Gentlemen,

I had a meeting with ASA and we are about to invest a large amount of money into the BCS. Having said that, is there even a demand for it this year? It seems as if the larger tournaments are on the slide and the smaller are all filling up, so should it even be done?

We would like to provide a great atmosphere for ball to be played in quality events, but without commitments from the community, it is hard to speculate the success rate. The BCS lost money for the third year in a row and we will do it again, but the demand has to be there. I do not want to continue to pressure Buzini's valued bat vendors for prizes if they will not see a return on the investment they have made in our state. 10 teams a bracket is not enough...

Having played in the conference for now the 3rd year, it is amazing that we can not have the same mentality... Whoever plays whoever... whenever... where ever... Is there something we can do to offer that style of play? Is it the webcasts? Is it the points? Is it the notoriety? What is the draw for teams to compete for 3rd-10th and still have a pride about themselves? What do we need to do?... How can we formulate a tournament that we "just play"? Should we offer 1st place prizes to the highest finishing classes, and then do an overall points breakdown like the conference does... offering bonus points for teams that play higher classed teams when they meet? Have a larger HR limit that fluctuates as teams meet throughout the bracket?

I know it seems last minute, but the 3GG in the Upper/Upper+ is not seeming to have the draw as I expected. The coast was going to be a huge success, but only because of the FL, AL and LA teams that were coming due to location and a new facility.

Serious responses only, please. Feedback is truly appreciated.

LTG,

TJay Busin
601.506.4931

allow the lower class team of that game pick the hr limit

I am leery of the game changing every meeting, I would prefer (as would ASA/WSL) to have consistency. What if it averaged out?

E gets 1
D gets 3
C and up get 5

E vs C = 3
E vs D = 2
D vs C = 4

Those numbers are not concrete, but E teams in MS are stronger than most anywhere else in the country... They can hit HR at will on 300ft fields. If you limit the larger teams, it will encourage the middle to open and that is not in the spirit of the game. I would bet that people would be incredibly surprised at how well it would work with more HRs, not less. The teams that bomb it will do most of the work for you once they are gone. Plus a larger limit promotes solos... Just a thought.

Keep them coming.

LTG,

TJay Busin
601.506.4931

this is a good idea TJ, also I am not bashing you or any of the other big tournaments, but entry fee to the BCS and WSS and other big tournaments is hard for teams who arent sponsored so I think thats where you lose to smaller tournaments. Its hard for a new team to pay 250+ (entry, balls, sanction) not to mention hotel, food, and gas. not knocking you for what you do because without these entry fees you cant give away the overall prize that you do, it sucks but some teams honestly just cant afford to play in many of the more expensive tournaments. now i know i will get bashed for this but i was being honest. i play on a sponsored team but i have been there on teams who pay out of pocket for everything

If u r a c player then u should b able to hit where u wanna hit a true e player swings and the ball just goes where ever so i think c shouldnt get ne hrs and e should

I think that the 3 game guaranty would help to give teams and sponsors a little more bang for the buck.

I think you should run the BCS like the conference in my opinion.. Have one big bracket keep all teams separate from each other till the end give prizes for top finishing team in each division( still only giving 3 places).. And I know it's alot of money for some teams up front but charge your entry into all events up front that way no one backs out when they loose a couple u have them comitted from the get go.. I know this may seem far feched but i think it could work.

Most teams dream to get that ring so instead of money for worlds or whatever that most of your 1st place or top 3 attend anyway maybe something with Rings.

This is just my opinion and my team will support the BCS regardless of which direction they choose to go.

Also I wanna add this I woudnt base your Series against the others in MS.. I think the numbers have fell off there due to the Director and some that run it.

I also can see how a $250 entry is high to pay out of your pocket for a non sponsored team but just like the above said to give away your prizes, pay the umpires, field rentals and your sanction cost there is not a large some of money to be made there. That is why u pay a high price to get the umpires and good fields and a great tourney with good competion.


You could go and pay $125 to $175 every weekend for self ran tourneys no umpires on poor fields but this will not help your team in the long run. To be a better team u must be willing to play the best and take a chance on going 0-2 as well as winning it.

Again just my opinion

I hope you get this up and running and it is a success. We would like to be a part of it. I like the idea of one big tournament with prizes going to the top finishing teams in each class throughout the tournament.


Also, please check your email as soon as you get the opportunity. Thank you

*** Taken care of ***

Ben, email checked and taken care of.

"this is a good idea TJ, also I am not bashing you or any of the other big tournaments, but entry fee to the BCS and WSS and other big tournaments is hard for teams who arent sponsored so I think thats where you lose to smaller tournaments. Its hard for a new team to pay 250+ (entry, balls, sanction) not to mention hotel, food, and gas. not knocking you for what you do because without these entry fees you cant give away the overall prize that you do, it sucks but some teams honestly just cant afford to play in many of the more expensive tournaments. now i know i will get bashed for this but i was being honest. i play on a sponsored team but i have been there on teams who pay out of pocket for everything"

Our 250 fee is balls included. We dropped the number of tournaments down to 4 (now 3) to allow teams time to raise funds, and play elsewhere. I am trying everything I can to keep the costs as low as possible. If we drop to one bracket, we could do more or make it cheaper. I just need to know how to proceed... But I would rather put the funds into the tournament and offer more.

Sanctioning is part of every year, a team should budget 125 upfront for sanctioning (5 associations @ $25 per).

However... This is a hobby, what other hobby can guys chip in and pay 20 bucks apiece and enjoy a day with friends? Golf costs more. Where did this sense of entitlement come from that players don't have to pay to participate in their hobby. NO ONE is going to MLB after softball... I guess I just don't understand and need help.

The feedback is truly appreciated!

LTG,

TJay Busin
601.506.4931

That is a hot topic for me. I don't understand where the younger players coming in the game think they are entitled to "play for free". It's not just the younger generation, but the majority is there. I actually had a team in my tournament this weekend that had to drop out because his players won't pay 15-20 a weekend. Now, I totally understand that by all means there are more important things than softball, but it is your hobby. Paying 10-20 dollars on the weekend is not a bad deal at all to get to play ball. Those people that act like that baffle me. Anyways, again, good luck and we look forward to it.

i dont think the original post about money was complaining at all, i think it just gets expensive playing in WSL and BSC and other events thay are 250 on weekends plus hotels, if a team has no sponor and plays in a 250 entry tourney thats 25 a person plus gas and hotel and food

I gotcha... So how do we help with that aspect?

LTG,

TJay Busin
601.506.4931

not much i can think of, really hard on both parties involved, you are trying to get the best run series you can making everyone happy and still making profit, but some teams legit find it hard to afford it. just hope all teams can come out and enjoy the game because most of all win or lose this game is meant to be fun and enjoyed with friends and family

Tj I also like the idea of the conference set up where everyone plays everyone. La is doing something similar to it and it is working good for them. You could do a bracket where everyone played everyone and droped back into a perspective c, d, or e looser bracket after a loss. That way you got a winner in all three divisions for the prizes. Plus this would allow teams of all classes to see where they stood on different levels. The only fair thing on the hr would be to use the lowest class team rules for the limit in the games. E-1. D-2 c-4. Higher class teams should have enough bat control to keep the ball down and if they don't they should work at it. You can't work on power like you can on base hitting (bat control).

I agree with placing the ball... But is it safe for a true E team to limit JMS/Bonding/Storm/Whoever to just 1? Seriously asking.

LTG,

TJay Busin
601.506.4931

This is the best discussion I have seen so far. I agree with lower entries, and lesser prizes like t shirts and cheap trophies. Brackets should be based on classification with everyone meeting up in the winners bracket at the end. I think everyone would be surprised at how many teams who complain that will still show up. Even the cry babies love the game enough to play, but the cost of a tournament has gotten out of whack. Secondly most of these guys griping about prizes aren't winning them. They are just complaining about the cost. THe REAL ballplayers will play even if there isnt a prize.

I agree with the above stated. Please keep the feedback coming!


LTG,

TJay Busin
601.506.4931

Can you please refresh everyone what the BCS is and how it differs from any other tournaments /series?

with the number of c class teams being the lowest of all classes,why do the e and d teams have to come up to their rules? as far as hitting the middle that will be a c team's choice and the pitcher is always in danger no matter what class!!we would love to play thunder on water and gumtree like every year but 4 hrs is too much for our d team.

If you are worried about the upper teams cutting the middle hard on E teams, why not make it an automatic out, then if they do it again, inning ending, and then so forth and so on. It's a pansy way of doing it, but I bet they wouldn't cut the middle as much or at all against the lower teams. Regardless, C and most D teams shouldn't cut the middle anyway, they are good enough to place the ball where they want.

Point noted. My only response is my guys had no idea they could compete with 12 HR, but we played it and as soon as we stopped being intimidated... we competed. But I am open to all ideas.

LTG,

TJay Busin
601.506.4931

Should the brackets be random as they are in the conference or should they be sectioned by class?

LTG,

TJay Busin
601.506.4931

Random Brackets

Get the entry's up front though would be some teams that didn't like there draw and pull out!

Sectioned until finals.. This could be easily attainable if proper teams in d were moved to c and proper e teams were moved to d..it should only be a c/d tourney.... Like posted most e teams have trouble obtaining sponsor $$$ and those who do it's pretty obvious they should be moved to d ...if an e class team decides they want to play sanctioned they prob are confident enough In their team skill to compete above the beginner/e class level.:.I if e teams want to compete for good prizes play d. Saying that I think top prizes should be handed out to C class.

Just another idea that I had thought about the past few years and might could solve both problems.

I had for a year or so wondered why the lowest classification allowed in the conference was C? Now anyone can pay there money and join and become C class on paper my thought was why don't USSSA offer a Confrence D and E? Yea I know some C teams would try to sandbag down but could be caught quickly but this would simply make USSSA more money.. I know they are mainly concerned with there upper teams and that's what separates them from other associations as well but I think there is a major gold mine there for them untouched..


So here is what I suggest to help with entry cost and everything...

Lower BCS
$150 to $165 entry
Supply your own Asa balls
1 HR then IEO
1 umpire per field
Prizes 1st thru 3rd trophy and Tshirts
Small end of year prize for points leader
Still give u a quality tourney with less prizes that's what y'all wanted

Upper BCS ( conference style)
BCS supply balls
$250 to $275 entry
3 or 4 HR then Push
Small prizes for each tourney
Large end of year prize


That's could work for everyone you pick the division u wanna play but abide at those rules!

Good though but the lower would not work because all these small tourney sites give out better prizes for the same price. If you changed it to like shorts, batting gloves stuff like that you might have something.

I understand that guest but you can't have your cake and eat it to... You have to sacrifice something if you want a good venue with actual umpires calling it at low cost u have to sacrifice the prize package to allow it. Other wise u can give away what u mentioned above but the cost go up. The way people throw backwoods tourney cheap is they umpire it them selves find cheap field rental and can afford to give out the prizes. If being true to what everyone said when they don't care about prizes this would work! And I'm not saying not give away anything I'm just saying be cheap on prizes at each event And the end event the points leader would recieve a large prize based off the total amount of teams that came to each event.

Like this let's just say u wanna give away money
Ok each entry is $150 you had 15 teams at all events(4) which is 60 total teams then give $10 to $25 for each team that played a BCS tourney that year to end of year prize winner.. Ie that would be 600 to 1500 these numbers are all just an example and just one mans opinion.

Maybe something Tjay and the BCS could tweak to there liking and budget of the events but I think it could work

This is definitely getting somewhere...lower entries lesser prizes. and a end of the year winner. brackets drawn radomly but based on class with winners meeting each other at the end with the highest from each class getting a prize pack like trophy or tshirts.

also hr's should be based on lower class team..like if e plays c then only two allowed or if d plays d then 3 or if c plays c 4. if d plays e then only 2...

As fare as the middle goes, texas has a new start rule that works pretty well to keep the middle fare. It protects the pitcher but lets the batter make the the choise of hitting the middle with the consiquence of his actions. If the hitter hits a ball in the middle and it hits the pitcher he is out and the runners do not advance, and the both teams are recieve a warning. The second offense by either team that player is ejected from the game. The third offense is the team has to forfite the game. I know middle is apart of the game and I believe it should not be taken out of the game but this option at least puts a consiquence with the action of hitting middle.
TJ you know as well as I do in the conference every team can compete with another team. At frist as a up and coming team you take some lumps and start to believe you can compete. I believe you may have to leave some teams behind in the process of starting a more competitive series. You will have your C teams and most of your competitive D teams in your tourneys. It may take a year but as the word grows that these tourneys are ran fair and its the best series to play in, the so called lower teams with start to venture into the series. Yes they will take their lumps but if they stick in there and keep competing and looking for ways to imporve their team, they will only get better as a team. I dont believe you can kater to lower teams that just want everything their way. The more competitive teams are the teams you should be trying to intice to join the series. There is a reason why USSSA doesnt have a lower conference series. They want the best to play the best. Every year slowly but surly the conference grow with new teams joining. They are the teams you want to be in your series.

I wouldn't mind the home run limit being E=2, D=4, C=6. E vs D = 3, D vs C = 5, E vs C = 4. Also, start the tourney as a random draw, double elimination tourney. Once you lose twice, you go into a single elimination tourney based on your classification. The longer you stay in the double elimination side, the better your slot becomes when you drop to the single elimination part. Winner of the overall tourney gets the bigger prize package, and also have a decent prize package for the winner of the double elimination classification brackets.

With the above post, you would only give out 3 or 4 prize packages. One to your overall winner, then one to first place E team, one to first place D team, and one to first place C (if there are any C teams that play).

6 runs per classification-
E vs E - start game 0-0
E vs D - start game e team 6-0
E vs C - start game E team 12-0
Same amount of home runs, same rules

No way. There are some E class teams that can compete with D teams. Giving them a 6 spot is insane.

The tourney idea stated a few posts up gives lower teams a chance to play whoever without fear of walking away empty handed. Even if an e team gets beat by two C teams their first games, they would still have a chance to win the E side and walk away with a prize.

Yeah, if you give a team like Magnolia Strokers a 6 spot vs. a D team, they could easily win the game.

If all the teams play a 3GG, every tournament would be 2 days. Keep the ideas coming. They are great.

LTG,

TJay Busin
601.506.4931

Why would you penalize a better team for putting in the work to be better? Its the E teams that o all the complaining. Make it to where only D & up can play the series. Make those E teams get better & if not they don't belong in the series. It gives them something to shoot for. Too many veterans spend year after year in E class but are given the prizes for winning & beating D teams. I would make them earn the right to play D teams & above.

This^^^^^^^^
That solves the biggest problem this state has.

Keep entry fees where they are. Give away great prizes. Have a large prize for the points leader at the end of the year.

That keeps some D teams from sandbagging. And will make some E teams bump up since they are so concerned with prize packages.

Keep it this way for a year or 2 and then bring in the E class teams. But make sure all players stay registered in their class so you don't have guys dropping down. Don't allow any upper players to play on the E class teams.

3 runs per classification-
E vs E - start game 0-0
E vs D - start game e team 3-0
D vs C - start game d team 3-0
E vs C - start game E team 6-0
Home runs rules
E vs E - 0
E vs D - 1 to 3 E team pick
D vs C - 3 to 6 D team pick
E vs C - 2 to 6 E team pick

I don't see how cutting a classes hr's is helping them get better though. Make those other teams win the game. Don't see how giving them anything is helping the sport. You want to get better then play better. Make that win worth it. This is coming from a D player. I don't want anything given to me that I didn't earn.

Most everyone that steps up to the plate can hit homeruns. That also keeps the middle a little cool.

Another option one division but your class determine entry since upper teams has more money I say E team 125, D team 175, C team 275 and B team 375 that way lower teams has less to lose and also maybe if a team 2 and Q they get half entry to next event. Prizes screw them I been playing since 95 I got so tired of trophy started throwing them away after winning them. T shirts no way cause most time they never fit half your players. So I say no prizes just play for fun no one ever remember who won what tourn after few yrs down the road besides the team that won the tourn. Just play for memories.

Seems like all the big NAMED tourneys we used to have once a month fell by the wayside with the benefit tournaments happening 3-4 times a month!

How about 2 divisions - One prize division regular price with prizes. Other Division regardless of class no prizes - bear bones price. You can join them in the end for overall but if you don't pay the upper price you don't get the prize. Just a pat on the back and maybe a shirt and bragging rights. It might help some step up later if they win one or two. Might let them bank the points to be used later. Attendance might be up and so might concessions.

Another option. E- Division or No prize division Tourn. supply Aluminum bat to even the playing field. Teams may flip for choice of bat.

I remember when the north miss umpires through a tourny once a year and it was no classification and no homeruns. there was a lot of comp in these tournys and all we won was silly t-shirts but we played dang hard for them silly shirts and took away with us the pride that we just OUT PLAYED all the other teams, not with long balls but with defense and timely hitting. we never heard anybody say, that this team or that team shouldnt be playing in this. if people dont play for the pride and competition of winning, you wont ever get what you want in a tourny series. you gotta love it, win or lose.

I agree with the above statements. I have no problem lining up across the field with the likes of storm bonding etc. I also agree that my team personally does not want anything given to us. What have we proven if u gave us 6 runs and we won by 1? I like the idea of playing whoever and then dropping to your class to play in the losers bracket. My team is not sponsored. We come out of pocket every weekend. I agree that the upper teams should have better prize packages and have no problem paying the same price. When I go play the thunder, gumtree, ect. And actually win it I could care less about a prize. The next weekend we play my team will be ready because we accomplished something as a group of friends and that gets our young guys heads up. I think alot of you bigger teams will find that just because we are lowly e class doesn't mean we all b**** I have no prob playin you guys but at the same time we could not compete with you guys but with this new system we could take our lumps and still be able to compete for respect. I would rather lose to 2 d or c teams then any e class team myself. Anyways which ever way it goes we plan on playin the rest of the BCS and best of luck TJ with this matter. It's tough doin what your doin and good luck to everybody the rest of the year. Just my thoughts from a lowly e class prospective maybe it helps.

After giving it some thought, I would prefer not to make the upper teams drop in HRs.... The reason is 2 fold:

1. I don't want to punish teams for stepping up to a higher class.
2. A team will never know it's ready to play up until they do. This will not happen if bigger teams have to step down inHRs.

I think the HR's will be a set # for all unless a team is above B (which we only have 2 and they won't be participating). That is the way the Conference does it. All teams get 8 unless you play a Major team, then it's 12. Not that I want to go to 12 or 8, but we have to find a level playing field if we are going to have one bracket... Just my thoughts... I would like to have a decision made and a direction by Wednesday.

Keep them coming. I am not saying this is how it is, just bouncing ideas.

LTG,

TJay Busin
601.506.4931

i think four homeruns is a fair amount, its enough where if you hit two solos it doesnt really hurt you that bad, also if you hit the limit allowed will you do inning ending? i am a fan of the inning ending in a way, but at the same time it opens up teams to hitting middle, the way i see it we are all grown men you can tell when someone is trying to hit middle and hurt someone, lets be men about this, grow up and leave your drama at home softball is supposed to be fun, not get people hurt and gripe all weekend... TJ looking forward to the BCS this year, you are making Mississippi a great place to play softball again

I also like the idea of a set limit on HR. I have no prob giving the upper teams the bumps. And I agree that u don't know what you can do until you do it. My earlier statement about competing wasn't saying I don't have faith in my team we are just not consistent yet. The more we play the upper teams the better we get.

I also like the idea of everyone playing together and then going yo the losers bracket in your respective class. C d or e. This will give everyone an idea of where they stand and also allow the asa to see where teams should be sanctioned. Great idea I hope Tj really considers it.

All of this is good stuff, and make for some acutally good reading. First let me say this, TJ I thank you for actually wanting to do something for the game in our state and letting us speak and give our imput on this topic. Second, I am very happy that you our doing just what you said in the orginal post by say you want imput and you are responding back to us on all the sugestion that we give, thank you for being a man of your word on this topic.

Now on to the topic: I am one of the OLD GUYS still out here playing, and I hear week in and week out that everyone wish it would go back to the old days. Problem with that is, that will never happen because of the bats and balls and the cost of turneys today where as no team wants to spend that much money on a touney that they could very well go 2 and q, and to be honest the main reasons is that the middle aged players (25 to 35) for the most part don't want to play bigger teams because they would rather play weak teams and win then acutally have something to hang there hat on by playing bigger teams and doing well in those games.

I agree with you TJ that most E teams can play very comptive D ball and most D teams can play very comptive C ball, and I know most who read this won't agree but I challage you to give a 100% and try and play up and prove me wrong.

My suggestion is that you play one touney no classes and everyone plays everyone, blind draw with no favors. HR should be 4 or 5 then a out. Lower the entry fees to somewhere around $175 or $185 and give away T-Shirts with the turney's name on it, not just worth shirts (sorry TJ but the worth shirts is something anyone can buy at your tables or your store, don't mean to take shots at you on this but IMO it's says more to us players if we get a shirt that says "Thunder on the Water tourney Champs 2012 than worth shirts". Lose the year in prize b/c let's face most players play on different teams the next year and giving away unis really hurts the players that actually won when they go to another team, and TJ I know you have in the past had that problem and did you best to please evreyone and I am sure you don't won't to go though that again. If you give something at the end, make it pullovers or something to that nature and put on the front BCS Champions.

Well this end up being longer than what I thought is was going to be (was a whole lot shorter in my head) but that is my 5 cents worth. Hope everyone read it all.......lol

Thanks again TJ for actually caring about the LESIURE ACTIVITY (softball)

do away with E its suppose to b for beginners.
or let the format be 2-1 . for every homer upper team hits the lower team gets 2 . so say wingstop hits 4 homeruns in a game smoking aces gets 8 but u would have to put some kind of limit for the upper teams.

I like the 8-12 hrs concept. That's one thing I think alot of people miss about softball is being able to swing hard and not worry if it carries a little. People trying to go backside and still pull it a little gets alot of pitchers hurt on accident. I think a higher hr limit may entice lower teams to play because even if a E team goes 0-2 they still got to swing the bat and have fun and not worry about an offensive ejection. Thanks please let us know what you decide.

Gentlemen,

This is the best post I have seen on this board in quite sometime. Thank you all for your class and the way all of the ideas have been presented. Please do not stop. I have talked to the powers that be and we love what we are seeing from the softball community. It has renewed my faith in the adult game and I look forward to working with everyone to making a quality event for MS.

Are there any points I have not answered? I want to communicate as much as possible, so that we all are part of the process. I will make a modification to the original post, adding most of the points discussed, so that we do not have to scroll through every post to catch up. That will be done tomorrow.

Thank you all and keep it coming.

LTG,

TJay Busin
601.506.4931

8-12 hrs you will see a lot of fast cut jobs when e and lower d teams play upper d/c teams... I like the though of teams playing in free for all pool the. Falling into a bracket in their classification..in order for this to work you would have to be sure to have teams in each class classified fairly though.

I also like the idea if an open bracket and then fall into a single elimination tournament by proper class. Great ideas.

If we have a drop bracket, will that raise entries? Just asking.

i would think so. 3 games costs more to run

Could this possibly filter over into Louisiana?

Due to so few teams actually play for a World tourney, play in qualifying tournaments throughout the year (legs) then give away big prizes in the seasons championship tournament.

The only thing would be that so few teams start and finish the year together. How would you battle this obstacle?

Let all the Teams play just use a Screen for the Pitcher and if you hit it your out.What is it a 4 foot by 6 foot Screen. Nobody wants to get Hurt or Hurt someone by Accident.

Homeruns

B 8 to 10
C 6 to 8
D 4 to 6
E 2 to 4

Let the Coaches decide at the Plate what they want to do if they cant decide whatever class is playing like a C playing a D cut the Homeruns in half.

No more INNING ENDING OUTS we come to play Softball on Weekends because WE LOVE TO COMPETE ! It's in our D.N.A. The only way to get better at this game is to play better competition. Watch and learn from the guys that can really play great week in and week out.I think it's not fair to Buzinisports.com/BWW/Worth
and TPS/ Sportscenter not to be able to play here in Mississippi. Just because they have great players that come together and play well.
BOTTOM LINE the companies are making products to sell and we as players want products that perform well in a Game.
Let the players play and bring the Homeruns back into the Game and watch this thing take off and you will be amazed. Tee Jay you would be a Hero for saving someones Dad from Serious Injury with the Screen.

Here's an idea, that I notice wasn't brought up and you guys will bash me for it but it is what it is... How about reaching out to the black circuit teams also... Hell this pass weekend, with all the rain, we still managed to get 20 teams total, men and women at an entry fee of $275.... a lot of black teams dont attend these events because we are always put up against the best open circuit team and then playing each other the 2nd round in the loser bracket so that one of us goes home early, go figure.... But seriously if we all get on one accord, I think we can have one of the biggest tournaments in Mississippi... We have some great leaders on the open circuit and black circuit in Mississippi... let's work together and make it happen. JMO.. Let the bashing begin! Lol

TJ, maybe you can discuss with ASA and WSL so that the top three in points for each "class" have enough overall points for a "good" draw in the worlds.. Now that would be something to compete for. No prize package out there can compete with playing for a ring in the end..

I know everyone has found a potential issue with each idea thus far, and that is good for all involved, but I think some sort of equalizer may be the best first step. If it doesn't make everyone happy so be it, but if there are more HRs allowed like Tjay seems to be leaning toward, upper teams should have no problem recovering those runs, and still having a couple bumps to boot. It gives the lower team a fighting chance, and also benefits the upper teams by making them focus on maximizing their runs per HR. Which, more times than not determines the winner between two upper teams. Hitting the middle is going to be very hard to legislate either way, so you might as well start by alleviating the anxiety of a lower team having to face an upper team.

Also, you could look at the results of tournaments and determine some sort of power rating for teams that determines how many runs they must spot teams, or are spotted?

What a DA u actually think Tj can make a call and get a ms tram a good draw in a world or wsl you ny friend are an idiot.

You my friend are the idiot.. In USSSA teams are seeded by points.. ANd if you won the BCS then maybe you could get some bonus points that would go along with the points you accumulated over the year. Therefore the more points the higher the seeding.. If this is something that ASA is wanting to implement nation wide, then the teams that would win there division of "BCS" in other states would also get the same treatment. This is something that would make you come to every event to get points and compete for bonus points, as well as, the final prize. It would also give teams that are out of contention for the final prize something to shoot for. Im not sure how the Conference does this but i would bet that at the end of the year they have a way of seeding teams for the worlds. Just an idea.

Tee Jay any word on how it's going to work out for the Teams in Mississippi.

Having a high seed does not guarantee you an easy game. You could could have a really good team that didn't play as much get a low seed.

I mean as far as getting it started right here in Mississippi as a trial and error state to see how this may work it sounds good and I know Tee Jay can make it happen.

I know everyone has found a potential issue with each idea thus far, and that is good for all involved, but I think some sort of equalizer may be the best first step. If it doesn't make everyone happy so be it, but if there are more HRs allowed like Tjay seems to be leaning toward, upper teams should have no problem recovering those runs, and still having a couple bumps to boot. It gives the lower team a fighting chance, and also benefits the upper teams by making them focus on maximizing their runs per HR. Which, more times than not determines the winner between two upper teams. Hitting the middle is going to be very hard to legislate either way, so you might as well start by alleviating the anxiety of a lower team having to face an upper team.

Also, you could look at the results of tournaments and determine some sort of power rating for teams that determines how many runs they must spot teams, or are spotted?


^^^^^Good idea, what do you think Tjay?

Again....why are you wanting to penalize a better team for putting in the practice to be better? You wanna spot teams runs & for what....its not gonna make them better. They might win but did they really win....no. They should have to play to the upper rules. That's the only way they are gonna learn what it takes to be a better team. Thats why E teams stay in E bec you cater to them. That craps not working that's why you got all this crying. Change it up & make them play up. If they wanna play the "big boys" then move up. E is for beginners anyway so keep it D & up. Show up & play.

^^^^^^and this why C tourny don't make dumass

Ok let's just forget all the ideas and group everyone together so the c teams can win every game and feel good about themselves. I am sure they will feel so big and bad under heir tents in the parking lot after then beat e and d teams by 20+ runs..

Being an E class player, most talk is on the homeruns. Most of the controversy is on the offensive ejection/inning ending out. If allowing more homeruns is not acceptable, then just drop back to it being just an out. It takes the fun out of it otherwise. No homeruns, however, is ridiculous. I know several guys who can hit it over at will. Level out the playing field a bit.

As far as people cutting the middle, the most logical suggestion would be to move the pitching distance back 6 more feet. Most pitchers back up after they pitch anyway. Pitchers know the risks before they step on the field. There is no sense in going to extremes with a screen other wise we should just put up machines. Give warnings then make it an out but accidents do happen guys. If we could perfectly p place the ball every time we would be paid to play. Pitchers know the risks before they walk out on the field, myself included. Your not forced to be up there. I will throw the ball low and outside on purpose. I like the thrill.

Lastly, prize packages SHOULD differ from class to class. The upper teams that have fought for years to be where they are deserve more. Entry fees could vary for lower teams without sponsorships but why not offer a chance for a sponsorship at the end of the year. This will give them something major to fight for and draw more teams in.

C tourney's don't make bec no on moves up. You think a E team is gonna want to move up if everything is given to then? You make it more worthwhile to play E than to play up.

Make E a cheaper entry fee but only give away a trophy for 1st,second, and third and maybe a tournament champions shirt. Make D entry fee $25 dollars more with a better prize for placing. Make C entry fee 25 dollars more than D but give them a very nice package for placing.JMO don't shoot me for giving it.

We are working hard to find a solution. I am sorry I haven't been posting this week. Been busy with rehab. Knee is doing well for all that have asked. I hope to post tomorrow.

LTG,

TJay Busin
601.506.4931

Im just a little E class player, but I do like the idea of a open pool play and then go into your class for elimination rounds. Doing this would show teams what they could or couldn't do against upper class teams..