When is "A" NOT "A" and metal permitted not metal?

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Answer: When you're playing at the SGS Shootout. ?

Received the rule packet and it clearly stated in bold text that "Metal cleats are permitted at the CYO fields only". ?So everyone is yeah, great idea, until you get there and they say "only if you're playing 18 and Over" - not written anywhere, and at least 4 teams have to go back out and get the plastic ones from the car.

That's the minor nit. ?The major one is that the tournament is advertised as an "A" tournament, which means pitching distances are 43'. ?I get here, have them move it for the first game, but then am told that since there are a few "B" teams in the tournament we have to play by the "B" rules and the distance goes to 40' (and I get an umpire behind the plate for two games in a row who is, by his own admission, only used to seeing 12U and 14U pitchers and it showed). ?Add this to the fact that I was told by the Ohio USSSA director that if I would enter his tournaments he would guarantee that there would be a 18U Major division for each of them. ?I entered both and have yet to see a 18U Major bracket.

My pitchers and I did not want to see a 40' distance, we paid for 43' 18U Major tournaments we end up playing by "B" rules without recourse, and I have umpires apologizing after games for the bad calls by the plate ump. ?After last week's debacle I'm not sure who is worse NSA or USSSA. > > > > ?Feel like I've gotten robbed by both.

 

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Re: When is "A" NOT "A" and metal permitted not me

Playing USSSA in Toledo is like being "burned at the stake," it's a slow and painful death. I'm still waiting for our trophys from a tourney three years ago!!! I was body checked by an umpire 2 years ago, who was tossed from the tourney, for questioning a call. Nothing but bad experiences in Toledo for me, so I stay away.

 

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Re: When is "A" NOT "A" and metal permitted not me

Why is it so hard to these organizations to be organized and simply do the right thing by teams?

 

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Re: When is "A" NOT "A" and metal permitted not me

I agree. ?Stick to the rules and guidelines for the given sanction within which you run your tournaments. ?Provide me with umpiring that is at least educated within the given sanction and experience should dictate which level you are umpiring within. ?How can you continue to work as a coach when you have constant changing rules. . .

We all realize there is going to be an occassional bad call, but the lack of consistancy I have seen being used behind the plate on strike zones (hate the floating strike zone) is appauling. ?I just saw this weekend a team being allowed to leave a dish towel (red) on the back side of the pitcher mound. ?Umpires says it part of the playing field. ?Ok I can see a rosin bag, small and very unlikely to become an issue with in the game. ?But a towel? ?What happens when ?line drive is hit up the middle and becomes wound up within the towel. ?Is that team in the defense now going to complain if the ball is entangled within the towel, or what happens to the offensive team if that ball could have maintained speed and gone through the gap if the towel hadn't been there. ?Amazing.

I have had umpires that are obviously in their mid 70's - 80's that cannot run down to visually check a play. ?The same umpire screams at a young assistant coach for her merely requesting to know if the pitches are to low or outside. ?He actually screamed at her to shut up. ?She replied, sorry sir, just was trying to help my pitcher adjusted and he yelled again for her to shut up or he would throw her out. ?"WOW".

 

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Re: When is "A" NOT "A" and metal permitted not me

From the feedback I'm hearing about how Rudy Zych ran the Stingrays tourney, I think the bar has been set pretty high. Even with rain, all went amazingly smooth. Other TDs should take notice of how the Stingrays tournament is pulled off. A tremendous amount of work, but they TRULY listened to people about what would make, not only a very competitive tournament, but a quality experience for everyone. I have yet to find a better organized tournament with the quality of facilities to compare to what they do. I think Rudy should write a book titled "Organizing Softball Tournaments For Dummies". A best seller, no doubt!