ASA Tournaments for 2007

We are in the planning stages for tournaments for 2007. With that said, your opinions and thoughts on what makes a tournament successful and enjoyable are extremely important.

I would like to know what type of things have worked well in the past. Things such as what makes a coach/team want to keep playing in certain tournaments, what type of format is best, game time limits- how long and for what games, or anything that you feel needs to be part of a successful tournament.

I would also like to hear of things that you do not like in a tournament and why.

Please PM or email me at [email protected] with your responses and ideas. Since we will be breaking new ground for ASA in NC next year, we want to be as responsive to your needs and ideas as possible.
Thanks.
Bmac1

 

Lets post it here!

 

Issues....

Great idea to get the ideas moving....

1. Game times not less than hour twenty or so...stay on time...tough when
things get way behind....
2. Umps who are competent, decent personality, and willing to let the kids
play
3. Tourneys must be held locally to draw the kind of crowds all teams want...
Rock Hill (3-4 times during the year), Gastonia, Charlotte,
Harrisburg/Concord, Salisbury, Thomasville/Lexington for Western teams
Raleigh for the State tourney. Similar for eastern NC and SC teams,
although SC has a good start on ASA offerings...

People in the younger age groups, 10,12, 14's often have younger siblings
and cannot justify driving 3-4 hours each weekend. Must be more like
under an hour to 90 min
4. Have weekend passes for sale, reasonable rates.
5. Allow coolers....it is awful to have to "sneak" coolers in with towels, etc to
keep the kids safe. You still will get concession sales, trust me
6. Keep an up to the second (kidding, somewhat) website with other team's
playing, brackets, results, etc. Nothing more frustrating than not being
able to see if your buddies team is in the tourney.....Directions to parks for
newcomers
7. 4 game min, 2 or 3 games is tough, especially if you have 2-3 equal
pitchers....if you have to choose and if you happen to lose 2, somebody
gets undershorts in a wad....

Will think more and update....Please join in....I would love to see ASA take off.

 

Formats

Try some of the Showcase formats , Pool Play,4 games,single elimination,or 5 games with pool winners,This way teams get more games for the dollar and more playing experience for their teams.State and National Qualifers have to be done the traditional way.Just a thought.I agree throphys are on their way out except the 8-10 under like the hardware.Good luck Ben and Rick on getting this ASA going at the younger ages to the level it needs to be.

 

score?

Would love to see there be scorekeepers during the games and utilizing the scoreboards at the fields. Most of the complexes around have boards that will not only show scores, but keep time, etc. Would be much easier than continually hearing, "How much time left Blue?"

 

other thoughts

Showcase formats are better for getting more games, etc. but one drawback is that some feel that when you play that format, it reduces the competition level because there is no incentive for the girls to play for ie. trophy, etc. If you did do this format, I would like to see 2 or 3 game pools, that would then seed into a double elim tourney. Everyone can have a bad game, or even a bad DAY that would encompass 2 or 3 games, but then being seeded into a single elimination situation, makes it rough to rebound.

Trophies for the older girls are out personnally, just take up too much room and my DD would rather have something that she could wear such as a shirt, hoody, etc. Actually think that the AAU ring, charm series was a good idea, too bad it did not they expand into the older girls arena.

Maybe think about providing some activities for the siblings of the players to do. Maybe talk to field local teams who are not playing that would be interesting in providing "baby sitting" services for a small donation during the game times. It may allow parents who don't come because it is easier to hear about the games afterward than try and fight with the younger siblings during game times a chance to come and enjoy their DD playing.:gaga:

 

Cheese's Diaper Changing Service......hmmmmm you probably could well with that! I bet you would make a great clown too. What are you doing next summer?

Seriously, something for the little kids is a great idea. Out in Boulder at the Stazio complex where the Independence tourney is held, they have a small playground right between the fields. (watch out for the foul balls though!)

Some great ideas so far....keep'em coming! Thanks.

 

I realize that to make this happen someone has to make a profit for their time. I don't have a problem with that at all. But I would like to see directors that are more about the girls than the money. The money part will take care of itself, if the tournaments are run right. With the best interests of the kids and teams in mind. Don't bring teams back on Sunday mornings just for the sake of getting another shot at the parents for gate money. A little common sense with a schedule from a good director will go a long way. The directors need to be accessable and not run and hide at the first sign of trouble. Believe it or not there's going to be some controversy sometimes. The players, coaches, parents and grandparents are all paying customers and need to be treated as such.