ASA or Premier

[Rotatorcuff]

This has been a tough year for decision making and there are still many unanswered questions that could have an affect on final decisions.

I haven't been following the board closely this season so I'm not sure if this has been answered. I have heard there were more "invitees" to the Premier party, so I'm curious as to how this will affect States and how the berths will be awarded. Suppose a premier bound team attends ASA states and places well enough to earn a berth, but chooses not to accept the berth in favor of Premier. This same scenario may apply to a team trying to qualify for both Premier and ASA if they play well enough, and manage to qualify for both sanctions.

What happens to that berth? I assume it will be passed down, in order, to the next highest placing team.

Does the team that passes on their ASA berth face penalty for not accepting? Two years ago, my daughter's team earned a berth and was told they had to make a decision at States whether they would be going to Nationals. We were also told we would not be allowed to attend Nationals the following year if we declined.

So the next question, what of the teams that are eliminated at states by a team that earned a berth but chose not to accept it? I guess they are SOL.

Befuddled Coach

[AlwaysImprove]

Berths are passed down.

ASA is not really in a position to turn down teams. Neither ASA or Premier is in a position to penalize teams for turning down berths. Right now the organization that starts pulling that will find themselves running an also-ran tournament.

Your decision depends a little on what type of team you want to run. If you are team that wants to compete with the best of the best, you want to play at the highest level of the sport, you should make sure and find out what the other strong teams at your age level are doing. Contact those coaches directly. Then work hard to get a berth in that tournament.

If you are already an established top competitor, like a top 10 in the nation, you should feel free to choose which ever tournament is best for you. For instance, last year 18 Gold, Team North Florida, East Cobb Bullets and Texas Impact choose ASA Gold. I suspect those teams would be welcome at Premier or ASA.

If you are down the line a ways, but still competitive, then talk to the main teams you want to compete against. In this regard it is no different than select a good tournament to attend in April or when you are deciding on which recruiting tournaments to attend in the fall.

[Gary Haning]

We have received a confirmation from all but one of the teams we invited and at this time we do not plan to invite more teams. If the final team declines we would likely replace them.

Where possible we will pass down any berths not used to the teams from that qualifier in order of finish. If we do not fill the berths in this manner we would ask teams from other qualifiers in order of finish.

I cannot answer which tournament best fits your team but the above is how we plan to deal with the berths.

The final team we asked will let us know by Wednesday and we will list all of the teams.

Thanks,
Gary Haning

[Comets16]

Mr. Haning,

I was wondering what criteria was chosen in selecting the teams for the berths? I contacted our coach today to see if the Tennessee Fury '96 was invited and the answer was NO.. Of all the teams you invited I would think they would this team would be at the top of your list. Most the players from this team have two 5th place finishes, a 9th place finish, and a 17th place finish over the past four ASA Nationals. They also won ASA Hall of Fame in 2009. They sent home some of the teams that are playing Premeire, like Corona Angels Knighten in 2007 & 2009.. We run ruled the 2009 12u 3rd place Texas Fusion at 2010 Nationals. This team in 2010 took the 2009 12u champs Power Surge to extra innings to finish 9th at Nationals.

Our plans are to go to ASA Nationals, but an invite may have persuaded the coach and team to rethink maybe..

[lunch _money]

Dont Hate!!! Percolate!!!

[1prouddad]

We have received a confirmation from all but one of the teams we invited and at this time we do not plan to invite more teams. If the final team declines we would likely replace them.

Where possible we will pass down any berths not used to the teams from that qualifier in order of finish. If we do not fill the berths in this manner we would ask teams from other qualifiers in order of finish.

I cannot answer which tournament best fits your team but the above is how we plan to deal with the berths.

The final team we asked will let us know by Wednesday and we will list all of the teams.

Thanks,
Gary Haning

Wednesday's almost over.... Anything to announce?

[Gary Haning]

Okay, Thursday. Our meeting ran late.

The following teams have accepted berths to the 2011 PGF Nationals in 14U.

Georgia Impact, Wasco Diamonds, Ohio Lasers Black, Lady Magic, Texas Impact, Firecrackers-Soto, Corona Angels Knighten, Sorcerer, Texas TPS '97, OC Batbusters Maroon

[Gary Haning]

Mr. Haning,

Our plans are to go to ASA Nationals, but an invite may have persuaded the coach and team to rethink maybe..

Hi,

We asked peole around the country, we looked at Fall results, we looked at known programs.

As with any selection/poll, we did not get every team we should have but from the information we have gathered we think these are all good teams. Sorry if we overlooked your team or any team that should have been included.

[anonlooker]

10 for 10.
Anybody who subscribes to the theory "you have beat the best to be the best" had best be hitting those Premier qualifiers.
The ASA bake-off in Midland is pretty much a joke without these teams. But we already knew that would be thecase.

[anonlooker]

Mr. Haning,

I was wondering what criteria was chosen in selecting the teams for the berths? I contacted our coach today to see if the Tennessee Fury '96 was invited and the answer was NO.. Of all the teams you invited I would think they would this team would be at the top of your list. Most the players from this team have two 5th place finishes, a 9th place finish, and a 17th place finish over the past four ASA Nationals. They also won ASA Hall of Fame in 2009. They sent home some of the teams that are playing Premeire, like Corona Angels Knighten in 2007 & 2009.. We run ruled the 2009 12u 3rd place Texas Fusion at 2010 Nationals. This team in 2010 took the 2009 12u champs Power Surge to extra innings to finish 9th at Nationals.

Our plans are to go to ASA Nationals, but an invite may have persuaded the coach and team to rethink maybe..

Rather than feel slighted, why not take the "can do" approach, win a qualifer and enjoy the best competition, location, and weather available at any national tournament. That's how you earn respect. And, there will be plane loads of colleges in SoCal for 2 weeks. Not so many, if any, in Midland. The path is clear.