Where are all the 10u teams going?

[ocarterok]

Let me start off by saying I've been involved in travel ball for a while. I took a break(meaning my daughter went off to play in college) and now our youngest daughter is playing 10u travel.

Can I just say it's changed ALOT! We went to the ASA state draw last week and there are only 15 teams in 10u state. What happen? 10 years ago there was a least 50 teams in our southern region for state. This year, they are giving out 12 berths.....I think 2 teams already have berths. Which in the past you couldn't play in a state tournament if you already had a berth. Now, playing in one seems to be ok. Alright I could be wrong on that one, but thats what it sounded like to me at the meeting. After awhile I started tuning out. (don't worry, I'm not the coach lol)

I'm curious, can I get a roll call on where everyone is going? Triple Crown?, AFA, USSA, western nationals or just friendlies for the rest of the summer. I feel like everyone's going to a better party than I am and I want an invite!

Why do you think the participation so low? I know why other age level's in So Cal have been lower. Premier is doing a very good job of keeping So Cal teams at home. But Premier doesn't have a 10u division so it must be other organizations.

So if anyone has any idea's I'd love to hear them or if your an 10u team tell us where your headed this summer!

Michelle

[NumeroUno]

10U numbers have been dropping little by little every year for the last 10 years. I'm sure the economy might have something to do with it. I think a lot of people are keeping their kids in Rec longer. At 10U you can't go wrong with ASA or Triple Crown. Been to many ASA nationals and enjoyed everyone of them. I know Triple Crown in Park City really try to make it family oriented and makes it a lot of fun, that is a good thing for that age FUN.

You can't go wrong either way

[8u/10udad]

I would have to agree and say that more girls are staying in rec, not just at 10u but 12u as well. I think at that age girls still want to play with friends and do things on the weekends, instead of practicing 3 times a week and then 4 hours on a Sat. Then play everyweekend, be it a tourney or 3 game friendly with 2 hour breaks in between games.

[ocarterok]

Well I can understand kids staying in rec ball longer. It's fun and they have great snacks! I guess I'm just surprised on how much it's impacted ASA 10u. The weird thing is there are alot of 10u teams out there. I see them at friendlies, and at tournaments they are out there. They just don't seem to be going to ASA State or National's. (from So Cal)

In the past you had to go to State to go to Western National's. If that still holds true then very few So Cal teams are qualified to go. Or has that changed too? I really should have paid more attention at that meeting

Michelle

[Tyler Durden]

The main reason for the low numbers of So Cal 10U teams attending ASA Nat's is probably the cost. Taking your family from OC to Bowling Green, Ky. for a week is pricey. Which IMHO is too bad, because as many other esteemed posters have pointed out on HB, those trips to 10U and 12U ASA Nat's were the best experiences we had as a softball family. When you get to 16U and 18U, it's all business.
Maybe A.I. and Battle could weigh in with the pro's and con's of holding a National tournament in Bowling Green, K.Y, or Johnson City, Tn., or Midland, Texas?

[Xpress2001]

I think it has a lot to do with economics. With TCS local in SoCal, why go all the way to Oregon for Western Nats, or even further, Kentucky for Nats, to play many of the same teams you see in friendlies and local tournaments.

And nothing against the other states, but a week in San Diego in July sounds much better than Oregon and Kentucky. If you do go to Kentucky, check out the Corvette factory right there in Bowling Green. And take lots of Off!

[PDad]

Maybe A.I. and Battle could weigh in with the pro's and con's of holding a National tournament in Bowling Green, K.Y, or Johnson City, Tn., or Midland, Texass?

Intentional or a Freudian slip? Regardless...

[PDad]

I never remember 10u having 50 teams at state but my memory aint what it used to be. We had 50+ at 12U, but 10U was significantly less.

And yes teams that have already qualified can now play in the state tourney without penalty

Yellowbook still says they have to forfeit their berth (page 39) - "2. A team that already has a berth to a ASA/USA Softball National Championship may enter a Championship Tournament only after forfeiting their existing berth to the National Championship."

Previously qualified teams can play in National Qualifiers without forfeiting their berth per ASA Code.

[funtimes]

My oldest plays 18G and my youngest is a 1st year 8. Girls are not staying in rec several leagues that I know have about half the sign ups as they did when my oldest played and now it's the 12u rec teams that have to travel to play, most leagues only have 3 or 4 12U teams. When my oldest started, rec still had 16U and they were the one's who had to travel to play other teams. It's very sad, but participation in rec ball seems to be very low.

I would have to agree and say that more girls are staying in rec, not just at 10u but 12u as well. I think at that age girls still want to play with friends and do things on the weekends, instead of practicing 3 times a week and then 4 hours on a Sat. Then play everyweekend, be it a tourney or 3 game friendly with 2 hour breaks in between games.

[8u/10udad]

I would agree as well. Our league had only 3 teams in 12u this year and we had to travel. However, the issue was not travel ball that we had to deal with but, with club soccer and volleybally teams.

My oldest plays 18G and my youngest is a 1st year 8. Girls are not staying in rec several leagues that I know have about half the sign ups as they did when my oldest played and now it's the 12u rec teams that have to travel to play, most leagues only have 3 or 4 12U teams. When my oldest started, rec still had 16U and they were the one's who had to travel to play other teams. It's very sad, but participation in rec ball seems to be very low.

I would have to agree and say that more girls are staying in rec, not just at 10u but 12u as well. I think at that age girls still want to play with friends and do things on the weekends, instead of practicing 3 times a week and then 4 hours on a Sat. Then play everyweekend, be it a tourney or 3 game friendly with 2 hour breaks in between games.