Spreading the Word on PGF

[jonriv]

Congrats to PGF on what appears to be another excellent tournament that featured the "Best of the best" PGF has built something quite amazing in quite a short amount of time.


Some of the that that (from what I have gleaned from numerous posts) that PGF would like to improve are the following:

1) More qualifiers throughout the country

2) Fewer cancelled qualifiers

3) Fewer invited teams(at large bids)

4) Shake the image of being a Cali tournament and more of a National Tourn




My idea is simple and best of all, cheap.

IMO, the Powers that be at PGF should take a look at all of the alphabet soup national Tournament winners throughout the country(at all age levels, but especially the younger age levels) and send them an e-mail

basically:


Dear Coach,

Congrats to you and your team for your ________ finish at the alphabet soup tournament, you and your team must be very proud of your success. We her at PGF applaud the work and effort that go into such a championship run. PGF recognizes your success and would like to invite you to attend one of our local Qualifier events. PGF represents the elite of the elite all Girls Fastpitch softball in the United States. Only 64 teams at each age level qualify for our National Championships in Huntington beach, CA each year. The competition at our tournament is so high that it attracts top College Coaches from around the country- these coaches have been known to attend games at all age levels.

If you think your team/organization has what it takes, we invite you to see if you can qualify to one of the toughest Softball Tournaments in the World. Here is a link to our website .........

I think you get the idea and I am sure they would write a much better letter than I could ever. my thought is that you reach out to teams that have accomplished something an challenge them. I think PGF should focus in areas where there is either not a qualifier or where they attendance has been an issue. Focus in unrepresented areas. What have you got to lose- you are just inviting them to enter a quaifier, not giving them a berth in nationals.

JMO

[LVTHEGAME]

I think it was a job well done, but call it what it is. A great Showcase, mostly attracting Southern California teams. Teams outside California still like the experience of going to difference places. Once they move their tournament to different locations they then might be on the track for bigger things. Nothing wrong with putting on the best showcase ever.

[Dugout Dad]

I think it was a job well done, but call it what it is. A great Showcase, mostly attracting Southern California teams. Teams outside California still like the experience of going to difference places. Once they move their tournament to different locations they then might be on the track for bigger things. Nothing wrong with putting on the best showcase ever.

Yeah, somewhere where half the games will get rained-out or have 118 degree weather and the downtown DQ is the center attraction? No thanks. Keep it where it is, this national tournament attracts the best teams.

[NumeroUno]

I love traveling for nations but it was 75 degrees with an ocean breeze. The weather was perfect and I don't know how they could have done a better job.

I just call it as I see it

[jonriv]

Changing location makes no sense. It is accessible and the weather is perfect. Teams can always choose to play at any other National any given year for variety. Plus, as PGF gains in popularity it will be tougher to get into-therefore making the choice easier for some teams.

Any thoughts about reaching out to the "alphabet soup" champions as mentioned above?

[fastpitchdad05]

I think it was a job well done, but call it what it is. A great Showcase, mostly attracting Southern California teams. Teams outside California still like the experience of going to difference places. Once they move their tournament to different locations they then might be on the track for bigger things. Nothing wrong with putting on the best showcase ever.

LVTHEGAME - Were you and DD at PGF this year? The reason I ask is that I don't think it's fair to judge if you haven't been and I'm certain you would understand if you had been that this is absolutely not a showcase.

[Dugout Dad]

I took this picture during the SoCal Athletics vs SGV Velocity 12 inning marathon game. I was standing beyond the outfield fence of field 1. The moon rising and temp around 70. Nice.

DSC_8911PGF_moon.jpg (20.64 KiB) Viewed 5399 times

[Clean_up]

I think it was a job well done, but call it what it is. A great Showcase, mostly attracting Southern California teams. Teams outside California still like the experience of going to difference places. Once they move their tournament to different locations they then might be on the track for bigger things. Nothing wrong with putting on the best showcase ever.

Teams outside of Cali would be going to a different place - California. The competition and format of PGF is hardly just a great "Showcase event" - true that tons of scouts are at PGF, I saw more head coaches and entire staffs covering all age groups but that should tell you that PGF is taken seriously as one of the most competitive events where the best talent can be watched during the week.

Also, teams in California travel all year long to Arizona, Colorado, Canada, New Jersey, New York, Chicago and Florida for showcases and tournaments, as do other upper age division teams from across the country -- so what's wrong with adding PGF in California as the final tournament goal? Like posted before, better than 100+ degree heat with rain-outs to contend with..

[PDad]

I took this picture during the SoCal Athletics vs SGV Velocity 12 inning marathon game. ...

Took the champ to 12 rounds? Not bad for a team people questioned being deserving of an invite...

[AlwaysImprove]

Congrats to PGF on what appears to be another excellent tournament that featured the "Best of the best" PGF has built something quite amazing in quite a short amount of time.


Some of the that that (from what I have gleaned from numerous posts) that PGF would like to improve are the following:

1) More qualifiers throughout the country

2) Fewer cancelled qualifiers

3) Fewer invited teams(at large bids)

4) Shake the image of being a Cali tournament and more of a National Tourn




My idea is simple and best of all, cheap.

IMO, the Powers that be at PGF should take a look at all of the alphabet soup national Tournament winners throughout the country(at all age levels, but especially the younger age levels) and send them an e-mail

basically:


Dear Coach,

Congrats to you and your team for your ________ finish at the alphabet soup tournament, you and your team must be very proud of your success. We her at PGF applaud the work and effort that go into such a championship run. PGF recognizes your success and would like to invite you to attend one of our local Qualifier events. PGF represents the elite of the elite all Girls Fastpitch softball in the United States. Only 64 teams at each age level qualify for our National Championships in Huntington beach, CA each year. The competition at our tournament is so high that it attracts top College Coaches from around the country- these coaches have been known to attend games at all age levels.

If you think your team/organization has what it takes, we invite you to see if you can qualify to one of the toughest Softball Tournaments in the World. Here is a link to our website .........

I think you get the idea and I am sure they would write a much better letter than I could ever. my thought is that you reach out to teams that have accomplished something an challenge them. I think PGF should focus in areas where there is either not a qualifier or where they attendance has been an issue. Focus in unrepresented areas. What have you got to lose- you are just inviting them to enter a quaifier, not giving them a berth in nationals.

JMO

I agree with overall premise on spreading the word on PGF.

I disagree with your premise that anyone still thinks of PGF as a SoCal only thing. The evidence is just too overwhelming. You either have to be a dunce, or a pure hearted ASA, or other organization, supporter to even mention that line of thinking. If you are a dunce, PGF should let your stupid self go wherever you want to go. If you are a pure hearted ASA supporter, I understand that, but you have to realize the direction the wind is blowing at some point. Old arguments are not going to win the day.

For instance here is a list of states taken from the teams attending: GA, AZ, AZ, AZ, IL, IL, SC, CO, GA, MI, IL, TX, NJ, KS, FL, NC, MN, TX, NM, PA, OR, IL, FL, TX, TX, TX, TX, OK, VA, VA, WA, WA, KS. I have removed the CA teams. You see a very wide group of teams from across the US.

As for fewer invited teams, again, representative of supporters of other organizations, or dumb.
It has to be clear by now that Invites and Quality of tournament are more than loosely related. So yes, there is some desire that invites decrease. As long as PGF board stays focused on the quality of tournament, they will have the best tournament. Using invites to continuously improve tournament quality just makes sense.

The thing about PGF board that is different is that they know softball, they know the teams that are out there. They hear from a select coach, or a university coach about a great player or a team that is great, they take the time to find out more about that team/player. They then make sure that those teams and players find their way to PGF. As long as they continue to demonstrate that they are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure the best are at PGF, they will enjoy growing support.

Much better approach than allowing your political process to usurped by a small group of profit takers and then digging in and burying yourself 30 stories under hall of fame stadium.