What kind of Tournament formats do you want to see next year

[TD ROCK]

I know everyone has given me opinions on Tourny formats. Here is your chance to sound off.

Remember longer the game will increase costs and have less teams in the tourny. I'm all for less teams and longer games.

I'm sure there is a balance with the younger teams wanting one format and the older teams having another format.

[ZIG]

I know everyone has given me opinions on Tourny formats. Here is your chance to sound off.

Remember longer the game will increase costs and have less teams in the tourny. Which i'm all for.

then you should provide an option that includes longer game times. I like it when we get in the 90 minute/7 inning games. Maybe you shold offer 4gg 75 minute pool - 90 minute bracket in your poll, thats what I would prefer

[Lefty's Dad]

I would think the age group would make a difference too. While 90 minute games are great for 14u and up, I'm not so sure the younger age groups would like that very much. I prefer the 90 min game format but I also prefer round robins/friendly rather than tournament, again, this is for older age groups where the plastic trophy is nothing but a dust collector.

[SBALLdad]

For 10U-12U
1 75 min pool with double elem. 75 min.

[tex]

The older the girls the longer the games should be until you can get as close as possible to a 7 inning game. The younger age brackets 12u and under should be kept to 60 t0 70 minutes. I don't believe the pitchers have the endurance yet to go alot longer. Since some games may be back to back.

There are several other items you have to consider when you lenghten the game times.

1) these td's are putting on the tournment to make MONEY!!!! If you lenghten the games less teams can play. The td may increase the entry fees to offset this???

2) all so less people will be there. Alot of money is made at the concession stand. higher prices to offset this???

3) umpires don't work for free. If you lenghten the games how much more will this cost a team per game????

4) will td start charging gate fees to offset the lack of teams.

Changing game times may be good if the teams are willing to pay the prices

[monkeysmom]

Whole point of this weekend circus we all enjoy is winning/placing nationally for the girls. National qualifiers and tourneys are ususally 7 innings or 90 min. I think longer games help the girls learn to focus thru out the game instead of 1 or 2 innings and the goal should be to stay strong to the end. 50 min pool games and 65min brackets dont really help when you get to nationals.

[TEXASGLORY]

How about one 90 minute pool game with no run rule in effect and then double elimination with all games 7 innings or 90 minutes. This eliminates at least one game per team from traditional format which reduces umpire expense and should reduce team entry fee by roughly 20%.

While I'm at it, how about you draw for your spot in the bracket upon check in and you play by the luck of the draw. Eliminate TD's setting up bracket for their favorite team or protecting certain teams.

Dan Adkins

[sbfan]

If the the new VTD site could assign points for every team for past tournament performances then you could seed the teams without so many pool games and do something like the one long pool game, then start a double elem.

[AnniesDad]

I find this post interesting because as the TD of Allen, I can assure you that I am always looking for ways to improve the quality of the tournaments as well as offer formats that are attractive to the many teams in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana at the lowest costs possible to the teams participating over the weekend.

Rather than making this an opinion session of why TDs have tournaments, this post can go along way to improve the offerings throughout the metroplex. I would and I am guessing many other local TDs would love positive feedback to improve the quality of the tournaments. The ultimate goal is to offer the young ladies playing softball a format that will allow them to compete at the highest levels, be rewarded for their achievements, and prepare them for their teams' goals.

Again, let's use this post to improve the tournament offerings in North Texas versus providing personal input on what you feel the ultimate goal for that TD/tournament is.

Thanks and I look forward to reading the feedback.

Rodney Frye

[CCCAWR]

On the younger age groups a consolation bracket or friendly would be nice for the 2 and out teams. Most of these teams need the game experience in order to be competitive with the other teams that are going 6 or 7 games deep into the bracket. Some of these teams are eliminated in the 8AM game on Sunday with open fields at the complex for most of the day. No trophies, just pay at the plate and get some games in.