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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 119 anonymousDiscussion: divivsions..
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| June 28, 2016 coop3636 514 posts | divivsions.. I would like to see a tournament try this. Maybe it will help, maybe it won't. I think they would get more teams in each division (especially the 'lower") Make the divisions as follows: Rec...0 HRS /outs 5 runs per inning Lower...3 HRS / outs with one up.....5 runs per inning Upper... 8 HRS/single with one up.....7 runs per inning (REC) This will let the teams that are mostly out for fun play in the rec division and not have to worry about getting killed all the time by "tournament teams". (Lower) It would put all the teams that are now AAA and major play together with 3 HRs (outs) and one up, it will level out all the teams and will make larger brackets. It both teams are hitting HRs, let them, if not the big HR hitting teams can only hit 3 and will keep the games close. (if over the limit is a single, its just like open HRS, there is not really a limit) (upper) Let the big boys play each other and hit all the HRs they want This will be mostly the major plus teams that play each other now. I have no idea how to get more teams in this division. This will mostly combine the AAA and major teams where they can have larger, better, bigger tournaments. No one likes to play in a 2-3 team bracket. Any ideas or thoughts? |
| June 28, 2016 DaveDowell Men's 70 4312 posts | Sounds like a great tournament format for the new COOPSA ... [C]oop's [O]wn [O]utstanding [P]erfect [S]oftball [A]ssociation ... Let us know how it works out! ... [grins] ... |
| June 28, 2016 coop3636 514 posts | I can live with that..lol If it betters the great game of softball, you can call it anything you want. If you never change anything, and keep up with the way the game changes, how can it be the best that it can be? I don't mind giving my opinions, and that's all they are, but look at the numbers of teams , the tournament prices, the 2 team brackets, the prize packages, etc in the last 5 years, has it gotten better or worse? just saying I use to hope for a 10 team bracket, now I hope to have more than 2 of us in a bracket. It might just be in the south, but softball has been declining for years and us old guys need to do something to keep it alive. (the young guys sure aren't) Kickball is overtaking softball at most of the parks. Just my thoughts Like them or not, At least I'm trying.... Some folks just give it up... I would rather play Brett |
| June 28, 2016 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | coop3636, I've noticed the same decline in softball participation and documented it in many posts over the past years. Why it is declining among younger guys is a matter of speculation, but the future for senior softball is not as bright if guys in their 30s and 40s are no longer playing softball. But why are the number of seniors declining? We grew up playing softball. We loved softball. Fields were full. Rec departments had to build new fields because of the demand. Softball was America's highest participation sport. And yet, the numbers have plateaued or even declined in senior softball. Our health is better. Injuries can be overcome with modern medicine (I play with guys who have joint replacements and repair). We have more money for leisure activities (we are a little ahead of the curve where parttime work is resulting in declining income in our society). Where are the senior softball players? My opinion is the game has become too easy and no longer a challenge. It is unbalanced with an over-emphasis on offense. The main culprit? Hot composite bats. |
| June 28, 2016 DCPete 409 posts | Agree w/coop but would keep the existing divisions & go with the following rules: AA - 0 HRs & 4 runs/inning AAA - 1 HR & 5 runs/inning Major - 3 HRs w/1-up & 6 runs/inning Major + - 5 HRs w/1-up & 7 runs/inning All excess HRs would still be outs; wouldn't be perfect of course but should get more teams to play up to their level to reduce sand-bagging which seems to be the #1 complaint on this board about the current SSUSA system. |
| June 29, 2016 coop3636 514 posts | DCPete Those divisions would work The only thing I would do is give the major plus 8 HRs That would make teams that just want to hit HRs have a place to play. Omar, I believe the reason senior softball is declining is partly the rising expense of tournaments and the other is the way associations move teams up too quickly and those teams disband and those players that get rated major plus have no place to play. I think the rule of thumb should be to let a team play in a division until they dominate for 2 years, then move them up. Coming in the top 2 in Vegas one time shouldn't penalize your team. (and it happens) Maybe make a team that places in the top 5 ..2 years in a row in Vegas move up or a team that wins multiple tournaments in 2 straight years. This will let you build a team, compete, win, then have to move up. Most teams build around friends and to the strength of the division you are playing. Building a AAA team, winning one or two tournaments, getting bumped to major plus is no fun at all. Any team can have a good weekend and win a tournament, that doesn't make you too good to play in that division. As always, just my 2 cents. Brett |
| June 30, 2016 17Black Men's 60 414 posts | I have a different idea to "divisions" and honestly I think the current AA/AAA/Major/Major Plus format is good, & for the "most part" it works if teams aren't sandbagging and playing down. Even if they are, they are still bound by the home run limits of their division, regardless. What I don't personally like are the 5 year breaks in divisions----------50/55/60/65/70 etc----------I just think those are too many divisions with not enough teams per rating to go around. At least regionally here in Ohio. Way too many times for the amount of money, I as a sponsor, shell out for tournament entry fees, motels, uniforms and other expenses--------------I just don't like going to a tournament and playing one team in a best of three after the seeding games because there isn't anybody else to play----------or giving, or receiving, five runs because of different age or ratings divisions in the same bracket. We got a 55 Major trophy in another association last month because we were the only 55 Major team and had to play 50 teams all weekend (both major and AAA)----------& to me that stinks, and its kind if like the silly "participation trophies" they give to all the little leaguers now, win or lose. We pulled out of another tournament last week because we were going to be, at the time, the only 55 Major again. I don't know what the "break" in age should be. Part of me thinks simply 50+/60+/70+/80+-------all in 10 year increments Arguments go both ways that the best teams in a 10 year break are all going to be guys closer to 50 then they are to 59., and those are probably true? But five years doesn't seem enough??? And another argument is some of the best 50 Major/M+ teams around now actually have A LOT of guys 55 and older anyway, many in their 60's, If we did (10 years) that more teams might stop playing senior ball because of disparity in age and not being competitive? Then again more teams make tournaments more fun (TO ME), especially for the cost of them. Another issue is the LACK of younger players moving up to senior softball because once the current band of guys in their 40's move up, there isn't very much behind them, the younger generations just don't play as much softball as we used to. I'm worried about senior softball as a whole, especially in the 50's division over the next 10/15 years. My guess is the current bands of 50/55's will keep playing as they get older--------------its a lifestyle we are used to. My "suggestion" is to drop the 50 division to 48 years old----------and have the divisions in 7 year breaks------------(48-55)(56-63) (64-71)- (72-79) and 80+++ There is no perfect way to do this and this is me thinking out loud. What our team should have done is stayed 50 major instead of moving to 55, because all of our guys except for one was over 55.---------we thought we improved ourselves and played divisions smart, now we have very few regionally to play without getting on a plane.----------maybe as the year goes on, we'll take our chances back in 50's again???? |
| July 1, 2016 Sparky.1 Men's 75 284 posts | Truly an excellent analogy 17Black! "the Rattlesnake" (just for Dave) [grins] |
