Former WSSA player and Atlantic Division President, Jim Ratkus, has started a senior softball league in Williamsburg, Virginia. Below is a letter from Jim to the WSSA and its members. Thanks for the kind words, Jim.
Folks,
The Williamsburg Senior Softball League prays all our softball friends in Wilmington are healthy. The Covid-19 virus has turned everyone’s life upside down with little relief in sight. Adjustment is not any easy thing for a lot of folks, but we all move forward.
We have been very fortunate here in Williamsburg. The city manager is a reasonable fellow, and although we had to do some serious convincing, he agreed to unlock the gates and allowed us to begin our season back on June 16th. The virus has left us alone so far and we are taking full advantage of the situation! We sanitize our hands often, only allow the team manager and on deck hitter in the dugout, and must have a face mask on when not able to social distance. I think any of you would agree that is a small price to pay to be able to play ball!
Speaking of playing ball...I write this note to thank each and every one of you! The WSSA was the major influence in the formation of the WSSL, which is now in its second year. Two of your former players, John Antretter and I, joined up with two former players from the Northern Virginia Senior League to develop the structure of the WSSL in January 2019. We have basically followed your model, seen the league gel, and almost double in size since our first season ended last November!
The skill level of the league spans the spectrum. Our 70 players could all play in one of the three divisions of the WSSA. Our oldest player is 80 this year, and he plays a very solid left field! We also want to thank you for sending a third former player, Steve Chisholm, to us at the beginning of July. He has jumped right in and made his new team a threat! If anyone else is thinking of moving to Williamsburg, we will have a team waiting for you! Check out our website: www.wsslva.org
We seriously cannot thank you all enough! After 25 years, your leaders have worked out all of the issues that could arise. Outside of the virus stuff, I do not think we have been surprised at any turn along the way in forming this league. That is due to our previous association with the WSSA.
We want you to know...you have a good thing in the WSSA! We recognize what the game means to so many of you. While it is a shame you may only get to play a few innings this year, please take some solace in the fact your love of the game has led to over 70 men and women in the Virginia Peninsula area being able to enjoy it as well.
Congratulations to Sonny, Dwight, and Manny!
Go K&W Reds!!!
Thanks again and stay healthy,
Jim Ratkus
Folks,
The Williamsburg Senior Softball League prays all our softball friends in Wilmington are healthy. The Covid-19 virus has turned everyone’s life upside down with little relief in sight. Adjustment is not any easy thing for a lot of folks, but we all move forward.
We have been very fortunate here in Williamsburg. The city manager is a reasonable fellow, and although we had to do some serious convincing, he agreed to unlock the gates and allowed us to begin our season back on June 16th. The virus has left us alone so far and we are taking full advantage of the situation! We sanitize our hands often, only allow the team manager and on deck hitter in the dugout, and must have a face mask on when not able to social distance. I think any of you would agree that is a small price to pay to be able to play ball!
Speaking of playing ball...I write this note to thank each and every one of you! The WSSA was the major influence in the formation of the WSSL, which is now in its second year. Two of your former players, John Antretter and I, joined up with two former players from the Northern Virginia Senior League to develop the structure of the WSSL in January 2019. We have basically followed your model, seen the league gel, and almost double in size since our first season ended last November!
The skill level of the league spans the spectrum. Our 70 players could all play in one of the three divisions of the WSSA. Our oldest player is 80 this year, and he plays a very solid left field! We also want to thank you for sending a third former player, Steve Chisholm, to us at the beginning of July. He has jumped right in and made his new team a threat! If anyone else is thinking of moving to Williamsburg, we will have a team waiting for you! Check out our website: www.wsslva.org
We seriously cannot thank you all enough! After 25 years, your leaders have worked out all of the issues that could arise. Outside of the virus stuff, I do not think we have been surprised at any turn along the way in forming this league. That is due to our previous association with the WSSA.
We want you to know...you have a good thing in the WSSA! We recognize what the game means to so many of you. While it is a shame you may only get to play a few innings this year, please take some solace in the fact your love of the game has led to over 70 men and women in the Virginia Peninsula area being able to enjoy it as well.
Congratulations to Sonny, Dwight, and Manny!
Go K&W Reds!!!
Thanks again and stay healthy,
Jim Ratkus
Changes under Executive Order 147 (see links below):
Under Executive Order 147 (June 24): "People are now required to wear face coverings in public spaces, whether inside or outside, where physical distancing of 6 feet is not possible." The WSSA will aid in player safety by providing each player with a mask and asking that it be worn when the player is not on the field or is within 6 feet of other players. Social distancing precautions will be encouraged.
Please review the WSSA Social Distancing Guidelines before heading to the field.
Under Executive Order 147 (June 24): "People are now required to wear face coverings in public spaces, whether inside or outside, where physical distancing of 6 feet is not possible." The WSSA will aid in player safety by providing each player with a mask and asking that it be worn when the player is not on the field or is within 6 feet of other players. Social distancing precautions will be encouraged.
Please review the WSSA Social Distancing Guidelines before heading to the field.
Schedule for Return to Play (Updated 6/28/2020)
- All players participating in WSSA on-field events must sign the COVID-19 waiver form prior to taking the field. Division presidents/managers will insure that this requirement is met.
- Divisional / team practice sessions are being held at Ogden Park from 9:00am – 1:00pm
- Beginning June 23, Atlantic Division practices will be held at Olsen Fields, starting at 9am. Practices will be every Tuesday and Thursday at that time and location until further notice.
- Coastal division practices are Tuesday & Thursday, Red & Blue fields.
- Legacy division practices are Tuesday & Thursday, Green & Yellow fields.
- The 25 player limit will be observed on each field with social distancing.
- Beginning Phase 3, when implemented:
- The regular season will not start until Phase 3, currently anticipated July 17. If Phase 3 is delayed or not implemented WSSA activities will be adjusted accordingly.
- If phase 3 is implemented on July 17th, the starting date for the regular season will be Tuesday, July 21st.
- We have 15 weeks from 7/21/20 thru 10/29/20 to complete the 60-game schedule, barring rain dates.
- Legacy will do a complete blind redraft the same as Atlantic.
- Division Drafts:
- Atlantic – July 10
- Coastal – July 15
- Legacy – July 16
Restarting the 2020 season:
We are now in the Phase 2 Extension of the Governor’s Reopening Guidance for the COVID-19 pandemic. Public gathering limits allow that each athletic field can have up to 25 people using social distancing guidelines.
All players are required to sign and return the attached COVID-19 waiver before they can participate in any on field WSSA play, including practice sessions. A copy of the form will also be available on our website as well. If you have not already sent in a waiver form, download a copy, sign and bring with you to the next WSSA scheduled event (i.e. team practices, etc.…)
The WSSA membership is one of the high risk groups for COVID-19, so we have to be especially careful. Many of our members have expressed an unwillingness to participate too early in this restart process. For this reason we will start with loosely organized team practices. The schedule and details for the resumption of the WSSA 2020 season are posted below.
We ask that you be patient while we navigate this process as this is new to all of us. Our goal is to get our league up and running as soon as possible with the utmost safety of our membership in mind.
Social Distancing guidelines include but are not limited to;
We are now in the Phase 2 Extension of the Governor’s Reopening Guidance for the COVID-19 pandemic. Public gathering limits allow that each athletic field can have up to 25 people using social distancing guidelines.
All players are required to sign and return the attached COVID-19 waiver before they can participate in any on field WSSA play, including practice sessions. A copy of the form will also be available on our website as well. If you have not already sent in a waiver form, download a copy, sign and bring with you to the next WSSA scheduled event (i.e. team practices, etc.…)
The WSSA membership is one of the high risk groups for COVID-19, so we have to be especially careful. Many of our members have expressed an unwillingness to participate too early in this restart process. For this reason we will start with loosely organized team practices. The schedule and details for the resumption of the WSSA 2020 season are posted below.
We ask that you be patient while we navigate this process as this is new to all of us. Our goal is to get our league up and running as soon as possible with the utmost safety of our membership in mind.
Social Distancing guidelines include but are not limited to;
- No spectators are permitted at the facility/park
- Coaches and players must adhere to physical six-foot distancing except when the ball is in play
- Players must adhere to six foot social distancing practices off the field of play.
- Umpires must adhere to six-foot social distancing practices when interacting with players and coaches off the field of play.
- Individuals should not congregate in common areas or parking lot following the event or practice
Spring Training:
Due to the Phase 2 Extension there will be a single day of workouts for the completion of Spring Training on Wednesday, July 8th, at Ogden Park, starting at 9:00am (July 13th if rained out).
Due to the Phase 2 Extension there will be a single day of workouts for the completion of Spring Training on Wednesday, July 8th, at Ogden Park, starting at 9:00am (July 13th if rained out).