Texas ASA is just out of touch

[heybuckethead]

Texas ASA is so out of touch with reality and it doesn't look like it's going to get better anytime soon. Is anyone at ASA, the showcases tournament directors, etc. really paying attention to what the travel teams and college coaches want except Premier?

http://www.asasoftball.com/about/getStory.asp?nid=2236

“There are some big shoes to fill in the Texas Commissioner role. Past Texas Commissioners have been WW Bill Keathan, Jack Aaron, Ronnie Isham and Glenn Morrison, and they have done some great things for Texas and the national organization,” [new Texas ASA commissioner Rodney] Cobb said. “I am going to try to stay the course with Texas. I would hope that I can add some of my own touches to the organization, but Texas has a great tradition. It is really not broken so there is not a lot to fix.”

[ddtx]

Ok, so let me understand your complaint... Premier has one opportunity to qualify for their championship... 4 berths. This is unless you have received a personal invitation for your team to participate. They do not have to go through the qualification process. These invited teams are not based on last year's finish. If this were ASA you would call it the "good old boy network". Premier protects all California teams through 2 rounds in the Championship. There were opening ceremonies at Premier. The length of the tournament was the same as ASA Gold. Premier Championship rosters are not due until you participate at Nationals. I certainly understand the Premier emphasis on college coaches and their needs. I agree ASA could be better in dealing with them. But the main charge for ASA Gold is to offer championship opportunities for the most elite 18U teams. It is not primarily based on college coaches. They are paid to coach and recruit eligible players. This is the coach's responsibility and not necessarily ASA.

I would like to know the exact things that ASA could do to improve their product and what changes you think is needed for Gold? It's easy to sit on the sidelines and complain and it is another to offer suggestions and see if they are addressed. Most of the time I see it as trash talkers with marginal gold teams.

[51sDad]

It's easy to sit on the sidelines and complain and it is another to offer suggestions and see if they are addressed. Most of the time I see it as trash talkers with marginal gold teams.

Most marginal gold teams don't even know what premier is.

[Joe]

Texas ASA is so out of touch with reality and it doesn't look like it's going to get better anytime soon.

Dude...tell us something we don't already know. ASA is a classic example of how to 'F' it up. Have they done some good things through the years? Absolutely! Have they let cronyism, complacency, and the good old boy system... ruin all their hard work? Absolutely!

No need to look any further than FWASA...

[Joe]

It's easy to sit on the sidelines and complain and it is another to offer suggestions and see if they are addressed.

HA! Been there, done that...

Open your eyes 'homer'.

[heybuckethead]

It's easy to sit on the sidelines and complain and it is another to offer suggestions and see if they are addressed. Most of the time I see it as trash talkers with marginal gold teams.

Most marginal gold teams don't even know what premier is.

The problem is that most Texas ASA commissioners don't know what Premier is.

For me, it's not so much that Premier is a fix either. But, ASA in Texas just doesn't get it at all. They have demonstrate repeatedly they just don't care. Splitting the Gold regional qualifier, qualifiers hosted in Beaumont, Midland, and on some of the worst complexes in the state. Just no attempt to accommodate college coaches, travel teams, players, parents, etc. Sometimes it seems like they go out-of-their way to scew it up on purpose. Don't know if Premier will take over, but I know this Rodney: ASA fastpitch softball is broken in Texas, and it definitely needs fixing!

[MavFan]

So much for ASA taking advantage of the poor scheduling by Premier for the Houston qualifier June 3-5, same weekend as state championships and countless graduations. Texas ASA has scheduled a Gold qualifier for the same weekend in Killeen.

In my opinion it is one thing for a kid to choose between going to and playing in the HS state championship and walking the aisle to get the HS diploma. As only 20 HS teams will even be playing at that time, and not all of the players are seniors. It is an entirely different choice to make when it is a club team, where more than half a team could be forced to make the choice between traveling from all over Texas to Killeen or Houston for the weekend or chosing to go receive their diploma with their classmates.

[GameTime]

That weekend, June 3-5, isn't the ASA Gold Regional Qaulifier in Killeen?? That is the same weekend as Premier Qualifier. Then Dallas should be two weeks after. Someone please verify, its making me question my dates written down.

Also I agree with you on June 3-5 being a bad weekend for seniors and programs to make decisions. It hurts few but not all.( I think thats ASA thinking)

[Joe]

I think thats ASA thinking

Impossible...there will none of that!

..."Thinking"

[MavFan]

That weekend, June 3-5, isn't the ASA Gold Regional Qaulifier in Killeen?? That is the same weekend as Premier Qualifier. Then Dallas should be two weeks after. Someone please verify, its making me question my dates written down.

Also I agree with you on June 3-5 being a bad weekend for seniors and programs to make decisions. It hurts few but not all.( I think thats ASA thinking)

ASA wasn't thinking!

There will be 40 or more teams in Houston that weekend and that many in Killeen if not more, that is a lot of kids that will be needing to make the choice.

Or worse yet, there won't be nearly that many because the teams will choose to stay home. I guess I just don't see the rational of playing that weekend at all. The turnout in Beaumont last year was good, and it was in late July. What is the hurry in getting all of the qualifiers over before Colorado? Just doesn't make any sense to me. But that is why I am only a parent and not the ASA JO commissioner.