16U's

[WhoMe]

Obviously see lots on 14's and 12's but anyone have any thoughts on 16's and 18's with PGF qualifiers right around the corner?

[mr.flamboyant]

I know that the OBS Monarchs and Grapettes-KO are very good teams.

[Iluvblue]

I dont know where the OBS Monarchs stand right now, as we havent seen enough teams to know what everyone looks like. 16u is a strange division. I am pretty happy with their progress right now, but we have some major inexperience at key spots. How well those few spots learn and develop will determine how well they do.

I thought they would be pretty good after some practices, but they are further along than I had thought they would be at this point in the season. I am very pleased with this team right now.

[Intel]

From a Northern Cal view, what are different organizational thoughts on Premier and ASA Nationals for 16s?

A. Do you only chase a premier bid?
B. Do you try for a premier bid, but still play in your metro where you have a good chance to get a bid to ASA National?
C. Do you only try for ASA National?

As we have more metro associations then SoCal, I think our situation is different than SoCal, which leads me to my question? I do not want this to turn into a Premier vs. ASA discussion of which is best, but more about the thought processes of different Northern Cal teams.

I can speak for the Force, we believe it is important to our college recruiting efforts to have our 16s play at either ASA Nationals or Premier so we will be playing both. With Premier cheaper in travel cost, I would think if we qualified for both, our team would play Premier. With our chances of qualifying better at our Metro for ASA National, we will play in our Metro.
Thoughts?

[Cen Cal]

When did the Force change thier views about Premier? I seem to remember you guys bashing certain organizations for choosing Premier over ASA.

[Iluvblue]

If you play in the metro, you miss out on a chance at the pgf qualifier. So that is an issue. The costs to travel to ASA nationals is quite simply not worth it for me anymore. It used to always be my goal, but now what do you get out of it? You get stuck in a hotel after you get eliminated, air costs, food costs, it is just too costly IMO.

Premier is a drive for us, and when you get eliminated, you check out and go home. Since i am personally involved with our 16 and 18u teams, it also makes it better for me and if we somehow both qualify, both teams go to the same place.

Qualifying on July 4 for a tournament 3 weeks later in Illinois makes travel very costly.

There are really only a few teams that can win it all, so if that is your driving force, you are crazy or out of touch with reality IMO. do what is best for the team you have, and that will be different for all of us.

premier's location alone is the driving force for me.

[bruisedshin]

It's tough to tell with 16U teams, because so many of them are playing up with the 18 Golds, and a lot of the tournaments are showcases, where winning is not really critical.

PGF seems obvious now. People who were at PGF nationals say it was crawling with scouts. ASA nationals (14U) last year there were almost none. Add to that driving instead of flying to Alabama or Tennessee or South Dakota and it's a no brainer for west coast teams.

[Intel]

Cen Cal, Force never bashed PGF, just wished it wasn't scheduled sametime as ASA qualifiers and Nationals. I did question the wisdom to try for PGF only.

Force has adjusted to the reality that PGF draws good college scouts and saves money on travel. We still believe our best way to make Nationals is through our metro, but saying that, our teams will try and qualify for PGF also, if they qualify will to to PGF over ASA.

[NatRx]

CONGRATS to KG Hitters, Worth Salinas Storm, and AASA for taking 3 of the 6 PGF 16u berths awarded in SoCal this weekend!!

Way to represent NORCAL!!!

[bruisedshin]

Silverstreak won 16s in Sacramento, with the Roseville Heat taking second. I've heard that Silverstreak has declined the trip to nationals and is pursuing PGF, which means that the Comets-Loomis may take their place.

It doesn't look like Stockton even bothered holding a 16U ASA qualifier. Maybe they'll pay someone to go.