Mike Craig and NSA...for the kids or a big rip off?

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I just wanted to get opinions on the NSA and Mike Craig for those that are familiar.

Our team was one of the teams that played in the "11th Annual Central Ohio NSA Invitational Tournament" in Pickerington on June 5-6.

Long story short, it was a "4 game guaranteed" tournament, and after pool play the tournament was delayed by rain on Saturday after we played only two games.

We were told to show up for an 8:00 am game on Sunday morning to finish out pool play. We got there before 7:00, warmed up, and got ready to play when a strong storm cell came through and dumped on the fields.
That started at 8:00 and had quit by 8:20. At 8:37 Mike Craig canceled the 14U portion of the tournament. The 12U and 16U teams still played and completed the tournament, but not 14U.

The 14U teams were initially told we would get a $100 refund, and I did not agree that $100 was enough because we only played half our guaranteed games. I was also not happy that this tournament was understaffed and could/would not get the fields ready for our site. I do not understand only canceling 14U and not the rest.

I even drove back an hour and a half later and there was a baseball game being played at the same HS we were at.

I also know for a fact that an umpire drove from Vandalia that morning to umpire and got there at 7:30, was told he was not needed once they canceled the 14U tournament, and never got a dime for his time. None of the others did either.

Mike Craig told us that he could not give more than $100 because he still had to pay the umpires. He has since offered a "credit" to our teams for a future NSA tournament. I asked him via email what that meant and he has not returned my emails. I wrote to NSA headquarters and they have not responded.

Some of you probably think I have an agenda, and you are probably right.

I feel like we were ripped off. We paid $400 for this tournament, drove there and back twice (an 1 1/2 hour trip one way) had 25 or more people spend $5 on a two day gate pass, had several people spend money for a hotel, and got to play a total of two games out of a GUARANTEED 4 games.

Is my thinking out of line, or does anyone else think we got shafted by NSA and Mike Craig?

Hey Mike, send us our money and we can forget all of this and I will NEVER register our team for another NSA tournament. Deal?

 

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Oh boy, the Sheriff is probably going to come out for this one.

Although guarantees are always subject to the vagaries of the weather ("weather permitting"), your situation is somewhat unique in that other age groups got to play out the tournament. It's a close call, especially given your claim that the cancellation was the result of an insufficient number of field workers.

I have NOTHING against Mike Craig, but I will point out that Buckeye Heat 95 will not play in an NSA tournament, based upon the conduct of NSA States last year at Tealtown. We weren't even in that tourney, but the notion that Johnnies could write to the NSA powers that be with specific questions about that debacle and not receive even an acknowledgment, let alone answers, really cinched our decision. (BTW, I don't think Mike Craig had much to do with the Tealtown troubles).

The hard thing will be when NSA again has its nationals at Berliner. That tourney makes a good tune-up for ASA Nationals. But I'm hoping that everyone will stick to their guns and continue to boycott NSA tournaments.

 

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Re: Mike Craig and NSA...

Wow!!! That is all I can say. It would be nice to receive a phone call at my office instead of getting blasted on a message board. Good thing I decided to log in today to see my name in lights.

I think I had posted this once before, but will again. Refund/completed tournament policy has been posted on my website since day one. Here is the link again for those that are having a hard time navigating my page: http://www.playnsaohio.com/paperwork/soohnsarefundpolicy.pdf This has been our policy since day one.

Trust me when I say this, but I have never been sent a refund for the field fee and portion of maintainence that was paid for the use of Pickerington North on Sunday. When a site charges me a fee for maintainence and says they are supplying the workers to pull it off, I have to take them at there word. And for the game of yours that played one inning and then was stopped, I paid both officials a full game fee. I don't recall saying that I was paying the officials for all of the games they were scheduled for on Sunday.

I used the Play NSA e-mail system a few weeks back and sent out a tournament recap and what was going to be done for the four teams that did not get there third game in. We are doing credits based on the amount that was paid for the entry fee and whether you paid $325 or $375. This is spelled out in the refund policy on my website. I have e-mailed your coach back to explain that he could take the credit for any remaining tournament this year and for the 2011 season. It is pretty simple, I will make up the difference on the entry fee when it is sent in. I was also including the state and World fees when they are sent to my office like NSA protocol indicates be done.

If any coach has an issue with this, please contact me personally at 614-895-2253. The only people who even have a dog in this hunt are those four teams mentioned previously and all were made aware with the e-mail sent out over two weeks ago. The remaining teams were also made aware of their order of finish including yours and were given awards and berths or are still in the process of receiving there awards as per the refund policy posted on my webpage.

And please folks, can you just resist putting my name to or linking any posting of mine with Tealtown 08. I resigned from the NSA shortly before Tealtown and had no input in those decisions nor was asked for any from the NSA at that time. I can not control the past and do not wish to revisit that issue everytime a post comes up.

I will say that this was not a nice way to get my attention to something that I thought had been made perfectly clear and was resolved weeks ago. I personally think this is a pretty crappy way to make a point and would still appreciate a phone call in regards to this or other perceived issues with me since you are getting personal in another posting on this board by ridiculing me as being a "nice talker"?

This will be my only response to this posting. My phone number is still 614-895-2253 and my e-mail is still mcraig@playnsaohio.com.

 

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Here are the terms of an ASA tourney 4 game guarantee we played in this past weekend.


Should we have rained out you made out better than we would have.

Did you know the policy before you signed up?

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Rain Policy[FONT=Arial,Arial]: There will be no postponement of the tournament. In the event that we are unable to complete the tournament, teams will be ranked by playing record and trophies awarded accordingly. In the event less than 2 games are played, refunds will be as follows: zero games played $175, 1 game played $100, 2 or more games played $0.
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Re: Mike Craig and NSA...

Trust me when I say this, but I have never been sent a refund for the field fee and portion of maintainence that was paid for the use of Pickerington North on Sunday. When a site charges me a fee for maintainence and says they are supplying the workers to pull it off, I have to take them at there word. And for the game of yours that played one inning and then was stopped, I paid both officials a full game fee. I don't recall saying that I was paying the officials for all of the games they were scheduled for on Sunday.

Are you saying that you haven't refunded money because you haven't received refunds? Your finances should have no bearing on the refund policy.

 

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Well....where to start. I do sympathize with Hammers a little here. The primary issue seems to be a 4 gg tourny that was cut to only 2 for most, I believe the 4 teams that were at Pick Central were able to get all three pool games in. At any rate, games are guaranteed...weather is not.

There were a shortage of field volunteers at Pick North, but did you see those fields after the Sun morning rain? I left around 9:00 am and they still looked like ponds. Not saying I don't believe there was a baseball game going on, but would have been shocked.

As far as refund...well credit, it just don't make much sense to spend $300 at another NSA tourny to get your $100 credit from this tourny. Therefore we will just absorb the credit and cut our losses.

Berths were awarded to top 4 teams in the 14U division. However, to retain your berth you would have to play in the NSA States this weekend....which would be an additional lump of money not to mention the entry fee to enter nationals.

Bottom line: credit for a washout= spending more $ to get credit, earning a berth= spending more $ to retain.

Look...it is very frustrating to plan your entire weekend...wait, entire life around this sport and not get to complete a planned tourny. But all is worth it if the girls get to play. It is their game and we all sacrifice so they can play.
Unfortunatley it is also a business for the sanctioning bodies. For the record I have no affiliation with the NSA or any other sanction. Just trying to be realist about it. I am too disapponted with the turn out, but what do you do?

 

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If said rainout policy was clearly stated on the registration, then no team has a beef if the policy was followed as written. If you got two games in then you get zero money back. It ****s but you knew about it when you signed up. Now if they canceled fraudulently then you have an issue OR if they changed the policy after you recieved your paper work etc.

 

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We were lucky to get our games in, but I have to say.... We had to pay the gate, but there were no consession stands, first aid kits, or even Ice for those bumps that kids get playing ball. I understand you cant controll the weather, we delt with it when we held out tourney. I just still cant bring myself to understand how you can charge to get in, and offer nothing.

 

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Ice Viper... they did have porta-pots inside the ball park. Otherwise one would have to go to the other building about 200 yards away. And yes they did have a baseball game, however, it was a grass infield diamond, thus I would suspect could handle that 20 min heavy rain storm.

My dd's team was one of the 4 that didn't get play more than 2 games. So we went to South and watched our organizations 16U team play. Now that is a facility.. nets over the bleachers, working restroom, concession stands... nice

 

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If said rainout policy was clearly stated on the registration, then no team has a beef if the policy was followed as written. If you got two games in then you get zero money back. It ****s but you knew about it when you signed up. Now if they canceled fraudulently then you have an issue OR if they changed the policy after you recieved your paper work etc.

I think it is fraudulent to not have enough crew to handle weather, unless that was stated in the refund policy. I think it is fraudulent to cancel your age group but the others go on as planned, unless that was stated in the refund policy.

Typical NSA, "this will be my only response to this posting". Folks have complaints and/or problems and they start the shut down mode. You must call or email as we don't want it out in the open. LOL

Not enough workers...not my problem. I didn't make sure there would be, I took their word. LOL

 

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we have 8 teams, and all 8 play only A.S.A. Tournaments

 

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Ice Viper... they did have porta-pots inside the ball park. Otherwise one would have to go to the other building about 200 yards away. And yes they did have a baseball game, however, it was a grass infield diamond, thus I would suspect could handle that 20 min heavy rain storm.

My dd's team was one of the 4 that didn't get play more than 2 games. So we went to South and watched our organizations 16U team play. Now that is a facility.. nets over the bleachers, working restroom, concession stands... nice

Wait a second.... Im just wondering about the gate charge. We got to play our games I dont have a dog in that fight. I thought not haveing a consession stand there for the games s u c k e d, after paying to get in. Thats all I got to say about that.

 

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boy, NSA seems to have it in their agenda to not make their customers happy...

 

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Only way to stop it is to AVOID NSA!!!!!! Rebate on your next tournament?? wow that's beautiful.... Like going to a restaurant, get food poisoning and a credit on your next meal....

 

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NSA is a business and teams are their customers. If a customer has a complaint you respond with a "I'm sorry you are unhappy, how can I make this better for you" and then start a dialog about resolving the situation. Even if you can't they will feel better if you show some empathy, apologize and explain the circumstances. Not NSA, they attack with: "I will say that this was not a nice way to get my attention to something that I thought had been made perfectly clear and was resolved weeks ago. I personally think this is a pretty crappy way to make a point and would still appreciate a phone call in regards to this or other perceived issues with me since you are getting personal in another posting on this board by ridiculing me as being a "nice talker"?" What a way to talk to a customer. Maybe Mr Craig needs to step aside. Thankfully we don't play N$A.

 

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Not to defend anything that has been said. But he or any other org will never make the world of fastpitch/sports happy. No matter what is said or done, there is something that will always be their fault.
If you have 30 teams that play in a tournament 29 will complain about something. The only one you dont hear a peep from is the winner. Generally they walk in griping about something and leave on Sunday even more upset. Heck, its a wonder that any of them put themselves through the misery so your daughter can play.

The other thing that I always get a laugh about is the gate fee. I am certain that most of you paid a cover charge to get in a bar when you were younger and didnt think a thing about it. Yet, when it comes to paying a cover charge to watch your daughter you gripe. Getting drunk vs watching daugther....hmmmmm

Just my opinion.

Now back to the bashing....:lmao:

 

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Not to defend anything that has been said. But he or any other org will never make the world of fastpitch/sports happy. No matter what is said or done, there is something that will always be their fault.
If you have 30 teams that play in a tournament 29 will complain about something. The only one you dont hear a peep from is the winner. Generally they walk in griping about something and leave on Sunday even more upset. Heck, its a wonder that any of them put themselves through the misery so your daughter can play.

The other thing that I always get a laugh about is the gate fee. I am certain that most of you paid a cover charge to get in a bar when you were younger and didnt think a thing about it. Yet, when it comes to paying a cover charge to watch your daughter you gripe. Getting drunk vs watching daugther....hmmmmm

Just my opinion.

Now back to the bashing....:lmao:

The bar cover charge produces a service. That being the band.

Gate fee should cover a service to said softball customer. Pays for extra portajohns, diamond dry, facility costs, etc.... service stuff. No concession stand is a killer here unless teams was told before hand of such and knew.

"Now, back to the bashing....:lmao:"

That's too funny coming from an Indiana USSSA State Director....

 

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Not to defend anything that has been said. But he or any other org will never make the world of fastpitch/sports happy. No matter what is said or done, there is something that will always be their fault.
If you have 30 teams that play in a tournament 29 will complain about something. The only one you dont hear a peep from is the winner. Generally they walk in griping about something and leave on Sunday even more upset. Heck, its a wonder that any of them put themselves through the misery so your daughter can play.

The other thing that I always get a laugh about is the gate fee. I am certain that most of you paid a cover charge to get in a bar when you were younger and didnt think a thing about it. Yet, when it comes to paying a cover charge to watch your daughter you gripe. Getting drunk vs watching daugther....hmmmmm

Just my opinion.

Now back to the bashing....:lmao:

What a goofy comparison. Maybe if I paid part of the band fee and then paid a cover charge. At a softball tourney we pay for our kids to play at the tourney and then pay to get in to watch the kids we paid to play at that tourney.

 

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The other thing that I always get a laugh about is the gate fee. I am certain that most of you paid a cover charge to get in a bar when you were younger and didnt think a thing about it. Yet, when it comes to paying a cover charge to watch your daughter you gripe. Getting drunk vs watching daugther....hmmmmm

Just my opinion.

Now back to the bashing....:lmao:

I think the complaining is about having to pay a gate fee and not playing. If I paid a cover charge to get in a bar to see a band and they didn't play, i'd expect my money back!

 

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What a goofy comparison. Maybe if I paid part of the band fee and then paid a cover charge. At a softball tourney we pay for our kids to play at the tourney and then pay to get in to watch the kids we paid to play at that tourney.

:lmao::lmao::lmao: You beat me to it.