Frequently asked questions:

When can I join? Any time. Although most players sign up before the start of the season, so that they can participate in practices and establish a playing position, we welcome players even after the season begins.

Do I pick a team or will one be assigned to me? Many players come to the League having been recruited by a particular team, and they will join that team. Many others contact the League wanting to play but not knowing any of the teams or managers. The League will be happy to assign that player to a team and establish contact between the player and manager.

Do different teams have different “personalities”? Definitely! Some teams are more competitive than others, some are more social. If you don’t have a preferred team when you contact the League, we can help fit you in where you will feel most comfortable.

How do you handle player safety? This is our absolutely highest priority, especially given the fact that we are all getting up in age. It is the player’s own responsibility to remain reasonably fit and to ensure that they have warmed up before each practice and game. Making sure you avoid hamstring and other muscle pulls, wearing any necessary protective gear such as face masks or mouthguards and ensuring that your vision and hearing are adequate is definitely important. At the same time, we have and will continue to modify playing rules to keep everyone as safe as possible. Runner-fielder contact is totally banned, and we have alternate bases and run-by rules for runners to help avoid fielders. Pitchers make use of safety screens in all games.

What if I have problems running the bases? This is usually not a problem, as we allow substitute runners – and the player does not leave the game – both during at-bats and when a player is on base. We want to keep our men and women playing for as long as they can!

How much will joining the League cost? The League is a not-for-profit organization run by volunteers. That being said, there are certain fixed costs we have to cover: field rental from the City, limited insurance, umpires and game-day softballs, as well as team and individual expenses such as jerseys, shoes, softball gloves, facemasks, practice balls and so on. Costs are budgeted each year. Typically, each team can currently count on contributing $60/player for general League expenses. That works out to some $1.50/game spread over a 40-game season. Other costs are set by each team and by each individual, but many of these items (such as uniforms and gloves) last for many years.

What if I cannot show up for a game? This is between the team manager and the player. Many teams have rosters in excess of the required number of players to accommodate summer vacations, illness and so on. Some teams explicitly make arrangements for players who are only available on either Tuesdays or Thursdays but not both, or who can play early games but not late ones. We also allow teams to “borrow” players from other teams to make up numbers.

What if I want to be involved in senior softball but choose not to be a player? Our Senior Umpire is always looking for individuals who want to umpire, and the position is paid as well. Contact Anthony Parra at aparra101@hotmail.com.