Registration Deadlines Approaching for Florida Senior Games Series Qualifiers
TALLAHASSEE – The months of October and November are crucial leading up to the 24th Annual Florida Senior Games, to be held in Clearwater, December 5-13. Athletes have eight opportunities to compete at Florida Senior Games Series Qualifiers to prepare for statewide competition and registration deadlines are closing in. Don’t miss a chance to compete at a Florida Senior Games Series Qualifier and miss out on one of 24 sports at the Florida Senior Games in Clearwater.
The registration deadline for the Jacksonville Senior Games is Wednesday, September 23. For those athletes waiting until the last minute to register for one of the 11 sports at the Jacksonville Senior Games, to be held October 2-10, visit http://www.coj.net/departments/special-services/senior-services.aspx and click on the “50 and Beyond – Forever Fit,” logo.
The Jacksonville Senior Games begin on Friday, October 2 with an Opening Ceremony at Metropolitan Park beginning at 1:00 p.m. The 5K Road Race follows on Saturday, October, in conjunction with the Marine Corps Freedom 5K. The week of October 5-10, the remaining 10 events will take place in various Jacksonville locations. Entry fees begin at $15 and must be received by Wednesday, September 23.
The Jacksonville Senior Games will feature many prominent senior athletes including swimmer Shirley Chase, of St. Augustine, along with distance runner Len Ferman and table tennis player, Joan Ruggiero, both of Jacksonville.
Shirley Chase competed in all four freestyle events (50, 100, 200 and 500 yards) at the 2015 National Senior Games in July in the 90-94 age group. She won a gold medal in the 500 yard freestyle event swimming 20 laps. Len Ferman ran a sub-five minute 1500 meter run (4:39) in the 2013 Florida Senior Games to establish a new record in the 50-54 age group. His training regimen was documented in a Runner’s World article in 2014. Joan Ruggiero has won six gold medals in singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles table tennis competition since 2011 and has been the women’s singles champion in the 60-64 age group for three of the last four years.
The registration deadline is also approaching for the Port Orange Senior Games as the final day to register is Friday, October 2. Visit www.port-orange.org/parks/ for a registration packet. Athletes wishing to participate in the Gainesville Senior Games should keep an eye on the various sports offered. Registration deadlines are listed for “one week prior to competition,” and can be found at www.gainesvillesportscommission.com.
Registration is available for the 24 sports of the 2015 Florida Senior Games at www.floridaseniorgames.com. Athletes have three ways to register. The easiest is online registration. Athletes participating in the Florida Senior Games must set up an account to register. Registration forms are available at www.floridaseniorgames.com for athletes to print out and mail to the Florida Sports Foundation office in Clearwater. Finally, 2015 Florida Senior Games Registration Books have been mailed out to athletes who qualified at a Florida Senior Games Series Qualifier between January and May. Athletes can also call the Florida Senior Games staff toll free at 1-866-FLGAMES (354-2637) for assistance.
See the list below for dates, sports and registration deadlines of the upcoming Series Qualifiers.
Jacksonville Senior Games – October 2-10
Sports and Events Offered: Bowling, Croquet, Cycling, Golf, Pickleball, Powerlifting, Road Race, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track and Field
Registration Deadline – September 23
Gainesville Senior Games – October 3-18
Sports and Events Offered: Archery, 3-on-3 Basketball, Basketball Shooting, Billiards, Bowling, Cycling, Golf, 5K Road Race, Swimming, Table Tennis, Track and Field
Registration Deadline – Varies – One week before scheduled event.
Port Orange Senior Games – October 12-18
Sports and Events Offered: 3-on-3 Basketball, Basketball Shooting, Golf, Horseshoes, Pickleball, Racquetball, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Chair Volleyball, Wii Bowling
Registration Deadline – October 2
Cutler Bay Senior Games – October 13-24
Sports and Events Offered: Basketball Shooting, Billiards, Bowling, Horseshoes, Pickleball, Shuffleboard, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis
Registration Deadline – September 29
Ormond Beach Senior Games – October 24-31
Sports and Events Offered: Bag Toss, Ballroom Dancing, Basketball Shooting, Billiards, Bocce, Bowling, Golf, Horseshoes, Pickleball, Racquetball, 5K Road Race, Shuffleboard, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track and Field
Registration Deadline – October 7
Martin County Senior Games – October 31 – November 9
Sports and Events Offered: Basketball Shooting, Bowling, Cycling, Golf, Horseshoes, Pickleball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track and Field
Good Life Games Golf Qualifier (Pinellas County) – November 2
Registration Deadline – October 15
Golden Age Games (Sanford) – November 7-14
Sports and Events Offered: Archery, Basketball Shooting, Bowling, Golf, Horseshoes, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track and Field
Registration Deadline – October 23
Good Life Games Cycling Qualifier – November 14-15
The Florida Senior Games are an annual program of the Florida Sports Foundation, a Division of Enterprise Florida, Inc., held in conjunction with the City of Clearwater and the St. Pete/Clearwater Sports Commission. For more information about the Florida Sports Foundation, the state’s lead sports promotion and development organization, visit www.flasports.com.
