Disqualified at Nationals??

[MTR]

Can we all stipulate that NoNo didn't handle the situation exactly the way that MTR would have (and that nobody else thinks that he should have had to)?

ASA blew it. Their people disseminated bad information, and several families paid the price for it. When an organization puts people in place to answer questions and disseminate information, it is entirely reasonable for the recipients of said information to rely on its accuracy--and to be upset when it turns out to be wrong, particularly when the organazation doesn't appear to give a rat's ass. (Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's basically the scenario as I understand it.)

Actually, I believe that NoNothing's situation, which was NOT the topic of the OP or initial posts of this thread, is a little strange to start. He and the coach knew they were not eligible in their home state and out of the blue an e-mail from "ASA" appeared requiring special deeds to be performed and a lot of money? Seems to me, I get about four dozen e-mails making the same requests every day, even by folks that claim to be my bank. That doesn't mean I blindly follow something that seems too good to be true.

Okay, getting a little off topic, but think about it. I would love to know who "ASA" is in this case, wouldn't you. You KNOW how many folks generically use the term. I seriously doubt this e-mail came from OKC.

That said, no way could ASA allow these kids to play. It wouldn't be fair to everyone else. But it's not unreasonable to call ASA to task for it (e.g., on a national softball forum)...if for no other reason than to get them to examine their practices and procedures so that maybe next time they won't have some ignorant flunky doling out bad information to folks.

Oh, yeah. Every morning the staff on NE 50th spends their first hour scanning softball forums for complaints. If NoNo, or anyone else, has a complaint with ASA including misrepresentation, to me the appropriate action would be a letter of complaint with a copy of any evidence to ASA, wouldn't you? If you have a complaint with Wal Mart, Circuit City, Bank of America, etc. do you run to the closest computer or ask to see the manager? If someone intentionally mislead anyone, I'm all for holding them accountable.

Specialization--i.e., expertise--has been largely responsible for all of the productive advances in this country. We don't have to waste time figuring everything out for ourselves anymore. And why would we want to, when others are paid to be experts? Should we try to reinvent the wheel every time we have a question about something?

He admitted he knew his team was not eligible. What is there to explain? And if if money is the qualifier to be an expert, well, you are definitely barking up the wrong tree. Some would call this train of thought just laziness.

Moreover, when it comes to written rules, there is the letter and there is the application (which in turn is contingent upon interpretation). ASA would know how a rule has been interpreted and applied, and whether any exceptions or special circumstances are ever entertained, etc. These families would have no way of knowing any of that. So it made perfect sense for them to seek clarification even if they had performed their own due diligence on the issue...which they apparently had.

And as previously posted, if it were vague, I totally agree. However, as previously noted by NoNothing, NoNo and the coach already had a clear understanding of the code and yet still went looking for a loophole.

Disagree if you please, I really don't care, that's your privilege. However, I wouldn't expect it to be that easy.

[Skarp]

Oh, yeah. Every morning the staff on NE 50th spends their first hour scanning softball forums for complaints.

Perhaps they should. They've got a pretty dissatisfied customer base these days, for an array of very legitimate reasons. If ASA considers itself above customer opinion, it does so at its own peril.

As for "who" ASA was in this this instance, I have no idea. But if it's the case that any fool over there can fire off emails on ASA letterhead responding to important questions, well...I suggest that they need to get their act together.

Finally, re "laziness"...consider me guilty as charged. I don't want to spend my time researching information that someone else already has at their fingertips. We pay good money to ASA, so if they have people over there who can answer my questions, who am I to complain? Even if I think I know the answer, I feel perfectly entitled to confirm my understanding with ASA and to rely on the answers they give me. But hey...I'm lazy.

[bamababe34]

This thread started out re: an AL team in the 12 Nationals that was told, the day before the tourney began, that they had illegal players on the roster. These players were pickup players from another state. Inquiries re: said players were made to AL ASA prior to accepting the berth and the players were given OK...team plans to go to Montgomery. Then, the AL ASA Director decides they aren't "legal" (correctly so) and disallows the team to attend. This team was dissapointed and 'called out' the Director on the AL softball forum for not getting it right on the initial inquiry. There was no drama over age as previously discussed on this forum.

Also, another AL team was Disqualified for having an illegal player on their roster...they played pool play and 1 elimination game before this was identified. The issue with this player was not having played in an ASA game before. She had been on an ASA roster but the team had not played in an ASA tournament.

At the same time, a 3rd AL team was not allowed to pick up players for some of these same reasons. They are also complaining re: ASA handling of the situation.
And, some of you want to complain about your association?? Oh, and the coach of the DQ team is an ASA official. Go figure that one??

There is alot more history,intrigue, drama and politics in this situation but I'll save you the time on that part. The sad thing is AL has some great players and teams but the softball environment in the state is highly political and cut-throat giving teams one more obstacle to experiencing national success.