What format would OFC members like to see used by (TD'S) when posting tournament results on the foru

[Lasers 04 Coach Mike]

We're still looking for input before we set guildlines for (TD'S) usage on the forum as a place to promote and advertise thier evnts.

Here some guildlines that we have already set as a minimum requirement.

(TD'S) will need to place a OFC banner on thier tournament websie.
(TD'S) will need to post results on the forum.
(TD'S) will help promote OFC by passing out flyers during thier event.

These are mandatory requirements for all (TD'S). Tournament Directors that wish to use the site only to promote or advertise your events on the forum can contact me for posting fee's. These fee's will be used to pay for promotion and advertisement of this site. I'm currently working on the details. Once we have everything ready to go I will post a new thread that will have links to banners and flyers and will also contain the format that will be used when posting your tournament results.
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Wow, are you KIDDING ME!!!!

(TD'S) will need to place a OFC banner on thier tournament websie.
(TD'S) will need to post results on the forum.
(TD'S) will help promote OFC by passing out flyers during thier event.

This is no better than what NSA did when they tried to strong arm the Insurance requirements. Might want to be a little more careful or users will find other avenues. JMHO

 

[Lasers 04 Coach Mike]

Mike ... since you copied my post, let me just address a few things. Whether it's "required" or not is up to Ricky ... it's his Forum, and he has done more for the Ohio-region softball community over the years than 99.9% of the people on this Forum could ever hope to. I personally wouldn't want to see tournaments not being posted here at all because the TD's don't post the results, but I will gladly debate with you whether this poll was "statistically significant", and whether the users of this Forum have spoken their opinion. I don't know how "active members" is arrived at, but for you to take the voters as a % of all 6800 members is ridiculous. And to imply that the other 6700 thought it was "nonsense" too is also ridiculous. Anyone who follows this forum knows that the number of people who post on an even semi-regular isn't more than a few hundred. I was impressed by the fact that 90 users voted ... that's a lot. People on this forum have expressed their opinion and it wasn't close. It's OK if you don't agree ... it really is, but when you try to discount such overwhelming results, you are insulting everyone who took the survey.

Good! Then I have made my point. It's ridiculous to expect TD's to abide by these "Requirements"!!

Passing out OFC Flyers? Who will cover the cost for that?
I see another forum starting up real soon! One that doesn't make ridiculous requirements

 

[TheSoftballZone]

Ye, Mike I was strong arm once myself by some tournament that wanted me to pay them $500 dollars to come setup a tent and promote this site. So I'm well aware about having someone taking advantage of this site.

My points not really about money, that statement was made to help bring awareness/debate. After all these year's of claiming to be Free to use for everyone. Do you believe I would charge fee's. LoL

It's more about cross promotion. The site promote for you and in return you help promote the site. I guess I'm to the point I don't understand how that asking for to much out of any (TD).

 

[Lasers 04 Coach Mike]

My points not really about money, that statement was made to help bring awareness/debate. After all these year's of claiming to be Free to use for everyone. Do you believe I would charge fee's. LoL


Didn't say you would charge the flyer fee; however, there will be a cost to distributing "OFC" flyers. Bottom line is, the cost will be added to the tournament, which is then added to organizations and parents from within the fastpitch community.
Sorry to hear about the TD asking you to pay $500 to set up a tent. I hope you told him to go fly a kite; if you know what I mean?

 

[TheSoftballZone]

Good! Then I have made my point. It's ridiculous to expect TD's to abide by these "Requirements"!!

Passing out OFC Flyers? Who will cover the cost for that?
I see another forum starting up real soon! One that doesn't make [/B]ridiculous requirements

Multipurpose Paper, 8 1/2" x 11" - 1000 flyers printing cost is $23.19 at http://www.uprinting.com/ Mike tell me one (TD) that can't afford this cost. Put them in contact with me I'll pay the cost myself as long as they pass them out.

Place a Banners on your tournament web site, hey I'll even cover the cost out of my pocket we already have a paid (IT) he would be more then happy to place a banner on your tournament site it will take him a whole 5 mins of work.

Placing scores on the forum, that a stuff one! I don't have anyone that I'm currently paying to track down weekend results then posting them on the site. Really need this done by (TD'S).

Yes Mike you made a point alright.
[h=3][/h]

 

[TheSoftballZone]

My points not really about money, that statement was made to help bring awareness/debate. After all these year's of claiming to be Free to use for everyone. Do you believe I would charge fee's. LoL


Didn't say you would charge the flyer fee; however, there will be a cost to distributing "OFC" flyers. Bottom line is, the cost will be added to the tournament, which is then added to organizations and parents from within the fastpitch community.
Sorry to hear about the TD asking you to pay $500 to set up a tent. I hope you told him to go fly a kite; if you know what I mean?

I didn't say anything, I was blow away that they wanted me to pay them a setup fee. I was really upset since they used the site heavily to promote their event.

Mike my main points is if I don't have the support of the (TD'S) in a cross promotional way, meaning a two way street. That means I have to be out traveling every weekend to tournaments promoting the very site the (TD'S ) use for advertisement. I really do hate beating a dead horse here but at what point does it become unfair to the forum?

I'm not afraid to spend money to promote this site and help advance the game of softball. I love doing it! And will continue doing until I'm unable to do so any more.

 

[Lasers 04 Coach Mike]

I didn't say anything, I was blow away that they wanted me to pay them a setup fee. I was really upset since they used the site heavily to promote their event.

Mike my main points is if I don't have the support of the (TD'S) in a cross promotional way, meaning a two way street. That means I have to be out traveling every weekend to tournaments promoting the very site the (TD'S ) use for advertisement. I really do hate beating a dead horse here but at what point does it become unfair to the forum?

I'm not afraid to spend money to promote this site and help advance the game of softball. I love doing it! And will continue doing until I'm unable to do so any more.

I truly believe your comment as I have witnessed your work through the years; However, you cannot do it this way or you risk losing what you have built! Several TD's do an excellent job of posting results but do not use this forum to share the results. Believe it or not; Some tournament directors do not have a clue what a PC is and rely on others to promote the tournament.
IMO, be content on what you have accomplished. If you need additional help from the TD's, you have to make it easy for them and not wrestle them into submission. I would think hot links to other web sites would be sufficient and an excellent approach. When the TD or Rep request the tournament to be posted on OFC, provide a link for them to add which will show updates and results. If they chose not to post, then let the forum direct the questions to the TD.

 

[TheSoftballZone]

Mike I'm really unaware how much easier I can make it for a (TD'S). Growth of this cummuity is accomplished in 4 ways ( person 2 person, banner with hot links into this site, flyer campaign or the site paying for advisement thru Google or other search engines on a banner campaign).

That the only method we have for a solid growth of new members. 45% of these new members will stay active on average of about 3 1/2 years. 50% will stay active under 3 1/2 years. 5% will stay active in the 4 year plus range.

You have to understand that we have a turn over cycle of members ever year.

To test my theory in 2015 on passing out flyers I spent 5 weekends traveling to 15 different tournaments passing out on average 250 - 500 flyers at each event. Some days hitting 3 Tournamnet in one day and driving over 1000 miles to accomplish this.

This by far had the biggest growth impact the site has ever seen. We average 35 new members a day and we had many Mondays and Tuesday were we seen the numbers going thru the roof with the highest new members days running at 60+.

I'm sure no one can argue that bringing new members into the cummuity is a bad thing. These new members have daughters that will be looking for opportunities to play, parents that will become Coaches and Coaches that will be looking for Tournaments to play.

Mike believe me when I say that I've try many way to get (TD'S) to help promote this site. I've even offer to pay the cost for them to help. Remember Mike I don't ask them for anything with using the site.

I will most likely offer the same thing in 2016 and hope I can find more then two (TD'S) that will take me up on my offer. I guess time will only tell. I'm closing this thread because I see no useful reasons in continuing with this discussion. I will set guildlines and hopefully get the support that's needed moving ahead.