Pick Up Player System

[NUTJOBFASTPITCHDAD]

I completely agree this non stop picking up of players is ridiculous and at times I have been as much of the problem as anyone else.

I would love to see softball go to a system like Nations Baseball where rosters are posted online for all to see and it tracks when players have played and for whom.

This "rent-a-pitcher" mentality that some have does benefit teams nor the individual players on them.

We (the softball community) are asking for MORE INTEGRITY within the system.

[soreshins]

I am aware that once a player is on an ASA roster, that player cannot play for another team at an ASA Qualifier or ASA National event so long as their rostered team is still playing in ASA championship play. This is an ASA rule rather than a Houston Metro rule.

In the lower divisions, ASA rosters are usually signed just before the first qualifier. I am not aware that any other roster is turned in to Houston Metro. I am likewise unaware of any program, practice or Houston Metro rule to limit pick up players. The ASA roster applies to ASA qualifiers and championship play.

The "North Texas" practice you describe is pretty much the same in Houston until ASA rosters are signed. No one is "locked" to a team for an entire season.

[slaphitter]

The "North Texas" practice you describe is pretty much the same in Houston until ASA rosters are signed. No one is "locked" to a team for an entire season.

I am not in favor to locking a girl to a team for an entire year. Things happen on teams where players (more likely her parent(s)) become a debtriment to the team which can destroy the team. Or Both parties are unhappy with the situation and a change is needed.

Would I like to see better controls on restricting player movement and player pick-ups during the year. Yes I would. There are times due to injury, illness that a team needs to pick up just so the rest of the team can play.

A player pool is a good idea that someone suggested, where players can sign up to be available on certain dates. This should be a public forum where everyone can see who is picking up and whom they are picking up. Also there should be some limits on how often a team can pick up. Lets say in a month period of time and how many players they can pick up at any 1 given time. Some teams pick up almost every week end instead of filling their roster.

Then you have to decide who is going to be the governing body to control and enforce this player pool and the rules that apply. It could get very complicated

[taking2]

Soccer manages it...there are more kids playing soccer than s-ball.

[Battle]

I guess I'm one of the few that likes the system the way it is. I like the option of going to play when we want. I also like the ASA restrictions. I like it when teams call for dd to play and so does she. We don't always go though. We might have a fishing/hunting trip planned or she might be going to stay with a friend or maybe me and the wife need some our time but we like the option. I don't like going to a tournament and losing to a bunch of pick up players but then again we don't like losing to anybody. We also know that it's not the end of the world if we do. Personally, I had rather play a strong team of pickups than to play a weak team of permanent players because it's not the other team that we are trying to get better. It's our team. I don't expect everybody to feel that way. That's just my opinion for what it's worth.

[heehaw]

I like the system in place the way it is. If I want my DD to play three or four times a month insted of one or two then it's up to me, not her Coach. She put's in the hours of work each day and loves to play games when she can and as often as she can. This is the reward for all the side work and offseason work that is put in. When teams have one or two scheduled tourneys and two weekends off.... 19 days without games play... it's not easy to keep focus for a 14yr old girl.

[cliponbeard]

I like the system in place the way it is. If I want my DD to play three or four times a month insted of one or two then it's up to me, not her Coach. She put's in the hours of work each day and loves to play games when she can and as often as she can. This is the reward for all the side work and offseason work that is put in. When teams have one or two scheduled tourneys and two weekends off.... 19 days without games play... it's not easy to keep focus for a 14yr old girl.

Exactly.....why does it matter if its not qualifiers or championship play? Don't see the down side for any kid having the opportunity to play more. If she's hungry to play, any chance for more innings/bats is nothing but upside in my book. Plus, picking up gives some of these teams a fighting chance to play when battling thru club volleyball, Track meets, cheerleading fundraisers, UIL band competition, NJHS community service and about 1 million other conflicts that affect middle and high school kids. Without pick ups those teams stay on the shelf, or can't play as much.

[muzenewz]

Let players come and go as they please, whenever they please and wherever they please...if someone wants to "pick up", change teams, or do whatever, then let 'em!.....this is America!....i think we fought a war in the 1860s that settled the "freedom" issue for everyone...didn't we?

[gametimer]

All I know is that we are a first year 10U team and we've taken our lumps all year playing the teams that should be A. Now that a lot of them have been bumped to A, we are finally playing our first B tournament and really looking forward to competing against like competition. Now I see on the message board that a bunch of A players are looking to pick up this weekend since they aren't playing. Are you kidding me? You play more than any of us every weekend and now you want to come make some B team the team to beat in a B tournament. It is a joke if you ask me. And no, I won't pick anyone up because my girls have worked their butts off this season and won't be watching from the bench while some part timer gets their playing time just to WIN a softball tournament. If we win, it will be because my 11 play harder and better than everyone else this weekend. If we don't, at least we'll know we tried our best and left it all on the field as a TEAM.

Coming from boys baseball, it is totally different over there. If you are on a Major roster, you can't drop down to AAA and play on a team that weekend. What is so difficult about this? It should be easy to police.

I think if you are a pickup player, you should have to wear something so the other teams all know who your pickup players are. We can then pitch to them the way we see fit. Maybe that would start deterring all this pick up stuff.

[taking2]

Agree with gametimer...why doesn't the A team (00 Shock) that is unloading all of it's players this weekend sign up and play in a tournament on their own? They obviously have players that are available, otherwise they wouldn't be picking up.

Don't tell me they can't find a tournament to play in the entire state. The truly good teams travel, hence the concept of travel ball. Let the "b" teams play their own tournament. This takes all of the fun out of the game for those girls. They finally get to a tournament with their own skill level and here come the ringers!

Also nice move on the Shock's part by signing up their 01 team in the B tournament and letting a few of the 00 players pickup. Is the trophy that important to you?!?