GAME TIME LIMITS

As someone that moved from the softball ranks up North to North Carolina, I have wondered for the past two years how JO softball tournaments can be played on such short time limits.

I completely understand why pool games are limited in their time. However, when elimination play starts, to be working under the contraints of a 75 minute time limit (or less) seems ridiculous. I truly wish that tournament directors would look at increasing elimination play time limits to at least 90 minutes (finish the inning). I realize this will mean less teams playing in tournaments, but you cannot truly see a team's depth and skill level if you cannot complete seven innings. The game was meant to be played for seven innings (not five) and thus should be played that way. In addition, there really should be no time limits for semi-final and championship games. If needed, I wouldn't mind to see tournament directors increase the entry fees of tournaments to compensate for increased time limits.

ANY THOUGHTS?

 

I AGREE

But I'm a little bias. I want as much game time as possible.

 

Its simple. The shorter the "game" means more "games" can be planned, therefore more teams can be squeezed into the tournament and more money can be collected by the organizers. To most tournament organizers, its a whole lot less about providing a way for DD to play ball, and a whole lot more about making money. Some of these organizers make pretty good money doing these tournaments.

Seven inning games with no time limit in TB?? That'll never happen. The only place where you can find the game being played as its meant to be played is in High School ball. You're right, the game is meant to be played in seven innings. That adds a whole different dimension to the game that you just can't get in timed TB.

 

ASA state is 7 innings

 

....yep, time limits suck. I'd pay more $ for my team to play to get a full 7 innings.
As for how changing time constraints within a tournament, i.e. the semis or finals get the full 7 innings......nope. If a tourney has time rules in elimination play, then they apply period.
When kids get to "showcase" events, game times are VERY important to adhere to.
Oh. BTW, coaches who try the 'ol "run the clock out by talking to their pitcher" can kiss my A#%.
Let the kids play!

 

I have started looking the other way. With girls having played for several years I now question the insanity of playing so many games to finish a tournament. I came back from Burlington this year on Sunday night after eleven with the kids needing to be in school the next morning. The sixteen ASA tournament ended this year with Ron Plemons saying enough is enough at 9:00 and after already playing four games that day. I know many will not agree but school and work have to take a priority to most of us. I would like to see tournaments end by five on Sundays.

 

I hate time limits

Time limits should have no place in softball! Adding insult to injury, it's done without a timeout clock! It's demeaning to the sport! It takes away the full spirit of competition!

It's done for the money for one reason. Another reason you hear is that it's for the benefit of college coaches. I believe that it is only partially beneficial to the college coaches. I feel like they could see more if the games were allowed to play by the real rules.

I've posted threads on here before against time limits. I'm glad to see others who feel slighted by the time limits. The only way to change it is to let the tournament directors know.

Money shouldn't be the reason our kids play softball!!

 

While I dont like time limits either, but I can fully appreciate them with respect to keeping the game schedule on time. I cant imagine a weekend tournament with even only 8 teams staying on schedule and completed by a reasonable time. And there should be some punitive action for illegal time delay... but that is another issue.

Weekend tournaments would be impossible without time limits.

High school can do it because there are no games following.

 

I to hate the time limits. Softball is not meant to be played under the clock. But I also see how it would be very hard to run a tournament on just weekends without it. Some high school games will last up to 21/2 hours to play 7 innings. not the norm but if this happened in a couple games at a tournament things would get so far behind they wouldn't be able to finish the tournament then we would be complaining about that. What I would like to see would be going back to all games being an hour and a half. Several years back they were most like that and most of the games were 7 innings. And another thing it should be the same for pool play and tournament play. When a tournament is offerd as a 4gg or 3gg that is what we pay for, Not 2 games at an hour and ten minutes then 1 at an hour twenty minutes. Get the games all back to 1:30 and I think most people would be happier. I have never talked to anyone who is happy with 1:15 or 1:20

 

....I agree central-D. Most games are completed within the 1:30 time gig. You mention to keep the game times (1:00, or 1:15, or 1:30 e.g.) the same throughout a tourney, and I agree with you there too.
I mentioned paying more $ to play a full 7 innings because I do recognize, like you, that a weekend tourney has only so much time to allocate to the # of teams entered. So if there were less teams then we'd play longer. But less teams means more $ for the teams entered to pony up, etc, etc, etc,.....and now I that Ive thought more about it, I'm not sure what is best. Less teams means less competiton, and thats not good either.
HHHMMMMMM, I'll just say what everybody already knows, the fishman has no clue! Marlin