Covering the Bases - How Ratings Work, Forms, Balls, Free Entry

Sept. 1, 2009 – Terry Hennessy CEO

The most-asked question in senior softball is undoubtedly how we rate teams.

Our main concern with rating teams is making sure that we always protect the lower divisions. This flies in the face of adult team ratings for the past two decades, which have largely let teams play down in order to get them to come to tournaments.

The result of that policy is that the lowest divisions in adult softball have been driven out of the sport by the millions in the past two decades.

This policy also has fostered the deep belief among many teams that now play in senior softball that they should be allowed to play at a level in which they have a good chance to win. Most often, teams cite the hundreds of dollars they spend to go to tournaments “without a chance to win.”

What that usually means is that they do not want to come to tournaments unless they are in the top two to three teams. Keep in mind that there are 33 age and skill divisions in Senior Softball so teams have a better chance to win than in any other sport.

As a senior association, we are dedicated to making sure we do not lose teams at the lower levels by allowing a few teams to dominate divisions at the top.

How do we measure that?

We use a computer program to look at what the average scores are against teams in the same age and skill level, we ask directors who have seen the team play _ and seen other teams in the same skill and age group play around the country, and this year (for the first time) we are asking umpires to rank teams on a 1-10 scale in each game they play.

Over the past 12 years of rating teams, we have found that if a team is winning or losing by an average of five or more runs over three or more tournaments, then that team is very likely too strong or too weak for their division.

We take that list of teams and we give it to our regional ratings directors, get their feedback and make our decision.

Paying an entry fee does not entitle a team to win...only to compete.

This Form Could Save Your Life

We are asking – no begging – managers to download the new Player Emergency Information form from the SSUSA website and have each player fill it out.

The form asks for pertinent emergency contact and medical information. We recommend that managers require that each player fill out these forms and that managers keep these forms handy at tournaments in case of an emergency.

Many times, managers have no idea if players have pre-existing medical conditions. If a player collapses, this information could save his or her life.

It is simple, go to www.seniorsoftball.com, click on TOURNAMENTS, then FORMS, and download the Player Emergency Information form.

Balls, Balls, Balls

We would like to thanks Ellwin Jobe and the MTC Club for running a tournament test of a new ball, the Microcell 44 COR, 375 Compression Trump ball.

MTC set up the mini-tournament in May with some of the top teams in Northern California, including the MTC 50, 55 and 60s, the Old As, and Wilson Trophy 50s.

The idea was to test the ball, which was supposed to hold up better in warmer weather. The core of the Microcell ball contains less moisture, enabling it to maintain performance even in hot weather.

The ball’s performance did not change even late in the day when temperatures reached the upper 90s. Unfortunately all of the teams agreed that overall the ball did not match the performance of the standard TRUMP ball that SSUSA uses.

As a result of the tournament, SSUSA has decided to stay with the original TRUMP ball.

Chance to win free entry to 2010 SSWC

Don’t forget to book your hotel for the World Championships in Phoenix through the Senior Softball Housing Bureau on our website, www.seniorsoftball.com and automatically be eligible to win a free entry into the 2010 Senior Softball World Championships. Each of our Host Hotels is sponsoring a free entry for the 2010 SSWC!

Welcome Avis, American Airlines

SSUSA is proud to announce that Avis is the Official Car Rental Company and American Airlines is the Official Airline of Senior Softball-USA.

What does this mean for you? Click on their ads on the www.seniorsoftball.com homepage and get 5 percent off the lowest fare for American Airlines and receive significant discounts – some as much as 40 percent – from Avis.

In addition, your support means that Avis and American Airlines will help us offset the costs of tournaments to keep the prices lower for you.

Terry Hennessy is the chief executive officer of Senior Softball-USA and can be reached at TerryH@seniorsoftball.com.