ISSA Announces Schedules for Fall Tournaments

The Independent Senior Softball Association has announced its calendar of events, including Ohio, Virginia Beach and South Carolina.

ISSA US Northern Championships, Cincinnati, OH - September 20, 21 & 22 - This is the 2nd year for this senior tournament at Cincy.  The tournament headquarters will be at the Mid-America Ballyard, a nice venue that the seniors really enjoyed last year.  The complex has plenty of shade and includes a set-down restaurant in the center where players can enjoy a meal and keep up with their favorite football teams.  Participation should exceed last year's numbers, the ISSA is expecting 30-40 senior teams in this year's event.  Deadline to enter is Friday, September 6 (after that entry will be for the benefit of the tournament only.)  The Managers Meeting will be held Thursday evening at 7:00pm at the Ballyard.  Players can check-in on Thursday night also.  Team managers should mail a copy of their roster (can be unsigned by the players) with their entry fee and bring the original signed copy of the roster to the team check-in.

ISSA Winter Nationals, Virginia Beach, VA - October 11, 12 & 13 - Virginia Beach will again host the 6th Winter National.  Tournament teams will be playing on the fields in Virginia Beach on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Like in the past, some teams may have to play on other satelite fields on Saturday.  Given the popularity of this event, the ISSA needs all teams planning on playing in the tournament to submit their online entry form immediately so they can have enough field space available to accommodate the maximum number of teams while attempting to provide the best possible senior tournament experience for the players.  The Managers Meeting will be at 7:00pm on Thursday, October 10 and games will begin on 11 fields in Virginia Beach at 9:00am on Friday.  Players are eligible to play in the tournament if they meet the minimum age for their team's division on or before December 31, 2014.

ISSA US Open National Championships, Myrtle Beach, SC - October 23-27 -  What may be the fastest growing senior tournament in the United States, the US Open will get underway on Wednesday, the 23rd with the 70s, 75s and 80s playing at Grand Park, the new state-of-the-art softball complex at the "Beach."  The Managers Meeting for the 70+ teams will be held at the softball complex on Wednesday morning before the games begin.   The 50+ to 65+ teams will begin play on Friday morning, October 25.  The Managers Meeting for those teams will be Thursday at 7:00pm at the Sand Dunes Resort, the Host Hotel.  The senior teams are finding that the excellent room rates in October at the Beach and the wide variety of eateries coupled with one of the best softball facilities in the world make the US Open a must-play tournament.  Teams can use their 2014 roster in this one as well.  All teams are encouraged to submit their online entry for this tournament now also.

Senior team managers are reminded that the entry form submittal and the payment of the tournament entry fee are two separate functions with the ISSA.  In order for the ISSA staff to organize the best possible senior tournament it is extremely helpful that we know how many teams are planning on playing in any given tournament.  By knowing early what kind of participation level to expect the ISSA can work with the host community to provide the facilities and amenities for the best possible senior tournament at a site.  For instance, we try to organize the tournament umpire crew 60 days before an event to get the most experienced and qualified officials available.  To deal with this issue, the ISSA requests teams to submit their online entry form as soon as an ISSA tournament is placed on the team's schedule.  Teams can and should enter their team in those ISSA tournaments on their new year's schedule even before their season starts.  The entry fee can then be mailed to 9114 I-Beam Lane, Manassas, VA 20110 to reach the office at least ten days before the tournament starts.  Payment of the entry fee should to be in the ISSA Office before the team is scheduled in the tournament.

Senior players/managers are urged to review the list of teams now posted on the ISSA Website (www.seniorsoftball.org) that have an Earned Berth in the ISF/ISSA World Tournament of Champions to be held at venues in the Tampa Bay area on January 24-26, 2014. If your team has qualified and not on the list, please contact the ISSA Office.  The online entry form is now available so teams can enter if they are planning to participate.  Since over 200 senior teams will have a berth, it is very important for the tournament organizers to plan ahead for this one.  So if your team is on the Earned Berth List and you are going to Tampa for the WTOC, please be sure the entry form is submitted now. 

Congratulations to all the seniors recently elected to the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame.  The new list of Inductees will be posted soon on the HOF Website.