Profile
The Merrimack Valley Senior Softball Association began play in 2015.
Where and when are the games played?
Games are played at Riverside Park in Haverhill. We use 3 fenced fields at the park. We play doubleheaders on Sunday mornings, beginning at 9 AM.
When is the MVSSA season?
We play from mid to late April through early October. Playoffs are scheduled from late August through early October. We do not play the weekends of Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Labor Day.
Does your league use umpires, or is it a self-umpire senior softball league?
We employ USA Softball umpires for all our games. The game fee for the umpires is included in the fee we collect from all players as part of registration.
How old do you have to be to play in the MVSSA?
You must be at least 48 years old by 12/31/23 to play this year. For purposes of assessing age eligibility, your “Senior Softball Age” is the age you attain during the calendar year of our season. For example, anyone born in 1973 who reaches the age of 50 by December 31, 2023 is considered 50 for the 2023 season.
Is the MVSSA a men’s-only league?
No, women are welcome to play. We are a league for men and women who love to play competitive softball.
How are new players evaluated?
MVSSA typically conducts 2 pre-season workouts in April to evaluate new players. The dates this year are Sunday April 16th and Sunday April 23rd. We will look at basic running, fielding, and hitting skills through some short drills, and play a short scrimmage as well.
How are players placed on teams?
The MVSSA strives to create balanced teams with skills evenly matched and positional strength evenly distributed. The league shuffles team rosters each year by a draft. The primary role of the coaches is to ensure balanced teams across the league. Coaches make an initial assessment of skills, and they work together to balance all the teams based on skill levels and positional needs.
How many players are on each team?
The goal for the coaches each year is to create rosters with 13 players per team.
How good do I have to be to play in the MVSSA?
We expect everyone to have some minimal skills for safety reasons, but we welcome anyone who can compete. New Members must be able to meet the following five required skills:
Have sufficient mobility and reaction time to field balls without being a safety concern.
Consistently throw a ball over 50 feet in the air with reasonable accuracy.
Consistently catch a ball thrown from more than 60 feet away.
Consistently hit a slow-pitch softball out of the infield.
Run to first base in under 10 seconds.
What kind of bats can I use?
The MVSSA is a USA Softball league, so only USA/ASA bats are allowed. Players that have a senior softball age of 60 or older may use senior bats with the SSUSA stamp.
