Tournament Questions

Several questions on tournaments:

1.) Why are teams not required to move up in the fall? Some of these fall games have a 3 year age gaps between players on the field. This is big in the 10s and 12s where the development of 3 years is huge! Some of the teams should be embarrased for playing down in the fall tournaments.

2.) Why is there a 1 hour and 15 minute time limit when 90% of the games are stopped by the clock. Isn't that an indication that your time limit is not long enough?

3.) Why is there a time limit on championship games. Isn't a time limit designed to keep games on schedule? Isn't the championship the last game?

4.) Why is the infield NEVER prepped prior to a game? 8 - 10 games on the same field with no dragging and no re-chalking. Does the sanctioning body share revenue with the host park? If so, shouldn't they maintain fields for their share of the revenue?

Challenge: Answer the questions above without including $ as the answer.

 

1.) Trophy hunting
2.) To keep the tournament on a schedule
3.) I've never seen a time limit on a championship game.....ever.
4.) Lazy

I don't know what sanction of tournaments that you've been playing, but it appears that you need to keep looking to find a different sanction that better fits your team's needs.

 

trophy hunting

You think it's bad at the 10-12 level? You should see the 16U's that drop and play 14U's in the Fall. Unless I was recovering from an injury I'd find it embarrassing.

 

I don't know what sanction of tournaments that you've been playing, but it appears that you need to keep looking to find a different sanction that better fits your team's needs.[/quote]

I'm happy just to see my dd out there playing - no major complaints. Just wanted to know if others had the same concerns or if I was missing something.

I could be wrong about the time limit on the championship game.

 

Trophy Hunting?

If every team played in the correct age group then you wouldn't have this problem....penalizing teams playing in the correct age bracket or penalizing teams playing up into a older bracket....which is correct? Should a 12U team be penalized for playing up and have to play with 14U playing in the correct bracket? That would be the fault of a coach for putting the girls in that position. Why do teams play up in the fall anyway? Play where you are supposed to as the guidelines state for the association. If the association wanted you to move up early then they would change the date to move up.

 

Playing up is how you get better, whether you're a 12U playing 14U, etc. Trophy hunting doesn't always mean playing down in age group. You can also play within an age group but play lesser talent. It's really up to you. Do you want a trophy, or do you want to play against better talent that will ultimately make you better?

Since when does a 12U or a 14U get penalized for playing up? Maybe when a coach sends an under matched team in for slaughter? I've seen some really good 12U and 14U play up and dismantle upper aged teams. Where is the penality here?

As with most organizations or teams, 99% of coaches will generally play their team up in the Fall to whatever level (age group) they will be playing the following Spring, to help get their team ready FOR the Spring. Associations don't need to move the date. It gives some girls a chance to get some transition work in they might need should an orgainzation want to keep a girl down in the Fall due to injury. But other than that I don't see any reason a 14U or a 16U team should be playing down in age group in the Fall. What kind of a coach does that? Sophomores in HS playing 14U fastpitch TB? Like I said, I would find that embarrassing and an insult to any girls who have already put the two years in at any level. They NEED to move up. JMHO.

 

good points but..

This is a pretty good discusion....My DD teams consist of 100% local girls. (all live within 15 miles of each other and will attend the same high school) We have been together for 3 years and at times struggle against our own age girls. So why would we want to move up?


If 99% of teams move up in the fall then why are we having this discussion, because 1% of the teams stay in the correct age group. If 99% of them are moving up aren't they playing the same teams they played in the spring just under a diffrent heading?

I guess our team is what makes up the 1%. We have won more than we lost but seeing how our local girls find it hard at times to compete against the much better teams. ie the top flight "A" teams, should we go into a tournament knowing we are going to be totally overmatched? Or play where we can compete and have a chance at winning. Now, winning isn't everything and we teach that but getting it handed to you every time out isn't much fun either.

Some girls need to stay within their age group to compete. Agree? Does that make them "trophy hunters"?

oh yea by the way I am the coach that would do that.....

I agree with swingaway I am just glad my DD is out there playing and having fun.....

 

....

1. Moving up from one age group to the next? Bam! I'd love for my team to play older kids......anytime.

2. 1 hr. and 15 minutes could be a reasonable/manageable game time if the coaches would coach their kids before the game and then let them play during the game.

3. Championship game times are structured in many orgs. to be played according to all of the other games in the tourn.

4. Dragging/lining the infield between games? not enough time, help, and $.



Put your team on the field that offers your kids the toughest challenge and they'll win everytime. Fishman

 

Now that makes sense. If everyone is playing "up" then no one is really playing "up"; except in name only.

I think it also makes sense to play at an equal level of competition. At least as equal as possible. Seems like the "higher level" team wouldn't want to be matched up with a team not on the same level or better.

I won't even comment on time limits other than to say they should be avoided if at all possible. Although I've always thought basketball games and hockey games should be cut in half.

 

You bet