Quote:
Originally posted by Rick Vietti
I have run into lopsided games on several occasions both on the Fed side and in tournaments. Tournaments I tend to not worry so much because of time limits and the usual tighter run rules.
If I have pre-knowledge that one team will simply over power the other team, I remind the coach of sportsmanship and "If the game gets out of hand, please make sure that the other team is not embarrased." And I follow that up with a few suggestions about the possiblility of running base runners off base or bunting into outs or have the girls practice batting opposite handed.
In general the "Class Coaches" or the coaches who know the game will try one of these tactics to get through the game. The occasional "Classless Coach" (I had one in a recent tournament - up by 17 runs and stealing home) that will get the neighberhood call for an out or my favorite - Dr. K (Kervorkian) Call!!!
|
You know what the problem is here? There is a reason that softball has different divisions and classes.
If a team plays up and actually tries to do the best they can, I think that is great. If a team is involved in a tournament just so their players can experience it, that is wrong.
Some of the reasons "national championships" have lost their glimmer regardless of the organization is because there are so many, it has just become another weekend of softball. When talking tournaments nowadays, you don't hear about the competition a team may be facing first, but the number of guaranteed games they will play and any possible exposure the players may receive.
I've had coaches tell me that they knew they didn't belong in this qualifier or that championship, but they just wanted their players to get a chance to experience the feeling.
Some people have failed to realize that tournament resources are not unlimited. There are only a certain number of umpires, TDs, asst. TDs. etc. available on any given weekend. Wasting those resources is not fair to those involved which also includes the teams who belong as opposed to those merely along for the ride.
And when they realize this and need to cut expenses, the first place they look is the officiating as it has been demonstrated this year with ASA SP national tournaments where the umpires have been cut by a third to save the host some money.
Sorry for the mini-rant, but it's about time people actually start checking how much water is in the well before offering it to the hoards who buy into the "field of dreams" mentality.