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Online now: 4 members: Big Cat#5, TABLE SETTER 11, cecil, lgafoains.com; 102 anonymousDiscussion: Time to Eliminate One Age Group?
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| Oct. 18, 2017 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Time to Eliminate One Age Group? Back about 7 years ago when I was 58, I floated the idea of eliminating one age group by going to a 50-58 division, and a 59-65 division. It did not get much traction then, but after this discussion about Thunderstruck, maybe it is time now. I did not see much drop off in ability between 50 and 58, and as I have gotten older this has not changed. But, the drop off has accelerated tremendously now at the older ages. At 58 I still had the mindset to compete with the 50 year old 'kids'. But as we age, Father Time has taken its toll more and more, on all of us. There is a huge difference between 60's and 65's and an even bigger one at 70's. A lot of guys, including me, are much more ready to 'age up' now. I know from conversations that many agree with this. The advantages of this new setup would be that there would be more teams to play in each division, especially in the M and M+. I get it that 50AAA will get super large in Worlds, but Dave is great at putting the brackets together. And there would be 4 less brackets. This problem of putting a 55 M+ team into the 50 M bracket would be much less likely to happen, and you don't seem to see it in the older divisions. Conditioning, technology, new surgical techniques and so many other factors have us playing better and better at older ages. "We can rebuild him!" from the 6 million dollar man is actually here and more guys are staying stronger longer, with the biggest difference in the 50 and 55 age groups, as I see it. Maybe it is time to consider this. I know this is just a forum for airing ideas, but if it does gain traction, I think it might be worth putting it to the SSUSA office officially. What do you guys think? Mark Weber 65 M+ |
| Oct. 18, 2017 NYTX Men's 65 55 posts | I think this sounds like a good idea. Especially in local tournaments, when there never seems to be enough teams in each of the 3 age brackets (55, 60 and 65). Combining those 3 into 2 groups makes a lot of sense to me. In the locals, we usually end up playing teams outside of our age bracket anyway. It would also make the big tournaments even bigger because you basically would have more teams in each of the groups you mention. I would certainly be in favor of it. |
| Oct. 18, 2017 garyheifner 649 posts | Sorry, but the teams that are just rolling up to the 50s and up are going to basically pound the teams that are mostly made up of 57 and 58 year olds. I believe the older aged teams will be discouraged rather quickly. I play on a decent 70 AAA team that is made up of mostly 73 to 75 year olds. We just can't compete with the teams that just rolled up to 70s from the 65 division. They are just younger, faster, stronger. And, that is only a 5 year increment. I like the 5 year increments much better. |
| Oct. 19, 2017 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Gary, I respectfully disagree-to some extent. Our team learned the senior game and improved to the point we did our best as an older 50's team. The drop off in abilities that just comes with age is MUCH slower between 50-58 than it is every 5 years after that. At our age we tend to forget we were pretty strong in our 50's compared to now. And at our age-I am 65-the every 5 year increment is right-and the difference in a young 60's team and an older 60's team is pronounced. |
| Oct. 19, 2017 TimMcElroy 942 posts | I agree with Gary on this one. While a 56-57 year old athlete with Major Plus level skills can compete with 50 yr olds, the vast majority of 55+ senior players (average joe's) cannot. |
| Oct. 19, 2017 softball4b Men's 70 1248 posts | I love 3A, I mean Webbie, but his perspective is skewed because of the division he is playing in. I would agree that in the M+ division what he is proposing is feasible, but not in the M and AAA. What would make more sense is eliminating the AA division. Mike Adair |
| Oct. 19, 2017 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Well excuuuuuussseeee meeeee! LOL There is no way to just do that in M or M+. I'm out!!! |
