Top 10 things you expect out of a tournament

[okiedad1961]

This should help with the complaints and keep them less personal,get it out,don't go back

 

[okiedad1961]

I guess I'll start
1.games,games,games
2.Exposure 3x
3.Quality opponents
4.Good Umpires
5.Well draining fields,upkeep
6.Well organised TD accessable
7.Communication within Coach's ,TD
8.Other events not close to ours to dilute coach's viewing
9.Quick decisions on makeup
10.No BS

 

[HITTER23]

fences !!!!!!

 

[TheSoftballZone]

1.) post final standing on thesoftballzone
2.) tell people or pass out flyers about thesoftballzone
3.) tournament director should post links on their web site for thesoftballzone.com

 

[TheSoftballZone]

I will have to update the other 7 later. I'm a (TD)

 

[MD 20/20]

Value for my money!!!!!!! If I'm paying less than $300, I might expect 1 umpire for pool games. If I am paying top dollar, I expect 2 competent umpires, fencing, drug fields, etc. As far as exposure, I think that's on the manager. You know where there will be coaches and where there won't I wouldn't go to "Home for Unwed mothers summer-splash" and expect to see college coaches. Fields sometimes are not the responsibility of the org. hosting. My local rec. org. hosts for Thunder Elite. We bust our butts for them but they have no say over the fields, Good or bad. I do think communication is very big now. There are too many options out there as far as texting, weather alerts and so on to be hanging by a TD.

 

[poden-smoden]

I feel the need to mention THE most important thing........SUNSHINE!!

 

[johninvandergrift]

One should expect softball fields for a softball tournament. It should also be reasonable that a safe warm up area be provided.

 

[mike_dyer]

As far as exposure, I think that's on the manager. You know where there will be coaches and where there won't I wouldn't go to "Home for Unwed mothers summer-splash" and expect to see college coaches.

I disagree here.

If Sally Strongarm sends the coaches she's been talking to an email on Monday morning telling them that she is going to be playing at some f-level USSSA tournament in West Pensatucky guess where the coaches are going to have to go if they want to watch her that weekend.

The kids and/or their parents make their own "exposure" or they don't. It seems like usually they don't. I guess everyone just figures that by divine intervention Hutch will be watching when junior fields one of the 3 balls that gets hit to her on Sunday and that will seal the deal.

 

[wow]

1. Highest seed gets choice of Home/away in bracket
2. No baseball mounds... I mean why is this even a issue?
3. Limited parking fees. When there are offer a discount for the weekend
4. Sufficient parking
5. Full seven inning games Semi-finals and above or at least 90MIN FTI
6. Updated team list PRIOR to a week before the turney
7. Yes communication- Text, email, phone in hot line with recorded message, fax, pony express, Morse code...
8. Brackets that make sense. Crazy stuff out there.
9. Safety bases- Come on man!
10. Where there is only one ump, come out from behind home plate to make a call!

and yes FENCES

 

[coachjwb]

1) Decent fields with fences (things like no mounds and safety bases are a given)
2) The grounds crew that does its best to keep fields playable and lined
3) An overall fair cost (includes any parking fees or admission) for the number of games being played
4) 2 qualified umps for every game
5) Excellent communications from the TD prior to, during and after the tourney (to announce results)
6) Clean restrooms (and that are kept clean)
7) No game times less than 75 minutes finish the inning (no drop dead and/or revert back are givens)
8) If it's a tourney that has the competition that college coaches might like to attend, then the proper accommodations and information for them
9) Ability to bring in coolers
10) If you use The Softball Zone to advertise and communicate about it before the tourney, then you use The Softball Zone during and after the tourney as well

 

[KO43302]

Games on time, fences or temporary fences, at least ports johns near every field, communication, decent umps- decent is not asking too much right??

 

[CARDS]

Top ten list for tournaments
10. On site concessions (or at least water and the ability to grill)
9. Covered dugouts (so you do not have to trailer tents or tarps around)
8.Entry fees that are relative to event EX: if paying $450 or more it should have items 1-7
7. Fields lined and raked in-between games
6. Reasonable gate/parking fees
5. Good competition (this is relative to the teams that enter)
4. Bathrooms or plenty of porta johns/Sinks
3. Communication between TDs and teams including reasonable scheduling so you are not at the park 10/12 hours for three games!
2. Proper field set up including fences with enough areas to warm up
1. Qualified umpires

 

[dogsdad]

I have been reading the previous lists, and also some of the complaints about tournaments this year. I do not have any current involvement in summer tournaments, so no ax to grind. While I sympathize with the difficult times TD and teams are having this summer, there are things that are beyond the control of TD. Most tournaments are of course fund raisers for someone. They usually have to operate within the boundaries set by the entity that owns the fields. This may limit who is allowed to work on the fields, and what materials may be used. Fields that are well maintained overall, are usually that way because the city/whoever has a plan to deal with rain. The playing surface of the field may dictate what can actually be done to make fields playable. While following the "plan" may not help get games played in any particular tournament, it is likely that field has activities planned for Monday-Thursday, and the approach to field maintenance has to make sense for many people. Over the years I have seen Diamond dry, blowers and vacuums, and one tournament where they brought a tractor and small earth mover, scraped the mud up and resumed the games.
TD's may or may not have access to field lighting. Lights may be there, but were not part of the agreement to rent the fields.
I agree it would be great to have fencing, but you also have a practical matter of who owns the fencing, where to store it over the winter (most of our garages are full of bats, balls, etc, not much room for fencing. Most tournaments are held on fields that need to serve multiple purposes. In most cases fences would have to be temporary. Installing plastic type "snowfence" is certainly a solution, and likely a low cost one at that, what will happen when a player runs into a fence like that chasing that long fly ball?
Maybe things have changed, but TD's usually have little control of who the umpires actually are. There are some bad ones out there, no question, but it is difficult to find replacements at the last minute when complaints are filed.
Parking fees, coolers, concessions, toilets etc. are sometimes in the control of the TD other times not. The best way to make your opinions known is with your checkbook. My DD's teams missed the Tealtown debacle for the simple reason that we had been there a couple of years prior, when rain was an issue, and decided we would not return.
Just an opinion.

 

[Wubbamom]

Communication about what happens when weather intervenes.
Especially if people are told to leave.

 

[dalemurphy3]

I would like a Half empty porta potty, or adjacent corn field that can be fertilized.

I sort of like to have properly lined fields, a semi noticeable batters box, and at least one ump who does not have a strike zone the size of a p and rotates like a clock.

Think we have all become a little spoiled, back in my day we took a 2x4 and hit a ball a twine. Thats what Dad said anyway.

 

[dalemurphy3]

Sorry Friends thought of my #1

A weekend with 12 or 14 of the brightest, most talented ladies around, And that is even if the parents tag along. Its about the experience and friendships made. Thats how we know we live in the best Country in the world, who else gets to take off and travel with great friends (and a couple complainers) every weekend for 8 weeks. Got to love our game.