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Member
Hi Everyone,
I have been asked to take over the job as Ohio NAFA Director. If you are looking for me to address that situation regarding the separation of the past Ohio Director I must refer you to NAFA Region 7 Director Ed Serdar.
I am available to work through any tournaments set up for the 2009 season as a NAFA tournament. I will do my best to get up to speed and answer questions as quickly and as effectively as possible. If anyone choose a different direction I understand.
I have received a few emails and calls regarding the Memorial Day Weekend Tournament being hosted by Indiana's State Director, Jeff Sanders, where he has advertised providing berths to everyone that attends. First I must clearly state I am the Ohio Director, not Indiana, so it is not my place to tell Jeff Sanders what to do or not to do. I had attended one of his tournaments in 2008 and enjoyed it thoroughly. All his umpires came from the college ranks of division I &II. To say the least I have never found such a good crew. I still disagreed with a few of their calls, but they were fair and impartial.
Anyway, I called Jeff and discussed the tournament and the berths that would be awarded. He shared that NAFA is trying to grow in our part of the country and they spend so much money on the Nationals they knew the more teams that came the quicker people would come to understand what NAFA is all about. He knew once people got a taste of a NAFA National it could forever stand on it's own merit. Sounds to me like a good idea, but I also understand people?s concerns on lowering the talent pool and the tournament. Once I conveyed those thoughts to Jeff he quickly understood my point of view.
He said that he wished to start our working relationship off on the right foot, so he would contact NAFA?s regional director to see if he could make the change. He informed me they would make the change to earned berths only, with the exception of honoring a berth to anyone currently registered. Of course if a team qualifies, but is unable to attend the National Tourney he would offer their berth to the team that finished behind them, which is of course common place in the fast pitch world.
I look forward to growing NAFA. It is NOT only about the money. Everyone knows there are costs for tournaments that must be met, but in Ohio I am inclined to ?okay? anything that will help an organization as long as it conforms to NAFA rules, Ohio High School Athletic Association Rules, NCAA Rules and of course local community rules and regulations. Recently I was told an organization, NOT NAFA that was charging a fee to the tournament host for every berth to Nationals that was given. ALL berths are FREE! We offer 1 berth for every 4 teams in a tourney. I can also provide berths to sanctioned leagues. NAFA offers berths to both ?A? or ?B? Nationals. By the way Indian NAFA was offering berth Memorial Day Weekend to the ?B? Nationals. All Elite ?A? berths must be earned as the competition there is truly top notch.
If you wish to raise funds for your organization by running a NAFA tournament Contact me. We have option for ?Non-Profit? organization and ?For Profit? Private Parks. I am not on OFC daily so please feel free to email me direct at johnbhiatt@yahoo.com or call 513-368-4663.
Thank you,
John Hiatt
I have been asked to take over the job as Ohio NAFA Director. If you are looking for me to address that situation regarding the separation of the past Ohio Director I must refer you to NAFA Region 7 Director Ed Serdar.
I am available to work through any tournaments set up for the 2009 season as a NAFA tournament. I will do my best to get up to speed and answer questions as quickly and as effectively as possible. If anyone choose a different direction I understand.
I have received a few emails and calls regarding the Memorial Day Weekend Tournament being hosted by Indiana's State Director, Jeff Sanders, where he has advertised providing berths to everyone that attends. First I must clearly state I am the Ohio Director, not Indiana, so it is not my place to tell Jeff Sanders what to do or not to do. I had attended one of his tournaments in 2008 and enjoyed it thoroughly. All his umpires came from the college ranks of division I &II. To say the least I have never found such a good crew. I still disagreed with a few of their calls, but they were fair and impartial.
Anyway, I called Jeff and discussed the tournament and the berths that would be awarded. He shared that NAFA is trying to grow in our part of the country and they spend so much money on the Nationals they knew the more teams that came the quicker people would come to understand what NAFA is all about. He knew once people got a taste of a NAFA National it could forever stand on it's own merit. Sounds to me like a good idea, but I also understand people?s concerns on lowering the talent pool and the tournament. Once I conveyed those thoughts to Jeff he quickly understood my point of view.
He said that he wished to start our working relationship off on the right foot, so he would contact NAFA?s regional director to see if he could make the change. He informed me they would make the change to earned berths only, with the exception of honoring a berth to anyone currently registered. Of course if a team qualifies, but is unable to attend the National Tourney he would offer their berth to the team that finished behind them, which is of course common place in the fast pitch world.
I look forward to growing NAFA. It is NOT only about the money. Everyone knows there are costs for tournaments that must be met, but in Ohio I am inclined to ?okay? anything that will help an organization as long as it conforms to NAFA rules, Ohio High School Athletic Association Rules, NCAA Rules and of course local community rules and regulations. Recently I was told an organization, NOT NAFA that was charging a fee to the tournament host for every berth to Nationals that was given. ALL berths are FREE! We offer 1 berth for every 4 teams in a tourney. I can also provide berths to sanctioned leagues. NAFA offers berths to both ?A? or ?B? Nationals. By the way Indian NAFA was offering berth Memorial Day Weekend to the ?B? Nationals. All Elite ?A? berths must be earned as the competition there is truly top notch.
If you wish to raise funds for your organization by running a NAFA tournament Contact me. We have option for ?Non-Profit? organization and ?For Profit? Private Parks. I am not on OFC daily so please feel free to email me direct at johnbhiatt@yahoo.com or call 513-368-4663.
Thank you,
John Hiatt