[Dakota]

In my area, my HS ball association does not do anything BUT HS for softball (i.e. they do other sports as well, but with softball, they only do HS).

My ASA "association" is really nothing more than a game assignor - there is no real organization.

My AFA affiliation is without any formal relationship at all. No association. No regular assignor. I get games from time to time because I know the people involved very well.

I have also done some games on the side for my local Jr Hi to help out the local kids.

I handle the conflict by following these principles:

1. My first loyalty is to games I have committed to.
2. My second loyalty is to my HS assoication during the HS season.
3. My second loyalty is to my ASA assignor during the ASA season.

(Yeah, I know - two second loyalties - but they don't overlap much & where they do #1 rules).

Most of the guys in my HS association are also in another association for ASA ball. A few are in another association for AFA ball. Fewer still only to HS for softball.

If you run afoul of your local associations sensibilities wrt "loyalty" you may pay the price in games assigned, even if their loyalty is misplaced. In my experience, if you try to "trap" people into doing something to avoid punishment, etc., that will only work for a limited amount of time until people can figure out how to escape. Not a good long term plan for your association to adopt, IMO.

[Edited by Dakota on Mar 17th, 2005 at 09:38 AM]