PGF v. ASA

[porcupine]

They [ASA] dont care that they are not getting the best, otherwise they wouldnt hand out berths to teams that only cut checks to be in qualifiers that . . . only have 4-5 teams in them.

Didn't PGF just hand out 6 berths to a 14u qualifier that attracted 7 teams? That does not really sound that picky to me. Is the 6th best team in a 7 team field really the "best?" If not, PGF also is getting a watered-down championship. I don't have a gripe about it and I don't think there is anything PGF can do about it, but neither can ASA predict with certainty how a qualifier will be attended.

Where was that qualifier?

Texas. And it looks like out-of-state teams came in just to take advantage of the odds. As we (CA teams) have been doing for years in ASA.

[AlwaysImprove]

Does anyone know why Texas qualifier was low in attendance? I know a team that was considering traveling to improve their chances for a berth. They assumed Texas would have a lot of great teams.

[porcupine]

Does anyone know why Texas qualifier was low in attendance? I know a team that was considering traveling to improve their chances for a berth. They assumed Texas would have a lot of great teams.

One of our biggest gripes come nationals time is the cost/time commitment to travel across the country. My guess regarding 14U in Texas is that most teams will go to Midland. It is closer, friends and family can attend, and Texans are unwilling to concede that any place is superior regardless of the conditions. My guess also is that we won't see many top 16U teams from Tennessee, Georgia, or Alabama at PGF either, because Chattanooga is just more convenient. The irony is that since fewer teams will bother with PGF qualifiers in these areas, teams that are unlikely to qualify for ASA effectively will get a free pass to PGF. PGF might end up with tournament fields that are better than ASA at the top and worse than ASA at the bottom.

[ontheblack]

Didn't PGF just hand out 6 berths to a 14u qualifier that attracted 7 teams? That does not really sound that picky to me. Is the 6th best team in a 7 team field really the "best?" If not, PGF also is getting a watered-down championship. I don't have a gripe about it and I don't think there is anything PGF can do about it, but neither can ASA predict with certainty how a qualifier will be attended.

Colorado has 4 berths for maybe 16 teams
http://www.premiergirlsfastpitch.com/tourney10/14U.php

Same with Indy, except 6 berths.

At the end of the day, PGF 14s will be a CA state championship.

[3monkeys]

Does anyone know why Texas qualifier was low in attendance? I know a team that was considering traveling to improve their chances for a berth. They assumed Texas would have a lot of great teams.

IMHO...when they picked the invitational berths, they went to two teams many in the area knew were not the top two Houston area teams. One team was put together this past fall, but it just happened to be with the organization that was the host for PGF's Texas Qualifier. The other team has been around for some time, but 3 or 4 other organizations in the Houston area consistently had their number when playing them heads up.

So, what was professed to be a refresh from ASA, turned out to be just the same good old boy network with a new name.

[soreshins]

Three Monkeys--

Please explain "So, what was professed to be a refresh from ASA, turned out to be just the same good old boy network with a new name."

[artomatic]

I think these days alot of families have to balance in what is more important, playing for a certain national championship or paying your mortgage and putting food on the table.
Cost and location will play a major part in many teams' decisions this year and in the future.

[txfastptchcoach]

This why teams will be at Premier Nationals to watch all 3 age groups:
As of today. More to come.
Recruiters:

Arizona Western College coached by Nicole Bethurum
Auburn University coached by Tina Deese
Ball State University coached by Craig Nicholson
Binghamton University coached by Michelle Burrell
Boise State coached by Erin Thorpe
BYU coached by Gordon Eakin
Cal Poly coached by Jenny Condon
Cal State Bakersfield coached by Kathy Welter
Cal State Univ. San Marcos coached by Dave Williams
Cal State University Monterey Bay coached by Andrea Kenney
Cal-Berkeley coached by Diane Ninemire
California Baptist University coached by Mike Smith
Chapman University coached by Janet Lloyd
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges coached by Betsy Hipple
College Of Southern Nevada coached by Ysidro Jimenez
Columbia University coached by Kayla Noonan
Concordia University coached by Crystal Rosenthal
Florida coached by Tim Walton
Fordham University coached by Bridget Orchard
Fresno State coached by Margie Wright
George Mason University coached by Joe Verbanic
hard knocks coached by Steve Aquila
Harvard University coached by Jenny Allard
Houston Baptist University coached by Mary-Ellen Hall
Idaho State University coached by Interim - Shelly Prochaska
Idaho State University coached by Julie Wright
Illinois State University coached by Melinda Fischer
James Madison University coached by Katie Flynn
Lehigh University coached by Fran Troyan
Lenoir-Rhyne University coached by Shena Hollar
LONG BEACH STATE UNIVERSITY coached by Kim Sowder
Long Island University coached by Roy Kortmann
Loyola Chicago coached by Yvette Healy
Loyola Marymount University coached by Gary Ferrin
LSU coached by Yvette Girouard
Menlo College coached by Danielle Stines
Michigan State University coached by Jacquie Joseph
Middle Tennessee State University coached by Sue Nevar
Mississippi State University coached by Jay Miller
Mississippi Valley State University coached by Lee Smith
NC State coached by Lisa Navas
New Mexico coached by Erica Beach
New Mexico State university coached by kathy rodolph
Northern Illinois University coached by Lindsay Chouinard
Ohio University coached by Jodi Hermanek
Oklahoma State coached by Rich Wieligman
Oklahoma State University coached by Rich Wieligman
OnDeck Softball coached by Derek Allister
Penn State coached by Robin Petrini
Purdue University coached by Kim Maher
Sacramento State coached by Kathy Strahan
San Jose State University coached by Peter Turner
Sonoma State University coached by Jennifer Bridges
South Carolina coached by Beverly Smith
Stanford University coached by John Rittman
Texas A&M University coached by Jo Evans
Texas Southern Univ. coached by Worley Barker
Texas Tech coached by Shanon Hays
UC Davis coached by Karen Yoder
UC Santa Barbara coached by Brie Galicinao
UCLA coached by Kelly Inouye-Perez
UNC Charlotte coached by Aimee DeVos
UNC Greensboro coached by Jennifer Herzig
University at Buffalo coached by Jennifer Teague
University of California, Riverside coached by Connie Miner
University of Central Arkansas coached by David Kuhn
University of Georgia coached by Lu Harris Champer
University of Hawaii coached by Robert Coolen
University of Houston coached by Kim Nesloney
University of Iowa coached by Marla Looper
University of Kansas coached by Megan Smith
University of Kentucky coached by Rachel Lawson
University of Louisville coached by Sandy Pearsall
University of Maryland coached by laura watten
University of Memphis coached by Windy Thees
University of Michigan coached by Carol Hutchins
University of Mississippi coached by Missy Dickerson
University of Missouri coached by Ehren Earleywine
University of Nebraska coached by Rhonda Revelle
University of Nevada coached by Matt Meuchel
University of New Mexico coached by Erica Beach
University of North Texas coached by T.J. Hubbard
University of Notre Dame coached by Deanna Gumpf
University of Oklahoma coached by Patty Gasso
University of Oregon coached by Mike White
University of Pittsburgh coached by Holly Aprile
University of San Diego coached by Melissa McElvain
University of Tennessee coached by Ralph and Karen Weekly
University of the Pacific coached by Brian Kolze
University Of Utah coached by Amy Hogue
University of Washington coached by Heather Tarr
UNLV coached by Pete Manarino
Utah State University coached by Carissa Kalaba
Utah Valley University coached by Todd Fairbourne`
Vanguard University coached by Beth Renkoski
Virginia Tech coached by Scot Thomas
Whittier College coached by Shelley Whitaker
Wichita State University coached by Mike Perniciaro
Wisconsin coached by Yvette Healy
Wright State coached by Linda Garza
Yale University coached by Barbara Reinalda

[gworks99]

I'm looking forward to this all getting hashed out in the next 2 years (fingers crossed), too bad for the players and families that have to be herded like sheep or cattle in the mean time.
A question: Who benefits the most out of spending the $, traveling to, and participating in a National Championship at each age division?
10u:
The player who will most likely change teams 5 times before 18u or drop softball all together?
The family paying the cost of everything to enjoy time well spent with their child at the vacation spot of their dreams?
The coach who is building their rep and recruiting power and instruction opportunities?
The organization looking to expand and build their rep and facility/instruction income?
The rec league getting rid of bitching and controlling parents who don't step up to coach or volunteer their time?
12u:
The player who will most likely change teams 4 times before 18u or drop softball all together?
The family paying the cost of everything to enjoy time well spent with their child at the vacation spot of their dreams?
The coach who is building their rep, recruiting power and instruction opportunities?
The organization looking to expand and build their rep and facility/instruction income?
14u:
The player who will most likely change teams 3 times before 18u or drop softball all together?
The family paying the cost of everything to enjoy time well spent with their child at the vacation spot of their dreams?
The coach who is building their rep, recruiting power and instruction opportunities?
The organization looking to expand and build their rep and facility/instruction income?
16u ???
18u:
The Player?

[NORCALGOLD]

Let's just say it out loud and not beat around the bush.
Midland Tx. is just a one step from Hell in August.
Hunnington Beach is just a step away from heaven in August.
The level of competition at PGF is much higher from top to bottom. Compared to what shows up at ASA.
So the only reason to go to Midland or any ASA National is your team can not qualify for PGF.

Have a Nice Day.