Gold Classification

[Whizzer86]

Whizzer86,
Definitely not an ASA employee (in fact, just a first year Gold parent) - but I try to look at all the angles to figure out something that makes no sense. BTW, I don't disagree with you about ASA and the college coaches. The current popularity of girls fastpitch is not just a benefit to the girls.

Sam,
As Sgt. Schultz would say, "I know nothink!!!"

Wasn't meant as an insult DD, Just don't understand why everyone is allowed to be "Gold". In life some get the gold others do not. Gold shoud be the elite, others should be what they are, good, mediocre or bad. In the environment that has been created good, mediocre and bad all play gold at some point and time. If you go to a "Gold" tournament you should see "Gold". Those that are not "Gold" will be found. Michael Jorddan was cut by his high school basketball team, Tony Romo was undrafted, Steve McNair and Jerry Rice went to college where?

"the world needs ditch diggers too"
Judge Smells

[Sam]

Whizzer86,
Definitely not an ASA employee (in fact, just a first year Gold parent) - but I try to look at all the angles to figure out something that makes no sense. BTW, I don't disagree with you about ASA and the college coaches. The current popularity of girls fastpitch is not just a benefit to the girls.

Sam,
As Sgt. Schultz would say, "I know nothink!!!"

Wasn't meant as an insult DD, Just don't understand why everyone is allowed to be "Gold". In life some get the gold others do not. Gold shoud be the elite, others should be what they are, good, mediocre or bad. In the environment that has been created good, mediocre and bad all play gold at some point and time. If you go to a "Gold" tournament you should see "Gold". Those that are not "Gold" will be found. Michael Jorddan was cut by his high school basketball team, Tony Romo was undrafted, Steve McNair and Jerry Rice went to college where?


"the world needs ditch diggers too"
Judge Smells

They were all seen by college coaches and went to college on scholarships....and none of them played travel softball.

The kid that pitched behind Keira Goerl in HS went to college on a 4 year ride to a D1 school...she pitched 2 games in HS and lost at least one that I know of. She was a great pitcher, though. Her Gold team never qualified for Gold Nationals back when they took all comers (no 64 team limit). in 1999, there were 64 teams at Gold Nationals and 26 of them were from California.

Under the new proposed rules, that kid might never have even made the radar and possibly would have missed her opportunity to go to college. The rules, to be invoked unilaterally in Region 14, would effectively eliminate competition for players for the GOBs...nothing more...nothing less....and there are players that will suffer and lose their opportunity to go to college because of a very few egos.

[Sftbll4ever]

Wouldn't those kids just go to a Gold team anyway???

[Sam]

Wouldn't those kids just go to a Gold team anyway???

They are arbitrarily throwing out teams that compete for Gold players. What that means is there would be Gold players on non-Gold teams that play all the time, would have to go to Gold teams and sit on their bench...and not be seen. It will allow the "Gold" teams to carry 20 player rosters and charge whatever they wish....they will be the only games in town...you will see fees go through the roof.....its simple supply and demand. Parents will pay exponentially more to see their kid ride the pine.

Do you see who this benefits? Follow the money....

[3Bsnag]

Look at the bright side...

wait, I know there is one...

got it. After all the players shift around in Feb & Mar to get on one of those Gold teams, CA will be more dominate again in the top 10 in OKC. Since the rest of us are still going to send our versions of "Gold" (few exceptions), its yours for the taking until they put criteria in our regions too. That's the best I could do.

While I agree with everyone's assessment of Gold should be the elite, every state has those players and teams that should really be Aluminum. One team here, in particular, always comes to mind when this conversation comes up. I saw them at the Region 7 qualifier. What did it hurt anyone for them to be there? The teams that drew them were loving life, it was an automatic W. The college coaches that were watching the game left quickly, no time wasted. The entry fee was received and cashed. No big deal.

BTW, I just had a conversation with a very well known DI coach, in which she ranked her recruiting venue's:
1. 16U Nationals
2. Showcases- Indy, Fireworks, Surf City, RM
3. Gold Nationals
Maybe this will force coaches to 18U Nationals? I don't think so when 16U was her #1 choice and they happen on the same week. Better hope you and your team do well at showcases.

[chasber]

DD's team played Surf City, Vegas, the Indy and 16U nationals. Nationals had more scouts than the other three combined. However, after the first day of brackets they disappeared. Whether they went to the 18U or just went home I do not know.

[Blind Squirrel]

I'm not convinced that a change in the number of gold teams will affect that many kids. I wonder if some of you folks have considered what you would do if you were a college coach whose career depends on finding and recruiting kids with a level of talent that fits your program. Gee, if I'm the coach at Bozo U with no softball scholarship money, I'm probably not going to be scouring the fields at 18G Nationals. Why would I? Most of the kids have already committed/verballed. Even if I'm at a mid-level D1, 18G Nationals would probably not be my focus. And if I wanted to see kids playing 18G, I would attend one or more of the annual showcases that attract high quality teams every year. 18G Nationals is far from the only opportunity for players to be seen. So a kid has to play 18U instead of 18G. You don't think there will be mucho coaches at 18U showcases as well as Nationals? And in the event that 2 big tournaments are at the same time, guess what unbelievable thing I've seen? The Head Coach goes to one tournament and the Asst(s) go to the other one(s).

Others may be more hurt by the change than the kids. The people who may be more affected are those coaches who are trying to break into Gold. They will obviously have a harder time. The folks who will be even more seriously hurt by the change are the parents who must be able to say that their kid plays on an 18G team. After all, that is the only way their kid will get the full ride offers she deserves. Waa. As for 18G teams increasing their fees, darn shame. If parents are willing to pay it, why should those coaches live by a separate set of rules from the rest of businesses in a capitalist system. Hell, having seen people paying $40 for a 30 minute hitting or pitching lesson for their 8 tear old, I can only laugh at what people will pay to get their kid on an 18G team.

All this emphasis on playing 18G. I don't get it. Coaches go where they believe players with the desired ability will be. Why on earth would it matter if the team is 18G, 18U, 16U, 4U? When my kid played on a team that was average at best and had no chance of qualifying, she was seen by coaches from the PAC-10, BIG-10, SEC, etc. at showcases. How could this possibly be? She had never been to the almighty Nationals in her life. Some of this recruiting/exposure related stuff comes off like conventional wisdom. But at the same time, much of it flies directly in the face of reality and common sense.

Maybe I'm just being dense. Where am I wrong Sam? (Haven't argued with you for awhile - I miss the good old days).

John

[Sam]

I'm not convinced that a change in the number of gold teams will affect that many kids. I wonder if some of you folks have considered what you would do if you were a college coach whose career depends on finding and recruiting kids with a level of talent that fits your program. Gee, if I'm the coach at Bozo U with no softball scholarship money, I'm probably not going to be scouring the fields at 18G Nationals. Why would I? Most of the kids have already committed/verballed. Even if I'm at a mid-level D1, 18G Nationals would probably not be my focus. And if I wanted to see kids playing 18G, I would attend one or more of the annual showcases that attract high quality teams every year. 18G Nationals is far from the only opportunity for players to be seen. So a kid has to play 18U instead of 18G. You don't think there will be mucho coaches at 18U showcases as well as Nationals? And in the event that 2 big tournaments are at the same time, guess what unbelievable thing I've seen? The Head Coach goes to one tournament and the Asst(s) go to the other one(s).

Others may be more hurt by the change than the kids. The people who may be more affected are those coaches who are trying to break into Gold. They will obviously have a harder time. The folks who will be even more seriously hurt by the change are the parents who must be able to say that their kid plays on an 18G team. After all, that is the only way their kid will get the full ride offers she deserves. Waa. As for 18G teams increasing their fees, darn shame. If parents are willing to pay it, why should those coaches live by a separate set of rules from the rest of businesses in a capitalist system. Hell, having seen people paying $40 for a 30 minute hitting or pitching lesson for their 8 tear old, I can only laugh at what people will pay to get their kid on an 18G team.

All this emphasis on playing 18G. I don't get it. Coaches go where they believe players with the desired ability will be. Why on earth would it matter if the team is 18G, 18U, 16U, 4U? When my kid played on a team that was average at best and had no chance of qualifying, she was seen by coaches from the PAC-10, BIG-10, SEC, etc. at showcases. How could this possibly be? She had never been to the almighty Nationals in her life. Some of this recruiting/exposure related stuff comes off like conventional wisdom. But at the same time, much of it flies directly in the face of reality and common sense.

Maybe I'm just being dense. Where am I wrong Sam? (Haven't argued with you for awhile - I miss the good old days).

John

Its the showcases, John. Gold teams will insist on playing Gold teams. 18A's will play 18A's. Players who would play nearly every inning of every game for their old Gold team, which is now an 18A team, would rather share time on a Gold team. How does that help them? Gold Nationals has never been the issue.....Lancaster, the Region 14 qualifier is crawling with college coaches.....they are cutting out the opportunity for over 700 girls to play in that tournament...that ONE tournament....to be seen...to possibly crush a bomb over the fence off of one of the OC Batbuster studs...mayber her team loses 12-1....but maybe a D1 coach with a need for a big stick thinks.."I've found my hitter." Thats what these guys are doing...because its inconvenient to play a few more games and use their pitchers at the Region Qualifier.

[ssarge]

Well, the world needs ditchdiggers, too.
Judge Smells

Smails


Sam:

If the ONLY desire with all of this is to just limit teams to less than the current 99, it would be FAR simpler to just charge $2-3K as an entry fee. Few "pretender" teams are going to pay that kind of scratch to be "2 and Q." But teams with a chance to qualify WILL.

ESPECIALLY when you consider that it would still be cheaper than 16 kids and parents entering and attending two previous tournaments (two entry fees, hotels, gas, food, etc.). While it sounds ridiculous to pay that kind of money, in terms of an overall budget, it is cheaper.

Teams that qualify the previous year and are grandfathered in could pay the normal entry. The extra money could be donated by ASA to improve softball in the inner city, or whatever floats their boat.


And no, I'm not really serious. But it WOULD still be cheaper and it is a lot simpler than what is being proposed which is going to have huge unintended ramifications in addition to the obvious.

[Sam]

Well, the world needs ditchdiggers, too.
Judge Smells

Smails


Sam:

If the ONLY desire with all of this is to just limit teams to less than the current 99, it would be FAR simpler to just charge $2-3K as an entry fee. Few "pretender" teams are going to pay that kind of scratch to be "2 and Q." But teams with a chance to qualify WILL.

ESPECIALLY when you consider that it would still be cheaper than 16 kids and parents entering and attending two previous tournaments (two entry fees, hotels, gas, food, etc.). While it sounds ridiculous to pay that kind of money, in terms of an overall budget, it is cheaper.

Teams that qualify the previous year and are grandfathered in could pay the normal entry. The extra money could be donated by ASA to improve softball in the inner city, or whatever floats their boat.


And no, I'm not really serious. But it WOULD still be cheaper and it is a lot simpler than what is being proposed which is going to have huge unintended ramifications in addition to the obvious.

....maybe a scholarship for an 18A player who is shut out of playing Gold on one of the 50 Chosen Ones.....