If watching the youths around the Rogue Valley excel in sports has given you an itch to get back out there, there’s always a critical need for game officials in all sports here in Oregon.

If softball is your passion, another answer may be with the Rogue Valley Softball Association, which continues to provide an opportunity for many to dust off their mitts and hit the diamond.

With no limit on the amount of members and the acceptance of anyone, regardless of experience, the RVSA has an emphasis on playing softball and enjoying each other’s company.

“I think a lot of people just remember the fun they had when they were playing when they were younger,” said RVSA president Dave Kanner. “But as you get older, your body slows down and you can’t do the things that you used to do and you don’t want to play with younger, more competitive players, so this provides a very welcoming atmosphere.”

Scooter Townsend, who is going into his 25th year in the league, said the recreation atmosphere has him “reliving the glory days” and given him a familiar community to be a part of after retiring last year.

“I was worried about getting bored or losing a sense of identity and purpose,” said Townsend. “The senior softball here provides camaraderie, social interaction and a bit of exercise. All of that keeps me coming back, because all those concerns that I had about retiring never materialized because of senior softball.”

There is also more of an emphasis on safety, with secondary bases at first and home plate to prevent collisions and an option for a net screen to protect the pitcher. Townsend pointed to those measures as a factor to encourage newer players to join compared to some of the competitive travel teams that he is a part of.

Like Townsend, Ted Schroeder is a member of a travel team along with the RVSA and finds joy in meeting new people every year. A member since 1996, he sees RVSA as a gateway to integrate all players into the senior softball leagues around the area.

“I do find some good players here that I recruit for my travel team,” said Schroeder. “There’s lots of opportunities around for everyone, but the (RVSA) is the one that anyone can join to play freely and get some exercise.”

With the 35th season getting started, the schedule has a format of six teams and applications for the league are encouraged to submitted by April 3, which is the day before teams are assembled via a blind draw.

With no win-loss records being tracked over the season, Mike Graves has enjoyed that the focus has been on the social aspects and staying in the moment.

“We’re really low-key out here,” said Graves, who is entering his fourth season. “We are just trying to do our best out here and have some fun and if we make errors, that’s OK.”

Added Kanner: “I like to tell people that the major league scouts all went home a long time ago. We are out here for fun, exercise and camaraderie. A lot of us here are just friends getting together in a more organized manner than just showing up playing a pickup game.”

The senior recreation softball league welcomes men age 48 and over and women age 30 and over for a chance to continue playing in an organized league.

The RVSA holds a doubleheader at Lithia & Driveway Fields on Wednesdays, with preseason starting in a week and the regular season going from April to September. Members of the league can also take part in year-round batting practices at 10 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday, weather permitting.

For more information, go to the RVSA website at rvsoftball.org.