no metal cleats for exposure tournament

[MTR]

From the FP/MP section of the 2008 NSA rule book:

Sec. 4 All players, coaches, and participants must wear shoes. Sandals are
considered proper shoes for non-players. A shoe shall be made with
either canvas or leather uppers or similar materials. The sole may be
either smooth or have soft or hard rubber or polyurethane cleats.
Metal cleats or any type of shoe that has exposed metal on the sole
other than a rivet may not be worn in any division of youth play.
Metal cleats may be worn in all divisions of adult FP play.
*PENALTY: IF IT IS DISCOVERED DURING THE GAME
THAT AN OFFENSIVE PLAYER IS WEARING METAL CLEATS
AN OUT WILL BE CALLED AND THE PLAYER WILL BE
EJECTED. A DEFENSIVE PLAYER WHO IS WEARING METAL
CLEATS WILL BE EJECTED. Any baserunner(s) must return to
the last base occupied at the time of the pitch.

Since a showcase involves youth players and not adults, NSA is still a no-go on metal.

[MTR]

This is from the 2008 ISA Rule Book FP section:

Section 4 - SHOES - Must be worn by all players. A shoe shall be made with
either canvas or leather uppers or similar materials. The sole may be either
smooth or have soft or hard rubber or polyurethane cleats. Metal cleats or
any type of shoe that has exposed metal on the sole other than a rivet, may
not be worn in any division except the Collegiate division. Pitcher only may
wear toe plates. MP: Metal cleats are allowed in the Adult 9 man divisions
only.

So, unless the showcase is considered the "collegiate" division (and since many of the participants in a showcase are yet to have reached their 18th birthday), I doubt they would be legal under ISA.

[wadeintothem]

Apparently, there are other softball organizations in this country other than ASA, and as of January, allow metal cleats. ISA (Atlanta) and NSA(Ohio?) Nationals this summer both allow metal cleats. Well, as of right now they do, they might change their mind by July.

NSA around here does not allow metal and the rule book is pasted up there.

I'm not familiar with these orgs in those states enough to know if you are right or wrong, but do you have anything to back up your assertions whatsoever?

[Skarp]

If Florida travel teams don't play ASA tournaments and go to ASA Nationals, that hurts their chances of being recruited? By which teams? West Coast teams?

I realize there have only been a few subsequent posts, but I can't believe nobody has jumped on this one yet.

[greenandblue]

Wadeintothem -here's the written word just for you.

http://www.isaflorida.com/fastpitch/

I can't access the NSAFlorida fastpitch site right now, but the last two tournaments we played were NSA and some of the teams wore metal cleats. I'll ask the powers that be tomorrow night where I can find NSA's policy. Just for you.

Apparently there are other states in this country that have different rules than CA and TX.

Did CA or TX move to 43' at 18u yet? HS?

[Sam]

[quote="greenandblue"]Wadeintothem -here's the written word just for you.

http://www.isaflorida.com/fastpitch/

I can't access the NSAFlorida fastpitch site right now, but the last two tournaments we played were NSA and some of the teams wore metal cleats. I'll ask the powers that be tomorrow night where I can find NSA's policy. Just for you.

Apparently there are other states in this country that have different rules than CA and TX.

Did CA or TX move to 43' at 18u yet? HS?[/quote]


Yes and No.

[Sam]

Apparently, there are other softball organizations in this country other than ASA, and as of January, allow metal cleats. ISA (Atlanta) and NSA(Ohio?) Nationals this summer both allow metal cleats. Well, as of right now they do, they might change their mind by July.

The purpose of this post was to question that a rule was changed on cleats BECAUSE OTHER TEAMS COMPLAINED that they would be at a disadvantage if they didn't wear them. I was not claiming that metal cleats are the best and they don't want to wear anything else.

If Florida travel teams don't play ASA tournaments and go to ASA Nationals, that hurts their chances of being recruited? By which teams? West Coast teams?

Junior colleges will reap that particular bounty.....

[anonlooker]

If Florida travel teams don't play ASA tournaments and go to ASA Nationals, that hurts their chances of being recruited? By which teams? West Coast teams?

I realize there have only been a few subsequent posts, but I can't believe nobody has jumped on this one yet.

aka Pac-10, aka WCWS Champions, aka universities I want recruiting my DD!

[MTR]

Wadeintothem -here's the written word just for you.

http://www.isaflorida.com/fastpitch/

I can't access the NSAFlorida fastpitch site right now, but the last two tournaments we played were NSA and some of the teams wore metal cleats. I'll ask the powers that be tomorrow night where I can find NSA's policy. Just for you.

Apparently there are other states in this country that have different rules than CA and TX.

Did CA or TX move to 43' at 18u yet? HS?

If you are going to make arbitrary changes to the rules, you would think they would at least change their "on line" version of the rule book.

[greenandblue]

I guess wanting to have one organization that governs all travel ball nationally wouldn't work if states come up with their own rules. Which must be why other organizations were created. Which makes the inequality worse.


As for wanting your DD only to play for PAC 10/West Coast colleges/universitites, what I saw on the WCWS didn't look to be a step above the rest of the country. Actually, some of the errors reminded me of Little League days. There's no doubt that the athleticism among the players is pretty equal, coast to coast.