Vtd

[Skahtboi]

So...anyone else on this board have VTD move into your area and take over all of the tournaments that used to be ASA sanctioned?

It has happened here. VTD, who of course used to work hand in hand with ASA to list tournaments online, has now turned themselves into an organization that sponsors/promotes tournaments, particularly FP select tournaments. Basically, we have been told, as umpires, that we must register with VTD, or else not expect to work any tournaments at all.

I have noticed on their website that they say they are now handling tournaments for IFA and Pony. It will probably be only a matter of time before they move them out of the picture as well.

Just wondering if it has happened elsewhere.

[NCASAUmp]

I've not seen them here, but it's my understanding that ASA went with something completely in-house. Maybe that's why VTD is being so aggressive.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

I've not seen them here, but it's my understanding that ASA went with something completely in-house. Maybe that's why VTD is being so aggressive.

From what I understand, ASA just absorbed the system.

Personally, I thought the VTD(RegisterASA) system sucked, but that is because I tried to use it for registering umpires and, IMO, they half-assed the umpire side. They gave me great support in setting up the file to upload it and then, without notice, changed the format online which did not match up with what they told me to use. On top of that, once it uploaded the wrong information in the wrong slots, the system would not allow me to delete and start again. Then ASA came calling for more registration money because those incorrect files were forwarded to ASA.

From what I understand, they didn't do a bad job with youth registrations, but that is about it.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Scott, much as Allan Richardson wants to pass off his program as a new national sanctioning body, right now it is limited to North Texas, according to feedback on Heybucket. There are obviously a lot of disgruntled teams and coaches there (not sure of the full geography, but I hear Dallas and Fort Worth for sure; maybe parts of Texas ASA, as well) believing that the local ASA staff is unresponsive to their needs, so they have adopted VTD as an alternative.

In our local area, there are two (or more) self-proclaimed "sanctions", which want to becoem major players. They get the travel teams that cannot even remotely compete in ASA, and aren't rec teams, but still want be classified as B to win a trophy; or the second tier that know they must play A, but cannot effectively compete for ASA berths.

That said, when the top teams want real competition, they still play ASA. Even with nonresponsive JO staff and higher priced tournaments; because they get the best facilities, the best umpires, and the most consistent standards in every aspect of the game. That has also been true in many other ASA strongholds; and will most likely be true if your umpire associations stand up and refuse to work second tier associations.

I had that battle for exactly one year. Lost a few "money umpires"; when they got the bait and switch, and didn't get what they expected, they mostly came back (the ones that I accepted back; some I told they had made a choice they had to live with, the ones I took back haven't ever looked back). Since then, enough that I took back told the tales and the message of those that I didn't; and haven't lost anyone to that temptation since.