Qualifing out of your state

[IDigress]

Don't get me wrong, I think the draw is huge as well, just don't think that if you have 12 to 15 chances to get in within So Cal and you can't, you should probably think about Westerns.

Understand where you're coming from, but if a NON-California (or Western) territory team can't beat a California team that couldn't qualify within their 12 territory opportunities, "you probably shouldn't be there" either.

BTW, I am not a Californian, but I am from the other evil state mentioned.

However.....if your team team cannot compete with a top 15 or 20 California team, why should you go?

I think bnr was agreeing with me (?).

Yes, Racer X, I believe the best possible 64 teams should go. Looking at the teams registered in the territorial tournament there is about a 3 to 1 ratio of teams comparing South & West to East & North. Oddly, the same ratio as territory berths 6 to 2 (which factors down to 3 to 1 for those of you without calculators)

[Skarp]

What would you think of ASA opening up nationals to all who wanted to attend. If all you needed to do was play in state, sign up and you are in would it take anything away from the prestige of the event.

It would be extremely watered down and the weaker teams would make other teams play useless games for no reason. It would be somewhat like when the Gold Qualifier could be any team that paid, you would have so many go to and Q.

You are advocating a more watered-down national tourney when you say California teams shouldn't travel to qualify. If a California team that would have won a tournament in, say, Michigan, decides to stay home instead, then a weaker team will win that tournament and go to nationals in its place.

If ASA nationals is truly about crowning a national champion, then the berth system should do the best job possible of allowing all of the best teams to earn a berth and make the trip. If a Michigan team (for instance), with home-state advantage and without the need to travel, cannot win its own qualifier tournament, then I fail to see why that team should go to nationals instead of a stronger team from California (or wherever). I also fail to see why a strong California team should be frozen out of nationals merely due to the random misfortune of playing in a region with many other strong teams.

If they want to travel, let 'em travel.

[Skarp]

Hmmm...should have read further in the thread, as I see my points have all been made already.

You people are brilliant!