The PGF 14u championship, per the PGF website, has 24 California teams, and only 16 teams from other States. Maybe the website isnt up to date, but if it is one can call it what one wants for marketing, but it falls far short of being "National". Some day it may live up to it, but not in 2011. I also heard that only 2 Ca. teams finished in the top 25 at 18 Gold Nationals in 2010 - seems like the other 49 States may have game.
There are 42 teams total, you might want to recalculate to get this absolutely right. Important stuff.
When was the last time a California team didn't win 14A ASA Nationals? Factor that into this IMPORTANT [snicker] discussion somewhere. Places 1 through 5 last year were California teams. And 17 California teams finished T33 or better last year. When you factor in California teams which were eliminated by California teams, your ratio of 24 out of 40 (42) is actually pretty representative.
If your definition of National is including someone from Maine because it is part of the country and it is important that they show up and go 2&Q, you're right, Premier isn't National. MY definition is which tournament has the lion's share of the country's top teams competing. And that answer is extremely clear. It's not that there aren't strong teams at ASA Nationals - there are. There are just far more of them at every age division of Premier.
As has been previously documented, something like 45 of the top 50 18U teams played in Premier last season. FAR less - single digits - at Gold Nationals.
It is obviously true again this year. Arguing this point is about like arguing religion, though "conversions" are probably more likely to occur in religion. That said, this ship has sailed. At all 3 age groups. Could probably come back around the other way next year or net decade. Though I doubt it will be anytime soon. For now, there just isn't any question which field is stronger.