Information about Premier Fastpitch Girls Softball

[ssarge]

Another case-in-point, from the other thread:

On Monday night of the Double Elimination Draw we had a survey that was available to fill out and give your opinion on how things are done in the Gold Program. For those of you who turned one in we appreciate your time in doing so. If you did not have the time or opportunity to fill a survey out and would like the opportunity I have included those questions below.

A nice attempt to gather data, and hopefully, some was generated.

But conducted at a ridiculous time, in the middle of a draw which seemed to take hours, and lasted well past midnight when teams had to play the next morning at 9:00. Meaning 6:00am wakeups. Find out you have a 9:00am game at 12:30AM, and notify players at that time they need to be up 5+ hours later. Think about the logistical implications of that before an absolutely must win game.

WHATEVER the specific reasons why this timing was necessary, it is ridiculous that it WAS necessary in the middle of a 9 day OKC experience. That is 9 days - 10 with travel - to play a TOTAL of 191 games INCLUDING pool play.

9 days - 10 with travel - where the average team played a TOTAL of 5 games, including pool play. One of which was at a park over 20 miles away from the main park.

MANY believe that there are facilities elsewhere in the country with 8 fields - or more - in close proximity which are more appropraite to comfortably host a tournament with 191 games in 5 days. Including two days of pool play. Although one day would be adequate, and brackets could easily be completed in 3 days (4 days total). One weekend, and 2-3 days off work, rather than 2 weekends and 5 days off work. The possibility of a direct flight, which is faster for even the extreme case of west coast to east coast than it is to change planes to get to OKC. Typically cheaper, too. And obviously, 4 days or so of hotel is WAY cheaper than 8 days.


No need to refute the specifics, if you don't agree. It is merely an illustration of an issue that should be so obvious to leadership that it precludes the need for gathering data.

I do - seriously - applaud any effort to gather data. It's a start. Quite possibly too late, though.

[jmo]

Scott,

As always, your posts are well thought out, straight to the point and right on the money when speaking of this whole ASA issue. The Premier Girls Fastpitch offers a credible alternative to those who are tired of spinning their wheels with ASA. Will it be a thing of the future? Time will tell but if the PGF continues to get this together the right way, it will be the tournament to attend for those that seek the best competition in the country.

Bret Denio
Explosion Gold

[ssarge]

The Premier Girls Fastpitch offers a credible alternative to those who are tired of spinning their wheels with ASA. Will it be a thing of the future? Time will tell but if the PGF continues to get this together the right way, it will be the tournament to attend for those that seek the best competition in the country.

Thanks for the kind words, Bret.

Who knows how successful the Premier concept will be? Like anything else, competition will be healthy, and the venue better serving the needs of the constituency will prevail. It's a beautiful country.

If ASA began to seriously consider what its constituency needs and desires, it could win any battle. They are Goliath. No one doubts that, I don't think. What many people doubt - gravely - is whether they will.

If they continue NOT to listen to their customers, they will ultimately fail, over time, and in increments.

I submit GM as a classic example. Once viewed as a bellweather of the US economy as a WHOLE, it was absolutely unthinkable that competition could offer viable alternatives. Well, people's thinking changes.

I am almost certain that the Premier concept will be the preference of the mnost important and competitive programs in 2010. (Your team being a prime example of that.) After 2010, competition will prevail. I am betting that Gary and his partners will respond better than ASA, but we'll see. Gary has ALWAYS listened to his constituency, and that is why his tournaments are what they are - very, very good.

And those who criticize money as a motivator miss the point, too. Personally, I could care less if Gary lives on a mega-yacht. If I get good value for my investment, I am a happy guy. Those who don't feel that way don't deserve to live under the free-enterprise umbrella.


Best of luck to Explosion in 2010. And congratulations to your daughter and the Hurricanes for their 23U National Championship.

Best regards,

Scott

[wadeintothem]

No doubt good points scott.

I think its important for ASA to consider a lot of things. I doubt anyone wants to see the loss of those great organizations. But some may be lost. And thats the way it is. ASA still must go on.

The thing ASA needs to do right now is move forward. I agree, changing fences around is not fair. And 225 for 14U is too long. I think I had 1 at most 2 home runs at 14U nats while I was PU and heard of a few others. People like the homer. Thats the game. So why so far when colleges play shallow? Fix it.

I honestly believe a committee of coaches is needed so these concerns can be expressed. For example, as an umpire at 14U nats, I never heard about the fence thing. Not a single time. It was a non issue to me and I never thought about them. So what is important to coaches may not be noticed by others involved in the game and we are standing on the same dirt.

ASA Moving forward is what needs to happen. Even if every single one of those teams never play ASA again, ASA is still the national governing body of this sport interms of standards , play, and development and it must move on. Sometimes people need a good kick in the shorts to keep moving forward .

[3'sDad]

Gary: I have a question which you may or may not as yet be able to answer.:

Has there been thought or any research done as yet to webcasting the Premier Tournamnet games, using a company like YouthSportsLive or another web-based company?

This year's ASA 18 Gold games were streamed, which our family had the chance to view. The webcast was very good and while they only had one camera at the field, they did have a live field mike for sound pick-up, which added to the webcast.

There are at least two teams from NJ who have receieved and accepted invitations to play in this event. Those of us back East will want to watch some of our friends daughters play, if the financial incentive is thee to stream the games.

[tcannizzo]

WHATEVER the specific reasons why this timing was necessary, it is ridiculous that it WAS necessary in the middle of a 9 day OKC experience. That is 9 days - 10 with travel - to play a TOTAL of 191 games INCLUDING pool play.

FWIW, at 14A Marietta, they played 475 +/- starting with 13 fields. Championship was 1pm on Sun. And if they wanted to, they could have gotten the to the ship by Sat nite.

[Iluvblue]

Wade,

i have been saying for some time now that there needs to be some board of coaches involved in the decision making process. Like it or not, the teams ARE PAYING FOR EVERYTHING. Teams are just starting to come together having that knowledge and forcing some changes. ASA doesnt need to listen to anyone. But i can promise you that somebody will, and gary has stepped forward.
NO NEED to spend that many days at nationals, but we all know why you play 1 game a day. the longer they keep you around, the more hotel stay, the more food you buy, the more money, more money, more money.

Finally it appears teams have reached some limit. i have been begging for this for 4 years now.

[wadeintothem]

Hey I'm right in line with you guys on length of stay.

Get them down to 4 days. I'm with you guys there. Some guys, like me, have day jobs and I just have trouble doing certain things. (college and hs ball cause trouble.. but may be alittle easier with furloughs of ca state employees lol) 9 days would be quite tough for me.. and I dont even pay my own way.

You guys are 100% dead on about the expense of these long tourneys. I hope you guys get your way on that. It would even benefit me and that is a real issue.

[Gary Haning]

We have looked into a into various media outlets and while I cannot say more yet, I am hopeful and pretty confident that all of the games in the upper division at least will be available on the Internet.

[ssarge]

ASA Moving forward is what needs to happen. Even if every single one of those teams never play ASA again, ASA is still the national governing body of this sport interms of standards , play, and development and it must move on. Sometimes people need a good kick in the shorts to keep moving forward

Well said, Wade, and exactly right.

I appreciate your kind words, very much. Thank you, and thanks for caring enough to participate in these discussions. That too, is appreciated.

Best regards,

Scott