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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 56 anonymousDiscussion: Sugestions on running tournaments
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| Nov. 23, 2009 barrym 158 posts | Sugestions on running tournaments I have some idea's that might help the playes and directors run better and safer tournaments. 1) Post on packet information or site the host hotels for the tournament phone number, address, players room rates and address. 2). Each hotel have a place in the lobby with bracket information, game times teams ect updated daily this should be at an area of each host hotel. Along with directors phone numbers. 3) Have at the front desk maps to feilds which can be picked up by every player, listing of every hospital nearest the complex with a map to get there. $0. each complex director should have a two way phone for contact infor in case of time changes or calling emergency information, this shall be on site at each complex.4) each feild have a first aid kit behind home plate, including band aids gaze and infection medication. Water in each doug-outs cold with cups. Each team should have to check in 1 hour befor game time and present cards not just say this guys name or read your roster. Feild maintance is a must feild should be dragged every three games along with chalk linning, to prevent injuries. When a coach wants to protest the game it should be after the game, not stop the game and waster time looking for the director. Awards, all teams pay alot of money and travel lond distances to play in these tournaments and after playing for 3 days you are told your award will be mailed is bull. It should be there no matter what. This should be the easiest thing to do by planning ahead. A snack bar should be open at all times as playes get hungry and don't want to travel and get lost trying to eat. All players or managers kicked out of games shall not be allowed at the rest of the tournament and be up for review for futher suspensions or fines. Defibulators no matter what available at each complex. The most important i think shall be the maps of each complex along with braket posting and time information or any changes shall be made to each manager of a team. Paper is chap, but time is valuable for players and familes. Las vegas has good tournaments but i think that thease things would benifit all players for a safe and fun tournaments. I am sure that even players when not playing for area can be hired to help out. This can be set up by putting your name on a play and work sheet. We had on director who was hurt and stayed in his car all weekend and this can be avoided by this program. Instead of bags for award maybe tee shirst because every player comes with a bag. I am only bring up these ideas to help senior softball be a safer and hppier sport to play. Maps a must and not hard to do along with hospital information that may save someone's lifer to go on and play another day. Each player should be present with card and checked it wasn't do in shadow rock park and we gets these cards for a reason. |
| Nov. 23, 2009 BossBandit Men's 50 55 posts | I guess that means that the team manager doesn't have any responsibilities at all. Virtually all the suggestions that you are making about maps, directions, hospital information, bracket information, game times are items that fall completely within the responisibilities of the manager and are included in his package of information regarding the tournament or are located on the tournament listing on this website. Protests have to be handled at the time of the offense in case the decision requires setting the situation at that point in the game. If you wait till the game is over the whole deal becomes a moot point. In regard to directions for spare time activities, might I remind you that your primary reason for being at the tournament is to play softball and the tournament host has no responsibilities to make sure you know where to lose your money or buy your beer, you're an adult, yes? I've never been to a senior softball event where you weren't supposed to bring your card and check in, what is going on out there? OK, instead of allowing you to order the size jacket you are supposed to receive, you'll just have to take whatever is in the bundle that your team gets. I have managed softball teams for well over 25 years and I have always carried a first aid kit for my team that the team contributed to maintaining as well as making sure that we had water for the games. There is a defibrillator at every SSUSA site and it's obvious you aren't very observant. Wake up and look around you, you might be missing a great softball tournament. |
| Nov. 23, 2009 barrym 158 posts | Personally i don't care how many years u have managed or how many first aid kits YOU HAVE I WA HIT IN THE TEMPLE WITH BLOOD RUNNING DOWN MY FACE AND WHAT I AM SAYING IS, THI WAS ON THE GROUND FOR OVER A HALF HOUR BEFOR THE DIRECTOR GOT TO THE FEILD AND I WENT UP TO HIM AFTER PARAMETICS CAME AND HE KNEW NOTING ABOUT GOING TO HAVE A N EXRAY HE HAD NO IDEA WHERE A HOSPITAL WAS. i WOULD IMAGINE YOU DO BUT YOU WEREN'T THERE SO THAT;S NO GOOD. aRE CARDS WERE NEVER CHECKED AND THE FEILDS WERE TERRIBLE. wHAT I AM SAYING IS THERE CAN BE A MORE ORGANIZED WAY OF HELPING IN CASES OF EMERGENCY'S AND AS FOR DEFIBULATORS AS U SAY WERE THER THE AMBULANCE SHOWED UP AT THE SAME TIME FOR A PLAYER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HIS HEART.sO YOU WANT TO LET YOUR PITCHER MANAGER GET MAD AND WALK OFF THE FELD LOOKING FOR THE DIRECTOR WASTEING AT LEAST A HALF HOUR TO PROTEST A GAME IN WHICH HE ONLY FROZE HIS OWN TEAM, NOW THAT MAKES SENSE aFTER 25 YEARS MAYBE YOU COULD HAVE COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS NOT TO MENTION A TEAM GOT THE WRONG TIME AND FORFITED ITS FIRST GAME AND NOT TO MENTION A PRRSON DIED IN LA DUE TO NO DEFIBULATOR. YO FIGURE AT ALMOST 500.00 A TEAN AND 150 TEAMS YES WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO AND GET MAPS AND BRACKET INFO AT THE HOST HOTEL. i AM NOT PUTTING THE BLAME ON THE COACHES OR DIRECTIORS I AM BASICKLY JUST GIVING SUGESTIONS. mAYBE EVERYONE SHOULD PLAY FOR U TO BE SURE THERE IS A FIRST AID KIT OR CALL YOU WHEN THERE ON THE GROUND BLEEDING AND BLACKED OUT. ALSO SOFTBALL IS A RECREATIONAL COMPETIVE SPORT AND WHEN YOUR OUT OF TOWN IT WOULD BE NICE TO TAKE YOU FAMILY AND INJOY THE TOWN, AFTER ALL THE PROFIT FROM IT. |
| Nov. 23, 2009 barrym 158 posts | bossBandt: Why are you try'n to turn a positve thing into negative I am sure you have done it all. Maybe you should do a little research befor you toot your horn about coaching for 25 years and always having you first aid kit. All players don't get to the tournament at the same time. |
| Nov. 23, 2009 softballer Men's 65 594 posts | sorry u got hurt in L.V. but do you have room in YOUR bag FOR A 1ST AID kit?? after all you never know when it will be needed! |
| Nov. 23, 2009 barrym 158 posts | No room in my bag. lol This is not a knock on anyone just sugestion for emergncy situations and bringing a little more excitment to the host hotel by posting brackets and scores and seriously just to get to a hospital when you need to. I thank the people who got the bleeding stoped and had a cell phone to call 911. |
| Nov. 23, 2009 softballer Men's 65 594 posts | but if you did have one would it have helped? also you are right about the needs to be there! and the lack of field not(FEILD) PREP! hope all is good with you and see you around Monta ps we both need spell check! |
| Nov. 23, 2009 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | BossBandit was a little rough on Barry. I sure would like to play for BossBandit, but I have played for 4 managers who are not that organized and I assume they reflect the normal manager. Boss, do you really check where the hospitals are when you are at a new complex? As to Barry’s comments, I like the idea of having updated info available in host hotels. SSUSA usually picks hotels that overcharge compared to deals you can get individually at the same hotels, so the least they could do would be to function as info sites for tournaments. I like the idea of knowing where hospitals are, quick availability of first aid kit (although my experience is that between fellow players there are plenty of first aid options in their bags), ejecting from the area players/managers who are kicked out, snack bars on premises, a map of the complex can help when it is really spread out, and everyone should have phone number of TD (and TD should have an assistant with decision-making power, particularly when games are spread over more than one complex. What I disagree with is checking in an hour early (seems a bit extreme) but I have never experienced a tournament where the manager’s word was taken in lieu of seeing an actual card; defibrillators are already present; protests have to happen at the time as Boss points out; and prefer a bag to a shirt anyday. Good thread, barrym, let’’s refine these suggestions. Sorry about your injury and the so-so care you received. |
| Nov. 24, 2009 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Barrym 1. Hotel info is pretty well supplied now ... May not be the cheapest rates around, but some are posted... Also as "host hotels" the "rate" is supposedly cheaper than the regular rate and the tourney fee is attached to it being somewhat less. Done as a service, not as any part of requirement. Trouble is one may book at one that seems to be the closest to the park scheduled... that may well change before the games start. They have enough to do without adding any more. 2. All you are doing is adding more cost to the fees for their time to make all this and get it to the hotels they lise. Mgrs usually have it and players usually make their own. 3. That info is your job to know. Do you want them to hold your hands the whole trip 4. 1st Aid kits are supposed to be on site. I always carry 1-2 with me anyway, like many guys do. Water is one of the biggest complaints we read about. It should be there. 5. Check in times vary with each assn and tournament. 6. Maintained fields should have been in the contractual agreements, fields not groomed should result in a rebate. Grooming is not always a part of the deals but it is varied with the different TD's and assn's. Same as wetting them down. Gets somewhat complicated with 3-4 fields & 2 ending at same time with only one crew doing the work. Big reason games get behind and some go unattended. Are you willing to pay for the crew in added fee cost...I doubt all would. 7. Defibs should be on hand and a qualified person to use it as well. That being the TD(s) 8. Getting maps is easy and you can do that on your own. 9. Cards or DLN are supposed to be checked. But perhaps the ones you refer to were known by the person checking the rosters at check in. I think they have enough to worry about without adding the additional paperwork. The water, should be a park controlled requirement as too fields prep, the defibs are not cheap but would be have to have as well at each park, Donate some Barry. Reading this it seems you haven't put on any. Try it. sometime. Do you really have to scream? Someone hit a sore spot. |
| Nov. 24, 2009 barrym 158 posts | Yu think your funny but your not, I hope you never have to have medical attention. People like you make a hell of alot of sense trying to put it on the players. Since you spend so much time on this web site maybe you can donate your time. All you want to do is avoid the obvious. This message is not for you its for the players who are concerned about their health instead of just running their mouth. |
| Nov. 24, 2009 barrym 158 posts | You guys who say well i have been coaching 25 years and this is what ever and people who say hey you want us to hold your hand. Those people don't mean crap to me i don't give a s....t how many years or what you think of people holding your hand ect. I made sugessted some good things and if all you have to do is critize people then take your years and you know what. I haven't heard you guys say one thing to help people who trave thousands of miles to play and a little bit of information is going to break you. You can sit on this web site for another 25 years and be happy. |
| Nov. 24, 2009 Paco13 424 posts | Barrym, my friend is hard to take your side on this one. It is very easy to get directions these days (MapQuest,…) Knowing where the hospital is won’t help U during a real emergency calling 911 will get U there faster and safer. The paramedics will have related all the info to the ER, therefore they will be waiting for U ready to assist, if one of your fellow players were to take U most likely will get lost, get a ticket, accident and even worst there will be nobody waiting for U at the ER…a lot of wasted time that U do not have. Now if it a routine cut that just needs few sutures, just ask one of the local players they most likely know the closest hospital/patient first location is. The defibrillator is a good idea, but very costly (maintenance, travel with it, training, etc…). As far as the other stuff that U want…remember that this is a business and TDs are there to make money, they spend a lot time and effort putting this tourneys together, they do deserve to make few $s. My recommendation to U, please get yourself a little dog and go for long walks. Softball my friend should no longer be on your agenda. |
| Nov. 24, 2009 barrym 158 posts | You people are right i am sooooo sorry for trying to suggest some ideas that i feel are important. Again i am sorry. |
| Nov. 24, 2009 butch17 Men's 55 412 posts | barrym, Don't ever be sorry for throwing out suggestions you think are important. Don't expect everyone to agree with you. In your post there are some good some bad but that is only my opinion. I'm sure taits meant no direspect he is just old. Just kidding taits. :) |
| Nov. 24, 2009 barrym 158 posts | Your right this is my first year and i didn't realize it was a money making organ. I am only trying to help, but won't do that again. |
| Nov. 24, 2009 SSUSA Staff 3485 posts | barrym - Thank you for your post ... RESPONSES TO THE INITIAL POSTING • Post on packet information or site the host hotels for the tournament phone number, address, players room rates and address. DONE - See event Tournament Page in this web site • Each hotel have a place in the lobby with bracket information, game times teams ect updated daily this should be at an area of each host hotel. NOT FEASIBLE - Hotels have sole say in what is allowed to be posted in their lobbies - HQ hotel is always provided a Tournament Official Program for their front desk, but access is always up to the hotel Along with directors phone numbers. NO - Directors have all other Director's numbers but do not have the time at a tournament to be receiving random calls from players with questions that can almost always be answered by your manager ... You can also call SSUSA home office with a request that they contact a specific Director to get back to you if they have the time • Have at the front desk maps to fields which can be picked up by every player, listing of every hospital nearest the complex with a map to get there. Good sugggestion (but not at front desk - see above) ... Will put Hospital information in future Manager Programs Each complex director should have a two way phone for contact infor in case of time changes or calling emergency information, this shall be on site at each complex. NO - All Directors have cell phones and numbers of Tournamet Director and all other key personnel • Each field have a first aid kit behind home plate, including band aids gaze and infection medication. NO - Each complex has a First Aid Kit present at the complex ... One per field is not feasible and would adversely impact tournament entry fees ... Each team is also encouraged to have their own First Aid Kit as a matter of simple common sense. • Water in each doug-outs cold with cups. DONE already except for facilites that already have water fountains in the dugouts • Each team should have to check in 1 hour befor game time and present cards not just say this guys name or read your roster. TRUE - Even for teams that show up 5 minutes before game time because they took batting practice off-site or simply didn't get there earlier, which is the majority of teams • Field maintance is a must feild should be dragged every three games along with chalk linning, to prevent injuries. Field Prep is always a high priority, but full-drag preps are at the mercy of the policies and cost factor of the host city • When a coach wants to protest the game it should be after the game, not stop the game and waste time looking for the director. No - SSUSA Rule Book is very specific as to protest procedures and timing, and Directors are ALWAYS on site, time required for one to reach your field is extremely minimal • Awards, all teams pay alot of money and travel lond distances to play in these tournaments and after playing for 3 days you are told your award will be mailed is bull. It should be there no matter what. This should be the easiest thing to do by planning ahead. DONE 95+% of the time ... Occasionally merchandise vendors late ship or undership, but this is a very infrequent occurrence • A snack bar should be open at all times as playes get hungry and don't want to travel and get lost trying to eat. Snack bars are contracted by SSUSA when allowed. Some facilities totally control the concessions by contract with the local operator, who may or may not choose to be open. In the absence of a concession operator, finding food and not getting lost in the process are a player's personal responsibility • All players or managers kicked out of games shall not be allowed at the rest of the tournament and be up for review for futher suspensions or fines. NO - See SSUSA Rule Book • Defibrillators no matter what available at each complex. DONE for ALL SSUSA administered events. There were seven defibrillators in Las Vegas, one for each facility and one extra in possession of the Tournament Director • The most important i think shall be the maps of each complex along with braket posting and time information or any changes shall be made to each manager of a team. DONE - Maps on Tournament Page, schedules, including all changes, were online and also in Manager Program. Session #2 Manager Program in Las Vegas was transmitted by the Tournament Director to the printer at 5:00 AM on the day of the Manager Meeting to ensure all information therein was accurate and up to date. • Paper is chap, but time is valuable for players and familes. Las vegas has good tournaments but i think that thease things would benifit all players for a safe and fun tournaments. I am sure that even players when not playing for area can be hired to help out. This can be set up by putting your name on a play and work sheet. Not a bad idea, but already in place for some tournaments, including Las Vegas ... Two Assistant Field Directors were local area LV residents that play in SSUSA events • We had on director who was hurt and stayed in his car all weekend and this can be avoided by this program. Not true ... The Director you mention is battling cancer and is not hurt, nor did he spend the entire weekend in his car • Instead of bags for award maybe tee shirts because every player comes with a bag. I am only bring up these ideas to help senior softball be a safer and hppier sport to play. Awards are set a year in advance as part of the national sponsorships with Miken, Tanel and Easton. Shirts are a good idea, but only on a 'fill the order after the tournament' basis due to size differences • Maps a must and not hard to do along with hospital information that may save someone's life to go on and play another day. Each player should be present with card and checked it wasn't do in shadow rock park and we gets these cards for a reason. Maps to the fields are already available and hospital information will be in future Programs. Any other mapping desires are the sole responsibility of the player |
| Nov. 24, 2009 barrym 158 posts | Thank you very much for your response, i am very sorry to hear about the director and my heart goes out to him. I was only trying to make some sugestion and i myself am avaiable to volunteer my time to make senior softball a better and funners experience. Again i am sorry to hear about the director. I am again sorry if i offended anybody. Please accept my apology. This is a great game and i look forward to playing and if i can be of help let me know. |
| Nov. 24, 2009 barrym 158 posts | One last thing is i want to compliment the people who put on all these tournaments from the staff at senior softball to the umpires ect. I realize this is a very tough job trying to make people happy and listening to all are complaints but there is not a better organization that i would want to belong to. Lets all have a safe thanksgiving and a very happy new year. And to terry again i am very sorry on your loss and i feel you do a great job. |
| Nov. 24, 2009 hitt2 353 posts | Dave/ Elizabeth The system let me in. Thanks for your help. First of all I haven’t posted that much this year as there is a lot of negativity and name calling (Dirty and his crew) Along with beating the same old issue about balls & bats. Everyone is entitle to their opinion, but if you don’t like it that much don’t play go learn to play golf and the outcome is all on you. I think this past weekend's tourney in Vegas was run well for the most part. There is always going to be something that individuals aren't happy with. The only concern I feel needs to be address were the lighting on the Astro turf fields at Shadow Rock. There were very bad shadow/dead spots in center field, which made it hard to see the ball. We as seniors shouldn’t be playing after 7 p.m. if fields are available. Secondly barrym I'm sorry you were injured. I was the guy on the other field that the Paramedics checked out. It wasn’t a heart issue; it was a breathing issue due the effort I was putting forth in the outfield. I felt I was able to continue once I got my breath, but my coach sat me down to make sure I was ok. I appreciate him doing so as he cares about his players as other coaches do. Playing at altitude has its effect on everyone and it got me this time. I Thought the Paramedics got there pretty quick, not knowing they had originally came to address your concerns. I hope your doing better, I am. The seasons over and now its time to reflect and prepare for the TOC and next season. What’s done is done. Suggestions make it better not complaints. It’s how you present it. Stoneman It was great seeing you again and taking about the game. Have Happy Holidays to all of the senior softball community. See you on the field. Hitts2 |
| Nov. 24, 2009 Joncon 328 posts | Paragraphs people, paragraphs. Icantreadadamnthingwhenthewordsareallruntogetherlikethatsoifyouwantsomeonetoreadyourpostbreakitupintomanagablebits. |
