PGF vs. ASA

[slugger3]

Couple random comments.... ASA/USA seems to be making a real comeback in the Midwest. Possibly due to Olympics/National team?

State directors/metro area directors matter. If they are doing their job, no matter what the sanction, play and competition improves.

I agree with another comment that the umpiring at ASA nationals in Normal was very good overall. I like to poke fun at ASA and their equipment fetish but I also like how well the games are run at an ASA tournament.

I thought competition at 16u ASA nationals was very good, we kept thinking we might finally get an easy game but it was dogfight after dogfight. There was a PGF regional championship just up the road at the same time and the teams there were not even close in quality. (This was during Huntington Beach but most teams in our area playing PGF don't go out there)

In order to grow, PGF has to accept watered down competition in some way. There are only x number of teams that play at the highest level that they have become associated with.

I don't really care where nationals are held. It's not a vacation to me and if I was going on vacation it sure as hell isn't going to be Denver, Boulder, Chattanooga or Huntington Beach.

I second that! It's not a vacation to me either...

 

[riseball]

That is why with 8 - 2018's on our roster we are looking at playing USFA next spring and going to Panama City.

 

[Orange Socks]

Real vacations for softball parents don't exist until our DD's quit playing or graduate college!

USA/ASA caters to all softball teams year round. PGF caters to the top 5% of teams for qualifiers and Nat's.

 

[MNDad]

The biggest difference in PGF and ASA is overall field. The mid and lower range teams are still very good at PGF Premier. ASA has three major Nationals and talent varies from highly competitive to rec ball.

 

[riseball]

I think you are comparing apples to oranges. To their detriment ASA has a more strict qualification process, where the PGF process is shall we say "flexible".

 

[MNDad]

ASA Gold has the strictest qualifying process, but of the three ASA Nationals it probably draws the weakest top end teams. ASA A is completely write a check and you’re in. The JO Cup is also write a check, but the high cost ensures a pretty strong field of teams. PGF qualifying is flexible and somewhat goofy IMO. They still draw the highest caliber of teams overall.

 

[riseball]

... ASA A is completely write a check and you’re in...

That is not my experience in Florida. Anyone else experience this?

 

[GunnerShotgun]

That is not my experience in Florida. Anyone else experience this?

Definitely not in my state. You have to win a qualifier to get into ASA Nationals. You can't just write a check.

The "Regional" ASA tournaments have a lower barrier of entry as I recall but I discount them as National Tournaments (same as I do for the "PGF Midwest Regional").

 

[IRONMAN]

That is not my experience in Florida. Anyone else experience this?

Not our experience either. We won a qualifier this year, and because we had a berth from last year, 2nd place got it.

There were a couple teams at 16U that did not belong, but most were worthy of being there.

btw - some comments sounds like "my kid is better than your kid" B.S. Some folks need to stop drinking their own cool-aide.

 

[MNDad]

This year’s 16U USA A Nationals in Normal, IL had 116 teams at 16U. Twenty-six were from Illinois. Twelve 12 of those went 0-2. I think I can safely say most didn’t win or even come close to winning a qualifier. I’m sure the top teams were pretty good. I’m also sure the bottom teams were pretty bad.

We’ve attended three ASA/USA Nationals. All had several local teams that didn’t go through any qualifying procedure. Sioux Falls had the most and they were largely rec level teams. Our region never uses all of the berths so they’re passed down to whoever wants them.

We’ve attended one PGF Premier Nationals. We received the berth through the “flexible” qualification process mentioned earlier. Didn’t win any qualifiers, but performed well in several qualifiers so that they raised the platinum berth to premier. While by no means as elite as some would have you believe they did have far better teams overall.

We’ve attended one JO Cup and they had a very quality teams. The top end not wasn’t quite as good as the top PGF, but on average it was just as strong.

FWIW the one 18U TCS Nationals we’ve attended had a fairly strong field.

I’m by no means a homer for any of the organizations. This is just our experience and it mirrors others I’ve talked to who have been to ASA & PGF Nationals.