Starting senior softball: team sports can be just as successful among older adults

Is there anyone out there who has already established a Senior Softball League? That was a recent question posted from Spring Grove, Penn., on NRPA's listserv; NRPAnet. For information on how to join the discussion, select "NRPAnet" from the right-hand side of NRPA's Web site (www.nrpa.org). Here are some of the responses just in time for the softball season:

You might look at the Web sites of some of the Florida cities. I know when I was in Tampa for NRPA [National Congress and Exposition] that we were touring a park and they had large numbers of seniors playing softball during the day. If I remember correctly, they had leagues for over 60, over 70 and over 80 for both men and women.--Mandeville, La.

New to Schaumburg Park District this year is a 50 Softball League. It will be Tuesdays and Fridays from 9-11:80 a.m., from the end of April through October. Cost is $20 for a resident and $30 for a non-resident.--Schaumburg, Ill.

Check with Tonya Douglas at Rio Rancho Parks and Recreation in Rio Rancho, N.M. They offer a wide variety of softball programs, and would be a good place to start.--Carmel, Ind.

Boise Parks and Recreation Department started up a Senior Softball League about four to five years ago and it has done very well. You may try and contact Bobbi Kay Downand for more information.--Nampa, Idaho

It is probably a good idea to have two leagues--one for the 50 and over group who can still play pretty' competitive ball, and one for the over 65 seniors who are somewhat less competitive. The only significant rule change that I recall is that there is an additional base to touch at first and homeplate so as to avoid collisions with the runner. I think the biggest factor that I see is injuries. Most people still think they can do the things they used to do at 20, but the reality is that they cannot. I would suggest holding a pre-season conditioning program in the winter months and charge them a fee to participate. This will provide you with another program and will allow some of the players to be in better shape. There is a newspaper out their for senior softball. You probably can get information off of Yahoo.com or google.com. Good luck.--Pittsburgh, Penn.

My Rockville Senior Co Rec Softball team has a sponsor, and plays in the Montgomery County Softball League. Since they do all the administrative work for many different senior leagues, I am going to refer you to the person in charge. His name is Pat Sullivan and his e-mail address is patricsullivan@ montgomerycountymd.gov.--Rockville, Md.

We have two leagues for seniors. A 60 league that plays on every other Friday, morning from May 14 to August 27. Our popular senior league is the 50 league. This league plays on Wednesday evenings and the season begins May 12. The 60 league cost is 85 per individual. (No umpires, trophies, scorekeepers.) The 50 league cost is $50 per individual. Teams are made up from selection of senior softball committee..--Colorado Springs, Colo.

I have run what I call our Half Century Plus slow pitch program, which caters to men 55 and over, and women 40 and over. We have run the program for 12 years and have over 200 players involved. Please check out the Web site at www.fbarron.com/~softball.--Lakewood, Wash.

Contact the Chico Area Recreation and Park District in Chico, Calif. They co-sponsor an outstanding Senior Softball League program with hundreds of players in three Senior League age levels.--Chico, Calif.

There is a senior softball league here in Dallas/Fort Worth, but it is run privately through the Metroplex Senior Softball Association. You may contact Jim Delmar at jimnjeanne@sbcglobal. net.--Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.