Teams calling themselves GOLD teams!!

I Love to see teams call themselves a "GOLD" team when they dont play GOLD tournaments. They may play "A" but thats not "GOLD". I think you shouldn't put GOLD out beside your name unless your a GOLD Team..There isn't but 1 GOLD team in NC that I know of and they are a True GOLD Team.. Just sayin

 

Dang, I got a like from Cheeze!!!

 

I was just commenting about this to my daughter's college coach when we were both at a showcase a few weeks ago. The number of teams that feel the need to put "elite" or "gold" after their names is ludicrous. Hello, you are playing in regular ole "A" brackets and the vast majority of the teams stick to NC and SC play. The name does not improve your game or win record, and is only an attempt to fancify your organization. ANOTHER reason I appreciate the oldies but goodies - organizations like the Cardinals that don't feel the need to spice up their name, but allow their play to signify who and what they are.

 

GOLD

GOLD is a division of ASA Championship play.
In 2013, I only have one team registered as "Gold".
(And it ain't who you think it would be)
So you are correct, there is only one Gold team registered in NC.

As one of my former assistant coach's, Bill Harris, once said, and I quote, "Gold is just a color". LOL

 

The Lady Lightning Gold organization was laser focused on ASA Gold until the inception of PGF. In fact, we only had one team in the organization back then, called the "Lady Lightning Gold" Hence, the team name equaled the organization name. As the organization expanded, Gold remained because that's how we were known.

With the inception of PGF, we've shifted our priority to PGF qualification but still play ASA Gold qualifiers as the schedule permits. In fact, in 2013, we played in two ASA Gold qualifiers (ASA Gold Southern Territory and ASA Gold Regional). In 2012, we didn't play any Gold due to scheduling conflicts with PGF.

Regarding other orgs, you'll see some orgs with a "gold" team or a "premier" team, where the Gold's goal is ASA Gold qualification, the Premier team's goal is Premier qualification.

Hence, in some cases, there is logical explanation. The others, I can't speak to.

 

I agree GOLD is just a color. I do know Lady Lightning Gold is a true GOLD team and the only one I know that will go play PGF with the Best teams in the country. Rick- who is the Gold team you are talking about?

 

Spirits Fastpitch Gold

Phil Hocutt registered his team Gold this year.

"ASA Gold", since it's inception, was considered the highest level of play available until the CA group decided to split off with PGF.
As John said, PGF has taken a lot of the upper level teams with them, namely the CA teams like SoCal A's, Tyson's Corona Angels, Rico's Firecrackers, ect.

ASA decided last year that they would allow "A" teams to play up at the Gold level to see if they could compete. So I see really no value registering ASA Gold myself.
We basically play a Gold level schedule with showcases but play "A" Nationals due to the fact that I like having the option of bringing some of our college kids back to play. It's just a personal preference. I continue to follow the path Ray Chandler laid out for the Cardinals year after year.
We have thought of trying to qualify ASA Gold or PGF in 2014 because my kids would like to play in OKC or CA next year. We'll see.

I have seen some of the ASA Gold qualifiers and there are definitely teams that don't need to be there.
From what I see from a national perspective, ASA Gold has suffered since the exit of the upper level CA teams. For the most part, in the past few years, PGF and ASA have become East/West competitors. Most of the CA teams play PGF and most of the East coast teams are plaing ASA. There are exceptions like LLGTM, NJ Intensity, East Bobb Bullets Shnute, and others but if you look at the list of Gold teams playing the ASA Nationals, they were predominatly east coast teams.
The list for PGF Nationals, CA teams dominated the lineup.
There are other great teams across the country like LLGTM, NJ Intensity KOD, or the Beverly Bandits playing PGF but the exit of the CA teams killed the Gold program when they pulled out IMO. ASA Gold is now really watered down!