Information about Premier Fastpitch Girls Softball

[ontheblack]

At 18G, playing in OKC for 9 days is not a draw for the girls. Ask the girls where they would rather play and Premier wins in a landslide.

[wadeintothem]

As I think on it now that I know, hell I'd probably rather go to LA than OKC if I were an 18 y/o kid.

At nats, most umpires do little that is not involved in the tourney. You mostly stay there all day. Some golf a bit, or like I made sure I saw Kenneshaw in GA, or whatever, but the goal of nats is nats. Anything you do is a planned event involving those at nats.. we dont go there to goof around during the tournament period. Other than catch a beer or dinner with your fellow umps when your done for the day, nationals is about nationals.

I forget that you guys go to nats, you have a million kids to keep entertained and to you guys its a tourney/vacation and you plan all these things. Also some of you go home very soon and that leaves you needing something to do.. Looking at teams, I have to believe you probably know you are going to go home early - so you plan things. I mean I can tell by pitch #2 if you will likely be there sunday, so you must know. Most umps are there to early Saturday. Late sat/ early Sunday assignments are earned.. but most will work all the way through to sat... so its not a vacation, our time is all used up.

I hope the coaches commitee are able to convey this and get this OKC matter addressed in ASA.

[Gone in 2.6]

It was an interesting aside to read through the officiating message board. My conclusion? They just don’t get it. They go on and on about the best teams and the best tournaments and OKC really is a great place to hang out and who wants to go to Disneyland anyway … this is softball, etc. Well guess what, it IS about the girls, hanging out with team mates, friends, family. Doing stuff BESIDES softball. Because DDs’ (sisters on the same team for the first time ever) team did not qualify for OKC this year (older DD’s team went 2 & 2 in elimination play in OKC last year), THANK GOD, because we took our first family vacation without bat bags in a DECADE during the week of Nationals. It was GREAT. In the younger days, when DDs weren’t good enough to be on a “contending” team, they went to Park City and had a great time and played some good ball and went pretty deep, I think a third one year in either 12s or 14s. Believe me, neither I, nor the girls are losing sleep they didn’t go to the “real” tournament.

{long post follows}

I think its obvious ASA needs to address the OKC situation/length of tourney issue. I for one admit I thought it would be the dream of girls to go play in HOF Stadium for the championship, I think many others thought that as well - so I've had a "rude awakening" about that since this all began and now know they need to get that situation addressed. In fact, I think that is the main catalyst and enabler of the whole thing, because as you alluded to, money is the bottom line. This was one of the more interesting povs I've seen (you have things wrong about how officiating works.. but I wont pick nits ) ) - thanks for your perspective.

I know for the DD, that was the case when she went to 12U Hall of Fame. By 18 Gold, not so much. However I think OKC is a pretty nice spot for Gold Nationals. Much better than some of the other locations we've ben sent to over the years. It's easy to find your way around, facility is top notch and it's not overly expensive.

All that said, I sure wish Gary started this Hunting Beach thing a few years ago.

[ssarge]

Your DD's boyfriend is going to take her to hooters (or already has if she is old enough) and she is going to come home raving about it.

She wants to go. theres nothing wrong with the hooters slow pitch series, which btw, has NOTHING to do with JO ball or I dont think even FP, so chillax.

This is a total 100% red herring among many.

As I STATED earlier, mthis is not a point of sensitivity for me. My daughter has in fact been to Hooters, and I think she bought a T-Shirt.

If you think it is not a sensitive point for some within ASA's constituency, you quite simply, are out of touch. And telling people it SHOULDN'T be a point of sensitivity for them will almost certainly not make it better.

[Intel]

SPY SURVEY RESULTS
May 26 2009

From May 8 through May 25, SPY polled readers on four questions. The 251 answers will surprise some because they reflect a body of opinion which at a glance seems contrary to conventional wisdom on two of the four questions.

Since respondents were not asked to identify themselves, but sent SPY individual “no reply” emails, we cannot break down the response in terms of college coaches, travel ball coaches, college and travel ball players, and parents. However, Questions 2 and 3 were deliberately inserted to draw responses from the travel ball community, and given the breakdown of those responses, there is confidence that the aggregate survey includes opinions from the travel ball community.

Question 1
Should college players be eligible to play in Gold level competition? (This question assumes compliance with the ASA 19U age guidelines.)

Somewhat surprising, given the intensity of debate at ASA, NFCA and other meetings, 68.5% said college players should be eligible – 172 to 79. It would be interesting to have a regional breakdown, given that many Eastern coaches (and their ASA commissioners) contend they would have difficulty fielding competitive teams without returning college players. The fact is that many of the most competitive Gold teams utilize returning college players. Reminder: this question was asked icw Gold Nationals, and SPY assumes readers were fully mindful that a number of major exposure tournaments have or are planning to restrict participation by college players so as to increase focus on players who have not committed.

Question 2
Should the Gold championship remain in Oklahoma City or be rotated every other year?

A significant difference of opinion, with a majority 59.3% (149 to 102) saying the site for Gold Nationals should be rotated every other year. When this issue was last debated at a Gold coaches meeting four years ago, there was definite sentiment for continuing to conduct this tournament at alternative sites. Proponents of rotation argue that the past tournaments at Salem and Salinas demonstrated that quality tournaments could be held elsewhere. SPY also heard separately from some who prefer the Hall of Fame site, with its four fields and especially its stadium, while we also heard from some who do not like Oklahoma City which is difficult to reach by air, and notably the heat.

Question 3
Should there be a minimum qualification standard teams must meet before designating themselves as Gold?

A very relevant question considering that California ASA has resolved the question, at least in part, by requiring teams to pre-qualify for Gold in order to be eligible for their Gold tournaments.

An overwhelming majority of respondents – 202 to 49, 80.5% -- said no, there should not be a minimum standard. A number of coaches have written SPY, saying there is a sorting out process which occurs through the ASA tournaments.

Question 4
Should players be allowed by NCAA to verbal before July 1 of the summer before their senior year?

Again, given the strident positions taken on both sides of this issue at all types of softball meetings, we were somewhat surprised at the survey result.

By a margin of 152 to 99, or 60.5%, respondents said in effect that NCAA should permit early verbals. NCAA does not actually sanction early verbals, and its rules are very specific, but NCAA officials realize that early verbals are not only common for girls about to enter their senior year, but, that the ranks of players who have given early verbals include freshmen and sophomores. While there is obviously a strong body of opinion opposed to the practice (39.5%), SPY had hoped for a strong majority in favor of NCAA banning or somehow restricting the practice.

In hindsight, SPY could have asked a follow-on question: is there an age or school year below which early verbals should not be allowed, eg, no freshmen or sophomores, no girls under age 16, etc.

[ssarge]

Good, and reallly interesting data, thanks. I don't find much of it surprising. I think every point Gary made about 9not using0 college players on this thread is well reasoned and completely valid. Personally, though, I also think there is something really valuable about having college freshman return to the same organization they played for the preceding year, and providing leadership, mentoring, etc., to the HS girls. And I definitely think there is value to younger girls being able to faceoff against college girls, for all kinds of reasons. I can see both sides on that one, and I think that is ntrue for many.

The second question shows a little more bias towards remaining in OKC than I would have expected, but not a lot. Question 3 & 4 don't surprise me at all. It is important to note on Question 4 that the practice of early verbals is NOT isolated to softball.

Thanks!

Scott

[Skarp]

She wants to go. theres nothing wrong with the hooters slow pitch series, which btw, has NOTHING to do with JO ball or I dont think even FP, so chillax.

I hereby nominate "chillax" as the most retarded word (or wannabe word) in the English language.

[Sam]

She wants to go. theres nothing wrong with the hooters slow pitch series, which btw, has NOTHING to do with JO ball or I dont think even FP, so chillax.

I hereby nominate "chillax" as the most retarded word (or wannabe word) in the English language.

Its impossible to chillax at Hooters.....when you're sittin there lickin your lips and starin at them big ole........beers.

[wadeintothem]

She wants to go. theres nothing wrong with the hooters slow pitch series, which btw, has NOTHING to do with JO ball or I dont think even FP, so chillax.

I hereby nominate "chillax" as the most retarded word (or wannabe word) in the English language.

Not so interestingly, it was a lil ole college girl that taught me the word... so we can add that to the list of red herrings against college kids. I dont know why I pick up on retarded words and add them to my vocab, homey.

[wadeintothem]

She wants to go. theres nothing wrong with the hooters slow pitch series, which btw, has NOTHING to do with JO ball or I dont think even FP, so chillax.

I hereby nominate "chillax" as the most retarded word (or wannabe word) in the English language.

Its impossible to chillax at Hooters.....when you're sittin there lickin your lips and starin at them big ole........beers.

The teen age boys drooling all over the place fawning on their GF's is the worst part...