What National Tournaments?

marriard said:

ASA/USA Softball you HAVE to qualify for the most part and so there will be travel to qualifiers to get in, but as you are in the South this would be the 'target' event for the top teams in the area.
USA Elite - while you technically have to qualify, there is some more leeway if you perform decently in these qualifiers. It would be the fall back event.

PGF is your other real option - if you want the very best and don't mind going to California there will be some PGF qualifiers in the South/Southeast. But we are talking really expensive and for a non-West team I'd be saving that trip until 14-A or even 16-A. And there will be limited qualifiers in your area so you will REALLY have to be at the top of the list of teams in the age group.

And if you don't get into these then USFA (panama City) or USSSA (Viera/Orlando at the new complex) have been much more competitive and balanced the last few years especially in the 12U and 14U age groups so are also excellent fallbacks.

.. Lastly, don't spend $$$$$ on chasing qualification in 12U. It is really expensive, the travel is really expensive and the kids get burnt out (though they will tell you they are not because they are 11 years old). The amount of highly talented girls who leave the sport because of heavy 10U/12U travel schedules is extremely high. If you can qualify early for your target event or are just chasing competition, play up in the older age groups locally versus chasing same age competition. Long term it is a better path and will help keep the girls in the game.

The 12U ASA Champion from about 4 years ago were based about 10 miles from my house. Of those 14 girls, just 1 plays softball today. Just something to think about.

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There is more leeway in the ASA qualifications than USAES. We qualified for both and ASA was definitely the easiest giving 3 berths for a 12 team open tournament. USAES 2 weeks ago had a qualifier with 27 teams in it I believe, they gave 2 berths (all A teams with at least 5 different states represented).

I would definitely stay away from Sparkler and Fireworks, it's jus a big money grab. Yes colleges do attend but look at the number of teams/players and work the numbers. Most kids are never actually in front of a college.

I agree with marriard, if you want competition, go up in age and stay local as much as possible. You start beating the top teams in A class the age above you then start searching for better competition. No matter which tournament series you go after, you will have to beat a team that is probably good enough to beat your older local competition. At 12u keep it fun some, the USFA in PC that JAD mentioned sound fun. Maybe do both if possible.

We're trying to figure this out for our 11U team. I'd love to do USA Elite Select but ugh, Florida. Can't we go north instead of south in July?

GunnerShotgun said:

When faced with multiple choices between tournaments I have avoided "Traveling Teams" when possible.

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A truer statement was never made.

I'd rather go for my colonoscopy than try to get refunds back from those guys. My favorite is booking 3 weeks out to see cancellation is 30 days prior and then the schedule comes out 3 days before a tourney and didn't need to be there the night prior.

At 12U I would personally recommend ASA. Since it is being held in the SE you will get great competition. Most teams are not going to go out for PGF at that age and several others will play both ES and ASA.

seeballhitball said:

A truer statement was never made.

I'd rather go for my colonoscopy than try to get refunds back from those guys. My favorite is booking 3 weeks out to see cancellation is 30 days prior and then the schedule comes out 3 days before a tourney and didn't need to be there the night prior.

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Exactly! I ate a nights stay in Chattanooga this weekend due to them. They are also difficult to deal with as the team manager when it comes to even getting rooms set up.

I do not recommend USFA in PCB. It is not even USFA anymore. The kids may have had fun, but they certainly weren't as interested in resting and playing good ball as there were in going to the beach. We have done the USSSA Orlando nationals also. Found it to be a huge money grab and people were more concerned about fitting in five hours at Disney than being there for softball. (Just FYI, I LOVE Disney but the kids needed rest in July!) Did ASA Nationals in Dallas, TX last year, traveling from Woodstock, GA. It was a wonderful experience and we were the last standing Georgia team there. And the focus was on softball, which is always a plus. We have earned our berth already as first year 14u to the WFC Futures (USAES) tournament at the new USSSA complex in Viera, FL. It is for first year teams only, so you guys would be eligible in your own age group. You must register as an 11u team to be eligible though. It is truly an elite group that is invited according to past years and the director. Batbreakers, Cal Cruisers, Bullets, Impact, Firecrackers, Vipers, those kinds of teams. So you would play the absolute best in YOUR age group. I have to second the "don't go to Sparklers Jr. yet". Huge money grab. We have several friends who went last year as second year 12u and they said it was a complete waste. We will be going to Sparklers next year, as it is an organizational requirement for second year 14u and up. We are doing two nationals this year tentatively, ASA in Bowling Green, KY and WFC Futures in Melbourne, FL. I have found that berths to ASA and USAES are both plentiful for the right teams, as long as you find the right tournaments to play.

*One MAJOR reason we chose ASA/USA Softball last year instead of the USSSA Kansas City berth was because the ASA nationals had only three Georgia teams in our age group going. We wanted to see different competition to really see where we stood in our age group. Our friends that went to Kansas City ended up playing several of the same teams they played many weekends at home! I see no benefit in traveling half-way around the country to play Vipers 04 or Bullets 04 when I see them most weekends. Just our thought process!

Easton33 said:

I would definitely stay away from Sparkler and Fireworks, it's just a big money grab. Yes colleges do attend but look at the number of teams/players and work the numbers. Most kids are never actually in front of a college.

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If your team is the Hittin' Kittens, and not playing in the Power Pools, you are correct. Don't go! But if you are very competitive and the team is getting the chatter, you need to pay your dues(There is a distinct pecking order withing the softball Illuminati). Otherwise you will never get in the power pools...ANYWHERE. There is a team out of Texas called the Dirt Divas that turned the PGF upside down in the 14U division. They were a single team org that kicked butt in every tourney they played in. I see them playing in the power pools in our local fall showcases. If you feel your team is in this category, and you have some solid D1 prospects, then you need to start playing in the spotlight. Otherwise, play around the Southeast. And I do like the idea of playing up in the 14U divisions to see where your team fits in. That is a cheaper way to get some good competition.

ETA: Bouder IDT is the best tourney in Colorado anyway!!!!

When they get a couple years older consider the Canada cup. It is a very different event, featuring The top women's national teams from around the world in the top bracket. This year Firecrackers-Rico won the 19u futures and Chinese Taipei won the 16u showcase. The weather is great in Vancouver and the experience the girls get seeing the best players in the world is unbeatable. This year it was also much less expensive than going to Colorado. Teams from Texas and Florida were there, along with the best Canadian teams and a few of us from California.

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Orange Socks said:

If your team is the Hittin' Kittens, and not playing in the Power Pools, you are correct. Don't go! But if you are very competitive and the team is getting the chatter, you need to pay your dues(There is a distinct pecking order withing the softball Illuminati). Otherwise you will never get in the power pools...ANYWHERE. There is a team out of Texas called the Dirt Divas that turned the PGF upside down in the 14U division. They were a single team org that kicked butt in every tourney they played in. I see them playing in the power pools in our local fall showcases. If you feel your team is in this category, and you have some solid D1 prospects, then you need to start playing in the spotlight. Otherwise, play around the Southeast. And I do like the idea of playing up in the 14U divisions to see where your team fits in. That is a cheaper way to get some good competition.

ETA: Bouder IDT is the best tourney in Colorado anyway!!!!

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We are definitely competitive in any level tournament we enter. The notion you have to pay your dues is an idea perpetuated by teams that spent countless $1000's of dollars over a couple of years to get maybe a girl or two signed for little money and don't want to feel as foolish about their money choices. In short, they want people to spend as much money as they did so they feel better. Fact is, if you target the schools you want to attend, go to their camps, clinics, send email etc their is no need to "pay your dues" to an over booked, over hyped tournament. What's the point of spending the money for college education chasing a scholarship for a college education? 3 trips to Firecrackers will pay for a year of college. Which if you aren't a stud pitcher, catcher, or hitter will usually equate to about as much scholarship the average softball player gets.