Rec Tournaments Increasingly Popular

Jan. 1, 2009

By Steve Simmons

Softball News Report

SHOREWOOD, Minn. – Readers will notice a recurring theme as they read through the regional section of this issue of Senior Softball News.

In the East section, there is an article on the SSUSA Recreational New England Championship Tournament. In the Southwest section, you can read about the SSUSA Recreational Colorado Wood Bat Tournament. The North section centers around the SSUSA Recreational Winter Dome Tournament. The Florida section reports on an upcoming SSUSA Recreational Showcase Tournament and the Mid-South section summarizes the series of Corpus Christi SSUSA Recreational Tournaments held throughout 2008, culminating with a circuit championship.

The tournaments vary greatly in style, format and rules. Some are geared for the Major Plus and Major players; some are for the recreational league players; some allow all the specified SSUSA equipment (including the Miken Ultra II bat); some restrict the equipment (wood bats); some are umpired and some are not; some award prize money while others offer no special recognition to the winners; and most have modified rules (the use of a pitcher’s protection screen, consideration for indoor play, etc).

The list of differences is endless but the one common thread is that these tournaments are providing senior softball players, of all skill levels, tournament experiences in their own backyards. For the most part the tournaments are populated by local teams, teams don’t have to travel half way across the country to participate.

Rosters can be constructed in whatever manner dictated by the tournament organizers. It is not uncommon to do away with age specific divisions and have the tournament teams consist of seniors of all ages.

Many tournaments, in an effort to keep the costs at a minimum, dispense with awards and play without umpires. The umpiring is handled by volunteers, players not playing in that particular game, or the teams that are involved in the game call the games themselves.

In this time of economic strife, and ever increasing tournament entry fees, the SSUSA recreational tournament is becoming a popular low-cost alternative to the SSWC tournament circuit.

These tournaments have been well received and are becoming more and more common, especially among clubs and leagues participants. If you wish to know more about SSUSA recreational tournaments (tournaments insured by the SSUSA at a minimal cost to the players) or would like to start one of your own and would like to receive advice, please contact your local SSUSA Clubs & Leagues director. If you are not able to contact a local SSUSA Clubs & Leagues director feel free to contact me:



Steven Simmons – SSUSA C&L National Director

(H) 952-470-9250

(C) 952-239-7674

(E) stnlsimmons@aol.com