League Structure EMASS Eastern Massachusetts Senior Softball Association

EMASS SENIOR SOFTBALL

"Slow-pitch softball in an organized, competitive and safe environment."

EMASS has two leagues and players can participate in one or both of them.

The Saturday league is divided into two divisions. The American Division has 6 teams and the National Division has 8 teams. Most games are played on Saturday mornings at various fields, such as Wayland, Peabody, Canton, or Cambridge. Both Saturday league divisions have paid umpires and playoffs.
The Atlantic Division has eight teams. Games are played in Wayland and Framingham on Tuesday mornings.

The Saturday league, especially the American Division, is somewhat more competitive, as it has a higher percentage of younger players than either the Atlantic Division (in which most players are retired) or the National Division of the Saturday league.
In 2008, EMASS opened its doors to 50-54 year olds who would like to join the American Division. Each American Division team was allowed to have a limited number (2) of 50-54 year old players on their roster.

Below is a table outlining the similarities and differences in the two Saturday divisions:

SIMILARITIES	DIFFERENCES
SIMILARITIES	American Division	National Division
Most games on Saturdays.	Very competitive.	A bit less competitive.
Same umpires. Same uniforms.	Players of 3.75 ability and above. 2 players per team age 50-54	Playes of 3.5 ability and below. Players age 55 and older
Pinch runner on base for injured players.	Playing time totally at manager's discretion.	Totally equal playing time.
Same leadership by EMASS Board.	No runners from home anytime.	Runners from home when necessary.
Same teammates whenever practical.	No overrunning 2nd and 3rd.	Overrunning of bases probably allowed.
Same balls.	Sliding allowed	No sliding allowed.
Same non-high tech bats.	Mostly same managers as last year.	New managers to be screened/selected.
Playoffs within each division ASA-Senior Softball USA rules.	6 teams.	8 teams.

The season for both leagues starts the first week in May and ends the last week in August. Thus, each team will play a schedule of about 30 games.

For those who want to play even more there are tournaments and informal games, particularly in the fall. EMASS is led by a commissioner and a 12-member board of directors, all of whom are elected by the players.