Gold Classification

[LVTHEGAME]

All information will be posted on the http://www.socal-asa.com web site...date set for October 15, 2008, location will follow, check back...

[Sam]

So the "official" version of the proposal finally gets posted....without the Regional Classification Code ever being changed and filed with the ASA National Office.

The Gold hierarchy is using the rules (rather badly, I would say) in reverse to keep young ladies who can compete at the Gold level from playing Gold ball.

Ask yourselves these questions:

1) Who does this change help?

2) Who does this change hurt?

I'll answer them for you.

1) It helps a very few Gold MANAGERS. Nobody else. It helps egos.

2) It hurts hundreds of players every year. It limits the number of teams that a player has available. Many of these girls can't afford to play on OC teams....the IE teams offer a cheaper alternative many times. Lots of these girls would play full time on their teams, but would have to choose to be a bench or part time player on a Gold team. How does this change help them?

[wadeintothem]

What does it mean?
Nothing. Most teams are not competitive gold level anyway. It caps to about 35 the number of socal non gold teams calling themselves gold... and the Top 15 real gold teams are still good to go. The others will still go to the show cases, get seen by D1 coaches, who knows maybe make So Cal competitive at the 18U national or maybe go play 16U where many belong, and overall, they will still do just fine.

Most are gold in name only and are not viable as gold organizations at any tournament they go to.
I see no problem with So Cal finally regulating their out of control Gold mess. Good on them.

[DD's Dad]

I don't believe that playing time is the only key to getting to pick your favorite D1 college. Being seen by coaches is, of course, necessary, but playing every inning of every game and playing poorly does not impress any college coaches. The girls, my DD included, need great coaching and an intense desire to succeed in order to be the one that catches the eye of the college coach, and whether that will happen at 16U, 18U or Gold is more a function of how much time DD puts in before the weekend and not how MUCH time she plays over the weekend. My DD, and I don't think she's so different from a lot of other girls, likes to be challenged, needs to be pushed, and enjoys the competitive aspect of earning a spot in the circle...or in the outfield...or at first base. What she has learned is that the best coaching she can get and the harder she works, the less important it is how many girls are on the roster. When she does get on the field, she is prepared to play and play well. Very little improvement comes during an hour and 20 minute game during a showcase. My DD knows that how hard she works during the week will have far more to do with how she performs during the weekend and what those coaches see when she IS on the field.

If there were fewer Gold teams, and the truly competitive girls were forced onto the teams with the BEST coaching, the level of play would be better during the games, but the college coaches would have a better chance of seeing your (or my) DD and they would be better prepared to show why they are ready to play at the college level. My DD plays on a Gold team (this is her first fall at Gold) that has 18 players. She knows she has to work during the week and at practice in order to earn her way onto the field. During showcases, every girl gets to play, but she knows that when it counts, she will have to be able to play up to expectations in order to get the start. She doesn't have a problem with this and if she doesn't start, while disappointed, she knows that she need look no further than the mirror for the way to change this.

I hope that every DD gets what she wants out of her softball experience, but someone will always be disappointed at the end of the weekend. Having more teams so that more girls can play is not the only solution, nor is limiting the number of teams arbitrarily. ASA and the college coaches are linked and always will be, so I understand that ASA has to look for ways to make that relationship better for both sides. I hope that ASA puts some effort during this exercise to improve the level of play, and not just at the Gold level, by looking for ways to improve to the coaching in each of the local associations which, if effective, might render the need to limit teams a moot point.

[Sam]

I don't believe that playing time is the only key to getting to pick your favorite D1 college. Being seen by coaches is, of course, necessary, but playing every inning of every game and playing poorly does not impress any college coaches. The girls, my DD included, need great coaching and an intense desire to succeed in order to be the one that catches the eye of the college coach, and whether that will happen at 16U, 18U or Gold is more a function of how much time DD puts in before the weekend and not how MUCH time she plays over the weekend. My DD, and I don't think she's so different from a lot of other girls, likes to be challenged, needs to be pushed, and enjoys the competitive aspect of earning a spot in the circle...or in the outfield...or at first base. What she has learned is that the best coaching she can get and the harder she works, the less important it is how many girls are on the roster. When she does get on the field, she is prepared to play and play well. Very little improvement comes during an hour and 20 minute game during a showcase. My DD knows that how hard she works during the week will have far more to do with how she performs during the weekend and what those coaches see when she IS on the field.

If there were fewer Gold teams, and the truly competitive girls were forced onto the teams with the BEST coaching, the level of play would be better during the games, but the college coaches would have a better chance of seeing your (or my) DD and they would be better prepared to show why they are ready to play at the college level. My DD plays on a Gold team (this is her first fall at Gold) that has 18 players. She knows she has to work during the week and at practice in order to earn her way onto the field. During showcases, every girl gets to play, but she knows that when it counts, she will have to be able to play up to expectations in order to get the start. She doesn't have a problem with this and if she doesn't start, while disappointed, she knows that she need look no further than the mirror for the way to change this.

I hope that every DD gets what she wants out of her softball experience, but someone will always be disappointed at the end of the weekend. Having more teams so that more girls can play is not the only solution, nor is limiting the number of teams arbitrarily. ASA and the college coaches are linked and always will be, so I understand that ASA has to look for ways to make that relationship better for both sides. I hope that ASA puts some effort during this exercise to improve the level of play, and not just at the Gold level, by looking for ways to improve to the coaching in each of the local associations which, if effective, might render the need to limit teams a moot point.

What makes you think that the best teams have the best coaching? Lots of teams have a name that they made back in the late 90's when there were 25 teams at Gold Nationals. Does that make them great coaches today? You might be surprised at what some of the "Top" coaches are teaching when it comes to hitting....or even throwing the ball.

[Sam]

What does it mean?
Nothing. Most teams are not competitive gold level anyway. It caps to about 35 the number of socal non gold teams calling themselves gold... and the Top 15 real gold teams are still good to go. The others will still go to the show cases, get seen by D1 coaches, who knows maybe make So Cal competitive at the 18U national or maybe go play 16U where many belong, and overall, they will still do just fine.

Most are gold in name only and are not viable as gold organizations at any tournament they go to.
I see no problem with So Cal finally regulating their out of control Gold mess. Good on them.

You don't know a thing. How many of the 18U teams will play Gold teams at the Surf City Showcases? I'll tell you....none...because the Gold teams will want to play Gold teams. Last year our little Gold team got to play a team that qualified for Gold Nationals at a Surf City tournament. We lost 4-2 with only 8 players...but our opponents had to bring in their UCLA recruit to shut us down. That won't happen after these guys do this. This hurts the very players we do this for and only helps feed the egos of guys who happened to be around when this division started. They want to clean out the riff raff and could give a crap what it does to the upper mid-level player. There is no mess....the teams that earn berths to Gold Nationals will still do it.....this is a solution looking for a problem....and not finding one.

[DD's Dad]

Sam, I am a great fan of your posts because you always make me think!

No, of course I don't think ALL the best teams have the best coaches. I have seen some newer organizations begin to rise because they have approached the needs left vacant by those coaches who have not kept up with the times (too tired, too busy, too old). Maybe there will be some surprises when this whole thing shakes out. I'm just pushing the coaching and personal working out at home aspect of girls getting what they want out of softball. The ASA has lots of programs for teaching and improving umpires - they need to push the local Associations to spend more time teaching coaches (clinics, positive coaching alliance, etc.).

[3Bsnag]

I think Wade had a good point.

...make So Cal competitive at the 18U national or maybe go play 16U where many belong, and overall, they will still do just fine.

It will take some time to get coaches back to 18U, if at all with earlier recruiting. I think it will push some of the younger players back down in their age group. My crystal ball tells me 16's will get even more competitive. If thats true, most of recruiting will be done at 16's, showcases, and off the big name teams, which leads to what Sam is saying.

Why is this change being proposed in the first place?

[Sam]

I think Wade had a good point.

...make So Cal competitive at the 18U national or maybe go play 16U where many belong, and overall, they will still do just fine.

It will take some time to get coaches back to 18U, if at all with earlier recruiting. I think it will push some of the younger players back down in their age group. My crystal ball tells me 16's will get even more competitive. If thats true, most of recruiting will be done at 16's, showcases, and off the big name teams, which leads to what Sam is saying.

Why is this change being proposed in the first place?

According to Haning, the top Gold teams didn't like:

A) Playing in Lancaster for the Regional
B) Playing in Lancaster because of the number of teams.
C) Having to use a lot of pitchers during the Regional because of the number of teams.

All this after they got back their college players and were at full strength.

[rpiper]

I have been in touch with our local (Santa Clara county) rep. many times these past few weeks. An email was sent out to each Gold coach (he said) asking for input regarding the possible change of Gold team status. When I communicated with him last week he was diappointed with the number of responses he had recieved. Up front I told him I opposed this idea without even knowing if it impacts my team. I believe that the 'law of supply and demand" will begin to limit Gold teams. As players and parents become more knowledgable about the teams, the coaches and thier records they will be able to make better decisions.

We played this past weekend in Stockton and almost all the issues that are being raised I observed. There were very poor teams playing, one organization had multiple teams from multiple age groups all playing Gold, a numner of teams that played in last year's Gold nationals lost when they did not have their "hired guns", I mean their returning college players. Bob does a great job of putting teams where he feels they belong and he is usually very good at it.

So, what is the purpose of the Gold division? Is it soley to get players to Oklahoma? Is it to get players signed to colleges? Is to provide a quality opportunity for as many young ladies as possible to reach as high as they can? Each of us has to determine what we want from these questions. Example, last year we did not qualify for Nationals. But we had a very winning season, signed all 8 of our seniors to colleges for the third year in a row, were watched at all the college exposure tournaments by lots and lots of coaches and kept every player in softball. My other option, taken by many, would have been to cut half my kids, bring back a bunch of college players and qualify. Would have destryoed the team but hey, I'd be a Gold team. Not what I think we want from this division.

I suggested a number of "qualifications" if change is mandatory although I see no resaon for it. Including ACE 3 year certification, players must have played at least one year in 16s, a new GOLD ACE test, etc.

My biggest complaint - this process. Not enogh information, problem is ill defined and the idea of an arbitrary (based upon prior results) qualification process is just wrong. Don't you think that if every coach knew these "new rules" last year they would have handeled their choices differently?

Sorry this is so long. This process reminds me of the lateset LPGA rule change to mandate all players speak English. Never seemd a problem, seemed like a good idea to many but in practicality it was impossible. If changes are needed, which I agree, lets take our time and do this right and let everyone (hey, even the parents and players) participate.