Forced to go to Montgomery

[dittoz]

Located in NorCal, we're playing in our local metros this weekend. Winner takes berth to 'Bama.

As a first-year 12A team, we're doing well for our area and in trying to stay realistic, I'd say the girls are one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the area. By no means however are we ready to play in an event such as Montgomery. The team and the coaches however do want to take a run at ASA/WR in Phoenix. Mostly because of the cost to take the team to Montgomery but also because we just don't feel we'd be competitive, Alabama just doesn't make sense.

Last night, the director of our local association who signs off on the berth advised that the winner of the metro tourney will be forced to go only to Montgomery. Any attempt to go to Phoenix will be blocked he says.

I find this incredibly maddening in that given for the cost, there is simply no way we can fly 36 people half-way across the country as opposed to driving to Phoenix for less than the cost of one plane ticket. There is talk of "creative coaching" in the metros or going to a different association Championship like NSA in Reno, etc and to me, playing at anything less than 100% is out of the question. I'm only a parent so my opinion is solely mine, but I know the coaches are struggling with the moral issue and what to do as well.

The team wants to play in a National event for the experience, but the expense is just not going to allow us to play where they're "forcing" us to go. I've talked to 2 of the other 3 top teams' coaches and none intend to go to 'Bama either. Costs are just too high to travel at this point...

I can just see it... 4 teams trying to lose this weekend. This is just really crazy! Thoughts?

[jofus]

(If you aren't a Southpark fan, this pic may not make much sense, sorry )

[sportzjunky]

Tough spot. Pretty sure he cant do that(this IS america), but still will be your ASA rep in the future so you cant tell him to shove it. To me, bottom line is you(and families) arent funded for it. Forget about not being competitive enough. If the ASA wants to back and your girls I say go. You are probably better then you think, and the experience would have been worth it in the long run. Just turn off your phone to this guy and call Alyson of TCS. Cut the check, go to Utah for a National experience...

Maybe they can pass that ASA berth to the regional office for a team that makes a run there? But that probably makes too much sense.

[wadeintothem]

If this is the Arnaiz tourney, I'll be there. Maybe will be interesting.

[dittoz]

Arnaiz? Nah...

Sac metro

[wadeintothem]

Darn, I've worked games before that that were thrown due to bracketing and other strategic reasons, but I've never worked a tourney where everyone wanted to lose because they didnt want the prize offered by the tourney they entered.. would have been interesting.

[Tucson]

What if you (and I realize that you aren't the coach) forfeit? If you don't have the money, you don't have the money. Showing up to lose, isn't good. I imagine a pitcher throwing meatballs and getting hurt. Or a beginning pitcher and the same scenario.

Don't forget, some airlines are charging $30.00 per bag. Those bat bags are going to be expensive.

[dittoz]

Cost is the primary issue here - from Sacramento a basic plane tkt runs about $600. Factor in the rest of the expenses and you're talking $20K to haul players and a parent or two each. Sure, parents would pay for themselves, but these days I don't know about you rich SoCal folks that go all over the country just to qualify (I'm joking!) but that gets completely unaffordable pretty quick.

So instead, coaches are forced to conspire to throw games to avoid winning. But imagine making it to the championship game, which we very easily could, and then lose intentionally. What message does that send to the kids? The team that won then says they aren't going anywhere and the berth ends up right back in your lap! NOW WHAT???! Of the 3 or 4 top teams, only one is going outside of ASA to play in a Nat's tourney, so who knows what's going to happen, but I cannot believe that this guy in charge is trying to force the issue.

I can certainly see why other associations like NSA and TCS are getting a foothold...

[Sftbll4ever]

I vaguely remember a rule that if you received your berth to National's, you could not reject it to go to Westerns. I'm sure Sam will know for sure.

[Blendin N]

Dittoz,

Everyone feels your pain. Qualifying ASA is a pain versus other brands. With ASA you have to do all of your traveling in the summer to qualify, which could lead to 3 or 4 out of town trips within 5 or 6 weeks. If you qualify then you get to figure out how the team will afford to go to wherever the tournament is held.

If there is a national tournament closer that is easy to qualify for then focus on that one. Most travel ball parents agree that they do not like anyone outside of the team telling them where they have to play. That is why most leave the local leagues at early ages.

Does not make sense to play in a qualifying tournament if you do not want the prize. Some team at that tournament may want the prize (berth) and will not get it because they were put in the loser bracket early by a team that has no intentions of using the berth. Think about it that way!

WITHDRAWL, PULLOUT, DONT GO, ETC..........

Have your coach withdrawl from the tournament since the goal for that one is to go to Montgomery.

Here is some "Food for Thought",

There was a team that went to the HOF qualifier and finished 3rd and got a berth to HOF. They did not accept the berth and it was passed down to another "fine deserving team". The teams in the loser bracket that this team sent home should have been upset since anything can happen and they may have matched up better with an alternate team.

Good luck this summer Dittoz. I am sure everything will work its self out.