Two Divisions - American and National - play doubleheaders on Saturday mornings at 9:15 am.
Every Atlantic Division team will play in Wayland each week beginning at 9:30 am on either Tuesday OR Thursday. The final schedule determining which Tuesdays and which Thursdays your team will be playing should be available in mid April.

The weekend season usually starts the last week in April & ends the last week in August, while the weekday season extends through September. There is generally a post season or play-off tournament in each division. Teams play a schedule of about 30 games. For those who want to play even more, there are many tournaments & informal pickup games to choose from.

In 2009, The American division had 5 teams. The National had 9 teams. The Atlantic division had 9 teams. EMASS tries to use fields that are relatively close to Route 128, and some fields change year to year based on availability. Directions to the fields are on the website under “2010 Season” & the drop-down menu “Fields & Directions.’”

Players can participate in both the Atlantic & one of the Saturday divisions, or in just one. The American Division has a higher percentage of younger players than the Atlantic or the National divisions, & is the most competitive division. The National Division is slightly less competitive. Both Saturday divisions have paid umpires.

COSTS AND REGISTRATION: The 2010 fees will be $95 for both of the Saturday divisions and $50 for the Atlantic division. These fees pay for field rentals, balls, umpires, jerseys, caps, equipment & other costs. Players are responsible for gloves, pants, cleats & bats.

No one will be assigned to a team or allowed to play without completing the registration process, which includes filling out the on-line registration form, agreeing to the EMASS Waiver, & paying their dues. (If you decide before the season begins that you will not play, your payment will be refunded.)

EVALUATIONS AND ASSIGNMENT OF PLAYERS: EMASS holds structured practice sessions in April to find out how well everyone plays so proper assignments can be made to each team. All players (new & old) who want to play on Saturdays should understand that the number of openings on teams in the American division will be limited, & thus subject to competitive tryouts. Those not selected by one of the American division teams may be drafted by a National division team, assuming they meet the minimum skill level to play in EMASS. While we try hard not to cut any players for National or Atlantic division teams, it is possible that a player may be told that because of safety reasons or because of their minimal skills, senior softball is not for them.

COMMITMENT
As in all team sports, it is essential that players make a commitment to participate in as many games as possible & to practice the EMASS Code of Conduct, which emphasizes good sportsmanship. The association recognizes that everyone has commitments that will sometimes prevent them from playing – family obligations, business, medical appointments, etc. The policy is that players in the Saturday divisions can miss no more than 20% of their games; & in the Atlantic division, can miss no more than 35% of their games. To miss more would be unfair to the team. For those who cannot make these commitments, a “pool” list is maintained of players who can be called on to fill in with teams whenever needed. Players assigned to this list should participate in the evaluation session &, if at all possible, indicate at the start of the season when they will be available.