The Future of Softball

Someone mentioned on another thread about the economic times we face and it's affect on school sports, for arguement sake here softball, and the challenges faced by the game going forward. Budget cuts mainly and conference tournaments lost, non-conference games lost, etc.

It reminded me of a guy I met from Texas who told me about how softball is run there. There are three seasons: School Ball, Spring/Summer TB, and Fall TB and Fall REC (for the ones who choose not to play TB). None of the seasons run or are played at the same time. That free's up the weekends for school ball in the Spring. I know the travel ball money hounds would not like that, but it would go a long way in saving some school programs.

Instead of cutting school ball down, why not make it more efficient? Playing double headers, or tournament style round robin conference games 4 teams at a time. Those Spring break tournaments in April were great! Could it work to get more games in instead of going and playing just one game at a time, without cutting programs to the bone or out all together?

The powers that be would have to make some rule changes regarding the three game a week limit, maybe some others, but it could work if people would do it.

There has got to be a better way. Thoughts?

 

Just Recently Heard !!

Our Lovely State Government (N.C.) is getting ready to cut out all J.V. sports due to the economy in 2010, unless the parents want to fit the bill !! What they ought to do is cut some of those six figure salaries, and spare the kids !!!

---- Guru

 

GURU FOR PREZ IN 2012

 

I would be for playing double headers and playing some on Saturday if possible...even conference games.

 

Format

What if we shortened the SB season this way. Double header Wednesdays once a week on an annual rotational basis. Half the conference teams you play at home, and the other half away, then switch the next year. Then pick a few Saturdays early on in the season (not all season) where you have 4 team Tournaments of selected Non-conference games Like TB or the Spring Break Tournaments. You could get in a 20 to 25 game season in in about two months, save few days for rain make up's, have the conference tourney's and then the State. Then start the TB season a month early. Allot less travel and expense for all.

But as soon as I've said all this....you'd still have REC and TB to fill the void lost by not having a JV or a MS team.

 

The first thing they can do with softball is cut the opening round of the state playoffs. Do 64 teams in each league (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A) really need to make the state playoffs every year? I thought a few years ago a team only needed to win three games to get to Walnut Creek. While there is that occasional 3 or 4 seed that makes a run, I think last year all the teams that made it to Walnut Creek were 1 and 2 seeds.

 

How bout we just leave it all alone and keep doing just what we've been doing except up the number of games allowed to be more in line with states like Tenn.

 

how many games do they allow in Tennesse?

 

....hey Hershey, I do respect your opinion, and I know that my last post in another thread was not what you wanted to hear. But, again with respect, cutting the playoff teams is not the way to go. How on earth is that gonna help the HS budget?
CHACHA has a good point about doubleheaders.
Limiting the opportunity of our kids is not the answer.
Marlin

 

I don't know the exact number allowed but some of their records are like 35 and 5. i think some teams play 50 or so games. Some of this is if they play 4 games on a Sat for example it counts as only 1