Information about Premier Fastpitch Girls Softball

[NORCALGOLD]

I saw that one of the proposed Premier dates have the tournament ending on Saturday.
Ending a National tournament on Satruday nite would be at the top of my list on how to improve the format.You would have a large audiance base with alot of teams still at or near the stadium that would stay and watch the game and it would leave Sunday open for travel which would reduce cost by not having to plan to stay till Monday. What a great way to spent Saturday nite to play in or watch a national championship game.
I also think that changing the way teams represent their state region to just 4 national regions by dividing the nation by North ,South ,East and West and have them qaulify or represent that way.
Last I would have the winner of the national championship get a ring or National Championship Bracelet.

[Gary Haning]

I understand exactly how the process works in ASA and that process is a huge part of the problem. The 280ish members of that Council are from all forms of softball, Church, Industrial, Military and so on. You are wrong, the college player issue has made it to the floor a number of times, it was defeated while gaining a 62% favorable vote about 5 years ago when 2/3 was needed. I was told it was close in the last Council and that if the proposal had been changed to begin in 2010 instead of 2009, it would have passed. College players are only a small part of the issue as Tommy stated. I personally submitted legislation to exclude college players in 1995.
I wrote the legislation to end the ridiculous point system and establish Sectors which they changed two years ago and in doing so weakened the tournament.

Every year they throw something into the mix wihout comment nor explanation or worse something that directly opposes what we tell them we would like when they have asked for input. We asked that Pool games not count, they changed for a couple years after heaven knows how many years of ignoring us and out of the blue they change it back this year. We asked to have a draw where we are all present because that is fun and has always been a part of Nationals. After 3 years they let us draw, only because they have to with Pool games counting. It rains, games go long and the 8PM draw is done at Midnight after we wait around for hours. Three years ago we show up in OKC to find 225' fences with again no notice. Yes the Code does allow for the distance to be 200' to 225' but it has always been 200' and that is what we use for practice. We ask why, the answer is that SOMEONE decided that there were too many cheap homeruns the previous year.

My computer always freaks out when I get this far into a post so I have to start another.

[mrsmom13]

I was very glad to read the new information on your website today. I like that the Premiere event will not be splitting the HS into two divisions.

Has any thought been given that you are ready to disclose of the possible format for the qualifiers and how many teams may be able to gain entry through that?

Thank you

[Gary Haning]

cont

The real reason is that they have the International Tournament there a few weeks earlier and they don't want the expense/hassle of moving the fences. If NCAA DI plays at 190' down the lines and 210' to center why do we get 225'?

The ACE Certification thing is the most idiotic abomination I have ever seen. It is infantile and to require teams that are strapped for dollars to pay $40 for a coach to suffer through that is stupid. In So Cal TWO ACE coaches must always be in the dugout so at least three and likely four have to take the thing because of possible ejections, traffic, illness or whatever.

I could go on and on for hours but the point is that we are fed up, we have been fed up for a long time and we hope to do something different and better.

I found it fascinating that today, after all these years, the GOLD tournament director sends an email to all of the coaches who were in OKC this year asking the same questions we answered on a form while we were there. The same questions we have answered on a form for years. The same questions to which the answers have been ignored for years. Now we are assured that a committee is being formed and we are asked to nominate coaches for this committee. This committee is going to have conference calls right away and will then make recommendations to the ASA Council in November.

The Council may well ignore the recommendations and in any case we are supposed to wait until November to decide how to form our teams.

[Gary Haning]

Yes, that is the idea. The Finals are Saturday, we flood the area with information and encourage local leagues to come and watch for free.

Yes, the intent is a trophy for the team and rings for the athletes.

I am in favor of steel cleats but that is for the group to decide.

There will be no pickup players.

We have to adopt and then adapt a rules system.

The qualifying information will be comig soon and will be posted.

The financial data will be available when we are finished.

Sorry if I missed anything.

[NumeroUno]

14U ASA nationals fences were set at 225' this year, explain that

[wadeintothem]

14U ASA nationals fences were set at 225' this year, explain that

Um.. ASA Nationals Rules?

Might be something to bring up through the coach's committee though!

NCAA finals wants the home run derby for TV, so they set weak fences.

Why not bring em back some. The $300 rolled and shaved bats obviously aint working...

I like the homer, its fun. Put em at 190.

[NumeroUno]

225' fences is a ASA Nationals Rule?

[wadeintothem]

200-225 are national rules.

[NumeroUno]

So UCLA is 190 down the rails and ASA 14U is 225'

That is the last straw I'm going with Premier