex, Tournament Director of the Year: Dave Dowell, Regional Director of the Year: Shane Verley, Executive Director Award: Josh Randall of Central Screenprint, Award of Excellence: Lee County Sports, Special Appreciation: Bill Allen.

The 2015 Convention site will be announced in January.