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| May 21, 2018 Crusher23 Men's 55 53 posts | 2018 LVSSA/SSUSA WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS schedule vent So I'm 57 year's of age this year and I have been playing 50+ for several years. This year I was also fortunate enough to hook up with a 55+ team so I am able to play in both age levels. Lovin it. Damn, I love my softball! I was looking forward to going to worlds in Vegas for both teams and then I saw that the 50's and the 55's are scheduled TWO WEEKS apart from each other. This sucks, I can't afford to fly out to Vegas and then stay there for two full weeks, especially after blowing a ton a dough in Louden this past weekend and having nothing to show for it. This is a royal bummer, now I have to choose to play for only one of these teams - the one I don't choose will disown me. Just great. I know that putting a schedule together for 600 teams or so is no easy task, but I know that there plenty of guys out there in the same position as me that play in both 50 and 55 and will now be faced with the same decision of having to pick one team over the other for financial reasons. Hek, there's probably plenty of guys that are playing both 55 and 60 and they're screwed also, since both of those age groups are playing the SAME weekend together. Pick one team over the other. Bummer. I would suggest for next year that perhaps the scheduling committee take into consideration that many of us play in two adjacent age groups and try to schedule all the adjacent age groups one weekend apart from each other. The way I see it, this could be accomplished by alternating every other weekend on the schedule for each 5 year jump in age group - Put the 50's, 60's,70's & 80's together on one weekend, then the 40's, 55', 65's, 75's & 85's together for the next weekend. No one would have to be faced with having to choose one team over another, nor would they have to stay out there longer than back to back weekends to play on both teams. I'm sure that SSUSA will tell me that the numbers of teams in each age group don't make it possible for a balanced schedule like I suggest above, but I'm sure something very close could be arranged. OK, I feel better now. Thank you all for letting me vent. |
| May 21, 2018 MurrayW Men's 65 221 posts | I had thought about posting something similar to this a few weeks ago. I'm 64 and play both 55 and 60 so I have to choose one team since they both play on the same weekend. Doing what Crusher23 suggests would allow me to do that. I'm sure that there are more 50 teams than any other age level, so there would have to be some consideration into how many teams at each level are playing to make sure that there are enough teams. But it sure would be nice to be able to play with both teams. I did do that with 50's and 55's when they played on consecutive weekends, but it was cheaper for me to fly home and back again rather than stay in Las Vegas during the week. So from my standpoint, having them on consecutive weekends is not as important as having them on different weekends. |
| May 21, 2018 rightrj1 Men's 55 286 posts | I'm in agreement also and yes there are a lot of guys in this situation...Especially since SSUSA won't allow teams to play down just for the Worlds anymore... (I know Dave) lol..... I play 60's and had to turn down playing on a 55 team because the worlds are the same weekend...would love to kook-up with a 50's team for the worlds! Maybe in 2019 they'll have different weekends for 40's, 50, 55, & 60's. |
| May 21, 2018 DaveDowell Men's 70 4312 posts | Since you three are on the same page, here's an easy to comprehend and inescapable conclusion, and one that probably shouldn't result in a never-ending thread ... ___________________ Absent the creation of an eight-day week, the schedule constraints from four-day sessions in three of four sessions, and therefore layout, will result in this ... NOTE: The 2017 reference number of teams by group is in parentheses, total was 612 ... SESSION #1 • Thursday-Sunday • Men's 55+ (97) and 60+ (104) = 201 total SESSION #2 • Monday-Thursday • Men's 65+ and better (146) SESSION #3 • Friday-Sunday • 40-Masters (Men and Women) and Senior Women 50+ and up (122) ...[Week #2 Monday-Wednesday "dark" (no games)] SESSION #4 • Thursday-Sunday • Men's 50+ (143) The three-day session #3 has to go in the middle weekend ... Fairly simple assignment result because Session #1 has the most available game slots and facilities AND the most teams ... Swapping the 50+ with the 60+ doesn't fit the games demand geometry ... |
| May 22, 2018 MurrayW Men's 65 221 posts | Thanks for the explanation, Dave. The only other option I see (and I am sure you would get more complaints doing this) would be to start the 60's prior to Session #1 on Monday-Thursday! If you did this, then I could play the 60's, 55's and 65's consecutively next year, but spending a week and a half in Vegas would probably not be good for my retirement savings! |
| May 22, 2018 DaveDowell Men's 70 4312 posts | MurrayW ... Not sure another four days in Las Vegas would be a very popular decision either internally with staff or externally with the teams! ... We're there about 17 consecutive days already, and that's way more than enough! ... With the "youngers", there's also the issue of a lot of people still employed full time ... Thanks for the comments ... |
| May 22, 2018 MurrayW Men's 65 221 posts | Dave, I say I would like it, but I am still working fulltime and just put in my vacation for the year. Between my 55 and 60 teams, I used all but 1 day of my allotment for our 5 out of state tournaments! |
| May 28, 2018 Fabe Men's 65 456 posts | Think about trying to fly back n forth from the Tropics! Aurite...Aloha, Fabe |
