Why does it seem that 10 & 12 U are missing from ASA tournaments?

I have to agree with this; especially for younger teams.

 

Hold up

Well the 10u ASA state didn't make or the 12u so the berths were given to which one wanted to go to the Nationals.I believe this is ok but the team that is given the berth they are going to play tough competition and may not win a game and travel several hundred miles to do so.Yes this is there decision to do so.We play at the 10u level and it isn't always about the trophy it is about playing where the competition is in our age group.It also isn't about the money we have played 7 out of 10 tournaments out of town or shall I say state.I and the girls on our team would much rather win a team bat or some kind of equipment to use instead of a trophy.If the younger age groups were targeted and marketed more they would come it is just as fun as watching 10u or 12u as it is 18u showcase.

 

When I think trophy, I think about what it means to compete to earn that trophy. A trophy could be anything from a shiny plastic cup to an Easton Stealth as far as I'm concerned.

Some people want to put down teams as trophy hunters when in reality those teams are looking for real competition and real fun.

Everyone wants everything to be a showcase it seems; all guaranteed to have 50 college coaches looking at all 13 players on every team.

I'd like to see 14U, 12U, 10U, not get caught up in the showcase hype. Not much need for it anyway at those ages. Stick to regulation game type tournaments--no time limits, no drop dead at bats--nothing except what you earn on the dirt!!!

And when you earn that trophy, put it on your shelf to remind yourself how great you were that weekend!!

Play ball!!!

 

....maybe things have changed, qualifying wise, but when we came along, ASA required a team to win the states, and then go to another qualifier, like a regional gig. We missed out on the berth in Atlanta....one week after the states, and then we played in another qualifier in Atlanta that gave more than one berth, we finished good enough to receive a berth.

just winning the states get you in the "A" class ASA nationals now?

anyway, awesome experience for sure!!!!

Good luck!!

Fish

 

Play Ball!

 

When I refer to "trophy hunting," what I'm thinking about is a team that isn't looking for "real competition," but are specifically looking for tournaments with lesser competition so they can win the tournament instead of looking for tournaments where they will face stiffer competition, learn something about the game and themselves, but maybe not finish as high.

My DD's teams have played ASA National Qualifiers because that's where the competition was, even though we knew the chances of winning the tournament were quite slim.

 

State ASA associations are alotted a number of berths for their state tournaments based on the number of ASA participants in the state, so yes, winning (and in some states finishing second) can get you a berth to the Nationals. Qualifiers are another way.

 

Agreed! We don't need those type of trophy hunters. They do a lot of harm.

Some posts make it sound like trophies are worthless, however, rather than the coaches that seek them for the wrong reason.

Trophies are great! But they have to represent something worthy, something you worked for and earned; something you want to remember.

 

Fish - your comment sounds like you are downplaying the winning of a state championship. 12 girls per state get to enjoy the distinction - seems like a big deal to me.

My daughter would have loved to have the opportunity to play for an ASA State Championship if the age bracket was offered.

 

...Sorry, I want every opportunity to be available to our kids.

What I was saying is that ONLY 3 teams played in the ASA states that year, and we had to keep qualifying. At that time ASA was not a hot ticket so to speak in NC. Look, our team was playing the normal tourneys in NC, but time frames/dates did not permit our kids to go to other Nationals. We found this out late in the season and as parents we wanted to awrd the kids a nice vacation tourney, so ASA was the only one that fit our schedule. We played the states, and two other qualifiers in Atlanta, and trust me, it was one of the best things in softball/kids sports that I've experienced.

Sometimes being lucky is better than being good.

FishDad

In no way am I bashing ASA, USSSA, NSA, etc.
Pardon me please folks!

FishDad,