SSUSA, the written word doesn’t always come across the way it’s intended so let me start by saying I don’t mean this message in a negative way. I think SSUSA is the single best Sr. softball association and my suggestion below “might” help make it even better.

My team has played 2 tournaments in 2025 and there have been a number of rules applied that aren’t consistent with SSUSA’s rule book. I recognize some tourneys are run by “independent” directors, but as players we don’t make that distinction, we view all tournaments on the SSUSA site as SSUSA sanctioned tournaments.

Here are a few examples of unique rules we experienced:
1) We made it to the championship game out of the losers bracket to face the team out of the winner’s bracket. The umpire did a coin toss that we won, then the director stepped in and said the team out of the winner’s bracket is always the home team, so we became the visiting team.
2) In a pool game we were down 20-10 after 6 innings and the umpire called the game by the “10-run” rule, which doesn't exist for SSUSA. (I don’t believe we would have come back to win the game so that’s not my point here.)
3) In one of the two tournaments game time for all pool and bracket games was 62 minutes. (One of our games ended after 4½ innings and two games after 5 innings.)
4) One tourney used the flip/flop rule and one did not.
5) Last year we played an SSUSA tourney that used a 0-0 count instead of the standard 1-1 count.
6) This one isn’t a rule concern, but neither tourney posted any pool, bracket or even team names on the SSUSA tourney site. One posted the pool schedule after the tourney started and one never posted any pre or post info.

Would SSUSA consider requiring all tournaments under the SSUSA umbrella to use the same set of rules? This next one is a little more challenging, but would SSUSA consider requiring all tournaments to post pool and bracket info in advance and to post tournament results after the tourney?

I’d be glad to submit these suggestions through a formal process if SSUSA believes they have merit. Just let me know. Thx for your consideration.

Hi Rick - I do not speak for SSUSA. I am an SSUSA umpire. If you would like an official response from SSUSA, please write them an email. Much of what you have written above is already addressed in the official rulebook, which is online for you to see. Here is my suggestion: If you have an umpire tell you that a game is over due to a 10 point "run rule", calmly ask for a director. The umpire is required then to call the director over. You can then have a discussion with the director, who should know the run rule as well. If for some reason (which I can't imagine) both the umpire and the director are not aware of the official run rule, you can then file a formal protest of the game. All of this can be handled pretty effortlessly and calmly. Another tip: Game time. The game time is usually written on the card. The umpire is supposed to put the beginning of the game time on the card as well. You can then keep time yourself if you like. It's a pretty transparent process. Finally, I have never seen a director who does not have access to the rulebook. So, if you have a question, you can always ask that the director to show you the rule. Of course, you can print out the rules for yourself if you like and keep it with you.

Finally, all rule change suggestions need to be submitted in writing (or email) to SSUSA. Suggestions made on this message board are not considered. Hope that helps.

Hey Bruce,
Thanks much for your response. I’ll follow your suggestion and shoot SSUSA an email to see if they’re receptive to requiring all tournaments under their purview to follow the same set of rules. I’ve found even if SSUSA isn’t receptive to an idea they’re good about responding and explaining their rationale.

Based on your response it looks like there’s a point I didn’t communicate very well. The issue wasn’t that the 2 tournaments didn’t know the SSUSA rules, both said the items that didn’t follow SSUSA rules were rules that were specific to their tournaments. My hope is that all tournaments under SSUSA’s umbrella will follow the same set of SSUSA rules.

Thanks again for your suggestions.