News brief

Survey Finds Players Practice, Exercise, Surf 'Net

March 1, 2001 – Senior Softball-USA

Senior Softball players like to stay in shape, surf the Internet and practice at least an hour a week, according to a 2001 Senior Softball News survey.

Keeping in shape is extremely important to softball players. A good portion of the players ˆ 47 percent -- own at least one piece of exercise equipment and 36 percent belong to a health club.

The most popular piece of home exercise equipment, according to the survey, is the stationary bicycle. About 27 percent of the players own an exercise cycle, while 22 percent own free weights. Other popular pieces of exercise equipment include treadmills and Nordic Tracks.

While 64 percent of the players responding to the survey said they practiced at least an hour a week, the duration of practice ranged from 1 hour to 10 hours per week. Most ˆ 24 percent ˆ practiced 2 hours a week and about 19 percent practiced 1 hour a week. About 7 percent practiced 3 to 4 hours a week, and another 7 percent practiced 4-5 hours per week. Only 2 percent practiced 10 hours a week.

One of the most interesting changes was in use of the Internet. An earlier survey of senior softball players in 1997 found that only about 17 percent used the Internet. Just 4 years later, in the 2001 survey, 63 percent said they used the Internet. More than 65 percent have home computers.

Players responded to a survey published in the January edition of Softball News. Those responding were eligible for a drawing for a DeMarini bat. The winner, drawn on March 2, is Jerome Schaaf, 61, Inverness Fla.