PGF 2012 12U

[ridinsuicide]

gworks99,

Has your team played in the ASA/USA Nationals traditionally? We are from Louisiana... I am sure your team is very competitive, however when I asked about the top Cali teams, I was speaking of the top Cali teams that are traditionally in the final rounds of ASA Nationals. Those are the teams we are looking forward to competing against. Hell, if all those teams stay local this year there is no need to travel all the way up to Moline. Again, our reason for going there is not to play new faces, it is to hopefully compete against truly the best in the country. Although I must admit, it would be nice to have sooo much TRUE competition within minutes of our home as well...

[jmo]

Teams Currently Registered for the 2012 12U PGF National Championship:
12 teams have currently accepted an invite.
OC Batbusters Briggs
Firecrackers
Corona Angels Barroso
Sun Devils
American Athletics
Artesia Punishers
Team Watley
Georgia Impact
So Cal Breakers
Birmingham Thunderbolts
Atlanta Vipers
Tennessee Fury

Others registered:
Arizona Hotshots
Velocity Gulf Coast

[4girlsmom]

suicide-
based on jmo's teams accepting invite, the top 7 teams in SoCal will be at Premier.
The Firecracker team is Quarles aka Firecrackers99.
OCBB-Briggs places fourth in 12U Nationals last year
Firecrackers placed around 16th
Team Watley won 10U Nationals last year
Suicide, hope to see you in SoCal this year - go qualify!

[AlwaysImprove]

I guess one of my questions would be, are any of the top Cali teams gonna be there this year? Im talking the OC Batbusters, Firecrackers, Etc?? I know traditionally these type of "A" caliber teams have traveled and played in ASA/USA Nationals. That was what our decision was based on. Can anyone give me actual input on what these teams plan on doing this summer as far as nationals?? It really, for us has nothing to do with recruiting...yet..lol. We have, what we feel is a very solid team from 1-10 and really want to put them up against the best......

If you are a SoCal team and already have played the top teams in the area(with the exception of economics) Wouldn't you want to go outside your area to play Nationals(especially at 12u)? I can understand perhaps at 16u & 18u wanting to play the best, get the exposure etc........, it has been my experience is that one of the best parts at playing at a "nationals" is playing teams you have never seen before.

I think you and spazsdad are correct. There was some romanticism to traveling to other parts of the country. Unfortunately Johnson City and Midland are very far from airports, it adds days to endeavor and a lot of cost. Also, the 160 teams, many of them not that good dog show.

ASA is going to have to look some small changes to elements of their tournament. But so far they continue to resist even little changes.

[gworks99]

gworks99,

Has your team played in the ASA/USA Nationals traditionally? We are from Louisiana... I am sure your team is very competitive, however when I asked about the top Cali teams, I was speaking of the top Cali teams that are traditionally in the final rounds of ASA Nationals. Those are the teams we are looking forward to competing against. Hell, if all those teams stay local this year there is no need to travel all the way up to Moline. Again, our reason for going there is not to play new faces, it is to hopefully compete against truly the best in the country. Although I must admit, it would be nice to have sooo much TRUE competition within minutes of our home as well...

The top 12u SoCal teams are listed as going to PGF. They don't need to qualify which will help the other few top SoCal teams get in as well. Have seen and played the majority of these teams from last Fall to just last weekend, every team has it's holes and every dog has it's day. The top 12u teams will be at PGF but I have also heard rumors of teams trying to do both....sounds like so much fun, doesn't it? One day between the tournys, wow! We'll see those teams after some fresh air and river rafting in Colorado. Two National titles in 2 weeks would sure boost a coaches recruiting power and add $10/hour to their lesson fees though.... might be worth talking these families into supporting the coach's side job.
You'll have to wait and see which teams from around the country will travel to SoCal PGF but we know that the strongest SoCal teams will be there and it looks like some strong teams from other areas are getting in as well. If these top SoCal teams do not compete at ASA -Moline, there will always be and * attached to that ASA Championship team. Shouldn't matter though, it would be nice to get the best overall experience for both players and families and to each their own.

[ridinsuicide]

We are suuuurreee hoping that those organizations find a way to make it to Moline. Would hate for our team to accidentally win it in Moline and have to hear the old cliche'...."yeah, but so and so wasn't there"..."yeah, but if XYZ would have been there they wouldn't have done that good...."...lol. U get the point!!...hahahaha

[c12los]

Its lookin like PGF is the Big Dawg now. Those SoCal teams are some of the best in the country. I was looking forward to seeing and/or playing the SoCal teams. There is no way those teams who play PGF play ASA to in Moline. Way too much hassle to get over there in a days time. PGF is definately overtaking ASA. In 5 yrs, ASA will be regarded as a "B" nationals.

[4girlsmom]

Its lookin like PGF is the Big Dawg now. PGF is definately overtaking ASA. In 5 yrs, ASA will be regarded as a "B" nationals.

Forget 5 years, it allready is.

[CULater]

Time will tell, especially at the younger age groups. Unless you are a team that has a legit shot at winning the championship, teams will go to the national that costs them the least amount of money.

A true test would be if PGF were to hold its national in Orlando, and ASA were to have its national in San Diego, where would the So Cal teams go? PGF would probably keep the teams that think they have a shot at winning, but I would bet the ASA national would be loaded with SoCal teams, while the teams in the SE would head to Orlando.

In 12U and 14U there are still a great number of "teams" and not organizations. The "teams" know ASA, and will continue to go ASA, just like teams in the NE know Pony and NSA and they attend those nationals.

[AlwaysImprove]

Teams that are competitive and have money should go to where the best teams go. That is PGF.

Teams without money, competitive or not, should go to LA. Even though it is further, it will be way cheaper. Flights to LA right now are $213. Flights to Moline $493. That is $280, or $1120 for a family of four, or 8400 extra dollars for the average 30 people that travel with a team. That is just on airfare. Add in jacked up hotel rates, extra days in town. It could easily double the 8400 in additional cost to go to Moline.

You had better buy your tickets to Moline soon, because they will be 600+ by end of May. LA may actually get to 300 for next day travel.

That leaves the less competitive rich teams going to Moline . When will ASA look at out of pocket expenses of their tournaments as a part of their selection criteria?