Why are you considered "GOLD"

[Fasterpitch]

Both are very valid points and I agree with both. Just thought it was something to look at.


There are teams on the list that have not been a team in a very long time. Also I agree with Bucket...

One reason for posting the list was to show how few teams from our state have qualified for Gold. There are so many gold teams in Texas and very few can actually play a competitive game at true Gold tournament. But then again, you have to start somewhere.


Pretty silly post, so I thought I would add to the madness.........

[TEXASGLORY]

There are movements under way both in Texas and California that would greatly reduce the number of teams that call themselves GOLD. One of the suggestions is to have pre-qualifier tournaments to determine who will play in the gold qualifiers. Teams would have to earn the right to qualify. Another one is that teams would not be allowed to play in the regional tournament unless they have played in a minimum of two qualifiers. The last email I read on it has suggested that Texas only have 24 teams that would be considered gold and allowed to play in the qualifiers. There is a long article out on SPY Softball that covers a lot of this topic. The rest has been going around from some of the long time ASA softball supporters around the state. I have no problem with letting everyone try to qualify as I think most times the best teams qualify. I would like to see teams that do not qualify gold be allowed to then go and participate at ASA 18-A Nationals, this might help put a little life back into that tournament and at the same time extend the life of the season for many teams.

Dan Adkins

[sscoon]

How in the world would a team have time to play in a "pre-qualifier"? By the time that high school playoffs are done and players are released to their summer teams or have the ability to travel, it is basically the first weekend in June. The first gold qualifier for our territory this year was June 6, literally the day after many players got out of school.

The first Southern Territory was June 6
The second was June 13th
OKC qualifier was July 11
Region 7 was July 18

Presumably, most "GOLD" teams would be going to play in any one or all of the California, Las Vegas, and Fireworks tournaments during the few weeks that occur in between. How would they squeeze in time to go to a tournament just to qualify for a qualifier? Add also to that equation the fact that many qualified teams went out in 2 or 3 in other qualifiers and tournaments this summer. Sometimes a team has a good week, sometimes a bad one. Key pitchers or players may be out for a weekend to attend a collegiate camp. There are just too many variables.

Why not let the teams who feel like taking a beating every weekend go ahead and take a beating? Sometimes the coach just wants to get his girls seen, and sometimes they do have a player or two that certainly could be DI material. With such few days that DI schools are allowed to actually watch games, it is the only way for these girls to get seen sometimes. Some teams can't afford to go to Colorado, Nevada, California...in which case, the gold qualifiers are their only hope. Not trying to team-bash by any means so I won't name names, but there are teams with a LOT of DI-signed athletes who did not even come close to qualifying for GOLD nationals. If they did not get the exposure days by attending qualifiers, they might not have been seen at all.

I would pay a lot more respect to a team that placed in the top 6 of a pool of 75 teams than a team that placed in the top 6 of 24.

[3Bsnag]

I'm going to assume everyone here on this thread has read the debate/proposal going on in the "Gold Classification" thread, http://www.heybucket.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3445&start=0:

Coach Dan,
If true that this is being contemplated for TX and you haven't already met, I would hope you, Kevin, Slade, JD, Howard, Ken, JB Slimp, and others would get together to form some sort of plan. CA is leading the way to this change, but there are caveats here including weather, UIL, and makeup of the Gold landscape that are different. Almost every one of you have had some not-so-good seasons, but does that mean you should be excluded from Gold? Not hardly.

Gary Haning from the OC BB said that 5 of our teams from TX at Gold Nationals were "downright terrible". I admit the Gold designation should be limited to the "elite" and there should be a way to do that, but who/what did it hurt to have those 18A teams that went 0-2 at the Region 7 Qualifier? Heck, even Coach Lotief from ULL stopped by to watch one of our non-competitive Gold teams play, briefly. There were big school coaches all over Gateway. I know that qualifiers and championships are more about the competitive side of our sport, but no one can deny that these are recruiting venues as well.

I'm not saying this is all doom and gloom. I just think there are more questions and scenario's that need to be kicked around before the new Gold plan is instituted. Region 14 has less than 2 weeks, I hope Region 7 gets more time and gets it right from the start.

[TEXASGLORY]

I am trying to stay aprised of what is going on mostly through our fellow coaches in Houston. Jonathan Lampl and David Drude are working on our behalf with ASA. Ultimately, ASA will make rulings that will try to strengthen the gold division within the state. I agree with Gary Hanning that we had some teams in the tournament last year that did not belong there. The same argument could be made about a couple of the California teams or Florida, Georgia, Jersey and so on. There will be no perfect way to see this through. I do agree with allowing only teams in the regional tournament that have gone through the previous qualifiers. I know of a number of teams that went to the gold qualifier in Auburn, AL because they wanted to showcase their players. Then they realized they were not going to be competitive and never played another qualifier. When ASA NAtionals rolled around they were having to stay at home because they played 2 games as a gold team. I would like to see ASA allow those teams to then go and play ASA 18-A Nationals. The USSSA tournament in Plano, TX is a good example of teams that wanted to play championship play but had been locked out of ASA because they did not qualify gold. I also think that most of the clubs that are going to play ASA Gold in Texas will be repeat offenders. Not very often when a new team comes on to the scene and qualifies. They should have the same opportunity as the clubs that work year around to make sure they are represented at Gold Nationals. Gold qualifiers are a great place to showcase your players. Going 0-2 doesn't allow for coaches to have much of an opportunity to see the kids.

[TulsaEliteGold]

A lot of people will disagree with the following idea, but a Couple College coaches actually gave me the idea and I agree it would probably help to ensure that the "best" Gold Teams are at Gold Nationals.

The idea is to eliminate REGIONAL QUALIFIERS and spread the Regional Berths throughout the Territory and National Qualifiers.

Example:
National Qualifier - OKC - 16 berths
2-Western Territory Qualifiers 16 berths
2-Southern Territory Qualifiers 16 berths
2-Eastern Territory Qualifiers 8 berths
2-Northern Territory Qualifiers 8 berths

[bombercoach]

I am very cautious to enter this conversation but am very curious how things might turn out. I coach the Texas Bombers and we will be making the leap into the "Gold Qualifying" process this coming season. We have methodically been preparing for this by playing up since age 12 and going through and qualifying process and qualifying ASA Class A at 12u , 14U and 16U. We now feel that we have been through the grind and are ready to make the leap. Without naming names I know that there are a lot of teams that are no way prepared to qualify Gold....I know that because we did very well against a number of them last year while we were a true 16U team. Honestly it was a little surprising at times and it may have even pressed us into wanting to get into the Gold process sooner because of so many average teams. I want to make one thing clear that the path that teams like (Texas Glory , Impact Gold , Houston Power , Texas Elite and many others) have paved for teams like ours must never be forgotten. They helped create the climate of great fastpitch softball here in the State of Texas that we have today! But with all do respect to all of those teams.... "new" teams to the process should be given the same opportunity that the ones previously mentioned had when they were "new" teams!

I truly believe in a "Free Market" those that work the hardest will most likely succeed! That on any given day "anyone can get beat" And remember why "March Madness" is so exciting is because we love to see the underdog!!! There are some very very good players on those #16 seed teams and we would never get a chance to see any of them if we made sure they could not get into the dance!

Take care and have great fall season!

Scott

[TXfastpitchsoftball]

Well said Scott. This is clearly an attempt to limit access to Gold qualifiers as a way to consolidate talent among the few established teams. It will make it virtually impossible for upstart teams to attract and keep the best talent that will be compelled to go with the established teams to insure their chances to play in Gold qualifiers, which have become prime recruiting opportunities.

Everyone seems to forget that just a half dozen years ago, no one in Texas, much less the nation, had even heard of the Texas Glory. They reached the top because they outworked, outcoached, out played, and out sold their kids to college coaches. No way they do that under this proposed system. No way! This idea will stifle competition, no improve it.

[Her Momma]

My daughter plays ball in Texas AND no we have never tried out for Sweeet Gold - never really wanted to - not that they arent good enuf - cause they are good - they just practice too far from our home - with that being said, my reply to this post is not about a hidden hatred that i have towards Sweeet - I have seen them play at a few tournaments and even went to watch a tournament that my daughter was not playing in - we just wanted to see who was where....I dont know why Sweeet called themselves a gold team - #1 - they are 10U! #2 they weren't that great! they were good...but they made several mistakes as most 10 year old girls will...i was not impressed....I questioned a pretty reliable source not too long after that and was told that they are not really calling themselves Gold because of the classification - being better than a normal team - they call themselves that because they wore Gold in their uniform - they didnt stick with the traditional pink and black that the other Sweeet teams have....and honestly, if that is the true reason they call themselves Gold, good for them - because their uniforms and coaches look very nice on the field....love the helmets!

[ntxsftbllnut]

Bombercoach -

I agree with you on any given day teams can be beaten. I don't think i'm on board with the limiting of the number of Gold teams via the qualification process due to the summer season already being full but what if a team could try to accomplish the ulimate goal in addition to following the path toward 18A if they choose. The move to 43ft for all of 18 was a step in the right direction, but continue it by not putting a roadblock wall up once you play in a Gold Qualifer.