A team from Japan poses with their medals at the 4th Senior World Cup in 2005. (Photo by Gary Mester)

TEAMS STILL BEING ACCEPTED
2008-02-21

If anyone thought you get too old to participate in the sport of softball, they only need to show up for the 7th Senior World Cup. The event will be held from June 20-22 in Salem, Virginia (USA). The slowpitch tournament has become so popular with the senior players that the local host city is preparing to provide competition for upwards of 100 men’s and women’s senior teams. The teams are organized into age classifications for five year increments with women’s teams beginning at 40-and-over and men’s teams beginning at 50-and-over. Within each age classification there are also skill level divisions designed to provide a competitive experience for all participating teams.

Seven years ago the International Softball Federation (ISF) appointed RB Thomas, Jr., a leader in the development of the senior division in the United States, to the post of Director of Senior Softball, with the challenge to develop a senior program for all its member federations.

ISF President Don Porter recently reflected on the Senior World Cup, saying, “We are very pleased to provide and support programs that meet the needs of all the people around the world. It is great that today’s senior citizens can stay active and participate in our sport. The Senior World Cup is now one of the special events for the senior players and the opportunity exists for all our federations to develop programs for their senior population. We are excited to be able to bring this tournament to the beautiful Roanoke Valley this year in southwestern Virginia and the excellent softball complexes they now have in place. The organizing committee at Salem has been hard at work and they are enthusiastically looking forward to making this one of the best senior tournaments ever for the seniors. They have many years of experience hosting national softball tournaments and their dedicated staff will provide our ISF staff and game officials the necessary support to make sure that our teams enjoy a quality event.”

Federations interested in obtaining more information on this event can contact RB Thomas, Jr., ISF Director of Senior Softball, 9401 East Street, Manassas, Virginia 20110 (+1-703-368-1188 or issa94@aol.com). Any federation wishing to send an umpire(s) should contact RB Thomas, Jr. as well.

“These senior players are staying active and ageless,” offered RB Thomas, Jr. “This year we will have men’s teams playing at 75-and-over and women’s teams at 65-and-over. We encourage everyone to come out and watch these ‘legends of the game’ still playing on the field.”

The Senior World Cup began in 2002 with over 50 teams and has run every year since, with approximately 70 or 80 teams participating each time.