Bretman, the idea is definitely a good one. But like I stated on the other thread, wouldn't the most simple answer be less teams, higher fees? Then there doesn't need to be any new way to figure out how to deal with it. Simply play the games the way they're supposed to be played. If drop deads and time limits and stalling tactics are so hated by all as it seems, then I'm sure we'd each be willing to kick in $10 more a weekend per player to be done with them. I mean $500 for a tournament sounds so much more than $400, but its nothing when broken down. Then like Spano for example:
They had 20 14u teams. 2 fields. They started at 6 pm on friday evening last game over at 11:10. Then started at 8 am on Saturday last game over at 1:10 am Sunday morning. Then back on Sunday at 8 am with last game over at 6:30 pm. With 20 teams at $375 per team they got $7500 in fees. Games were drop dead revert with 1:10 drop dead. 10 minutes between games. They also made money of course from admission fees and concession stand from the 20 teams. Format was 3 pool games and then single elim.
But if they would've only allowed 16 teams, they would've needed about $470 a team to get the $7500 in entry fees. Thats about $8.50 a player more for the entire weekend if you have an 11 player roster. So no big deal there, you'd think. And maybe the 10 less games needed would mean the umpire fees are less so maybe that offsets the admission fees and concession take at least somewhat. Now with 4 less teams you need 6 less pool games(basically in this case, you'd be eliminating one pool) and 4 less games in elimination play. So you'd be saving a little over 13 hours of time by not having to have those games. With 16 teams and this format, you'd have a total of 39 games to play. 24 for pool play and then 15 elimination play. You take that 13 hours worth of time and divide it into the 39 games and 20 minutes could've been added on to each game thus making it 1:30 per game. Still not perfect, but alot better than 1:10. And it would be more of course if say 3 fields or 4 fields were used, which is usally the case when there are 16-20 teams. Just by lowering how many teams get in would resolve the issue easily with 3 or 4 fields for a 16 team tournament. Once you hit 1:40 or an 1:50, thats usually enough to get the 7 innings in. And for every extra inning game that may throw the schedule off a little theres a run rule game that saved you time.
How hard is this? Just seems like everyone wants to find a new way to deal with time limits/drop dead when it seems so obvious the focus should be to eliminate them. Yes, it means 4 teams miss out on getting into the tournament, but most good tournaments turn away teams anyways. Sooner or later they can't take all applicants. Teams will all find a place to play on any given weekend.
