Information about Premier Fastpitch Girls Softball

[Gary Haning]

As the saying, "The longest journey begins with a single step", so is this tournament.

In concept it will not always be an invitational, although 4 to maybe 8 will always be given an automatic berth.

It does not always have to be in So Cal but if/when it moves it needs to be done at the right places(s) not someplace that simply outbids everyone else and/or has a powerful commissoner.

Salem, OR in 2003 was the best Nationals I have ever attended, Salinas was good, San Diego could be good, Colorado, and I am sure many others.

We want to include the younger age groups in the same area so college coaches get more "bang for their buck".

We want to include a 21U or 23U so college kids who love the game have good place to play and do not have to participate in what is often a beer and pizza league situation on a women's team.

We have many thoughts, many ideas, many plans. Maybe they will come to fruition maybe not but there is room for change from what is now the accepted norm.

[DonnieS]

It does not always have to be in So Cal but if/when it moves it needs to be done at the right places(s) not someplace that simply outbids everyone else and/or has a powerful commissoner.

Salem, OR in 2003 was the best Nationals I have ever attended, Salinas was good, San Diego could be good, Colorado, and I am sure many others.

Call me crazy but (ignoring how damn it will be to get a berth) a lot of people can get excited about spending a week in So Cal vs Midland Texas, or anywhere in Oregon versus anywhere in Illinois - regardless of who the heck outbids who.

[QuickStudy]

There may be many defects in the ASA, its rules, and its procedures. However, ASA is a national organization with a highly developed infrastructure. One has only to read wadeintothem's post on the structure of umpire management and assignment to glimpse part of the strength of that infrastructure.

For Premier Fastpitch Girls Softball to succeed ASA as the venue for the finest softball competitions, Premiere MUST establish much of the same infrastructure before ASA changes its rules and procedures to accommodate the demands of most disgruntled stakeholders (the travel ball coaches, the parents, and the college coaches).

Premier has attracted some of the top softball teams of 2009 (as determined by their ASA Nationals placements) to its 2010 event. This will attract the college coaches. But, can Premier attract top umpiring talent? How would we measure this? ASA can stake a claim to the best umpiring because it has a structured umpiring recruitment and evaluation process. How can Premier demonstrate that it attracts the best umpires? Can it do this without using the ASA evaluation system?

ASA has a national qualification system. Premier has launched with an invitational (showcase) event. Premier must establish a national qualification process in order to maintain its claim to attract the "top softball teams". ASA can claim that a large percentage of current Division I players have competed in their 18 Gold qualifiers. Until Premier can make such a claim, Premier cannot rightfully claim to be the organization with the best competition.

In summary, for Premier to succeed, it must leverage its initial strengths: the support of coaches with high credibility among college coaches and parents, availability of excellent facilities and lodging, temperate climate, it's reputation and experience in delivering highly credible showcase events, etc. Additional, it must take advantage of its opportunities: high stakeholder dissatisfaction with ASA and lack of responsiveness by ASA to meet stakeholder needs, etc. And it must address it's weaknesses: lack of infrastructure, lack of umpiring resources, etc. While it moves quickly to address it biggest threat: that ASA modifies it policies and procedures to satisfy its disgruntled stakeholders.

I think that Premier has a chance to improve the game of softball. If I may be of assistance, please contact me.

[Blind Squirrel]

I am such an idiot. I've been watching the kids this whole time instead of the umpires. At least my kid's coaches got it right when they selected which tournaments to attend based upon the quality of the umpires.

The participants in the NIT and NCAA basketball tournaments are selected from the same pool of teams. The moral of the story is obvious.

John

[Surehitter]

How good or bad the umpires are won't effect this tournament. The college exposure will far far out weigh the bad calls. Let the umpires who think they are all that go and enjoy Oklahoma and the special weather.

[wadeintothem]

I am such an idiot. I've been watching the kids this whole time instead of the umpires. At least my kid's coaches got it right when they selected which tournaments to attend based upon the quality of the umpires.

The participants in the NIT and NCAA basketball tournaments are selected from the same pool of teams. The moral of the story is obvious.

John

no, I dont think it is obvious.

What the heck is the moral?

Tournaments actually are selected for top honors based on the quality of the event. A large part of a quality event is in fact umpires. An example is Colorado fireworks, where they spend a great deal of money bringing in and housing and taking care of umpires, and they want good ones. By this investment, they are not simply using left over Colorado local yocals. Another example is Fresno Force, which also brings in outside umpires to ensure they are offering a quality field of play. You parents may not be aware of it, your big concern is how far you have to walk to the restroom, how much wind there is when you are trying to set up your awning, and where to buy a hot dog. Those managing these tournaments and especially those who are concerned with a quality event are certainly aware of it. But if you name a top event, you will find quality ASA trained umpires... right down to the NCAA WCWS.

I dont know Gary's plan, 3 man crews, flying them in, or perhaps he has the attitude about umpires that "they all suck" as you guys do.. but from my vantage, umpiring, and the quality there of, is in fact a big deal as a part of the overall show and package you get when you attend an event.

[bugs]

All I know is when my teams go to ASA Nationals all the umpires are from the region where the ASA torunament is held. None from other parts of the United States. They announce who they are and where they are from before every game and I listen to where they are from. You know, kind of worried about home cookin'.

So...................wouldn't that leave a ton of great umpires from all over Gary's area that would love to work his great event. Umpires who if ASA Nationals was ever in California (Not!) would be very qualifed to work a high quality tournament and be very highly qualified as well to work Gary's tournament.

[Sftbll4ever]

Every Nationals I have been to has had umpires from many different states represented, not just the region in which it is being held.

[bugs]

I didn't say the state is where they were from but the region. Please read again.

[wadeintothem]

All I know is when my teams go to ASA Nationals all the umpires are from the region where the ASA torunament is held. None from other parts of the United States.

What nationals have you gone to?

They announce who they are and where they are from before every game and I listen to where they are from. You know, kind of worried about home cookin'.

You arent allowed to work teams from your association at nationals.

So...................wouldn't that leave a ton of great umpires from all over Gary's area that would love to work his great event. Umpires who if ASA Nationals was ever in California (Not!)

You know, information on CA nationals in 2010 and how many there are actually is available. Its a few links.. but you can get it.

would be very qualifed to work a high quality tournament and be very highly qualified as well to work Gary's tournament.

He probably dont need many, this is not that big of a tourney (like colorado or FF or whatever). Maybe 30-40 depending on if it goes like a showcase and does 2 man or championship play and goes 3 man. They'll be plenty of local umps to fill those slots. I was more addressing the contention that quality of umpires do not have an effect on the over all product as an event