SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT OVERFLOW OF TEAMS

[MavFan]

This discussion is as old as the game itself. One thing to remember is that all of the rec-ball leagues are not governed nationally by the same entity. Some states use Little League, some areas use USSSA, some ASA. Some rec-leagues have rules in place to limit the amount of time you can practice, and some don't. Unifying all of that under one umbrella is not going to happen. So some families make the decision to not play at the local rec league anymore and make the jump to travel or tournament or whatever you want to call it. And what you end up with is what you see every weekend, which is, some girls playing above their level of preficiency, some girls playing below their level of proficiency and some girls everywhere in between.

I too believe there is a place for everyone that wants to play. There are enough teams, we can all agree on that.

But we all want to blame the system and the governing bodies and ask what are they gonna do to fix this problem. In my opinion its the "A" level parents and coaches that can make the necessary changes. Look at how many tournaments an "A" team is playing "B" so coach can puff his chest out and do his peacock walk around the field the next week because his team won the tournament. Or better yet, when "open" tournament lists the teams and Coach Peacock takes his team out and finds a lesser tournament to get that trophy. And the sheepy parents follow him around blindly and nodding because they are more concerned with Suzy getting that $5 trophy and hitting .750 against these "B" teams, so they can get on Hey Bucket or wherever and brag about their future Jessica Mendoza or Cat Osterman. Because in their eyes, it isn't nearly as cool to hit .300 against the "A" teams or actually get 5th place (gasp) in a tournament of "A" teams rather than beat a bunch of teams they know they can beat.

Simply put if "A" teams would play "A" teams and let the "B" teams play each other. But sadly we all waiting for someone else to tell us if we are "A" or "B"....

sorry for the rant

[tex]

This discussion is as old as the game itself. One thing to remember is that all of the rec-ball leagues are not governed nationally by the same entity. Some states use Little League, some areas use USSSA, some ASA. Some rec-leagues have rules in place to limit the amount of time you can practice, and some don't. Unifying all of that under one umbrella is not going to happen. So some families make the decision to not play at the local rec league anymore and make the jump to travel or tournament or whatever you want to call it. And what you end up with is what you see every weekend, which is, some girls playing above their level of preficiency, some girls playing below their level of proficiency and some girls everywhere in between.

I too believe there is a place for everyone that wants to play. There are enough teams, we can all agree on that.

But we all want to blame the system and the governing bodies and ask what are they gonna do to fix this problem. In my opinion its the "A" level parents and coaches that can make the necessary changes. Look at how many tournaments an "A" team is playing "B" so coach can puff his chest out and do his peacock walk around the field the next week because his team won the tournament. Or better yet, when "open" tournament lists the teams and Coach Peacock takes his team out and finds a lesser tournament to get that trophy. And the sheepy parents follow him around blindly and nodding because they are more concerned with Suzy getting that $5 trophy and hitting .750 against these "B" teams, so they can get on Hey Bucket or wherever and brag about their future Jessica Mendoza or Cat Osterman. Because in their eyes, it isn't nearly as cool to hit .300 against the "A" teams or actually get 5th place (gasp) in a tournament of "A" teams rather than beat a bunch of teams they know they can beat.

Simply put if "A" teams would play "A" teams and let the "B" teams play each other. But sadly we all waiting for someone else to tell us if we are "A" or "B"....

sorry for the rant

Your quality A teams would rather play up than to play in a B tournment . They are in it for the competition. The tougher the better because they are trying to get ready for nationals. The A teams that you are talking about are the marginal teams that or 1 pitcher above B ball and cannot make it in real A ball. The TD's should know these teams and not allow them in B tournments> The Td's are the ones the B teams need to confront and not enter tournments where the TD's allow marginal A teams to play.

[doittoit]

If it smells like one. If it looks like one. If it writes like one. It must be a turd, like Joe. Joe, you are a turd!

[Joe]

Joe, you are a turd!

Good boy...

[Joe]

Joe you appear to be a person with a good mind and someone who knows the game of softball so why waste your time and other people's time by taking the opposite of everything and bashing everybody.

Tex, with all due respect... the only one I would even consider bashing would be the one who came up with this insightful idea:

SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT OVERFLOW OF TEAMS