New ASA JO National Cup Title, What does it mean for PGF?
Will new USA Softball JO Cup rock the club landscape?(2/13)
In a move that is could greatly impact theclub world—particularly at the highest level of 18U play—ASA/USA Softball hasannounced that a major event will begin this year: the 2015 USA Softball JuniorOlympic Cup scheduled for July 26-August 1 in Chino Hills, Calif.
Based on information provided by ASA/USASoftball as well as coaches who have received invites detailing the eventspecifics this week, the major implications are these:
the JO Cup will be used by ASA/USA softball toevaluate players for the USA National teams including the Jr. National and theWomen’s National teams, the event has a prize pool of over $100,000 and thewinner could receive close to $45,000 if the Cup has 32 teams (the event isalso considering 28 and 24 team fields), cash awards would go to the top eightteams, the entry fee is $6,000 per team,
the JO Cup overlapsthe PGF 18U Nationals and will force the teams invited to both events to choosebetween the two. Perhaps the two mosteyebrow-raising aspects of the new event, based on feedback from club coacheswe’ve spoken to in the last 24 hours, are the cash payouts and also theconflict with PGF 18U Nationals running from July 24-31.
As word spreads throughout the softballcommunity, the reaction seems to range from excitement to concern.
The top eightteams in the new JO Cup will receive prize money, a unique aspect of the newevent.
One email received by Full Count Softballencapsulates both sides: “Not sure how I feel about teams winning $, so much chance forabuse, but this shows that ASA isn’t going to go away and is looking to beinnovative.”
Although the USA Softball Junior Olympic Cupwon’t take place for another five months, there is an impending deadline the invitedteams will soon face: the JO Cup has a March 1 deposit deadline of $2,000.
Interestingly, PGF reportedly has a March 1deadline for hotel confirmations so the result is coaches will quickly have todecide which event they’ll attend.
Over 60 teams have been invited according toASA/USA Softball based on nationwide ratings, Full Count Softball has beentold, that include our FAB 50 Rankings and thoseof US Club Rankings. You canprobably assume that the top teams on each and/or both lists were the onesinvited to the JO Cup.
The teams that accept the invitation,according to ASA/USA Softball reps, for the new event will then “be placed intoan additional ranking system that will determine the final brackets for the JOCup.”
The format will be a straight-forwardfive-game guarantee including three pool play games and then doubleelimination. There will be a blind draw for pool and bracket play.
So what has the reaction been so far?
A sweep of about 8-10 top club teams acrossthe nation reveals what would naturally be expected: some are seriouslyinterested, some – especially those with connections to PGF – will not beparticipating and many are in “wait-and-see” mode over the next week or so andexpect to talk to other club coaches to get a feel of what their peers will do.
From what we’ve been told, the JO Cuporganizers will release the list of participating teams all at the same timewhen the field is finalized, meaning we won’t know who is in for a while.
A couple of coaches have said they have heardhigh profile teams from Florida and Texas are looking to play in the new event.Again, this is speculative and not confirmed… just the “word on the street”from those who have received invites.
While most coaches didn’t want to go on therecord, one prominent coach who said he would was Mark Griggs of the Wichita Mustangs. He says he’sseriously considering playing in the JO Cup for several reasons, particularlybecause of the ties to the developing Olympic softball situation.
“First, I like to see that there are manyoptions, but the key for me is that ASA is the governing body of softballrecognized by the U.S. Olympic committee,” he explains. “If they’re the onlygoverning body and play is coming back into the Olympics, the decisionabilities will come back to ASA/USA Softball and their words and events willhave more impact. It’s not just about club ball, ASA/USA Softball willnow make decisions based on what’s best for United State Olympic Softball.”
Along those lines, Ken Eriksen, the USA Softball Women’s National Team HeadCoach, says he and his staff will utilize the event to look at talent fordeciding future elite teams to play internationally.
“What a great opportunity to have some of thebest teams coming together to play in a tournament that has prestige and aprize,” Coach Eriksen said this week. “We will find out who the mostcompetitive programs in the country are now! The entire USA SoftballCoaching Staff will be present also to evaluate these players for our futureNational Teams.”
In a move that is could greatly impact theclub world—particularly at the highest level of 18U play—ASA/USA Softball hasannounced that a major event will begin this year: the 2015 USA Softball JuniorOlympic Cup scheduled for July 26-August 1 in Chino Hills, Calif.
Based on information provided by ASA/USASoftball as well as coaches who have received invites detailing the eventspecifics this week, the major implications are these:
As word spreads throughout the softballcommunity, the reaction seems to range from excitement to concern.
One email received by Full Count Softballencapsulates both sides: “Not sure how I feel about teams winning $, so much chance forabuse, but this shows that ASA isn’t going to go away and is looking to beinnovative.”
Although the USA Softball Junior Olympic Cupwon’t take place for another five months, there is an impending deadline the invitedteams will soon face: the JO Cup has a March 1 deposit deadline of $2,000.
Interestingly, PGF reportedly has a March 1deadline for hotel confirmations so the result is coaches will quickly have todecide which event they’ll attend.
Over 60 teams have been invited according toASA/USA Softball based on nationwide ratings, Full Count Softball has beentold, that include our FAB 50 Rankings and thoseof US Club Rankings. You canprobably assume that the top teams on each and/or both lists were the onesinvited to the JO Cup.
The teams that accept the invitation,according to ASA/USA Softball reps, for the new event will then “be placed intoan additional ranking system that will determine the final brackets for the JOCup.”
The format will be a straight-forwardfive-game guarantee including three pool play games and then doubleelimination. There will be a blind draw for pool and bracket play.
So what has the reaction been so far?
A sweep of about 8-10 top club teams acrossthe nation reveals what would naturally be expected: some are seriouslyinterested, some – especially those with connections to PGF – will not beparticipating and many are in “wait-and-see” mode over the next week or so andexpect to talk to other club coaches to get a feel of what their peers will do.
From what we’ve been told, the JO Cuporganizers will release the list of participating teams all at the same timewhen the field is finalized, meaning we won’t know who is in for a while.
A couple of coaches have said they have heardhigh profile teams from Florida and Texas are looking to play in the new event.Again, this is speculative and not confirmed… just the “word on the street”from those who have received invites.
While most coaches didn’t want to go on therecord, one prominent coach who said he would was Mark Griggs of the Wichita Mustangs. He says he’sseriously considering playing in the JO Cup for several reasons, particularlybecause of the ties to the developing Olympic softball situation.
“First, I like to see that there are manyoptions, but the key for me is that ASA is the governing body of softballrecognized by the U.S. Olympic committee,” he explains. “If they’re the onlygoverning body and play is coming back into the Olympics, the decisionabilities will come back to ASA/USA Softball and their words and events willhave more impact. It’s not just about club ball, ASA/USA Softball willnow make decisions based on what’s best for United State Olympic Softball.”
Along those lines, Ken Eriksen, the USA Softball Women’s National Team HeadCoach, says he and his staff will utilize the event to look at talent fordeciding future elite teams to play internationally.
“What a great opportunity to have some of thebest teams coming together to play in a tournament that has prestige and aprize,” Coach Eriksen said this week. “We will find out who the mostcompetitive programs in the country are now! The entire USA SoftballCoaching Staff will be present also to evaluate these players for our futureNational Teams.”
coachjwb
Well-Known Member
I think this is ridiculous as has been discussed in another thread ... http://www.thesoftballzone.com/showthread.php?7106-2015-USA-ASA-Softball-Junior-Olympic-Cup
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