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Not an umpiring question, but I think it's still worth mentioning.
Here in my area, we are seeing a drop in teams playing in the AAA and Major divisions of USSSA baseball. At the same time, we are seeing a growth in the number of teams playing AA.
For example:
1) The complex for which I umpire most my games in any given season sponsors two wood bat tournaments per year. The tournaments are open to any level. On every weekend, we have had 30+ teams in different age groups. This year, the numbers were down to less than half of that. Even the local AA teams that play every tournament held in their age group travelled elsewhere so as not to play Major and AAA teams.
2) The complex also has run the AAA state 10 and under championship. Every year has brought 20+ teams in that division alone. This year: only 8 entries.
3) We are getting a AA national tournament for 16 and under. Before, there was never enough teams in AA to warrant anything beyond AA state or regional. This year it looks like we will get huge numbers for this tournament.
Has anyone else seen this trend in not just USSSA, but in other sactioning bodies?
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