Information about Premier Fastpitch Girls Softball

[dodgerblue]

I'm going to just throw this out there and I'm sure to get negative feedback but so what here it goes.
Why not regulate all the age groups to play where they are supposed to rather than letting 14U girls move all the way up to "Gold"? Beleive me my DD has played up quite a bit and you sign up for an 18G showcase and find yourself playing 14U and 16U teams so why label it 18G? My point is if everyone is forced to play at their true age level I think it will be interesting and beleive me there will only be a few standouts but that's the way it should be. Start the bashing.

[wadeintothem]

I got to listen to a coach whining for a whole game that his team should be a the "real gold" complex (he was an 18G team allegedly) and not the "fake gold complex" playing the 14U's. Of course it also meant he didnt get the BBQ, which was a big deal... but that was over with the "real golds".

Then his team got beat.. lol, he was livid... and he was like "well I guess I deserve it".

Gold showcasing is a grand thing. I'm sure garys big Final Showcase will be a good event. With orgs that good, how could it be bad? It has to be good.

But its obvious the real intent. Do you really need a final show case?

Hopefully ASA addresses the length of the Gold tournament issue. Thats a real issue. That costs. and I'm guessing for a bunch of teams, that would be enough to help them decide they really dont need a final showcase for their HS players, they would like to win a championship.

[Gary Haning]

Wade,

I have no problem with you expressing your opinion and I am quite sure there are others who do not like our tournament.

Expressing your opinion does not have to include wise-ass comments, uninformed and/or untrue statements.

Messiah, Flock, fax machine in my garage and other things you write are simply small insults, they do not serve your argument. I personally could care less what you think as you do not coach a team and probably will not influence any team from playing with us.

If you had coached, if you wanted the best possible competition without all of the issues that allowing returning college players to participate cause, you would perhaps understand what we are trying to accomplish.

[wadeintothem]

LOL, come on Gary. Admit "fax machine in your garage" was a good one.


And its no different than you guaranteeing that OKC will the 18B's next year (your exact wording escapes me)

That is insulting to those teams who decide to play at a Gold Level next year.

[anonlooker]

Why is it the umpires are flocking together on this topic? Premier offers an additional opportunity to work a Gold level tournament, and Wade has already commended Gary on his approach to officiating, so where's the beef?

It's not an effort to topple ASA, but to offer an alternative to ASA's draconian policies. How is that a bad thing? If it gets more kids more looks from colleges, how is that a bad thing? If it inspires ASA to update and offer better services to it's members, how is that a bad thing? It's not about following Gary, it's about bettering the process for the players and teams. How is that a bad thing?

Given the above, what's the point of picking nits about name and size and structure and qualifying and college players (or not). It's the first step in a process, and maybe not yet perfect, but it looks to improve the situation for everyone involved in the game. The status quo is no longer acceptable. It's time for change and improvements.

Everyone is entitled to voice their opinion, but if Premier is a catalyst for improvement, why oppose it? It's good for the game and as such should be supported by the entire fastpitch community.

[Mystic93]

Credibility -

Gary Haning - 25+ years coaching competitive softball, placing young ladies into college to pursue their dreams and dealing with countless hours of what those of us that coach at any level know and truly understand.

Wade ? - Only can assume umpiring some number of years, collecting $40 a game, and going home.

I gather the opinions of Wade and Gary are different but from a guy who's been coaching competitively for 5 years now, there's no question who I'd follow.

[PDad]

but there is the real alternate POV that this is just a power move to further water down 18G and make it easier for these 15 y/os to effectively compete.

If Gary has his way, and they do lower the bar to effectively compete at the 18G level then there should be a Heybucket rule that there can be no whimpering when twice as many so cal teams show up in your state to take your slots to nationals, since now they can field many more teams full of their playing up players .. and the "gold" 18 y/o pitchers are not there.

Wow, a conspiracy theory - I like it! Maybe you can submit it to Hollywood and Oliver Stone would make a movie about it. You'd be rich! (I'm sorry... just kidding... couldn't resist)

you guys must be democrats.

LMAO - Now that's funny, a NorCal guy accusing those of us that are OC conservatives of being democrats!

You're certainly entitled to your point of view and to express it. The inflammatory rhetoric you've used on several of your posts is entertaining, but I don't think it helps your cause. I think your posts are more effective without it. JMHO

[Redcup]

Those that can no longer play..coach.those that could never coach...UMPIRE.

[Gary Haning]

Years ago when rec.sport.softball was THE SB board I used to participate, with the unmoderated, no holds barred USENET at the time it got really crazy. I participated on UCS when Steve first started it and it was fun and he kept it pretty sane, I have used eteamz for tryout listings and tournament promotion. I never had been on Hey Bucket much until the past week. I joined because there was much speculation as to Premier. I enjoy seeing others opinions and discussing/disagreeing is the life of most boards and this one is well run and no one seems to be too crazy.

As is of course always the case, nothing gets solved nor changed and that is fine. Hopefully some readers get insight into things whether they like those things or not. I will continue to post updates here as we move forward with our tournament, if I see a specific question I will try to answer it. I am not going to further debate the validity, quality, motivation for our group doing the tournament. Just click back to page 1 of this thread and you can read our opinions as well as the opinions of those who don't like the idea.

On August 15, 2010 I will start a thread and we will see what became of our idea.

[wadeintothem]

Credibility -



Wade ? - Only can assume umpiring some number of years, collecting $40 a game, and going home.

Your entitled to your opinion of me and I'm well aware of the overall opinion of umpires as a whole on this forum .. but I'm due a little clarity bucause actually, I dont just go home. If you knew what I do in my area you'd know I dedicate/donate hundreds and hundreds of hours of man hours to improving the umpiring and umpiring systems in our area and even beyond, because SO Cal ASA Umps just "verballed" with me on a certain aspect of a program of mine they want, not to mention all the time I dedicate to studying the rules and working on my game... I am not a "collect my check" and go home umpire. I walk the walk. I'm a true believer! In fact I often tell my day job boss, "You know this job gets in the way of my career of as an umpire".

I gather the opinions of Wade and Gary are different but from a guy who's been coaching competitively for 5 years now, there's no question who I'd follow.

The real big difference between me and you then is I am not looking for someone to follow.