Money First - Safety Second

[dgorsuch]

Whats up with parks/tournaments that do not allow coolers in the park when temps are exceeding 100+. I think this is a serious safety issue and not good for our sport. Played in 14U State this weekend in Denton. At first they said no coolers for anyone, then the team could bring a cooler but you have to buy drinks from the concession stand, then the team could bring a cooler with drinks and one with towels. "We need to take care of these girls and keep them hydrated". "Better not see one parent or sibling drinking from that team cooler or it will be removed". And trust me the Cooler Police" were all over it. Of course they were not all over taking care of fields but they were all over the cooler criminals. You have got to be kidding me. All of a sudden we are concerned for the girls but its ok for the siblings, parents and grandparents to suffer heat stroke!! I know from personal experience that you can make plenty of money from concessions and allow your teams and families to bring all of the food and drinks they want. You cater to them, provide quality products and they will support your site. I cant tell you how many negative comments I heard from teams and spectators about this subject last weekend. They also indicated they would not spend a penny at the park because of this petty, money hungry approach. Its bad enough they charge $5 to $7 to walk in the gate but they have to gouge you at the concessions for snacks and drinks. The net affect is that many people may buy one drink at the concession stand but they may not buy the 5 or 6 they should be drinking to stay hydrated. This has happended at 12U and 14U ASA State. Come on folks. Lets put saftey first and take care of our families!!!! I promise you they will spend lots of money at your tournament if they think you care about them and the girls and run a good tournament with well maintained fields.

[Joe]

What park and who runs it?

[dgorsuch]

What park and who runs it?

Denia/Corinth run by ASA - D13

[Joe]

As much as I'd like to...(you know)...ASA probably has nothing to do with it. The city must have some reg. that ties ASA's hands on this. Of course...in hindsight, ASA could have found a better location.

[sward]

At the District 13 rec tourny in Denton, there were no cooler police. However, it might have been an issue with Corinth.

Scott

[GSB]

Same issue in CA. Happens at big tournaments and ASA events only. In CA. there is an unwritten rule that you never charge more then $1 for bottled water at a snack shack. If you do, terrible things will be said on Heybucket and everyone will boycott your next event.

I understand that one of the So Cal. soccer organizations AYSO was sued and lost a considerable sum over this same issue. ASA does enforce and encourage this policy at their events and should be held accountable for any heat stroke or health issues that arise.

With case law on your side, I would encourage anyone who sustains health issues because of this to sue ASA big time. Maybe they will wake up after loosing a large amount of money. After all, its all about the money with them.

[just sayin]

USFA state was the same way at Ford Park in Beaumont. I told Bobby we would not return to a tournament where you are held hostage to a city run concession. We run tournaments all the time never monitoring coolers and there is plenty of money made. Water was $2.00 Gatorade was 3 or 4. Gate fee was 5/day. Go back to Splendora where they care about the kids.......

[PDad]

Same issue in CA. Happens at big tournaments and ASA events only. In CA. there is an unwritten rule that you never charge more then $1 for bottled water at a snack shack. If you do, terrible things will be said on Heybucket and everyone will boycott your next event.

I understand that one of the So Cal. soccer organizations AYSO was sued and lost a considerable sum over this same issue. ASA does enforce and encourage this policy at their events and should be held accountable for any heat stroke or health issues that arise.

With case law on your side, I would encourage anyone who sustains health issues because of this to sue ASA big time. Maybe they will wake up after loosing a large amount of money. After all, its all about the money with them.

Please provide some specific examples where ASA has restricted coolers in CA. We haven't had any issues the last 2 years at the Thanksgiving or States tournaments in Chino Hills, Hemet or Lancaster.

The only time I've run across it is at parks like Steed in San Clemente and Big League Dreams, but I don't recall ASA ever holding any tournaments there.

[men talljie aunt]

I am about to commit a sin I swore I would never do here on HB and that is speak about something I do not have all the facts about. However, I felt compelled to respond. First and foremost, this is not an ASA or VTD or USFA or USSSA or any other organization bash/defense post. I promise you Joe, if the post was about VTD I would respond the same way.

On to my point. Am I really supposed to believe that ASA has a policy in their administration that enforces and encourages the prevention of team coolers in tournament locations? REALLY? Am I then to assume from your argument that ASA directly benefits (i.e. receives either all or a percentage of the concession stand profits) from this practice at ASA run tournaments. Granted, everyone knows their leadership skills tend to be lacking in regards to certain issues with fastpitch softball, but I can't imagine they are that stupid to enforce and encourage such a potentially catastrophic practice as that. In my personal opinion, it is the city or municipality or P & R dept that is in charge of 99% of all concession stands. The governing/sanctioning body is more than likely at the mercy of whoever is running the concession stands. Again, I do not know this for a fact, especially as it pertains to CA, but c'mon people...give me a break!!!

[men talljie aunt]

Another point that I failed to make in my previous post:

I have been to several big ASA tournaments, both at the State and National level. Yes, I do not recall ever being allowed to bring in a personal cooler. At no time did I blame it on ASA or believe they were the instigators and enforcers of this policy. Do you know why you see this practice at most "big" events? Because of the large number of teams and their families participating in the tournament - genius!!! Concessions is how the city or P & R dept or some other local organization is going to make the bulk of their money for that week or weekend.