ASA registration

[scuba]

My daughter's travel team had decided to register the team with ASA. The team is comprised of 97's. Some parents on the team have said that we should register as a "B" team for this year rather than an "A" team. I was under the impression that a travel team was an "A" team and that a "B" team was rec league. I'm also under the impression that at least one coach has to be ACE certified and that other coaches/assistants (team mom, etc) have to have an ASA ID card with the background check. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Make_It_Happen]

You are correct - A is Travel, B is Rec.

For So Cal, the 2009 Yellow Book covers everything:
http://www.socal-asa.com/jo/forms/YellowBook.pdf

The Yellow Book also answers all the questions about coaches, background checks and ACE certifications:

1. A manager, coach or team parent (team staff) that enters the field of play or dugout shall be
individually registered and background checked through the SoCal ASA mandatory
registration system. They must have a SoCal ASA authorized identification card visible on
their person at all times.

2. The manager and at least one additional adult team staff member of a team participating in
championship play shall be ACE Certified and have proof of doing so on their person. ACE
certification, which must be accomplished prior to the start of championship play, is available
online through the ASA National Office Web site.

[4LoveoftheGame]

Make_It_Happen's assertion that 'A' is travel and 'B' ball is not entirely accurate.

In addition, and I am not able to determine where you reside, "Make" is assuming that you are in Southern California which may or may not have the same local rules as your local association.

'A' ball is determined by the level of play that your team chooses and is able to compete at. An 'A' roster does not have the limitations of district in which you reside whereas 'B' ball does have restrictions according to the ASA Code and your local JO's limitation's that they may or may not impose on their own.

'C' ball is totally recreational and typically does not travel to compete in tournaments outside their local area nor allow player's on their roster's that do not reside in their local jurisdiction.

[Joe]

A and B - Select (more than two ASA tournaments played in a year)

C - Rec league play (2 or less ASA tournaments played)

[txfastptchcoach]

In the Houston Area it is played out like this in ASA.

Travel/A-ball: consists of girls from surrounding areas that have Open tryouts....If you have open tryouts you are considered A-Ball.

B-Ball: consists of girls from a particular league that make an All Star team. When All Stars come around they play B tournaments (All Star Tournaments)

C-Ball: consists of girls in a particular league that is on the SAME league team. They play League (C-Class) tournaments. These tournaments last until All Star teams are selected and then these tournaments go away.

This is how Houston ASA and our rep have broken it down to me. If they do it different in other states it would nice to know how they do it.

[MTR]

B-Ball: consists of girls from a particular league that make an All Star team. When All Stars come around they play B tournaments (All Star Tournaments)

There it is. In ASA, a Class B team must be comprised of players from the same league. How the player gets on the team (All Star selection or just thrown together) is up to the team/league/whomever.

In A & Gold, there are no local restrictions.

[txfpcoach]

In the Houston Area it is played out like this in ASA.

Travel/A-ball: consists of girls from surrounding areas that have Open tryouts....If you have open tryouts you are considered A-Ball.

B-Ball: consists of girls from a particular league that make an All Star team. When All Stars come around they play B tournaments (All Star Tournaments)

C-Ball: consists of girls in a particular league that is on the SAME league team. They play League (C-Class) tournaments. These tournaments last until All Star teams are selected and then these tournaments go away.

This is how Houston ASA and our rep have broken it down to me. If they do it different in other states it would nice to know how they do it.

Correction in Houston this is how it should be handled. The Commisioners around Houston Could care less and do nothing to enforce placement. There really are no controls in place and quite often the "A" teams play down to the B level. What is OK about not being able to fill a bracket in "A" during district and lumping the "A" and "B" together. I'm a realist and it is no way fair to the allstars for my DD's team to play them. However it happens every year and every year the "A" team is condemed by the public for playing district. Little do most "allstar" families know it's a required step to state and nationals to play in these tournaments. No one polices this and it is quite rampid.

If you doubt it just look at the teams who signed up to play B in the USFA World series if they'll do it there they'll do it anywhere

http://www.usfastpitch.com/national/2008ws/bworld.htm


ALL "A" Teams playing down in "B" at a USFA tournament (I'll reserve my comments)
Texas thunderstix 97
Texas Redhots 97
97 spring stealth
97 humble cobras
97 Fury
Texas Swing
Texas bombers 97
Lousiana Extreme
Katy Crusiers

Not to mention a few Allstar teams who played in the state "C" series and came home bragging about placing.

[Pridefpsb17]

In illinois it is:
The ASA “A” and “B” Team Classification is as follows:
* “A” Team - A true traveling team that plays in travel tournaments in the state of Illinois as well as other states. The team finishes consistently in the top 75% of every tournament. Teams that finish in the bottom 25% will have the option to request consideration for “B” classification
* “B” Team - The “B” program is designed primarily for teams created from non-traveling ASA leagues. No “B” classified team should play in excess of two (2) “A” classified tournaments. A “B” team cannot finish in the top 50% of any of these “A” tournaments. In addition, all teams who, in the previous years’ State Tournament, go 0-3 in Championship Play will have the option to request “B” classification consideration. This rule is for all age groups.

With other NSA, USSSA, NAFA, etc. it seems that you just claim it. . .if you don't like to play competition, improve, grow as a team and just want to trophy hunt and all you care about is your win/loss record at the younger age groups (10-12) you play "B".

Teams should not have to declare "A" or "B" until their respective state tournament.

All tournaments should be "open" not just "B" or "A".

[txfastptchcoach]

In ASA in the Houston area they are seperated ( A from B at least in Metro ). USFA and ASA are two different animals. They do combine A an B (USFA) because they don't have the participation that ASA has. USFA is growing in Texas and they put on a Fun National Tournament but if you are going totally to play softball and want to know where you stand on a National level you MUST play ASA.

[MTR]

Teams should not have to declare "A" or "B" until their respective state tournament.

All tournaments should be "open" not just "B" or "A".

Some do not have a choice. There are specific roster restrictions that separate a B team from an A.