PGF perspective on the ASA JO Cup

[CARDS]

ASA wouldn't have chosen that site if they weren't thinking about college coaches. They could have easily chosen a much better facility than Chino Hills, but they wouldn't be near the PGF sites (35-50 min w/o traffic). This site was obviously chosen so college coaches can attend both. They're much closer together than the 110+ miles between ASA's 16G and 18G Nat sites last year.

Teams will have more flexibility to bolster their roster, however I expect they will still have their core players. Anyone that is invited should already have a competitive team. Several ASA and PGF teams already bolster their rosters for Nats with players from teams participating in the other Nat.

The national team aspect is overblown - team selection camps were held 2 months ago and I doubt it will be a factor for the next ones. It's just ASA pimping the national teams again like they have the last 2 years.

I agree that the national team thing is over blown but, you have to remember we are talking top level 18U teams and ASA has never really stated anything about college coach attendance.
Just going off of my team when they were 16U half were college committed by 2nd year 18U all were committed and the ones that committed D1 were committed at 16U and that was to small D1 schools... The bigger D1 programs that attend PGF I would think would not have any offers left for any 2015 grads and most 2016.
I can assure you my team was no where near the caliber teams invited to this event so, I would suspect most if not all of the ladies from the Bat Busters, Mustangs, Force, Bandits etc. pretty much know where they are going by 18U.

Now if it is an open age event and I have not seen anywhere that they would not let younger ladies play then yes 14/16s would have an opportunity to gain the favor of college coaches in attendance but; I still feel given the two events these college coaches would rather see these players at the PGF event where they would most likely already be.

 

[WWolff]

I agree that the national team thing is over blown but, you have to remember we are talking top level 18U teams and ASA has never really stated anything about college coach attendance.
Just going off of my team when they were 16U half were college committed by 2nd year 18U all were committed and the ones that committed D1 were committed at 16U and that was to small D1 schools... The bigger D1 programs that attend PGF I would think would not have any offers left for any 2015 grads and most 2016.
I can assure you my team was no where near the caliber teams invited to this event so, I would suspect most if not all of the ladies from the Bat Busters, Mustangs, Force, Bandits etc. pretty much know where they are going by 18U.

Now if it is an open age event and I have not seen anywhere that they would not let younger ladies play then yes 14/16s would have an opportunity to gain the favor of college coaches in attendance but; I still feel given the two events these college coaches would rather see these players at the PGF event where they would most likely already be.

Not so fast we saw Mac, Horizon, NEC, and many other Mid majors at PGF Nationals with plenty of scholarship money for Juniors. As well as some big schools with money for upperclassman (Jr's and Seniors). I have even been called by majors this school year looking for 2015 because something happened. You just never know.

 

[SoCal_Dad]

Whether ASA has stated anything about college attendance is immaterial because there is no other reason they would have selected Chino Hills as the site. Believe me, it is a lousy facility to hold such an event. They could have held it anywhere in the country if college coaches weren't a factor.

Many college coaches at PGF that week are there primarily to check on their commits, however some/many are there to recruit. The rosters of the PGF Premier contenders are typically committed, however that's not true for the rest of the teams nor the Platinum division. Most of these teams have 3+ HS grad years - they're not teams that formed around a birth year and moved up through the age groups. Many orgs have a perpetual 18U team where only a portion of the roster graduates each year and they bring in a mix of players to replace them.

ASA Gold events haven't been drawing college coaches like they once did, so they added 16G last year in an attempt to draw more. This is another attempt to bolster their Gold program. They're holding this event close to where college coaches will be since they can't get many of them to travel to their Nats.

 

[Lester]

I wonder who from ASA thought this was a good idea? SMH... desperate and they swung a missed IMO.

 

[CARDS]

I just do not see anything in what ASA has posted about this event that would lead anyone to believe this event is intended to be a college showcase event.
Let’s start with the initial tournament format. 18U teams showcasing for the Junior and Womens national team with Cash awards for the top teams.
Next move onto the 60 teams that were sent an invite. Now, I have no idea what all teams received an invite but just going off of the various websites, the teams ASA said they invited and teams that I think would deserve an invite Bandits etc. all had 100% committed players on their 18U roster…

Now, I do agree with Warren that there are things that happen and some of the top 25 programs have 2015/2016 scholarships left but lets realistic how many are available…and are these college coaches going to an event that has 32 max or 24 min teams not knowing who is available to recruit when the mass majority of players are committed?
Then look at several of the top teams that ASA listed as invites that have already declined… BTW looking at their rosters looks like most if not all are already committed. http://thebeverlybandits.com/premier/precon-roster.html

SoCal_Dad, I generally agree with most of your post and in this case as usual you make many valid points however; would a college coach not gain more benefit from seeing their committed athletes and be able to recruit at the PGF event? And remember, the ASA Gold event you talk about is a week earlier.


If you read all my post on this issue you will see I am a huge ASA supporter and I also like what PGF has brought to the game but looking at all the facts I feel this event is only an attempt to pull some of the top teams from the country that are looking to “win a national” into it... not to showcase for College coaches

 

[SoCal_Dad]

Exposure is a factor when teams choose which national event(s) to attend - it doesn't make them showcase events. You are sadly mistaken if you think exposure isn't a big factor in teams choosing to play PGF Nats instead of ASA Nats.

It's not accurate to take the %committed of the top 10 teams and apply it for the remainder of the top 63 that were invited because they're not the same - it tends to drop as you go down the rankings. I doubt ASA will get much from the top 20 teams, so their best chances are with teams further down the rankings that don't have PGF berths and are concerned about exposure.

Why did ASA put it in Chino Hills? It certainly wasn't because it is a good facility for the event. There are lots of better facilities in SoCal and across the country. Just like real estate, it comes down to 3 things - location, location and location.

- PGF Nats is held at 4 parks in 3 cities, so college coaches are already driving between parks to see players. Chino Hills is close enough to piggyback onto PGF. Chino Hills is an easy drive from lodging around PGF's sites.

- PGF Nats is obviously very attractive to SoCal teams since it is local. Consequently, the competition is fierce to qualify - especially at 18U. Ranked teams go to great lengths (AZ, NorCal, OR and/or Las Vegas) and endure much to qualify. ASA's event in Chino Hills may be appealing to some SoCal teams that could stay local without having to qualify.

- PGF is attempting to add a small invite-only 10U Nat this year and word is they're waiting on getting fields for it. I don't think they're waiting on Chino Hills, but it would be something if they were.

 

[CARDS]

You are sadly mistaken if you think exposure isn't a big factor in teams choosing to play PGF Nats instead of ASA Nats.
Hum.. I never said that...

It's not accurate to take the %committed of the top 10 teams and apply it for the remainder of the top 63 that were invited because they're not the same -Ok, lets look at the top 50...Same results

Why did ASA put it in Chino Hills? It certainly wasn't because it is a good facility for the event. There are lots of better facilities in SoCal and across the country. You are right it is a cheap dump

- PGF Nats is obviously very attractive to SoCal teams since it is local. Consequently, the competition is fierce to qualify - especially at 18U. Ranked teams go to great lengths (AZ, NorCal, OR and/or Las Vegas) and endure much to qualify. ASA's event in Chino Hills may be appealing to some SoCal teams that could stay local without having to qualify. Of 60 teams invited what teams in the group you posted fit this bill?-

PGF is attempting to add a small invite-only 10U Nat this year and word is they're waiting on getting fields for it. I don't think they're waiting on Chino Hills, but it would be something if they were.

I do not think these 10U teams are in the mix for this ASA event..

 

[SoCal_Dad]

Exposure is a factor when teams choose which national event(s) to attend - it doesn't make them showcase events. You are sadly mistaken if you think exposure isn't a big factor in teams choosing to play PGF Nats instead of ASA Nats.
Hum.. I never said that...
You basically did with your insistence that these teams are already committed and therefore not interested in exposure.

It's not accurate to take the %committed of the top 10 teams and apply it for the remainder of the top 63 that were invited because they're not the same
-Ok, lets look at the top 50...Same results
Pathetic BS. First team I looked at, Bownet, has 9 uncommitted players.

Why did ASA put it in Chino Hills? It certainly wasn't because it is a good facility for the event. There are lots of better facilities in SoCal and across the country.
You are right it is a cheap dump
Not a dump, but it's a mishmash of different fields. The one with perm fences is too small and 2 have dirt infields for 90' bases. There's a Big League Dreams park nearby that would be good.

- PGF Nats is obviously very attractive to SoCal teams since it is local. Consequently, the competition is fierce to qualify - especially at 18U. Ranked teams go to great lengths (AZ, NorCal, OR and/or Las Vegas) and endure much to qualify. ASA's event in Chino Hills may be appealing to some SoCal teams that could stay local without having to qualify.
Of 60 teams invited what teams in the group you posted fit this bill?
Going by US Club rankings, I'd say teams like #15 Bownet, #29 TNL and #33 Nemesis Elite might be tempted. There are some more possibilities, however I don't know whether they made the cut. It's also possible some other teams might accept and use players from an idle 16U team to help with early games if they qualify for PGF.

- PGF is attempting to add a small invite-only 10U Nat this year and word is they're waiting on getting fields for it. I don't think they're waiting on Chino Hills, but it would be something if they were.

I do not think these 10U teams are in the mix for this ASA event..
Are/were you drunk? I was talking about the fields... smh

Why do you think ASA put it in such close proximity to PGF Nats?

 

[CARDS]

SolCal Dad, the bottom line is PGF has "nothing" to worry about with this event (if it even goes off) and they know it.

If the event does get the min of 24 teams will some college coaches make the hour or less drive between parks like you suggested? Maybe a select few, but as stated earlier they will be most likely going to watch already committed recruits since most of the 18U teams in the event will have the majority if not all committed players.

Even if as you say, the bottom half of the field will have a lot of players uncommitted 12/16 teams with seniors and juniors is not enough of a draw to impact the PGF event at all.

I think most agree (even ASA) that the ASA college showcase/exposure series is their ASA/USA events 14,16g,18g that takes place before this event and any of the top teams in the country looking for "ASA exposure" will be in these events.
I think most will also agree "this is the area ASA needs to work on "if" the goal is to compete with PGF and this will not happen with the money ball event. I tend to believe what was in ASAs tournament announcement that had "no reference to a college exposure/ showecase or college coach attendance" but does state, the event is a national team showcase with cash awards (that the teams are putting up 6Kto try to get) while making reference to the ASA prior other national events.

 

[Dad of Daughters]

Has anyone heard any updates on this? Any Ohio or Midwest invited teams or even teams that have accepted invites?

 

[coachjwb]

The list is out ... https://www.fullcountsoftball.com/2015/04/10/24-junior-olympic-cup-teams-announced-410/

And we have an Ohio team on the list ...

 

[SoCal_Dad]

They also lowered the entry fee from $6k to $5k and expanded the payouts to top 12 finishers.

According to Brentt Eads of Full Count Softball, college players are not eligible to play in this event. Kinda odd for an event that is supposed to be for evaluating players for the Womens National Team. Actions speak louder than words...

 

[BulldawgsDirector]

There are a few teams on that list that are rather surprising.

 

[Stretch]

There are a few teams on that list that are rather surprising.

How so???????

 

[Admin]

Ohio Outlaws Dave Blashinsky Ashtabula, Ohio

Was listed as playing or invited?

 

[SoCal_Dad]

Ohio Outlaws Dave Blashinsky Ashtabula, Ohio

Was listed as playing or invited?

They're on the list of 24 teams entered. Were they one of the original 60-some teams invited in February?

 

[BulldawgsDirector]

How so???????

A few teams I would have expected to go the PGF National rout is all.

 

[Admin]

Yes, I'm a little confused about the Teams on the list?????

 

[coachjwb]

My understanding is that these are the teams that have been invited and accepted. I am sure many others were invited as well, but chose not to attend in lieu of PGF Nationals. As SoCal_Dad asks, it would be interesting to know whether they had to go deeper than the original list ....

 

[SoCal_Dad]

A few teams I would have expected to go the PGF National rout is all.

I'll say it - kinda surprised to see Outlaws on the list given their PGF connection.

At least four of the teams listed gave up their PGF berths - East Cobb Bullets, Gold Coast Hurricanes, Texas Bombers and Wichita Mustangs.