TDs please read.

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I just figured it out for my tournament and it will be 4 more games i need to schedule and get Umpires for maybe costing another 200 dollars forumpires. is it worth it? what does everyone think?

 

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Tourn_Director made some realistic points.... you want a mob of angry parents be 60-90 minutes late in the loser bracket and have to hold up winner bracket games for them to catch up.

Time limits work. I've been running tournies for 12 years and it's a reality. I'd rather have more teams, be on time and leave at reasonable hour on Sunday.

as far as GG It doens't make financial sense for a TD to go to five if it means limiting the number of teams entered. even if you charge more. some 5 6 and seven game formats don't declare a winner by playing the best two teams. I think the elimination process needs to be part of the equation.

 

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GAPPS, this is the type of tournament structure that I am used to participating in from IL (Champion Fields in Normal). I know that I personally would be willing to pay the upper level cost for a well ran tournament with excellent fields as you are discribing. I think what as a coach and parent I had the most objections with on some of the single elem tournys is the cost for parking, then a cost to enter, and high cost at the concessions. I would love to see a set fee for either parking w/entry to fields or free parking with the entry fee to the tourny be charged as either daily or a weekend package. Parents and coaches are more inclined to spend monies for a majority of the weekend at a concessions that is priced for marginal to average profit. We find it very difficult to spend the almighty dollar when it is obvious the pricing is set to a maximum profit margin.

I think we all understand the cost associated with running a tourny and the amount of time, effort, and numerous volunteers required to put on a high quality tournament. For those that do so we thank you endlessly for your efforts, for those that are on a learning curve, we offer our understanding and hopes to see a continued progression in your endeavors towards the high end tournys.

It still comes down to supply and demand as Johnnies stated.

 

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Mark,


More importantly, how are your walking tacos?

 

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The question should be "where are your walking tacos"? ? >

 

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Disclaimer - Not talking bad about GAPSS as I think it is a fantastic tournament and we will be playing in it for the 3rd year in a row. But a couple years ago they tried the 5gg with 3 pool into DE. I think Mike would be the 1st one to tell you it didn't work as it only lasted 1 year. The schedule became so tight that there were games where a team won and had to play again right away but at a different site. We had to load up the cars, drive 10 minutes and unload. This put fields way behind schedule. To run a 5gg with under that format you really have to keep your field small. As a coach I prefer more teams for different competition. As a TD I hate turning away teams and it is not because we are money hungry. You work hard to promote your tournament, work hard to put on a good show hoping teams will return and word of mouth but then have to turn around and tell a team you don't have room. Everyone has to have a limit at some point but I would rather take 4-6 more teams and stay with a 4gg.

 

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I believe the solution to this problem is there are to many week teams mixed in with stronger teams in most of these tournaments. If some of these tournaments that have more than 15 teams in any one certain age group they should be running a Gold Bracket with the best 10 teams to play full games not crappy timed games. By playing full 7 inning games the better teams learn to play more competitively. Too many 3 nning run ruled games hapening durrng these tournaments.

And how you determine who plays in the Gold Brakets....Maybe develop some type of power ranking system or the group hoasting the tournament should make the decision. I think in closing many wll agree that there are some teams that shouldnt be playing certain other teams!

 

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And how you determine who plays in the Gold Brakets....Maybe develop some type of power ranking system or the group hoasting the tournament should make the decision. I think in closing many wll agree that there are some teams that shouldnt be playing certain other teams!

I think this is a great idea!! I have put you in charge of developing this "Power Ranking System." Please inform us here on the forum, when you have made your final determination, as to who is in what bracket. You seem fittingly able to use an unbiased approach on most everything else on this forum, so you should be up to the task!!

 

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Knights...are you trying to get Jerky or are you being serious? I think its a good idea.

 

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Big Daddy, i think maybe LK was just trying to get a rise out of you by trying to be funny..or maybe by just trying to be an ASS! (sound familiar)

 

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Johnnies and JoeA, since you two have recently had older teams and are now coaching younger teams, is there a different demand from the younger teams? I would want to say yes just from the developmental standpoint but you would have a better vantage point.

To get the 5 GG at the smaller venues, then the tournament will probably have to have just one, maybe two age groups per weekend. Then you can get 12 or more teams for competition. Most teams also want 2 umpires for all games. A lot of problems are eliminated when there are 2 umpires.

Kyle Park(?), in Tipp City, is a new complex that has lots of potential. I believe they have 2, 4 field wheels. They have lots of parking. Admission will be difficult due to the open space but it could be incorporated into the fee. I believe the Valley Storm hosted a tournament there last fall and it went well. I can see 2 age groups with 12-16 teams (each age group) each playing 7 inning, untimed games. Hopefully without rain delays.

 

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The question should be "where are your walking tacos"? ? >

Johnnies...What are you saying!!?!? I am thinking the worst right now, I hope that isnt the case, and your just stirring the pot to try and get us to leave GAPPS and enter the BTBICP mosquito classic.

 

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What about hosting Friendlies on some weekends instead of going to tournaments? Depending on how many fields you have available, you could have a nice weekend full of seven inning games with 4-8 quality teams participating.

 

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Great idea NCS! Teams that we talked to from out west and down south play several of these "friendlies" and then scatter 5 to 6 tourneys around them. We seem to be obsessed with playing as many tourneys as there are weekends in the summer and I'm not always sure why? It sure would save some money in the long run.

 

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golfnut. because out west and down south they don't have to try to cram their season into 2 months.

But I do agree with you, When my team was young(10u,11u) we played about 4-5 tournaments and scheduled a couple 3-4 team friendlies. But since then have gone to 7-8 tournaments because there is nobody to play as they are all in tournies.

 

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[quote author=Johnnies link=1203987507/25#26 date=1204204204]The question should be "where are your walking tacos"? ? >

Johnnies...What are you saying!!?!? I am thinking the worst right now, I hope that isnt the case, and your just stirring the pot to try and get us to leave GAPPS and enter the ?BTBICP mosquito classic.[/quote]

Ub buddy, I hate to break this to you, but when I was there last year, they did not even have carbonated beverages at their concessions!. (gasp). I can survive a weekend without a ...walking taco.. but take away my diet coke and you have one mean coach on your hand. One of my parents (honestly) drove to town to get me a diet coke so I would stop beating up on their kid. BTW... the kid survived with minor bruises.

I will give TDs some suggestions on the way we do it in Bugtussle. If the Feds do NOT raid your concession stand - you are subpar. Down our way, if the blue suits from ATF ignores your concessions, you automatically lose a "star" in the "concession stands" reviews in the next issue of "Bugtussle Independent". Down here that is a major shame. The Dollar Store will withdraw their individual teams sponsorship and Skolls will will not sponsor our organization. Thank God for John Deere and Dickies Overalls for overlooking our shortcomings.

OK, now back to the topic.... ummm.. which was what?

 

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Nice one Lady Knights. Me thinks the heat in the kitchen is setting big daddy's blood to boil! ;D

 

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Johnnies and JoeA, since you two have recently had older teams and are now coaching younger teams, is there a different demand from the younger teams? ?I would want to say yes just from the developmental standpoint but you would have a better vantage point.

The biggest difference is the focus of the practices, which are geared more toward the fundamentals. The other factor that is different is knowledge of the game. Much time is spend discussing the rules and strategies of the games. Younger teams are also more fun in my opinion.

 

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Younger teams are also more fun in my opinion.

I so agree with that one. ?The younger players have less issues, and still have a desire to be coachable. ?18u is the hardest in my opinion; as you are fighting the graduations, parties, and self-appointed knowlege that at 18u the players seem to think they have the answers to life. ?I will say that it typically has been my experience to be only a couple with the attitudes, but if not controlled it can effect the entire team. ?Can be exhausting at times.

 

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Nice one Lady Knights. ?Me thinks the heat in the kitchen is setting big daddy's blood to boil! ? ;D

Let me tell you BABY I love the heat!