- Jun 18, 2010
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- 38
Just because you play on an A team doesn't mean you are a ringer in C.
That's true, and to add to your point, maybe an A player at 3rd, but wanting to ease into pitching at the C level.
Just because you play on an A team doesn't mean you are a ringer in C.
OK, so you're saying C class is for rec teams? Or entry-level travel teams formed from rec players? I can see the purpose, although I think there's still a better way. Any time you start having strict levels, it will breed unnecessary technical complains about things that aren't really problems.
From the Kansas & Missouri USSSA Fastpitch Roster Rules
Pick-Up Player Rules: All pick-up player forms MUST to be submitted by 9pm Thursday.
- You MUST play the classification/age of the highest classed player on your team. For example, a 14B team needs to pick up 3 players for the weekend, so they decide to pick up 2 players from a 14B team and 1 player from a 14A team. In this example ,the team must now play 14A or above because of the 14A player that belongs to a 14A team. We are okay with pick -players but need teams to pick up players from a team that is classed the same as your team or lower. In addition, if your team picks up a player that is rostered as a 16B player, the team must play 16B with that player.
- "B" teams are allowed to pick-up A rostered players from a younger age team. Example: a 14B team may pick-up a player from a 12A team for the weekend.
- Pick-up players for "C" teams may only come from other "C" teams. "C" teams are not allowed to pick up a player rostered on an A or B team at any age. NO A/B PLAYERS AS PICK-UP PLAYERS FOR C TEAMS.
- If a "C" team picks up a player registered to a higher age "C" team, they will be required to play at the age/division of that player is registered to.
- League Rosters will not be considered when looking at a player's registered class.
I agree with you on both counts. In Ohio when you sanction USSSA you get a copy of the national rules and bylaws. You have to do some digging to find that these aren't the only rules you need to know. Here is a link to Ohio's version of pickup player rules Roster ProceduresThese rules seem totally reasonable to me. What I can't understand is why USSSA would allow the rules to vary from state to state. How does that help USSSA as a brand?
A major problem we have had here in PA is that teams that were clearly experienced TB teams played down in C year after year in USSSA, hence the trophy hunter's label. This year USSSA instituted the definition for Class C teams such that you can request to be C if your roster was less than 25% experienced travel players (ie not on a previous travel team). The purpose was to level the playing field for less experienced teams and reduce the number of lopsided outcomes. If C teams want higher level competition, they are welcome to register for Open, A, and B tournaments. One would not expect to play against a player registered for an A team in a C tournament.