BOISE, ID - One of the biggest problems that seniors that are 60+ face is “falling off the edge” in their playing days. For those who do not have a 65+ division (as is true in many cities), the age spread from early 60’s to the 80’s can be disastrous. An example of what can be done constructively with this situation came through in Boise’s 60+ division.

There have never been enough older ballplayers in the Boise area to get more than four or five teams in the 60+ division. And the natural build-up in strength of two or three of the teams causes the fun to cease for the remaining teams, who continually show up, only to get thumped by the strong teams. How can all of these teams (and players) reach a compromise in which the playing field is almost always on an equal par?

The longer a division exists, the more it gets stratified; the stronger teams become stronger and the weaker teams start losing players. Thus, the first players to get dropped are the “older” guys, who in many cases have to give it up entirely—unceremoniously tossed out to the bone yard. The surviving players on the weaker teams are perturbed, to say the least. If a depleted team disbands entirely, the drifting players may not even get picked up at all. Plus, the division just flat loses an entire team. There doesn’t seem to be a natural remedy to this situation. The double-whammy sets in when, on the eve of an up-coming season, everyone wakes up to find out that now there are just three teams out there - not enough to even form a division. What to do?

Last winter, here in the Boise area, a committee of three men was created in order to attempt to restore some sanity and the true spirit of senior softball for the struggling 60+ division. They worked through the city recreation department of a smaller near-by town, which would open up a couple of fields to them and also help keep the costs down. The committee began phoning all of the 60+ candidates and asking them if they would be willing to play in a draft system. They also strongly proposed playing with wooden bats. As was outlined in a previous article, published in the SWM Senior Scene section last year, there are certain steps which can be taken to implement a senior’s division which operates from the perspective of a draft system.

The committee began by tallying up the total number of the 60+ players interested in playing that spring in a draft league. They randomly selected 12 players per team. Beginning with the 70+ players first, they were equally divided out among the probable number of teams. (Theoretically, if you had 60 players, 12 for each team, five teams would be produced). Working out the few kinks to the best of their ability, the committee followed this formula down through the 65+players and then the 60+ players. The results were a surprisingly equal match-up of ages. The individual abilities were generally gone over by the committee and an attempt was made to equalize them through a few individual ability adjustments and player positions. Thus, an equal number of players from each age bracket were dealt out to each team. Five solid teams were formed, with a sixth one left in the building stage. This simple format got the 60+ divisions started, and the rules and details were worked out as they went along.

When each group met, they chose a captain if one had not already been in place. Sponsorships were discussed and acted on. Suggestions for the division make-up were taken from the players themselves for the committee to put before all of the players at a special general meeting to be held. Various things were then voted upon. It was gloriously independent and the players felt that they belonged to this league. It was theirs.

The proposal to play with wooden bats was ratified by the players who were glad for the safety factor and anxious to see how they could adapt. Many of them became proficient at hitting the ball squarely and surprisingly, sent it sailing far. Of course, the real trick is where you hit it with the wood bats. Other fine-tuning rules were picked up and the league took off with a ten game summer season, which was super successful.

By spring, this 60+ division ended up with five teams containing 12 to 13 players each. Some teams actually sported an occasional 80 year old here and there. In the fall season, a sixth team was added. The additional bonus was that all of the games played were decided by just a few runs. A few games were one-run games, with no games being won by more than four runs. The entire episode was a blooming success.

In both seasons, the championship was decided on the last day. At the end of the fall season, a playoff was held between the first half and the second half winners, along with a barbeque and awards for both teams.

This coming year will be just as good and perhaps even better. In 2008 there will be two draft divisions with a total of ten teams because the response has been so great. Give this home-grown league a chance yourself sometime.

You may save the older ballplayers’ lives…literally.