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Get the popcorn out!!!
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I'm a subscriber to this one... hope the reoccurring annual dues don't eat me up.
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PGF is right on this. Is the Junior National team about the United States or about advancing the agenda of ASA? If it's the former, then ASA shouldn't be limiting the team to girls playing in ASA Gold.
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Good luck with that fight......all about $$$$$$$$$$$
And like any organization, advancing their agenda will always be #1, and im sure PGF would be doing the same thing if the roles were reversed.
And like any organization, advancing their agenda will always be #1, and im sure PGF would be doing the same thing if the roles were reversed.
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Not sure I see the issue.
How are you supposed to pick the Junior National team unless you can compare apples to apples.
Not saying that ASA isn't trying to control things but how do you pick a team if say all 15 players play in different leagues? Isn't this the same reason most D1 players play Gold. So college coaches can see them against the best competition?
I do not have a good solution. The only thing I do know is that there is a huge benefit to players if they can get all the best players in the same tournaments. Makes them all better. What ever alphabet is in front of the tournaments means very little. At the end of the day it should always be about the players. I am just not sure this is really for or against the players. You have to set up a system to pick the team. And it sounds like they want to pick it by going to the ASA Gold tournaments.....which is HUGE for ASA.
How are you supposed to pick the Junior National team unless you can compare apples to apples.
Not saying that ASA isn't trying to control things but how do you pick a team if say all 15 players play in different leagues? Isn't this the same reason most D1 players play Gold. So college coaches can see them against the best competition?
I do not have a good solution. The only thing I do know is that there is a huge benefit to players if they can get all the best players in the same tournaments. Makes them all better. What ever alphabet is in front of the tournaments means very little. At the end of the day it should always be about the players. I am just not sure this is really for or against the players. You have to set up a system to pick the team. And it sounds like they want to pick it by going to the ASA Gold tournaments.....which is HUGE for ASA.
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The concern I have is that this just might reduce the Jr Olympic teams competitiveness. Lets face it - with only 15 spots or so on the team it really limits how many kids a truly in the hunt so to speak. That said is it really going to force teams to move from the PGF Nationals in SoCal to ASA Gold? I am not sure.
My thought is that the coaches of the Jr Olympic team probably already know the top players in the country. If they don't maybe they should just ask the college coaches. I don't think they need a 1 week Gold tournament to see the kids. The Gold Tournament has taken a back seat over the last couple years. Maybe this is a way to fight back.
My thought is that the coaches of the Jr Olympic team probably already know the top players in the country. If they don't maybe they should just ask the college coaches. I don't think they need a 1 week Gold tournament to see the kids. The Gold Tournament has taken a back seat over the last couple years. Maybe this is a way to fight back.
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I have to agree that this is a total attempt (from the outside) to regain control of the youth Fastpitch world.
And I would tend to agree that the coaches would hopefully have a firm grasp of the best players in the country and would not need to see them compete for one week.
But I know in other sports (wrestling) there are multiple big name tournaments going on head to head. But if you want to compete in the Jr. Olympic teams you need to go through USA wrestling which is through AAU sports. Lot of great wrestlers chose not to bother. So it is not like it is a huge problem. Often one could argue the 5-6 best guys at a weight in the country is going to represent because the other guys chose not to compete at that tournament.
I mean really who cares if we send our 3rd string team? Why is that a problem? The girls and parents at that level are well aware of what their decisions mean and if they want to play in the Jr. Olympics then they will be at the ASA tournaments. If not then no big deal. I think your concern that the "best girls" might not be on the team are not shared by the people making these decisions. And to be honest I do not see the issue. Big deal if we finish 2nd, 3rd, 4th.....what an awesome adventure for the players that choose to go that route. It is not like they are winning anything. It is not even easy to figure out who was playing on those teams the last 10 years.
And I would tend to agree that the coaches would hopefully have a firm grasp of the best players in the country and would not need to see them compete for one week.
But I know in other sports (wrestling) there are multiple big name tournaments going on head to head. But if you want to compete in the Jr. Olympic teams you need to go through USA wrestling which is through AAU sports. Lot of great wrestlers chose not to bother. So it is not like it is a huge problem. Often one could argue the 5-6 best guys at a weight in the country is going to represent because the other guys chose not to compete at that tournament.
I mean really who cares if we send our 3rd string team? Why is that a problem? The girls and parents at that level are well aware of what their decisions mean and if they want to play in the Jr. Olympics then they will be at the ASA tournaments. If not then no big deal. I think your concern that the "best girls" might not be on the team are not shared by the people making these decisions. And to be honest I do not see the issue. Big deal if we finish 2nd, 3rd, 4th.....what an awesome adventure for the players that choose to go that route. It is not like they are winning anything. It is not even easy to figure out who was playing on those teams the last 10 years.
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Couldn't agree more - the Jr Olympic team doesn't spark a ton of interest except those that are competing for a sport of the roster. I have seen plenty of top level talent that don't play in the Gold Nationals for many different reasons.
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To me, it's not as much about "if we send our 3rd string" as it is about the 1st string having an opportunity to compete for a spot on the roster without being forced to play ASA. Although, I'm not sure why anyone would want to send the 3rd string if the 1st or 2nd string want to go.
No doubt it's a power play by ASA and use of their position as "NGB" to try to regain what they have lost in recent years ($$ and many of the best players in the country).
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But the best girls have the option to compete for a spot on the team. But to do so requires you play ASA Gold. Life is full of choices.
Listen, I am not sure why everyone thinks this is a big deal. The players have a choice plain and simple.
If this was deemed important, then the team and coaches would have a 2-3 week training camp and invite the players in for tryouts. They would work the players out until they had the roster down to the top 15-16 players. But you still have the biggest issue. Who is footing the bill? I am betting that ASA loses money on the this Jr Olympic team directly. I would imagine that ASA helps with some of the costs.
I guess we all have an opinion. It is just my son wrestles and this has never seemed very important.
Listen, I am not sure why everyone thinks this is a big deal. The players have a choice plain and simple.
If this was deemed important, then the team and coaches would have a 2-3 week training camp and invite the players in for tryouts. They would work the players out until they had the roster down to the top 15-16 players. But you still have the biggest issue. Who is footing the bill? I am betting that ASA loses money on the this Jr Olympic team directly. I would imagine that ASA helps with some of the costs.
I guess we all have an opinion. It is just my son wrestles and this has never seemed very important.
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The problem is players weren't given advance notice of the change in eligibility requirements. Word got out in July that players had to participate in Gold Nats that month to be eligible for the JNT next year. It was way too late for teams and players to shift gears.
USA Softball typically holds a final selection camp where players that have been identified as candidates are invited to try out. Input from college coaches used to be a large factor in determining which players to invite. It makes sense because they are scouting players all over the country and see them over an extended period.
USA Softball typically holds a final selection camp where players that have been identified as candidates are invited to try out. Input from college coaches used to be a large factor in determining which players to invite. It makes sense because they are scouting players all over the country and see them over an extended period.
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This makes sense.
A final selection camp would be the way to go.
And that is way wrong if they changed the rules after the season started.
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In my opinion ASA is feeling the competition from PGF and doesn't like it. The people I've talked to about the ASA Nationals tell me there were very few coaches there this summer. Could it be they were all at PGF?
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SoCal_Dad - I have been talking to the ASA State Director about this because we will soon start having PGF qualifiers in Florida again this year. I respect him and our JO a TON. They have done things the right way down here - and the numbers are showing great results. He told me that the decision listed in the letter copied in this thread has been in place for 7 years. I don't know if he didn't understand what I was asking, or maybe it was never enforced, or if it is simply miscommunication all the way around. But one thing is certain - lines in the sand seem to be getting drawn.
