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Originally posted by Dakota
The issue is a lot more complicated than that. It involves qualificating for ASA nationals (the regional NQ's not being "regional"), the timing of knowing IF you qualify (a mere week or 2 before nationals), the expense of ASA nationals given the distance and the last minute travel costs, and finally, after all that, not really having a shot at a top 20 finish.
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"qualificating"? Man, that just sounds dirty.
I don't know what is held in your area, but a team can qualify for a NT/NC by winning the previous year, being a host team, winning a Regional, winning a closed NQ (only teams from within the region), winning the HOF tournament, winning an open NQ (open to any team), etc. Some tournaments have more than one berth to offer.
Many teams PLAN and budget based on attending Nationals even before qualifying. If you want to complain about the time period, blame HS ball. It is different in every state. Some states play until Memorial Day and other states start school after the first weekend in August. While some teams are from areas where a player can participate in both simultaneously, some state NFHS bodies forbid it. That leaves every ASA association in the country less than 2 months to hold states, regionals, CNQs and ANQs. And remember, at this point of the year, JO isn't the only game in town, so resources (fields, umpires, etc.) may cause even more limitations than just the calendar.
It's tough no matter what organization you're talking about.
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Maybe so, but ASA needs to recognize reality. The ground has shifted underneath girls sports. Who cares if the Orange County Squeezers win the National Championship? Their parents, that's who. Travel teams are not community teams; they have no connection to anyone except their own organization. What do these parents care about (esp at 16U and up, but disturbingly, 14U and below also)?... exposure and a full ride Title IX.
ASA needs to recognize the needs and requirements of their customers. If exposure tournaments are more important than national championships, then provide them, ASA. What's the problem?
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Many of the major exposure tournaments are ASA sanctioned. However, ASA is the national governing body which means their job is to provide a national championship. Their mission is not to aid NFCA members in recruiting. ASA NC host staffs (especially 18U & 18U Gold) go to extreme pains and expense to try to accommodate college coaches, but unless you are involved as someone working the tournament, you do not realize that this effort often drains the volunteer and umpire staff to the point it can affect the tournament.
Unfortunately, this has become expected and as the demands (yes, demands) rise from the visiting coaches, it can deter a city from bidding to host such a tournament as it really eats into their profit margin.