From the Dugout: Where Everyone Should Feel Welcome

June 1, 2020

By Terry Hennessy
SSUSA CEO

What a year – and it is only half over! There are many difficult situations facing players, ranging from concerns over health, livelihoods and serious social issues.

Against this backdrop of chaotic crises, we try to provide a place where players, teams and their families can simply enjoy the game of softball.

We are very lucky because we have a common love of a sport that binds us together. 

Make no mistake – there have always been plenty of differences of opinions among players on the issues facing the world outside of softball. 

But the beauty of our sport is that we leave them in the parking lot.  When we step on the field, our culture of competition unites diverse players into a single team with a common goal.  And in Senior Softball we not only enjoy the unity of our team, we enjoy the comradery of playing against friends on other teams.

We love to beat them, of course, but we recognize that the sport also gives us an opportunity to make good friends of our competitors.

Senior Softball USA believes, strongly, that our sport should be a place where everyone feels welcome to play – no matter their beliefs, background, politics or religion … as long as they obey the rules of the sport and treat others with respect.

This creates a very special place where all feel welcome and can enjoy a simple pursuit of happiness – no matter what happens in the world outside of our sport.

And that is the goal of SSUSA.

Terry Hennessy is chief executive officer of Senior Softball USA and can be reached at terryh@seniorsoftball.com.

SSUSA/ISA Convention Update

Senior Softball USA announced today that it would be postponing its annual convention this year, which was scheduled for Dec. 1-4 in Sacramento.

“We will hold the annual National Rules Committee via conference call after the World Masters Championships this year,” said Fran Dowell, SSUSA executive director.  “In addition, we will elect two Hall of Fame inductees for 2020 via email this year.”

SSUSA said the 2019 SSUSA Hall of Famers would have their choice of being inducted during the 2021 Convention or at a site and time of their choice.

Sacramento will be the site of the 2021 Convention from Nov. 29- Dec. 2, 2021.

The convention scheduled for Branson, Mo., in 2021 will be moved to Nov. 28 – Dec. 2, 2022.