Alvin this weekend

[JCates]

My picks in 12u in order

1. Force
2. TPS
3. Smash
4. Power
5. Storm Elite

You can take TPS 98 out of the predictions for 12U as we are playing in the 14U bracket.

[slaphitter]

My picks in 12u in order

1. Force
2. TPS
3. Smash
4. Power
5. Storm Elite

You can take TPS 98 out of the predictions for 12U as we are playing in the 14U bracket.

That is going to do either of 2 things in 12u. Make alot of people very happy because Tps is not playing 12u or disappoint alot of people because they wanted to see how Tps stacked up against some of the best 12u.
It disappoints me because I wanted to see how they did against the rest of us. It would have been very interesting, but as I have said before, a coach has to do what he feels makes his team stronger and more prepared for nationals.

My best guess would then be

1) Power
2) Smash
3) Force
4) Mizuno
5) Storm Elite

[JCates]

The draw will play a big part.

1. Force
2. TPS
3. Smash
4. Sudden Impact

Regarding the top 5 teams, I do not believe that the draw determines the winner of a tournment, only determines the team you play. The team determines who the winner of a tournment is. Lots of teams come through the losers bracket to win a tournment because they have the talent, heart and determination to do it. If you can't win, you go home.

Now the less rated teams, the draw can determine how many games they get to play.

I could not agree more!!! A strong team with great character can suffer a defeat and work their way through the losers bracket to the championship. Regardless of the draw you have to play the best at some point anyway.

[22'sDad]

The draw will play a big part.

1. Force
2. TPS
3. Smash
4. Sudden Impact

Regarding the top 5 teams, I do not believe that the draw determines the winner of a tournment, only determines the team you play. The team determines who the winner of a tournment is. Lots of teams come through the losers bracket to win a tournment because they have the talent, heart and determination to do it. If you can't win, you go home.

Now the less rated teams, the draw can determine how many games they get to play.

I could not agree more!!! A strong team with great character can suffer a defeat and work their way through the losers bracket to the championship. Regardless of the draw you have to play the best at some point anyway.

Who said the draw determines the winner of a tournament? My post says the draw plays a big part of a tournament, that's why seeded tournaments are very popular. Of course to win a tournament you have to beat the best- duh, but for example look at the spring CC from the fall. The Force "drew" TPS first round. Force won and TPS had to play many, many games with their backs against the wall. Some of those games went down to the wire. To their credit they were able to come back and win it all. On the flip side other less talented teams in the same tournament had a much easier road. The draw can determine how tuff the road to victory can be aka play a big part.

[JCates]

@22's Dad:

I don't disagree with you in general, but the problem with seeding is how do you determine the seeds in an accurate manner? Polls can be one way to determine seeding, but to be effective everyone has to follow instructions and vote honestly. You can have a pools where everyone plays each other in the pools and the pool winners play for the championship (i.e. Bombers), but how can you assure that the pools were evenly distributed?

What it all boils down to is you have to play hard whoever you play. Personally, I don't see a team gaining anything by getting several easy games before playing the championship. With the exception of the qualifier and national tourneys, I personally prefer the long game (7 innings or 1.5 hours) round robin format to prepare for the important tourneys. Every team plays one game against every other team.

[slaphitter]

The draw will play a big part.

1. Force
2. TPS
3. Smash
4. Sudden Impact

Who said the draw determines the winner of a tournament? My post says the draw plays a big part of a tournament, that's why seeded tournaments are very popular. Of course to win a tournament you have to beat the best- duh, but for example look at the spring CC from the fall. The Force "drew" TPS first round. Force won and TPS had to play many, many games with their backs against the wall. Some of those games went down to the wire. To their credit they were able to come back and win it all. On the flip side other less talented teams in the same tournament had a much easier road. The draw can determine how tuff the road to victory can be aka play a big part.

Do you duh really want to play the best ??????
In tournment play 90% of your top rated teams would rather have a tuff game everytime they play. This better prepares them for nationals. So the draw means nothing to them. Now coaches of the other 10% are just looking for the Metal so they can puff out their chest. Those never do well when nationals come along because they have not prepared their girls to play 1 tuff game after the other. That is 1 of the reasons some of the top 12u teams play up to 14 or 14 play up to 16, so they can get that competition every game. The girls are then ready and look forward to the competition.

So let me ask you this. Do you really want the easy road or the tuff road??? That can tell you what you expect of your team and what you expect of yourself as coaches. Metal or Nationals ????

[22'sDad]

I disagree. You can learn a lot about your team by winning a tournament and playing a broad range of talented teams. Teams learn to not take anyone lightly or overlook anyone. Team can learn how to win and what adjustments are needed to win a certain style of game. Some teams are all small ball, some are built on speed, others on power, strong defense, pitching etc. teams can learn to adapt and overcome from game to game. Then winning can become a habbit . When DD played 10U we smoked everyone in all the tournaments proceeded to win USFA and take 4th at ASA. I believe that is the best this age group in Texas has been able to show on a national scale. A standard DI tournament is set up the exact same way ASA nationals is, game times just are not 7 innings.

Nationals, nationals all the time. Got to get prepared for nationals. You don’t think the draw has an effect for nationals??? Say team A the best 12U team in Texas draws the Firecrackers first round. Bam loser’s bracket, then they get a few games in and Bam lose to Georgia impact. Tie for 17th place. Then team B draws an easier road and gets thru 4 games before a loss ends up tied for 7th. Is then team B who could never beat team A the best team from Texas that year?

[txfastptchcoach]

A couple of coaches have called me and asked for advice about playing up or staying in their age group. I told them this and you can take it or not it's just one man's opinion but it has worked for my team. I told them to play up as much as possible and don't look back and worry about what everyone else is doing. They will decide what is best for their kids and you have to make the best decision for your kids. If you play up you are pushing your kids to see better pitching, defense and hitting, this can only make your team better for a run at Nationals. Now when I say play up it doesn't mean just play up, it means play up against teams that have been to Nationals and there are a lot in the Houston area. It's not all about winning every tournament; it's about getting your kids ready for a National Tournament and competing. I can guarantee you one thing I will be playing up as much as possible once the High school kids get done with school. You have to push your kids as much as they can handle. Like I said it is one man’s opinion and it don’t mean squat. See you at the park and I hope everyone stays healthy and speedy recoveries for the ones that are hurt.

[txfastptchcoach]

I disagree. You can learn a lot about your team by winning a tournament and playing a broad range of talented teams. Teams learn to not take anyone lightly or overlook anyone. Team can learn how to win and what adjustments are needed to win a certain style of game. Some teams are all small ball, some are built on speed, others on power, strong defense, pitching etc. teams can learn to adapt and overcome from game to game. Then winning can become a habbit . When DD played 10U we smoked everyone in all the tournaments proceeded to win USFA and take 4th at ASA. I believe that is the best this age group in Texas has been able to show on a national scale. A standard DI tournament is set up the exact same way ASA nationals is, game times just are not 7 innings.

Nationals, nationals all the time. Got to get prepared for nationals. You don’t think the draw has an effect for nationals??? Say team A the best 12U team in Texas draws the Firecrackers first round. Bam loser’s bracket, then they get a few games in and Bam lose to Georgia impact. Tie for 17th place. Then team B draws an easier road and gets thru 4 games before a loss ends up tied for 7th. Is then team B who could never beat team A the best team from Texas that year?

Nationals are mostly seeded via pool play. If you don't play good in pool or draw hard in pool you could be facing a REALLY good team out of the gate. That is how the cookie crumbles.

[JCates]

I disagree. You can learn a lot about your team by winning a tournament and playing a broad range of talented teams. Teams learn to not take anyone lightly or overlook anyone. Team can learn how to win and what adjustments are needed to win a certain style of game. Some teams are all small ball, some are built on speed, others on power, strong defense, pitching etc. teams can learn to adapt and overcome from game to game. Then winning can become a habbit . When DD played 10U we smoked everyone in all the tournaments proceeded to win USFA and take 4th at ASA. I believe that is the best this age group in Texas has been able to show on a national scale. A standard DI tournament is set up the exact same way ASA nationals is, game times just are not 7 innings.

Nationals, nationals all the time. Got to get prepared for nationals. You don’t think the draw has an effect for nationals??? Say team A the best 12U team in Texas draws the Firecrackers first round. Bam loser’s bracket, then they get a few games in and Bam lose to Georgia impact. Tie for 17th place. Then team B draws an easier road and gets thru 4 games before a loss ends up tied for 7th. Is then team B who could never beat team A the best team from Texas that year?

@22's Dad:

A well coached team should do all that anyway regardless of who they play. Trophies at local tourneys are fine, but mean little in the long run to teams that are striving to be the best. As I stated, I prefer a 1.5 hour or 7 inning RR format where everyone plays everyone. Trophies at local tournies don't mean much when Nationals are the goal! By the way, if you went to the loser's bracket early because of the draw you would still play a broad range of teams. In fact, to get to the final you would have to play more games to get to the final.

As for the team in 10U that your DD played for...that sounds like exactly what happened to TPS 98 in 10U.