Could we eliminate the meaningless pool games???

[rhpft]

With the level that girls are playing now, what is the purpose of meaningless pool games? Pool games should count for seeding in the brackets. This is the way boys baseball does it, why can't this be done in girls fastpitch? Seems to work out great for the Allen 7-game guarantee or Midland 8-game guarantee. I'm not saying that it has to be 7 or 8 game guarantees. How about a 5 game with single elimination, or a 4 game with double elimination. Bottom line, use pool games for bracket seeding. Don't tell me the girls need the practice or their arms need rest. There are no pitching restrictions in fastpitch like there is in boys baseball. It's time to move these girls to the next level. The only benefit I see of meaningless pool games is to give more inexperienced pitchers game experience. If that is it, fine, then start in 14U A tournamets. Does anyone see alot of inexperienced 14U pitchers?

[onedownonetogo]

Does anyone see alot of inexperienced 14U pitchers?

In every single pool game of every single tournament I've ever been to. The biggest problem in fastpitch softball today is the lack of pitching. Make them all count and you'll cut the number of pitchers in half in five years.

[Clean_up]

Don't know about TX tournaments, but rumor is 2009 Nationals pool play counts towards bracket seeding...

[shutup&playball]

so have pool in b ball not in A

[Demonboy]

Don't know about TX tournaments, but rumor is 2009 Nationals pool play counts towards bracket seeding...

It always did until last year (except 2005).

Blind draw blows.

[smmartin]

The Round Rock Blaze do the seeding game in alot of their tournaments and they turn out real well. I believe the last one we played in was a 5 game seeding on Saturday and only the first round loses had double elimination after that it was single and it was a real fun tournament. I dont think every tournament should be this way because it is fun to see different setups but we played in a tournament in san antonio this weekend that i would never like to see again. 1 pool game first round losses got put into a consolation bracket and then if you lost after that you were out and the teams in the consolation bracket could only finish in third, no better.

[behindtheplate]

This could also help lower entry fees into tournaments and allow more teams to participate or end the tournaments earlier on Sunday. Most pools only use one blue which is difficult on the plate umpire as it is impossible for us to see everything going on in the field. Coaches get out of sorts because we can't see a kid leaving early and call balls/strikes. I would vote to eliminate them beyond 14U for sure. Gold tournaments have no pools, show up and play. Best teams keep playing and losers are out in 2.

[ZIG]

1. Teams hosting tournaments are not interested in lowering entry fees, nothing goes down in this economy, including fuel, the government is just trying to help out the big 3 by maintaining low fuel costs to boost auto sales. expect $4 fuel in the near future.

2. pool games are what keeps solid teams together, that is the time to pacify the 3rd pitcher, 2 string middle infielder, and sit out the stars.

3. It would create chaos between tournament directors and teams, while the TD is in the front seat of his truck with the laptop trying to equate and develop brackets.

4. then you would have to finish the inning rather than drop dead or finish the batter and that would create longer games and get things backed up before they even get started.

5. with the longer games, there would be fewer teams. touranment fees would go up, umpire fees would go up.

deal with it, it is not changing unless it is a regretted trial some where.

[Softballshouldbefun]

2. pool games are what keeps solid teams together, that is the time to pacify the 3rd pitcher, 2 string middle infielder, and sit out the stars.

I would agree with this statement. Pool games are a good time to focus on the girls who don't play every inning of every bracket game. and it's a good time to get your less experienced pitchers some work. We've seen threads about girls who pitch 6 games in a weekend and wouldn't placing a large value on the pool games encourage that? The object should be to develop your TEAM, not just your starting 9 players. What if you have an injury and your fill in player has no clue how to play a certain position? Please don't reply with the old line of "that's what practice is for". As I'm sure we can all agree, there is very little substitute for live games.

Just MHO