Welcome to Senior Softball

The International Senior Softball Association (ISSA) is a not-for-profit corporation organized in 1994 by experienced softball administrators to provide the senior players a voice in the sport and the opportunity to participate in and experience the highest quality world-class tournaments.  The ISSA was an Allied Member of USA Softball, the National Governing Body for the sport of softball.  ISSA Executive Director, RB Thomas, Jr. is also the Director of Senior Softball for the World Baseball Softball Confederation and has annually conducted the WBSC Senior World Cup since 2002.  Today the ISSA conducts over twenty senior softball tournaments throughout the United States and seeks to partner with new jurisdictions to expand their tournament program to new and exciting venues that meet the expectations of the players and other participants..  The ISSA Senior Softball Championship Series has been selected several years as Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in event planning and economic impact.  The mission of the ISSA is to:

1. establish national and international goals for senior softball activities and encourage the attainment of those goals;
2. coordinate and develop amateur senior softball activity to foster productive working relationships among other senior softball organizations;
3. promote and encourage physical fitness and public participation in senior athletic activities;
4. assist organizations and persons concerned with senior sports in the development of amateur athletic programs and other events that foster the special comradery among seniors;
5. provide for swift resolutions of conflicts and disputes involving amateur athletes, and protect the opportunity of any amateur athlete, coach, trainer, manager, administrator, or official to participate in senior amateur athletic competition;
6. foster the development of amateur athletic facilities for use by amateur athletes and assist in making existing amateur athletic facilities available for use by senior softball.
7. provide and coordinate technical information on physical training, equipment design, coaching, and performance analysis;
8. encourage and support research, development, and dissemination of information in the areas of sports medicine and sports safety.
9. encourage and provide assistance to amateur athletic activities for senior women;
10. provide world class competition for senior softball.

.....More ABOUT our Executive Director -  RB Thomas, Jr. is a prominent figure in the world of competitive sports administration, currently serving as the Executive Director of the International Senior Softball Association (ISSA).A lifelong athlete and civil engineer by trade, Thomas has dedicated decades to the growth and professionalization of senior softball, transforming it into a structured, world-class competitive environment for athletes aged 50 and older. Thomas’s impact on senior softball is extensive, spanning local, national, and international levels.

• Founding of ISSA: In 1994, he helped organize the International Senior Softball Association (ISSA), a not-for-profit corporation designed to give senior players a voice and provide them with high-quality tournament opportunities.
• Virginia Civil Engineer of the Year:  In 1992 he was named Civil Engineer of the Year in Virginia by the American Society of Civil Engineers.  Prominently memtioned in the citation was his work with school and recreation groups to provide for and enhance the quality of recreation facilities in his community.
• Growth of the Sport: Under his leadership, the ISSA has grown to include nearly 650 member organizations and 1,600 sports event professionals. He organized the first ISSA World Championships in 1995 and has expanded the organization’s reach to include over 20 annual events across the United States.
• International Reach: Beyond the ISSA, Thomas serves as the Director of Senior Softball for the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). In this capacity, he has conducted the WBSC Senior World Cup annually since 2002.  
  • Hall of Fame Status: His contributions to the sport were recognized early on; he has been inducted into seven (7) softball halls of fame including the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame in 1996 and later received its Lifetime Achievement Award. He also served as the Hall of Fame's President during its early years.  He has also been inducted in the following:  2)  Central Virginia ASA Softball Hall of Fame in 1993 in the Sponsor, Manager and Administrative Categories, 3) Prince William County Softball Hall of Fame in 2000 in the Manager Category, 4) Washington Metropolitan Slow Pitch Hall of Fame in 2001 in the Special Service Category, 5) Softball Players Association (SPA) National Hall of Fame in 2007 in the Manager Category, 6) USA Softball National Hall of Fame in 2009 in the Manager Category and 7) International Softball Federation (now WBSC) Hall of Fame in 2014 in the Administrative Category. 
  Awards and Recognition
     Virginia General Assemby: commended Thomas in 2004 for his involvement in senior softball and bringing National and International competition to Virginia.
  • NASC (now SportsETA) Sports Event Organizer of the Year: In 2015 Thomas received this prestigious award in recognition of his creativity and leadership in organizing, attracting, and marketing sports events for the senior community.
  • Sports Events Industry Leader:  In 2023 he was named by SportsEvents Magazine the Number 1 Leader in emerging sports events in the United States 
  • USA Softball National Council:  Thomas has been a Council Member for 32 years for the National Governing Body of the sport of softball.
  • Advocacy: He is widely recognized for his philosophy of staying "active and ageless," promoting the idea that senior athletes deserve competitive venues and programs that match the quality of those found in younger divisions.

The ISSA Tournament Program promises to provide exciting events again this year. Our staff is busy working on our expanded tournament program in order to address player requests and bring more ISSA events for the teams who have experienced our tournaments over the years.  Our staff is available to assist you with any details and our new website will provide updated news about senior softball.  Best wishes for a great season and we look forward to seeing all in the coming months.

R.B. Thomas
Executive Director

Tournament Staff