Favorite Format for a Tournament

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We want to know what you think is the best format for a tournament, and does the change depending on the age ?

EXAMPLE:

4gg Double Elimination (2 pool)
Pool play: 70 min finish the inning
Elimination: 7 innings or 90 min max.
$425 with no gate fee

 

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I think that double elimination formats tend to allow the best teams to get to semis. Oftentimes teams will throw their ace in the first game of elimination--and even if that team played poorly in pool, they may have a very strong #1 pitcher, so all bets are off. A 3-0 team could lose to a 1-2 team that way and be done from the tourney in single elim, even though that team might be very strong.
I think 7 innings should be reserved for the championship game, especially in double elimination.

 

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As far as time limits, I like finish the inning plus one. It eliminates stall tactics and clock manipulation.

 

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ASA has a double elimination bracket that has a 3 GG. It works well in qualifiers. It is easily adapted to add additional pool games.

TOTALLY agree with crystlemc - finish the inning plus one is great for the game.

 

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Double elimination, 7 innings for championship games, finish the inning +1, 60-70 minutes depending on overall time constraints, 4gg.

 

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Warren ... re: time limits, obviously the longer the better ... though I am never in favor of a drop dead or drop dead revert back. I agree with Crystle re: finish the inning plus one, though I know that has the most chance of playing havoc with a TD's schedule, so finish the inning is the next best thing short of a full game. No game should go only 2-3 innings ... I have been involved in way too many 6-4, 8-2 games (not low scoring, but not run rules either) over the years where the teams only batted 2-3 times ... sorry, but that's just not a full game. Would any basketball teams be OK playing only one half?

I like double elimination personally as well ... as it gives the best teams a better chance to win (i.e., they can have one off game), and all teams a second chance.

The format you mentioned above would be attractive. I've coached at all age levels, and don't see any strong reasons why age levels matters for format.

 

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Double elimination, 5gg, 80 minute games, 2 umpires and 7 inning championship game. I really like finish the inning +1 but that would be almost impossible with double elimination, there are too many games and you'd have to keep them on schedule and if I had to choose one over the other I'd take double elimination.

 

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Klump ... good point on the finish the inning +1 not working well with double elimination. And agree with you and others that championship games need to be 7 innings and 2 umpires.

 

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5 gg 3 pool into double elimination, 6innings, until championship then finish the game.

 

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5 gg (3 pool)
double elimanation
70 minute finish the inning
full 7 inning for championship game
2 umps in bracket play

 

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Some great ideas so far, but you also have to realize with some of this comes a price, and are your teams willing to pay it ?

 

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What if you did finish the inning at 50 minutes then plus one you would probable end up with 90 min games.

 

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What if you did finish the inning at 50 minutes then plus one you would probable end up with 90 min games.

I think that is too short. I think 60, finish the inning +1 would be better. JMHO

 

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I like pool into double elimination. 5gg. Championship game 7 innings, I'm pretty flexible with time limits.

 

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We see 70 or 80 minute then plus one.

What if you did finish the inning at 50 minutes then plus one you would probable end up with 90 min games.

 

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Yeah, I think the 50 mins is too short ... a game could end up 90 minutes, but it could also end up 60, and would probably average 65-70 ... if we're not playing 75-80 minutes per game, I am feeling like we are not playing real softball ...

 

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Some great ideas so far, but you also have to realize with some of this comes a price, and are your teams willing to pay it ?

I would. Especially if we could get 4-5gg. With the double elimination and possibly longer games would mean less teams, so higher costs would be expected. Also, as many games as possible with 2 Umpires costs more.

Softball was never meant to be played with time limits, but with finsh the inning plus one, atleast it is more of a normal game ending. I'd pay more for those options and choose tournaments set up that way, if they were on the same weekend.

 

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Double Elimination - 5gg
60 minutes +1 inning
7 inning Championship
No admission fee - although if a fee has to be paid (understanding that the gate is a big part of fundraising for some organizations), do it per vehicle, not per spectator, and keep the grandparents coming and happy

 

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turn this into a poll now that many ideas are out there.

I too like 3pp, dbl elimination.
Time: 75 minutes and full 7 inning for championship and I'll also add the semi-final games to full 7 inning option.
2 umps in bracket like the others have stated.

Revert and drop dead are a travesty in the game. Always finish the inning if time limits are put in place due to team count or weather conditions. And noooooooo wind up clocks. Post all "timers" so both teams can come up and check the time. And starting your watch at the same time the ump officially starts the dollar store bread timer has shown as much as a 2 minute time differential on our stop watches.

 

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Here are a couple of other factors...

How late are you willing to start an 'if' game (e.g. 6pm, 8pm)?

Mercy rules? A local Triple Crown has 10 runs after 3 innings, 8 after 4 and 6 after 5 for games that are 75 min, no new inning. ASA and PGF have longer games, so their run limits are higher. ASA is 15 after 3, 12 after 4 and 8 after 5. Standard PGF is 10 after 4, 8 after 5 and 6 after 6.

With all the double elim you play, I'm curious how often (i.e. % of tourneys) the 'if' game is played and how often the team from the losers bracket wins an 'if' game.