PGF 2011 - Review and Discussion

[artomatic]

Pool Play lends to Seeded Brackets!

I'm trying to think of another major national sporting event that I like with a blind draw bracket

Hey Bracketologist, where have you been?
You weren't hacking into BenAround's account yesterday were you?

[Dr Pepper]

PGF should ALWAYS remain in SOCAL. Plenty of locations in SOCAL to play. East Coast teams will travel to play with the best teams in the country and enjoy great weather. Sat/Sun are usually SOCAL teams anyways. So, why move it?

[sofbal1234]

Pool Play lends to Seeded Brackets!

I'm trying to think of another major national sporting event that I like with a blind draw bracket

Hey Bracketologist, where have you been?
You weren't hacking into BenAround's account yesterday were you?

Oooowee Arto, almost something not even funny to joke around about...Almost!

[Battle]

PGF should ALWAYS remain in SOCAL. Plenty of locations in SOCAL to play. East Coast teams will travel to play with the best teams in the country and enjoy great weather. Sat/Sun are usually SOCAL teams anyways. So, why move it?

I agree...PGF should ALWAYS remain in Cal. Other teams can travel to play what is considered to be SOME of the best in the country and when other teams decided that they are tired of playing the Cal state tourn. and want to play a USA National, they can come play the REST of the best in the country with ASA and not have to travel as far just like Cal is doing with THEIR PGF. I know that if/when we want to play Cali teams, we will want to know where to find them. After all, it's about travel expense and how many teams will fall into the "come to Cali and play the best so WE don't have to travel".

[AM Softball]

Besides the weather, another reason to stay in So Cal is there is a lot to do. You can go so many cool places so that would make it a lot of fun for out of state teams.

[LETHAL WEAPON 25]

I love what PGF is doing and I think they have a shot to become the "Best Alternative" to those other guys. However, if they want to get serious about becoming a truly "National" association then they are going to have to be Nationally accessible. I think teams will come to California to play.......once, but to expect out of region teams to come every year? I kinda think that is a little bit of an elitist if not outright arrogant attitude. Sure we all want to play the best, but you guys are gonna have to put a little skin in the game too. I would like to see PGF create a western, central, and eastern region with the national alternating yearly between the 3. Then it has a "True" national feel and not a California State tournament feel as another poster stated. Just my 2 cents from someone who ISN'T from california.

*EDIT
I probably need to clarify that Im speaking primarily regarding the younger ages. In the HS division teams may well be willing to come to Calif. every year if thats where the College Coaches are gonna be. I mean for years the ASA Gold was always here in OKC.

[ontheblack]

I hope they dont move 14u up a week with 10 and 12u.

[LETHAL WEAPON 25]

I love what PGF is doing and I think they have a shot to become the "Best Alternative" to those other guys. However, if they want to get serious about becoming a truly "National" association then they are going to have to be Nationally accessible.
You mean flying into Southern CA is not Nationally accessible?
I think its not likely that the top teams from Georgia, Florida, Tennesee, etc. will ALL come every year. I do think they would come every 3rd year.
I think teams will come to California to play.......once,
I've been to Moline as many times as I have played PGF in SoCal.
but to expect out of region teams to come every year?
Isn't USSSA in FL every year? Don't teams make that same trip every year?
No, much like ASA they have regional events as well. However, we have chosen to go to Florida because that is where you find those Georgia, Tennesee, Alabama, and etc. teams.
I kinda think that is a little bit of an elitist if not outright arrogant attitude. Sure we all want to play the best, but you guys are gonna have to put a little skin in the game too.
And what would that entail? Flying to other, out of the way spots in the country chasing ASA? Been doing that for years.
Listen, I am definately no huge fan of ASA as you can see by the fact that we have NEVER played one of their nationals even after we finished 2nd to the Georgia Impact at Hall of Fame last year. We have our own reasons which I wont get into here.
I would like to see PGF create a western, central, and eastern region with the national alternating yearly
I have attended ASA Nationals 7 times and only once was it even west of the Mississippi. How is that for alternating around the regions?
See above post regarding my opinion of ASA.
Then it has a "True" national feel and not a California State tournament feel as another poster stated. Just my 2 cents from someone who ISN'T from california.

Not trying to bust your chops LW, your post just got the response.
It's all good. In fact, it is very likely that we will be making the trip to enjoy some Socal hospitality next year.

One thing that I would like to see ALL associations consider. There are 5 states who play HS Softball in the Fall. My State, Oklahoma, being one of those. Our HS season begins the first week of August and practice begins around the 3rd week of July. Most HS coaches can live with the players being gone for the first week of practice, but missing the first week of games is a little different story. Therefore it makes it extremely difficult on the players to have to miss HS Ball to play a national the first week of August with their travel team. I think that is probably why here there is such a us vs them attitude between School Ball and Travel Ball.

[SoftballG]

I didn't know HS ball was so serious in some states, but come on even you should know that major colleges don't recruit from High Schools for fastpitch.. if your kid is that good, they will play for their HS team even if they miss that first week in August to PLAY fastpitch...

[LETHAL WEAPON 25]

I didn't know HS ball was so serious in some states, but come on even you should know that major colleges don't recruit from High Schools for fastpitch.. if your kid is that good, they will play for their HS team even if they miss that first week in August to PLAY fastpitch...

I definately agree with you on the Travel Ball being the heavier recruited. However, ONE of the +'s of playing your HS season in the fall is that it is the off season for College teams. So while it may be true in most cases that colleges dont attend many HS games(Mostly because most states play HS in the spring during college season). It is a little different for us. Last weekend during a 6A HS tournament in Broken Arrow Oklahoma there were 60 or so Colleges on hand. Granted that is the exception and not the rule, and the fact that the particular teams in the tourney featured many of Oklahomas top D-1 prospects probably contributed largely to their presence. Another, HUGE factor is these girls WANT to represent their respective Schools, and here there is this huge Travel Ball vs. HS Ball conflict. There have been instances where really good players are sitting because the HS coach wants to "PUNISH" them for being gone the first week. Also, The HS coaches here want their players playing in their "Summer Programs" and that conflicts with the players travel team schedule so it causes this conflict. Ultimately, I believe its about the $$$ since most of the HS coaches are charging as much as $300 a kid for like a 20 game summer league. Simple math tells you that, at $300 a kid x's 20 or so kids for a league that is played on your own HS fields with local umpires where they charge a gate and offer concessions, someone is making some summer pocket change.