TCS 16U Nationals Jacksonville Storm Stripped of title

The more I read, the more I feel that TCS let them turn themselves in or suffer worse consequences. I'm baffled about how they thought it was okay that an over 18 year old was playing in a 16u tournament, regardless of graduation year....

If this coach thought he could get away with this, how many other times did he succeed in the past???? It's obvious that this was premeditated and lots of planning went into this scheme to make this happen.

But if it wasn't for those meddling kids, he could have gotten away with it!

MNDad said:

Most of the kids had to know the players were too old and that makes them complicit. I don't feel sorry for any of them.

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I agree to a certain extent, especially since it is 16U. However I am not sure how a kid would handle that? Go to the coach and tell them they aren't playing
if the illegal kid(s) plays? Perhaps tell their parents? Either way shame on the coaches for putting their players in that situation to begin with.

MNDad said:

Most of the kids had to know the players were too old and that makes them complicit. I don't feel sorry for any of them.

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I'm talking about the 14u teams, etc. The other teams in the org that had nothing to do with it.

jjr said:

I'm not sure I understand what they are trying to explain...Are you telling me there are tournaments that do graduation year teams vs. birth year teams? I thought almost all tournaments were strictly birth year? And if that's the case, what's stopping anyone from holding their kid back a year or two?

https://extrainningsoftball.com/jacksonville-storm-responds-stripped-tc-usa-nationals-16u-title/

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Their non-apology apology is comical at best.

"Once again, The Jacksonville Storm is apologetic for not having a better understanding of the rules and regulations established by TC Sports and taking the focus off of female athletes."

Geez, don't let that get in the way of an actual apology to take ownership. You're rules are too hard to understand. We thought that 16U was just a guide to follow. We'll be better next time, promise. They should get a participation trophy.

Orange Socks said:

If this coach thought he could get away with this, how many other times did he succeed in the past???? It's obvious that this was premeditated and lots of planning went into this scheme to make this happen.

But if it wasn't for those meddling kids, he could have gotten away with it!

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That was my thought. They must be willing to risk it because of how often they get away with it. I'm sure lots of teams do things like this. The "apology" was ridiculous and made me lose even more respect for them.

If they gave the director documents that said the girls correct age and it was an over site by the director in addition to the coach then I think the punishment should be limited to the coach for not knowing the rules On top of that tourney director being punished somehow. But if that coach gave false documents in order to intentionally cheat then he should be banned for life!

jjr said:

I'm not sure I understand what they are trying to explain...Are you telling me there are tournaments that do graduation year teams vs. birth year teams? I thought almost all tournaments were strictly birth year? And if that's the case, what's stopping anyone from holding their kid back a year or two?

https://extrainningsoftball.com/jacksonville-storm-responds-stripped-tc-usa-nationals-16u-title/

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This is nuts. If you look at what they say in the Extra Innings piece:

A representative from Triple Crown Sports responded: "We are not going to say much more than what the (press) release offered, other than we followed our normal protest protocols during the game and concluded that the player was legal based on the information that was presented to us at the time."

"It was after that game when the coach called us and confessed what they had done. We then made our decision."

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So basically, there was a protest, the coach presented SOMETHING that let the TD to conclude the player was legal, and only later did they learn that wasn't the case. What I'd really like to know is what evidence was initially presented? A fake ID? A doctored birth certificate? Seems to me like the coach's claims that he didn't know the aged-out girls couldn't play after their 18th birthday is contradicted by the fact that he APPARENTLY PRESENTED THE TD WITH EVIDENCE THAT THE GIRLS WERE UNDER 18. Which is it?

spleen1015 said:

I'm talking about the 14u teams, etc. The other teams in the org that had nothing to do with it.

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From what I can gather, the only players that have been banned are the ineligible players and that's only with TCS (so far). The coaches of the specific team have been banned as well. All the teams in the org have been banned too, but, the players and those coaches of the other teams haven't been banned so they can join another organization for the next year.

Don't hold me to that, but that's my interpretation of the banning of the entire org.

jjr said:

From what I can gather, the only players that have been banned are the ineligible players and that's only with TCS (so far). The coaches of the specific team have been banned as well. All the teams in the org have been banned too, but, the players and those coaches of the other teams haven't been banned so they can join another organization for the next year.

Don't hold me to that, but that's my interpretation of the banning of the entire org.

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If the ban goes on for any significant time and is honored by all other associations, it would more or less be a death penalty for the organization.