ASA gift exchange

cmspock · Jul 6, 2017

Going to 14u Nationals in Chattanooga in a couple weeks. I was reading the informational packet they posted and they mention a gift exchange after the first pool game. I brought it up to a couple other team moms and they don't want to put anything together until they know they other team is going to participate too.

I told them, from what I can gather, it looks like this is a long standing tradition with ASA. They want to wait and email the coach after we find out who we are playing to make sure they are participating.

Has anyone gone and the other team didn't bring gifts to exchange?

Orange Socks · Jul 6, 2017

Be classy and do it anyway. There will be some teams that don't do it. Give a big ol bag peanuts to the coaches! They can munch on them while they are sitting around the pool.

CoogansBluff · Jul 6, 2017

It can be awkward for both teams if only one brings gifts. This happened to DD's team a few years ago at the USSSA World Series in Disney. Played a team from Puerto Rico, and they were not aware of the expectation. They felt a little embarrassed. A couple of their players gave ours anything they could find, like a bracelet. So I can see why parents might want to communicate with the other team, not because you might get blown off if you don't, but because it's more fun for both parties are in on it.

dgh31 · Jul 6, 2017

I have a similar question regarding the California State Games "C" Regionals. We are attending for the first time and I've seen people on here saying things about gift exchanges. Not sure if this applies to the "C" regionals as well. Has anyone been to these before? Do they exchange gifts at this tournament?

Thanks.

Momo'sDad · Jul 6, 2017

No matter where you are in life, always, always, always give because you feel like giving, not because you expect anything in return.

chinamigarden · Jul 7, 2017

You should give to give, not to receive.

Each family puts a trinket in a bag, costs less then $20 per family. One year we put a team tshirt in the gift bags. it was pretty cool when the girls started seeing pics on social media of our team shirts on girls who lived 3 states away.

Top_Notch · Jul 7, 2017

DD received a shirt during the gift exchange at the USSSA Nationals 9U in MO (we are from IL). The shirts were from a Texas team and said "Don't mess with Texas!". They weren't kidding, that team could play! They won it all without a loss. (We were no match for them either!) LOL

Il softball fan · Jul 7, 2017

Momo'sDad said:
No matter where you are in life, always, always, always give because you feel like giving, not because you expect anything in return.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Exactly.

To the Op. Looking at all the money you spend on travel ball, bats, team fees, hotels, etc., this give bag exchange is a drop in the bucket. It is a great way for the girls to exchange things with the other team, and kind of get to know them just for a little bit. Even if the other team does not bring a gift bag, it should make your girls feel good to give them something that they like. Let the girls think about things they want to include. A lot of the teams throw several small items in there such as bags of sunflower seeds, hair ties, eye black. Try to include items that are unique to your team or your team's area. Hopefully you get to play a team that is not from your area, and get items in return that are unique to the other team's area. It doesn't have to be anything expensive, or extravagant. DD's team played one of the big orgs from Texas last year at Branson Mo world series. She still has the Texas team's pin in her room.

Rambler34 · Jul 7, 2017

cmspock said:
Going to 14u Nationals in Chattanooga in a couple weeks. I was reading the informational packet they posted and they mention a gift exchange after the first pool game. I brought it up to a couple other team moms and they don't want to put anything together until they know they other team is going to participate too.

I told them, from what I can gather, it looks like this is a long standing tradition with ASA. They want to wait and email the coach after we find out who we are playing to make sure they are participating.

Has anyone gone and the other team didn't bring gifts to exchange?

If they do not bring a gift I believe they will match you with a team that did for an exchange. I am pretty sure 99% of teams will have them anyway. We have always exchanged gifts at every level of nationals we played.

CoogansBluff · Jul 7, 2017

I didn't interpret the parents' desire to check in with the other team as insurance against getting stiffed, but rather to make sure that the other team got the memo and won't be in the embarrassing position of not having anything in return. Yes, it's better to give than receive, but it's even better when both experience the joy of giving.

But, maybe y'all are saying just give and let the other team and the tournament worry about that. I guess you're right.

ASA gift exchange

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

cmspock

Orange Socks

CoogansBluff

dgh31

Momo'sDad

chinamigarden

Top_Notch

Screwball

Il softball fan

Rambler34

CoogansBluff

Similar threads

Latest posts

Staff online

Members online

Forum statistics

Share this page

Online statistics

Forum statistics