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SSUSA Develops Face Shields for Game Play

June 1, 2020

SSUSA National Director and Manager, Doug Robbins, shows off the SSUSA Face Shields

Senior Softball USA today announces the development of softball face shields, as well as SSUSA face masks and gaiters designed for senior softball players.

The SSUSA face shield, a plastic shield attached to the brim of a ball cap, was initially developed by Kate Hennessy in Minnesota for use for first responders and other public workers in her area.

Ironically, the idea for the face shields started with Terry Hennessy, SSUSA’s chief executive officer, cleaning out a closet full of old softball caps at the beginning of the pandemic.

“When I heard about the excess caps,” said Kate Hennessy, Terry’s sister-in-law, “I remembered an ad I saw for a baseball cap with a shield attached. I knew from being a former intensive care nurse that the shield would provide better protection than a mask, but the shields were much harder to get.”

SSUSA sent about 100 new, but dated tournament caps to Kate (the caps from Terry’s closet had been worn), and she and husband Pat developed a simple method to attach a plastic shield to the front of the cap.

“We made enough to supply the local fire department and city workers, as well as friends and family,” said Kate. “It felt good to do it.”

SSUSA took the design and modified it slightly for use by umpires and officials. Doug Robbins, manager of Timberworks, helped modify the design and tested it on the field.

“We like the design because it allows umpires to breathe much more easily when they are on the field while maintaining personal protection,” said Fran Dowell, SSUSA executive director.

“We believe players will like the shields for the same reason,” she said.

The shields are initially being developed for umpires and directors, but will also be available for players in about two weeks.

In addition, SSUSA is introducing thin face masks and gaiters for players. The face masks are intentionally very thin to make it easier to breathe and the gaiters are designed to pull down easily when a player is on the field and back up when they come off the field.

Masks and gaiters will be available next week. Masks are $10 plus shipping and gaiters are $15 plus shipping.

SSUSA face mask

The SSUSA office will be open for phone calls at 916-326-5303 from 8 am-noon Pacific Time Monday-Thursday beginning Monday, June 8.

Tournament Updates: Missouri Re-Opens Sport;

So Cal Champs Officially Moves to Yuma

Following a three month hiatus caused by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, SSUSA tournaments officially return to the diamonds this week in Columbia, Missouri.

The Missouri Open will kick-off tomorrow, Thursday, June 4, with the Men’s 65 and 70 age divisions. The Men’s 55 and 60 divisions will play this weekend, June 6-7; while the Men’s 40 and 50 divisions will play the following weekend, June 13-14.

The Midwest appears to be a solid starting point to re-launch the sport, as the Oil City Classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, June 18-21 is also currently scheduled to be played.

Along with the Midwest, Arizona and Florida are also on track to host SSUSA events.

The Southern California State Championships, June 16-21, will be extending its border a bit, as the entire tournament has officially been moved to Yuma, AZ. The move was done because the original locations of Hemet and Cathedral City will not be open in time to host.

If your team is interested in participating in the Southern California State Championships in Yuma, please email info@seniorsoftball.com as soon as possible. We will need to know by noon tomorrow, June 4.

Although some SSUSA tournaments are beginning to get the go ahead, others have been grounded.

The Western Classic in Las Cruces, June 27 – 28, which last week was expanded from a Women’s only tournament to include Men’s 40 – 60, was cancelled this week. SSUSA was informed that the facility would be closed through the end of June.

Other tournaments that have been cancelled include the Old Line State Showdown in Maryland, the Northern California State Championships, and the KC Monarch Qualifier in Kansas, which was scheduled for August 13-16.

As a reminder, SSUSA will be determining the status of upcoming tournaments two weeks prior to the scheduled start date of each respective tournament.

The two weeks are needed so that SSUSA and teams can prepare for the tournaments.

Many states, counties, and cities are continuing through their respective phases of re-opening. We thank all our players and teams for their continued patience as we work to bring the sport back.

STATE-BY-BY STATE BREAKDOWN

Here is where SSUSA tournaments, scheduled through the end of July, currently stand. All tournaments below remain on as scheduled.

Arizona
June 16 - 21: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Yuma, AZ

Interested teams for the Southern California State Championships should contact SSUSA at info@seniorsoftball.com by noon tomorrow, June 4.

July 15 - 19: Ernie Jones Memorial/Western States Championships Prescott, AZ
Deadline July 3

July 25 - 26: 40s Mountain Madness II Flagstaff, AZ
Deadline July 10

Interested teams for the Western States and Mountain Madness should contact tournament director Rick Seifman, via email: tournsport@aol.com or phone: 623-776-2143.

Oklahoma
June 18 - 21: Oil City Classic Tulsa, OK
Deadline June 4

Interested teams should contact tournament director Will Rogers, via email: willsharkdaddy@aol.com or phone: 816-916-7891.

Florida
June 19 - June 21: Sunshine State Showdown Ft. Myers, FL
Deadline June 4

Interested teams should contact tournament director Tim McElroy via email: PotomacSports1@gmail.com or phone: 301-514-2676.

Washington
June 25 - 28: Inland Empire Classic Spokane, WA
Deadline June 11

July 25 - 26: Smash It Sports Invite Enumclaw, WA
Deadline July 10

For more information on the Spokane tournament, please contact Washington State Director Butch Jones, via email: katstang7@gmail.com or phone: 360-791-3862.

For more information on the tournament in Enumclaw, please contact director Tom Israelson (206-841-9955 or israelsontj@comcast.net)

Michigan
June 27 - 28: Holiday Classic Sturgis, MI
Deadline June 19

July 11 - 12: Bobby Chapp Memorial Lansing, MI (NEW DATES)
Deadline July 3

The state of Michigan lifted its stay-at-home order on June 1, and groups of up to 100 people can gather outside a long as they practice social distancing.

For more information, please contact tournament director Mike Dembicki, via email: mdembicki@capitaltire.net or phone: 586-202-8376.

New York
July 7 - 12: NORTHEAST CHAMPIONSHIPS Syracuse, NY
Deadline June 23