PDad-I believe your question is merely a subterfuge to my answer. I will simplify my answer but I will ask you a direct question in return? Do you believe PGF should hold a invite only 10U national championship because it is the best thing to do for the 10U division this year? If so, do you belive 10U should remain an invite only national championship? If not, please explain? If it dosen't matter to you then please say so?
ASA has a national recreation league and PGF does not. PGF should create a national recreation league before trying to implement a national champion at the 10-12U age limit. Until then they should stay out of a 10-12U national championship all together. I understand that WILL NOT happen because there is too much money to be made on the 10-12U age group. If PGF is going to get involved in the 10-12U arena then make it a regional championship so you can get the best teams in the area (travelball orgs, T-shirt travel and upper level rec teams) to compete against each other without forcing the parents to pull out a loan to cover it. Once PGF knows who the best teams are in the area (nation wide) then you can have PGF do a invite only national championship. The teams that think they are legit will travel if confident but at least the teams that made it to the national championship deserved it. I understand that some California teams that do not win in California could win in other states but that's been a reality for a long time now. If a team thinks they can win in another state they will travel (not a lot but a few will). I do think that at 10U the best teams are not always travel ball and you have some T-shirt teams and Rec teams that can win it all. It gets a lot harder to do the same at the 12U age but it is a possibilty. Even though 12U is not in it's rookie year (as you posted Pdad) the 12U PGF division can't even get some states to host qualifiers for PGF when ASA is hosting 12U national championships in nor Cal. So make it regional and keep it fun and the least expensive until it becomes a business and real expensive.
PGF does not need a recreation league to host 14-18U national championships because it is an excellent recruiting venue and worth the money to travel. It is not the same for 10-12U. I agree with PGF on one end and disagree on the other. This sport is rapidly changing but it still should change for a positive with girls fastpitch being the primary objective not the money$. I'm not trying to create numerous positions on the topic but I understand that there are always a myriad of possibilities something can go right or wrong when change is implemented. I strongly urge PGF to do the right thing. Just my observation.