FSSA SENIOR SPORTS NEWS!

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2007
NATIONAL AND WORLD
SENIOR SOFTBALL
TOURNAMENT LISTINGS

ISF - Manassas, VA June 22 - 24
SPA
KCMO - M & M+ July 13-15
Dalton, Ga 50+55+ AA-AAA Sep 6-9
Dalton, Ga 75+80+ Sept 6-9
Dalton, Ga 60+65+ AA-AAA 9/13-16
Dalton, Ga 70+ Sept. 13 - 16
ISA - Bridgeton, MO July 27-29
NSA
50+ Boaz, AL - July 27-29
55+ Gadsden, AL - July 27-29
60+ 65+70+ Cullman, AL - 7/27-29
USSSA - Brookfield, WI August 3-6
ISSA - Manassas, VA August 17-19
SSWS - Mankato, MN 8/23-30
ASA- Burlington, NC Aug 31 - Sep 3
LVSSA - Vegas SEP 24 - Oct 7
SSUSA - Phoniex, AZ Oct 19 - 28
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WHY ARE ASSOCIATIONS COMBINING AGE GROUPS?
by Mike Walker

SSUSA now is in the business of combining age groups within the Major+ divisions at major tournaments. My question is WHY?

This is not a good way to handle this situation in my opinion. I am not clear what or why SSUSA continues to conclude that combining age groups is the right way to handle having three or less teams in the major+ division of a specific age group?

The logic is hard to understand when all past senior softball summit rules related to this topic were directed towards combining divisions of play not age groups!!!!

There were at least 6 or more unhappy teams at the SSUSA Annual Spring Nationals in Polk County, Florida this past April. With local directors left holding the bag and taking the blame for what appears to have been a national office decision. Not good for SSUSA or senior softball in general when these kinds of things happen.

We have already seen fewer teams playing at the Major+ level than before and this trend is continuing. So combining age groups is one option but it is not in my opinion the best option.

What happened to the idea of combining divisions in the same age groups? If you play a lower division team then give the lower division the option of additional runs or defensive players or something. Or how about eliminating the Major+ division of play and letting the teams play where they end up classified? Of course you could just give out more awards so you don't have to combine divisions either but I guess money is an issue as always for this option!

I hope that associations take note of this situation and player dissatifaction and figure out a better way of dealing with this situation in the future before even more Major+ teams decide to stay away or fall apart.