texcoug

Vidor host PNG boys tonight.  Big game.  PNG has to be favorite to win district so this is an important home match for Coach Matt. Vidor girls travel to PNG.  Can someone explain the shootout/ties/scoring rules for me???  Why not just award 1 point for a tie and 3 points for a win?  No shootout.  I still do not understanding the system.

Lumberton has an impressive group of girls.  Many of them are freshmen.  They will be a force for a while. 

Vidor is young but Coach Matt has tested them in pre-district.  Because of the  quality they have competed against, they will be better prepared for tough district games.  Nederland, PNG always top stuff.  Seems like LCM gets better each year too.  Central always has some skill up front - lookout there.  But, we will all know soon.  Vidor opens district with @Nederland, PNG, and @LCM.  If Vidor wins 2 of these, they will be set.  Game four is Central at home - a must win.  Vidor needs 2 out of first 3. 

Lumberton then Jasper.  And, starting next year, the Jasper train starts rolling compliments of Chris Carter (Robbie too!). (It already started, but it just doesn't get to full speed until next season).

Ridiculous post.  Do you think that playing baseball makes you a good tournament director?  I get that you are trying to sound neutral, but it is very transparent.  The fact is Morgan has done a poor job in the past.  In the years that I coached, I cannot even remember him being at the tournaments (nor was anyone accessible).  Combine the Nations oversight with lack of Jeff. Cty workers, and tournaments in BMT were a major step down from ones in Louisiana.  It sounds like the USSSA group here has at least got Nations improving their local product, so that is good.  That is what we call competition.  BTW, i don't have a care what league my Tournament Director played for - be it little league or major.  I just want someone to do a good job, pay attention, and serve the customers.  If anything, Brian's experience with customer service is a stronger qualification for running a tournament than playing baseball. 

I thought you had his phone number - last time you set up a straw man he offered you his phone number to talk but you never called.  Have you considered calling him?  Gotta love people who take their complaints to a message board behind a screen name rather than picking up a telephone. 

Going for the ball is not a justification for dangerous or reckless play.  The general iq for soccer here is poor.  HS games have many kids who lack a basic understanding of the game.  Kids on the field recklessly challenge players claiming "I got the ball."  Glad to know that the officials are being more forceful here -- the quality of officiating in this area has been poor, poor.  So much so that if you had a very skillful kid, you may opt out of hs ball as it is more dangerous to a kid like that (being on a field with kids at or near his or her skill level is a better deal for the kid).  HS games involve great discrepancies in skill level on the field.  That can be dangerous for the very advanced players.  Here is a quote from "Advice to Referees": "Making contact with the opponent before the ball when making a tackle is unfair and should be penalized.  However, the fact that contact with the ball was made first does not automatically mean that the tackle is fair. [i]The declaration by a player that he or she has "got the ball first" is irrelevant if, while tackling for the the ball, the player carelessly, recklessly, or with excessive force commits any of the prohibited actions." [/i] (italics in original) And, on top of that, using insulting, offensive, or abusive language is a sending off offense (red card).  A lot of people do not know that either. 

While rules need to be followed and kids need to be taught to adhere to rules, sport is littered with people doing everything they can to minimize the effect of rules or circumvent their way around them (Bill Bellicheck).  Anyway, the other issue here is the focus on a single game or tournament.  I notice it youth baseball in this area - I understand that coaches are under the gun to win (lots of parents demanding it), but the problem is the narrow focus on the result of a tournament.  People are up in arms here because someone used a player unregistered? too old?  whatever.  One of the disadvantages of select ball is the lack of oversight by any professional organization over the teams and coaches.  As a result, winning is elevated above all else (at all ages), no matter the cost to the kid.  I love competitive sports, but at youth ages the focus really should be on development.  How much of the pressure that we put on the kids is because we (the coaches) feel pressured?  That somehow the performance of the team, for good or bad, is a product of a coach and his pride is on the line.  We have all been there.  When the focus is on the coaches, it is away from the kids.  Just my two cents.  I think the lack of any oversight (meaningful) in select ball has lead to an over-emphasis on short-term success at the potential cost of player development.  Just my two cents.  (I anticipate there would be fewer disputes on this board if it wasn't so personnel to the parents and coaches.)

[quote name="pirate68" post="1186973" timestamp="1330383994"] [quote author=texcoug link=topic=96232.msg1186882#msg1186882 date=1330373893] [quote author=MJB link=topic=96232.msg1184132#msg1184132 date=1330040781] Since my name came into it I'll wade back into the pool. My issue is with Nations and classing kids. We have a Select team at best but 1 player was carried on a roster in coach pitch & the team played in the fall but he did not but remained on the roster, this we are now 9 Elite & playing in 10u until we get reclassed. I have had conversations with Ron Mathis, John Carroll & Morgan. Of the 3, Morgan actually called me & understood the predicament, watched us play & agreed we are outclassed where we are playing. I appreciated that gesture & I know he will do what he can to get us in the proper division. My other issue is Nations & the bat rule. Nations let USSSA take all the heat on the 1.15 BPF deal. Nations stated "we don't have that rule written anywhere", however, any complex that hosts Nations events requires the 1.15. Nations intended to adhere to the rule but washed their hands of the dirty work & made the complexes take the heat. Thusly, USSSA made people buy bats, not Nations. [/quote] Nothing Morgan can do -- Nations uses percentages to rate teams, not actual performance.  If you are in the 40% (power rankings), you are Elite.  Carroll was offended when I told him that was arbitrary.  Funny thing is, instead of complaining, everyone should just sit back and enjoy.  More effort is being put into the local Nations tournaments now because of some healthy American competition.  While there have been rumors of threats to teams playing USSSA or discounts that only apply if you commit to Nations exclusively, I guess it all benefits the kids and coaches.  And, maybe the local Nations tournaments will have problem solvers on site -- that has been a problem in the past.  The long and short of it that the tournaments are going to better this year and local people will have more options.  More out of town teams are coming in.  That is nice (new people to play).  Now, if someone could stir a fire under the county.  We ought to drag those workers over to Sulphur and watch the SPAR crews work.  How do we get that kind of effort over here?  The outfields are embarrassing.  It seems strange to have such a nice facility, turfed infields, then a goat farm in the outfield. [/quote]So true on the outfields....Sulphur has some of the best grass fields we have played on..Wish someone at Ford park would take notes.Is SMG responsible for the fields at Ford Park? [/quote] Sad to tell you that they turfed all the best fields at Frasch.  When they were grass, they were amazing.  They still are top notch (and their maintenance hands are there 24-7 it seems), but I was sad to see the grass go.  Turf is way less maintenance and they can get teams right back on in the rain.  But, it sure makes the Governor's Games 10-20 degrees hotter! 

[quote name="MJB" post="1184132" timestamp="1330040781"] Since my name came into it I'll wade back into the pool. My issue is with Nations and classing kids. We have a Select team at best but 1 player was carried on a roster in coach pitch & the team played in the fall but he did not but remained on the roster, this we are now 9 Elite & playing in 10u until we get reclassed. I have had conversations with Ron Mathis, John Carroll & Morgan. Of the 3, Morgan actually called me & understood the predicament, watched us play & agreed we are outclassed where we are playing. I appreciated that gesture & I know he will do what he can to get us in the proper division. My other issue is Nations & the bat rule. Nations let USSSA take all the heat on the 1.15 BPF deal. Nations stated "we don't have that rule written anywhere", however, any complex that hosts Nations events requires the 1.15. Nations intended to adhere to the rule but washed their hands of the dirty work & made the complexes take the heat. Thusly, USSSA made people buy bats, not Nations. [/quote] Nothing Morgan can do -- Nations uses percentages to rate teams, not actual performance.  If you are in the 40% (power rankings), you are Elite.  Carroll was offended when I told him that was arbitrary.  Funny thing is, instead of complaining, everyone should just sit back and enjoy.  More effort is being put into the local Nations tournaments now because of some healthy American competition.  While there have been rumors of threats to teams playing USSSA or discounts that only apply if you commit to Nations exclusively, I guess it all benefits the kids and coaches.  And, maybe the local Nations tournaments will have problem solvers on site -- that has been a problem in the past.  The long and short of it that the tournaments are going to better this year and local people will have more options.  More out of town teams are coming in.  That is nice (new people to play).  Now, if someone could stir a fire under the county.  We ought to drag those workers over to Sulphur and watch the SPAR crews work.  How do we get that kind of effort over here?  The outfields are embarrassing.  It seems strange to have such a nice facility, turfed infields, then a goat farm in the outfield. 

Sorry for No problem VP93 ...... I just wanted to make sure we dont start on the wrong page here, never met you before and I did get to see your team play this weekend, good kids. I just think there should of been a AA class for 11s but it wouldnt of mattered cause of the rain screwing things up [/quote] Look, Renegade, it won't hurt your kids to play aaa teams on a weekend.  It won't hurt them to lose.  Some would say that is how you get better.  I do think it is important to find competitive balance, but don't look to big organizations putting together tournaments to always be able to fix it.  Nations uses arbitrary percentages (x % Elite, x % Select, etc.)  At least USSSA is there and takes a visual look at your team then you get rated.  Usually, if you have not played any events, you start aaa (to guard against trophy chasers).  If they have good information ahead of time, they can adjust prior.  I know this, Tillery is all about the kids.  He wants it fun and is committed to making it fun for them. 

Unbelievable how perception can be so different.  I have coached select ball for several years and played in both organizations.  Last year, the answer for our team to play at Ford Park (our bracket never made), the Nations Director asked us to recruit teams to come (I thought that was his job).  BTW, not sure how many of the Nations events we played in where the Director was even there.  Now, you have a different option.  Teams came from Laredo, Corpus, Dallas, Sinton, Louisiana.  Brackets were big.  New competition for local teams.  How did he do it?  Hustling.  Networking.  Marketing.  Dunno but thank goodness someone is doing something to get teams here -- I hate the weekends in Houston.  And what about flexibility?  The 8U bracket was open.  It became obvious that there was enough to split and balance talent.  So, what did he do???  Split and had a aa bracket and a aaa.  That is what you want a Director to do.  Where did his team play?  aaa.  Too many of you people are trophy chasers.  That is the part of Select Baseball (and baseball in general) that is detrimental to the game and to the boys playing it.  There is not enough emphasis on player development and too much interest in a stupid trophy at a weekend tournament.  Why did some people drop out?  Because they didn't think they would win.  Win, win, win.  Pitch a kid 100+ pitches on a weekend -- win, win, win.  Play the same kids in the same positions all the time.  Win, win, win.  At 7-12, the focus should be on player development, not the result of some weekend tournament.  So, let the boys play.  Let them compete and you never know what will happen.  Hopefully, you make it fun for them so they will keep playing.  And, thank you to Tillery for doing a great job this weekend.  To deal with that kind of adversity on his first tournament.  Are you kidding me.  He brought a helicopter for all your kids.  If this is the first tournament, imagine what happens next.  So, stop complaining and realize that something great just happened.  (and, btw, all the related local industry said thanks too -- over 3000 in the gates on Sunday, hotels, restaurants, etc.) 

Congrats to Vidor and its players and coaches.  Great result.

Or, "If you're not Dutch, you're not much."  Loved the guy.

Congrats -- glad to see a local team make it past this round.  Good job Lady Indians!