About MSCSA

The History of the 

Metroplex Senior Citizens Softball Association 

Forward: Many of us show up routinely for our league games and most of us joined up to play in the DFW area Metroplex Senior Citizens Softball Association (MSCSA) for various reasons.  Over the years, a great deal of time and effort has been spent in developing and running a well organized league.  All organizational and administrative effort has been done voluntarily and without any compensation so that we could enjoy our games and competition safely, inexpensively, and in a well structured manner.  Duties of elected officers and coaches include negotiation for our fields, the purchase of balls and equipment, and the establishment of league rules and schedules. Our Board of Directors consists of one voting member from each team, and our five elected officers, a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Member-at-Large.

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History: What would be your best guess as to when the Metroplex Senior Citizens Softball Association began?  If you surmised 1980, you could be right. As best as can be determined, senior softball in the Dallas area began in the spring of 1980.  The “league” or competition then consisted of just two teams – one from Grand Prairie and the other from Irving. These two teams played an informal schedule on each others home field  during their initial season.

Cooperation with senior citizens centers and the Parks and Recreation Departments of Grand Prairie and Irving led to more formal competition.  Games then were played during the daytime. Teams were composed of retired or semi-retired players, ages fifty-five years and older, who formed teams to play during the mornings. The league was organized to provide friendly competition, good fellowship and some physical fitness activities.  In 1981, Mesquite formed a team and joined in the competition with Grand Prairie and Irving.  The three teams played each other, taking turns playing on each others home field.

In 1982, word was out about senior softball and seniors and retirees from several new cities in the Metroplex formed teams and joined the three existing cities. Representatives from the various teams held meetings at the Senior Citizens Center in Irving to draw up playing rules and schedules.  However, there was no official organization until 1986, when the constitution and by-laws of the newly-named “Metroplex Senior Softball Association (MSSA)” were written and adopted.  The league now had a formal name, laws and regulations.  A Board of Directors for the league was set up with one representative from each team serving on the board. The board created an Executive Committee, consisting of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer as well as one member-at-large. Together, they guided the new league forward.

The league continued to prosper and grow as teams were formed from the Richardson-Garland area, Ft. Worth, Arlington and the Oak Cliff-Duncanville areas.  Beginning as a day league, the MSSA in 1987 organized a night league for that spring and summer.  This enabled men, who were fifty-five years and older, and who were still working during the day, with an opportunity to participate.  While the age limit for playing was set at 55, each team was allowed to have no more than three players who were between the ages of 50 and 55.

As the league expanded and developed, age and physical ability differences among the

players became evident.  Thus, an “A” division for those players who had stronger running, throwing, hitting and fielding skills was set up.  Correspondingly, a “B” division league was formed at the same time for those players with good softball skills but who would be unable to compete with the stronger “A” division teams.

By 1991, both the “A” and “B” divisions had five teams.  Additionally, there was a new division created – the “C” division – which consisted of six teams and generally included less able players.  All three divisions played day games.  Also that year, a night league was formed consisting of eleven teams with players age 55 and up.  Games were played at LTV Corsair Park in Grand Prairie using two fields provided to the Association at no cost.  In addition, six teams comprised of players in the 50 to 55 age group played night ball at Fritz Park in Irving.

In 1992, because of the differences in abilities of league players, the night leagues implemented a strict group age limit on their teams. The day league remained 55 and above. The night leagues were set up thusly: 50 through 54, 55 through 59, 60 through 64 and 65 and up.  This caused changes in the make-up of several teams and created the formation of some new teams in various age brackets.  The competition subsequently became more evenly balanced.  All teams played in Grand Prairie on Monday nights.  On Thursday nights, the teams from Dallas County played at Huffines Park in Richardson, while the Tarrant County teams played at Waggoner Park in Grand Prairie.

1993 was a pivotal year for the league.  Because of widespread play in different cities, the league heads decided that the association and leagues needed to be split.  A new league of night time teams located east of Irving became the new Dallas Area Senior Softball Association (DASSA) (www.quickscores.com/dassa).  By 2011, this league now consists of 20 teams that play on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Heights Park in Richardson. Also, a new league of night teams west of  Irving was formed and became known as the North Texas Senior Softball Association (NTSSA). Originally they played their games at Corsair Park in Grand Prairie on Monday and Thursday nights. By 2011, this league now consists of 12 teams that play on Monday and Tuesday evenings at Trinity View Softball Complex in Irving.

While these changes were being implemented, the day league teams were combined and directed by what is now called the Metroplex Senior Citizens Softball Association (MSCSA).

The day league ( MSCSA), seniorsoftballdfw.com now plays on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and by 2017 had grown to 31 teams; 5 “A” Division, 9 “B” Division and 17 “C” Division teams playing throughout the DFW Metroplex. It is organized into east and west groups to minimize travel time with two teams playing each other twice in one week, once each on their respective home fields. Today MSCSA continues with a Board consisting of one voting member from each team; and it also has a non-voting Executive Committee consisting of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer and Member At Large.

2020 was a difficult year for MSCSA softball due to the world-wide covid pandemic and although our participation was smaller we still had league play with safety protocols.

In 2021 the league bounced back to full strength with 29 teams in 16 cities.

ARTICLE I.  MSCSA Meeting Order of Business

The Order of Business shall include:

Call to order by the President.

Opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.

Approval of minutes of previous meeting.

Approval of financial reports.

Reports of officers and committees.

Unfinished business.

New Business

Adjournment

ARTICLE II.  

Nature of Organization and Membership

Section 1:   Teams desiring to join the Metroplex Senior Citizens Softball Association must be approved by the Board of Directors and comply with the Constitution, By-laws, and Rules of the Association.   Membership shall be composed of males who are sixty (60) years of age or older in the calendar year they begin play.  Female members must be forty (40) years of age or older in the calendar year they begin play.

Section 2:  The calendar year may be divided into up to three (3) seasons. The seasons are spring, summer, and fall.

Section 3:  Teams may have an unlimited number of players on their rosters, however when a team has over 20 players it should consider and work to establish another team (a new team)

Section 4:  Before playing, any new rostered player must complete and sign the Individual Player Signup Form which is then immediately sent by the team manager along with the player participation fee to the league secretary who will add the player to the official team roster.

Section 5:  Managers may provide an Executive Committee Officer with an individual player signup form and player participation fee prior to a new player taking the field in lieu of mailing or emailing.

Section 6:  NO player is allowed to play prior to completing the Individual Player Signup Form or having signed the Official Team Roster maintained by the league secretary.  The player signature is a statement that the player will be responsible in the event of an accident or injury to themselves and agree to hold MSCSA harmless for any accident or injury because of being a member of any MSCSA team.

Section 7:  Player Movement.   Players active on a team roster that want to leave that team and move to another team and roster during the current season of play must be officially released from their current team roster by that team manager.  The team manager must notify the league secretary by email that they have officially released the player from their team roster before that player will be eligible to join another team or be added to any new team roster during the current season of play.  Players will then have to sign the Individual Player Signup Form to be added to their new team.  The gaining manager will submit the form to the league secretary.

Section 8: Players can move between teams at the end of a season without being released by their previous manager.

Section 9:  Players may only play for one (1) team in MSCSA leagues.  Players are NOT allowed to play in multiple divisions at the same time.

Section 10:  There shall be no drafting of players allowed for tournaments being sponsored by MSCSA, even if those players are from other MSCSA teams that are not playing in the tournament.

Section 11:  MSCSA strongly discourages team managers from recruiting players from other established MSCSA teams.

Section 12:  Each team in this association may be independently organized, funded, and operated according to its local procedures if those procedures comply with the rules and regulations as outlined in this Constitution and By-Laws of the MSCSA.   A team may be affiliated with the senior citizens organization and/or the parks and recreation department of the city or area in which it is located.  Each team should work closely with the city parks and recreation department in which it’s located.

Article III.   Disciplinary Action

Section 1:     The Officers of the Board of Directors of the MSCSA will conduct hearings on all complaints concerning unsportsmanlike conduct. Examples of such behavior would include, but are not limited to, actions like fights, excessive verbal abuse to include profanity, improper hand gestures, improper behavior, refusal to honor the Rules for play, insertion of unauthorized balls or bats during play, etc.

Section 2:     All items associated with disciplinary action must be submitted by a coach or assistant coach, in writing (email is acceptable), to all five Officers of the Board, as soon as possible following the alleged infraction.

Section 3:     Within 48 hours, the Officers will set up conference calls to hear first the complaint, then hear from the person(s) being accused.

Section 4:    Upon hearing both sides of the issue, the Officers will decide as quickly as possible the appropriate disciplinary action, if any, that is appropriate for the situation. The Vice President of the Board will send a written reply of the Officer’s decision to all parties involved (email may be used), as well as all coaches associated with any of the parties involved.

Section 5:    Depending upon the severity of the action, the Officers may vote to only discipline the player(s) involved, or they may also discipline the team(s) involved as well. Action may vary from a first-time warning, which may include a probationary period, to game suspensions, to expulsions for the remainder of that season, to expulsions from even playing MSCSA softball again.

Article IV:   Players Moving from One Team to Another During a Season

Section 1:    For various reasons, a player may request to move from one team to another during the season. The Officers will review all such requests and make a ruling as quickly as possible.

Section 2:   To prevent any possibility that a player’s moving from one team to another may affect upcoming tournament play, all requests to move from one team to another must be submitted and ruled upon by the Officers in time for that player to join the roster of the new team for a minimum of (6) games before the last game of regular season play. If the individual is not approved in time for that person to be added to the new team’s roster for a minimum of 6 games prior to the start of tournament play, that player is ineligible for tournament play for that season.

Section 3:    Any request from a player must be submitted to the five Officers of the Board in writing (email is acceptable).

Section 4:   All requests must be accompanied by a written statement from the coach of the team the player desires to depart, giving permission for that player to join another team (email is acceptable).

Section 5:   All requests must be accompanied by a written statement from the coach of the new team the player wishes to join, agreeing to accept this person (email is acceptable).

Section 6:   The Officers will review all requests and make an appropriate decision as fast as possible. The player and both coaches involved will receive a written response of any final decision made from the Vice President (email is acceptable).

Article V

Board Of Directors, Executive Committee Officers Duties

Section 1:  The MSCSA shall be governed by a Board of Directors. This board shall consist of one member and one alternate, usually the team coach or manager and assistant coach or assistant manager, elected yearly by each team to serve as that team’s member(s) on the Board of Directors.  Each team has only one vote on all decisions made at board meetings.

Section 2:  The Board of Directors will be led by Officers (Executive Committee) consisting of a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Member-At-Large.  At any time if one or more officers can no longer serve, the remaining officers shall appoint a nominating committee from the Board of Directors to make recommendations to the other Board of Directors to make recommendations to the Board of Directors for any open positions.

Section 3:  The Board of Directors shall serve as the official governing body of the Metroplex Senior Citizens Softball Association.

1. Approve the admission of all teams into the Metroplex Senior Citizens Softball Association.
2.       Enforce the Constitution, By-Laws, and Rules of Play of the MSCSA.
3. Amend the Constitution, By-Laws, and Rules of Play in accordance with procedures

outlined in the Constitution.

1. Elect Officers as outlined in the Constitution.

Article VI

Executive Committee Officer Duties

Section 1:  Executive Committee Officer duties shall be:

1. To provide an executive body within the MSCSA under powers granted to it by its Board of Directors and whose actions are always subject to review and approval by the Board which will be small enough to be an effective, reviewing and decision-making body.
2. Give guidance to the Board on problems which arise during day-to-day activities.
3. Constitute a screening or review committee to ensure that all projects or proposals are duly considered to be in the best interest of the association.
4. To render decisions within policies approved by the Board of Directors which will expedite the day-to-day business and activities of MSCSA.
5. To make decisions when it is impractical, unwise, or impossible to delay actions.
6. To review the progress, activities, etc. of MSCSA considering its avowed goals, opportunities, and obligations to submit recommendations to the Board.
7. To review, develop and establish standard procedures for the conduct of business and activities – securing approval from the Board on these involving basic procedures, important changes from long established customs or where strong controversy exists is possible. (A simple majority vote of the Executive Committee shall determine items of business to be referred to the Board with or without recommendation).
8. To study the needs of the association, evaluate its present activities, discuss proposed items and refer specific items to the Board for study and/or implementation.
9. To coordinate plans and activities approved by the Board.
10. To coordinate the calendar of activities approved by the Board.
11. The Executive Committee (Officers) shall have complete power to manage the league’s formats, schedules, assignments, and game competition rules; to raise funds for the benefit of the league and its participants in direct relationship only to league activities, in any manner and to perform all other necessary league functions.
12. The President, Secretary, and Member-At-Large shall be elected in November of odd numbered years by the Board of Directors for a two (2) year term.

              The Vice President and the Treasurer shall be elected in November of even numbered

Years by the Board of Directors for a two (2) year term.

1. The Officers shall meet on the call of the President, or in the absence of the President, the Vice President shall perform the duties in cooperation with the Board of Directors.
2. Three fifths (3 members) of the officers shall constitute a quorum.

Section 2:  The President Shall:

1. Preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors
2. Enforce the Constitution, By-Laws, and Rules of Play.
3. Serve as the public relations officer for the MSCSA.
4. Sign all official documents.
5. Appoint a nominating committee responsible for recommending at least two people for each upcoming officer position to be voted on at the last Board of Directors meeting of the calendar year.
6. Appoint any other special committees as deemed necessary.
7. Serve as the official representative of the MSCSA at such meetings or on such occasions as deemed proper by the Board of Directors.

Section 3:  The Vice President Shall:

1. Assume the duties of the President in the absence of the President.
2. Rule on questions of order during Board of Director Meetings.
3. Coordinate the efforts of MSCSA in the recruitment of new teams.
4. Serve as Parliamentarian of the MSCSA
5. Receive all complaints from team managers, reply in a timely manner and share them with the executive committee officers.
6. Will investigate any written reported incidents requiring possible disciplinary action. Will share findings along with suggested corrective actions to the other executive committee officers for final resolution.

Section 4:  The Treasurer Shall:

1. Take charge of all funds received by MSCSA and deposit the same in the account of the association in the depository approved by the Board of Directors.
2. Pay all bills approved by the Executive Committee.
3. Get the approved signatures of two officers and sign with them all drafts shown against MSCSA.
4. Keep an up-to-date single entry financial record covering all receipts, expenditures, and balances.
5. Submit the current financial report to the Board of Directors at all meetings.
6. Submit financial reports to other authorized parties as approved by the Board of Directors.

Section 5:  The Secretary Shall:

1. Keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings of the MSCSA and post copies of the minutes within two weeks to the MSCSA website.
2. Keep an up-to-date membership roll of the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses of all current members of the Board of Directors.
3. Keep the rosters of each team and work closely with the coaches of each team to ensure that all rosters are up to date.
4. Keep the Board of Directors informed as to team roster situations and problems related thereto.
5. Send copies of schedules to all team coaches.
6. Assist in recording scores of league games.

Section 6:  The Member At Large Shall:

1. Assist all officers with any portion of their assigned duties in which help is required.
2. Participate in all Executive Committee and Board of Directors meetings.
3. Assist the Vice President in recommending at least two people for each upcoming officer position to be voted on at the last Board of Directors meeting for the year
4. Assist the Vice President in disciplinary investigations when needed.

ARTICLE VII.   FINANCIAL

Section 1: The MSCSA shall establish a bank account. All funds derived from entry fees, tournaments, league fund-raising events, projects, protest fees or any other funds received will be deposited in this account. The Treasurer of the Board of Directors shall keep a record of all financial transactions and submit a written report to the Board at each meeting. The President of the Board of Directors shall appoint a committee of three (3) Board Directors to audit the records annually.

Section 2: Numbered checks as well as other accepted electronic methods of payment will be used in purchases and expenditures made by the Treasurer on behalf of the Association. They will be made available for audit.

ARTICLE VIII.   EXPENDITURES                                                                                                                                                          All expenditures shall have the approval of the Executive Committee.