Elders USA and Canada

[bcshoes]

As we al know, and its been mentioned before on various posts.  In Canada the age for elders is 65, in the United States it is 70.  This means that anyone from Canada can not play in the worlds until they arew 70, unless they have a permanent medical reason.

We have a great deal of players who go down south each winter.  The elders can not play in sanctioned tournaments cause of the age reasons.  What would one have to do to allow Elders from Canada to play in sanctioned tournament in the winter in the United States.  Correct me if I am wrong but I do not see the reasoning for regular sanctioned tournaments (The worlds and big money tournaments I can see the reasoning), a 30 foot player is a 30 foot player and I do not really beleive that 5 years would give an advantage to a Canadian. 

Comemnts, thoughts, am I out of line, is this a valid reason. 

Thanks

Sam

[Arnold Crow]

     I have read alot of discussion on this subject and don't know why there is two different ages for elders, pertaining to Canada  and United States anyway.  Seems like it should be the same number of years for each, whether it be 65 or 70.  Could this not be changed?  This would eliminate the situation completly, as I see it.

    Arnold Crow

[fisherman]

I agree it needs to be the same, I wonder when Canada decided on the 65 yrs. and if they might consider moving it to 70, any thoughts here Andre, but in the meantime 5yrs would give someone an advantage over another...Our Canada friends are many and we should all work together and resolve this...

[bcshoes]

Canada has used 65 ever since the elders division was created.  I guess it would be difficult for either to change, where do you draw the line and all that good stuff.  I would like to see it all the same. 

[fisherman]

Hi Sam, Since Andre is such a historian, I thought he might have some feed back too... As for now eye guess its just us.. I know our officers have a full slate for they're winter mtg. but maybe they could kick this around some, it does need to be resolved. You know when talking about the world tourn. we allow Inge from Norway to use his tiny shoes because thats what they use in his country, maybe we should let our canada friends enter here the way they enter in canada.. I don't know, its just a thought. Most would not even know about the age difference..

[Andre]

Here's the historical part about the creation of the Senior 30' division  .  I'm in no way criticizing the decisions that were taken but just presenting how it happened (from what I remember).  Alberta was the first Province to introduce that division.  Their first champion was crowned in 1986 and they set the minimum age to play at...65. 
At the Canadian Championships, the division was introduced in 1988, the year incidentally Alberta (Calgary) was hosting it.  I remember there was a hot discussion, possibly in 1987 or 1988, when came the time to officially create the Senior 30' division at the Canadian level.  Ontario wanted to set the minimum at 70 years old, like in the US, but Alberta wanted it at 65 because they had been going for two years and were afraid they would lose a fair amount of members.  So it was finally decided to go for 65.
Most provinces started to crown a Senior 30' champion after that, using the same age limit (BC - 1989, Sask - 1990), except for Ontario (1991) who maintained the minimum age at 70 for many years (maybe they still do  ). 
Of course, changing the age minimum from 65 to 70 these days would hurt a lot more than back in 1988.  For instance, 50% of Alberta's membership is now made of Senior 30' pitchers!  See stats here:  http://www.horseshoecanada.ca/hcan/canstats/2008/participants_per_prov.txt
I think that as long as our members are well aware of the consequences of pitching from 30' at age 65-69 (i.e. if they plan to pitch in the US) it can remain that way.   But our Provinces must let them know...

Andre.

P.S.:  I could have said that our long winters are rough on our men (too much snow shoveling).  That's why they are allowed to move up to 30' earlier  .

[fisherman]

Thanks for thefeedback Andre, sounds like ontario may still have the 70 yr limit for elders, I know folks from BC, Alberta and others that are between 65 and 70 would like to enter the world, it would sure boost our entries...sounds like Canadian folk would just like to be able to pitch in tourn. here in the states or winter leagues in the south right...

[bcshoes]

Fisherman, that was original idea, to have the Canadians who go down south for the winter to play in tournaments, local ones only, not the money ones (if they still have them). 

One day maybe we can all get our collective heads together and come up with a game plan and come up with an age for both countries.

If Ontario is still using the 70 years age, they are going against the rules of Horseshoe Canada which says it is 65. 

Have a good day

Sam