| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| hshuler |
Posted - 08/02/2012 : 11:39:43
What's your opinion of how these changes will affect the game, if at all?
There are three (3) major roster rule changes that take effect on August 1,2012. Each is outlined below.
The first and foremost change is that online rosters are now required 12 months of the year. This new rule will greatly ease reclassification because we will now be able to include games played during the fall into the process. This does not cause any change on the team's part as rosters still will not begin to freeze until April 1st. It does however require teams classified as Single-A to actually have true Single-A players playing for them in the fall, Double-A teams to actually have true Double-A players playing for them and Triple-A teams to have true Triple-A players playing for them.
The second change addresses "drop down" players. A drop down player is easily defined as any player frozen at any time to a team of higher classification the prior season regardless of age division. The big deal with this is a drop down player can only play one (1) classification below his highest frozen classification the previous season. In other words, as an example, no longer can a Double-A team add a player from a Major team the previous season or a Single-A team add a AAA player. In addition, no team can roster more than three (3) drop down players. Any team that adds more than three (3) drop down players to their roster or adds any drop down player that has dropped more than one classification will be automatically
reclassified up AND will remain reclassified up even if they drop the
suspect player(s).
The third big change could be construed as confusing but in reality it is not. Simply stated, no player at any time can appear on more than one (1)online roster (frozen or unfrozen...it does not matter) in any age division. This is being incorporated into the rules for several reasons but none more important than helping to control players from hoping team to team, weekend after weekend, while the player's parents search out the perceived greenest pasture. This practice lends to "Sports Burnout", a serious epidemic across
America that USSSA is taking a solid stance against. This new rule will require coaches to add players on Fridays and drop them on Sunday evenings or Monday mornings and that's OK. Someone has to try and protect these young athletes!!!
The 2013 Rulebook has been loaded on the Georgia USSSA Baseball state web site, www.gausssabaseball.com and is available now for download. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| barehandit |
Posted - 10/07/2012 : 12:56:42
11UFAN,great feedback. 9-14 players vs 9-14 players. Only 9 on the field at one time. Prepare, show up, play the game the right way. Teach the game the right way. Develop the kids. I prefer wood bats after 13. You can lose to a team by 100 and still execute every play, learn from every at bat and every situation, whether it ends successfully or not. Adversity builds things too and being beat by a stacked team doesn't make the team that loses a losing team. All kinds of approaches, mindsets, styles in coaching, business and life, Yankees vs A's, Chick Fil A vs Burger King, Microsoft vs Apple. |
| 11UFAN |
Posted - 10/06/2012 : 16:45:45
Personally I don't care, even if a team has all major players and plays in all single A/AA tournaments. We are all now at 13, getting ready for 60/90. Competition is going to keep getting better as weaker kids quit the game, kids go through puberty and pitcher only's start appearing.
All the USSSA rules trying to prevent trophy hunters are ridiculous once they get to 13U and older. If a team wants to enter a tourney and outscore everyone 100-0 who cares. They won't be getting any better and those that play them will.
Baseball is not a sprint, it is a marathon. |
| wareagle |
Posted - 10/05/2012 : 13:39:27
Not really a big deal, especially in the fall, but Utrip needs to clarify and stick to a set of rules. There is a AA team registered to play this weekend that has probably 9 or so major players on the roster. Again this is not a big deal to me because it is an Open tournament. This particular organization has a major and a AA team. Why not just register as the Major team? If The AA(?) team wins over some Major teams then they could be bumped up in class pretty quickly? I have no problems with this team, I am only using them as an example of how unorganized, unenforced, and subjective this classification system currently is.
I am not the most knowledgeable with computers, but it seems as though it would be pretty simple to install a set of parameters, so that when a team registers, the roster history of the players(assuming they are input correctly)could be checked and automatically set a minimum classification to which a team could register???? |
| Newbie BB Mom |
Posted - 10/05/2012 : 11:24:46
It looks like the state office is still hammering out the 2013 classifications and reclassification/appeals policies for this year. Last year's policies (still posted on their website) focused on six players as the magic number for downward reclassification purposes. Whatever policies the state office comes up with for this year will need to account for USSSA's new rules regarding three or more "drop down players." Until then, I would cut these teams some slack. They've had to post their online rosters and start playing without any formal guidance from the state office about what to do.
Under USSSA's current rules, the state office has the discretion to reclassify a team at any time during the season. (Rule 2.05) So, for example, if the state office thinks its best, it can reclassify to AAA a team made up entirely of major level players without waiting for a request or for a certain number of sanctioned games against other major level teams.
Perhaps that's what we're seeing -- reclassifications on an ad hoc basis while the state office works out an official reclassification policy? |
| deepsouth6 |
Posted - 10/04/2012 : 20:18:08
What if your a new team with at least 4 or 5 major players but listed as AAA |
| Between the Lines |
Posted - 10/04/2012 : 11:03:30
I am a 10AA team and in the process of adding one Major drop down player. I am willing to move to AAA(follow the rules) and feel that we can compete at this level. I just noticed a 10 major team with 8/9 Major players was just reclassified to AAA(only losing to only 2 major teams). This coach chose to add 4 major players from other teams during the fall. I could see a reclass by USSSA if he had 3 or 4 Major kids but 9 kids? So you see how i feel about new rule. |
| stepoff |
Posted - 09/29/2012 : 19:49:44
Is the rule where if you were a Major team last year and have the same kids on the team this year - you must stay a Major just a Georgia rule? I know of a team in another state who has the same roster but now shows them registered as AAA. And they were a good major team last year. |
| 11UFAN |
Posted - 09/29/2012 : 14:02:11
Unless you are in an area where there is nothing but USSSA tourney's all this hand wringing seems a little silly to me. Coaches need to find the best 12/13 kids they can, coach them up and play your classification in the small handful of tourney's where this matters.
My thing is this: If you're team goal is to play in USSSA regional and national tourney's (SNIT's, E32 etc,,) coaches need to follow the rules. If this is not your team goal then don't worry about it. All teams need to do is follow the rules about adding and dropping players so kids don't get screwed and that's it.
There will be only a very small handful of ELITE Major teams in GA where this even matters.
Parity will be even better this year so just play ball and let's do what we need to do this 13U transitional year which is getting these kids ready for 60/90 next year. It's all that really matters for my kid. |
| Mad1 |
Posted - 09/26/2012 : 21:57:25
C'mon man !!!
There is a USSSA 11open tourney this weekend that has two 11AA teams and five 10u teams playing and it clearly states that they are playing 10u rules, base distances and pitching distances. Thats not an 11 open tourney, thats a 10u tourney letting two 11u teams play down. IMHO, Thats going a bit far to let teams play. |
| pickoffmove |
Posted - 09/21/2012 : 14:41:51
Card6 - Very good points. Most of the kids on my oldest son's HS team were Major players in their youth. You're right. |
| offspeed4 |
Posted - 09/21/2012 : 13:46:39
If I read the rules correctly, a 12 year old playing up on a 13AAA team cannot also play on a 12 Major team. Is that correct? |
| Card6 |
Posted - 09/21/2012 : 12:11:34
pick... If they didnt make it to a semi last yr. in a Major then AAA. Sounds like once again a team played up to a level not for them. If they are not able to go back to AAA they will just play open or no Utrip at all. Rules are getting crazy because of the recruiters and trophy hunters. I know of one team that Utrip ask them to be AAA but they register Major with only two Major players. Didnt play a AAA tourney. They took their lumps and became better players for it. If the team your talking about wins their first couple of tourneys by a blowout they have to be moved up and shame on them. They were never true Majors if they want to go back to AAA. The better the competition the better our players will be. Those that are only into W & L thats not what you want to hear. Just because your on a Major team doesnt make you a Major player. Why would you not want to compete at the Major level? They are the ones that will be playing in HS. |
| pickoffmove |
Posted - 09/21/2012 : 10:05:42
There is a team registered at AAA right now that has 8 players that were Major last season. Looks like the team either changed names or relocated, but obviously still the same team with a few additions. Now from what I could tell though they didn't really fair that well in Major last season but did decent against AAA competition. Shouldn't they be allowed to stay in AAA based on that? Just wondering if it's all about the label or if some thought will be put into it, prior to any reclassifications. |
| BatterUp10 |
Posted - 09/21/2012 : 09:48:09
quote:
Originally posted by WestCoastGuru
Just curious to everybody's opinion pertaining to the new rules....does anybody else feel like USSSA is trying to grow the number of teams playing at the major level classification with all the rule changes? Seems some teams classified as Major last season were inclined to play other associations due to bigger field of teams playing grand slam/triple crown....just looking for other thoughts.
Yes |
| WestCoastGuru |
Posted - 09/21/2012 : 09:36:16
Just curious to everybody's opinion pertaining to the new rules....does anybody else feel like USSSA is trying to grow the number of teams playing at the major level classification with all the rule changes? Seems some teams classified as Major last season were inclined to play other associations due to bigger field of teams playing grand slam/triple crown....just looking for other thoughts. |
| wareagle |
Posted - 09/20/2012 : 14:01:21
I have noticed this happening with several teams, and also teams with "drop down players" that are not registered correctly according to the new rules. It has not been much of an issue this fall because most tournaments are "open". Hopefully Utrip will get this straight by spring, and make sure all teams are aware of the new rules.
It certainly does not appear that it is "automatic" in the registration process. It will take some time for utrip to review the rosters and make changes. If this is not fixed by spring, it could be a real nightmare for directors dealing with protests against teams/players that are not registered correctly. |
| Newbie BB Mom |
Posted - 09/20/2012 : 12:19:23
quote:
Originally posted by spliter
I know this happened last yr. A team had three kids that played Major that joined a AAA team. USSSA moved them to Major. They appealed to USSSA to be put back in AAA. This was the right thing to do because they were still not a top team in AAA. Several Major teams will tell you that all their players are not Major players they just made the mistake of getting on a Major team. They had a good tryout but never performed. It also can depend on who are the Major players. I think I know the team that you talk about and based on the players they are better off in AAA. Majors is a different animal for the few. Some realize Majors is business and want to go back to fun. USSSA has some wriggle room. A true Major does not want to play AAA.
I'm not trying to point a finger at any team. I totally get that a team with 4 or more kids who played on a major level team last year might still be best classified as a AAA team. And I understand why a team might want to be playing at a level it is most competitive.
I'm just wondering if I understand the new rule that went into effect August 1 correctly. I thought the classification based on "drop down players" was automatic and then the team would need to appeal for reclassification. If I'm getting what you're saying, spliter, the classification is still discretionary rather than automatic? |
| spliter |
Posted - 09/20/2012 : 10:00:51
I know this happened last yr. A team had three kids that played Major that joined a AAA team. USSSA moved them to Major. They appealed to USSSA to be put back in AAA. This was the right thing to do because they were still not a top team in AAA. Several Major teams will tell you that all their players are not Major players they just made the mistake of getting on a Major team. They had a good tryout but never performed. It also can depend on who are the Major players. I think I know the team that you talk about and based on the players they are better off in AAA. Majors is a different animal for the few. Some realize Majors is business and want to go back to fun. USSSA has some wriggle room. A true Major does not want to play AAA.
quote:
Originally posted by Newbie BB Mom
I was under the impression that under the new rules if a team had more than 3 players who played on a major-level team last year, the team was automatically classified as a major-level team this year. Is this correct? I've seen at least one new team with a roster of 5 major level players that is classified as AAA. Do I have the rule wrong?
|
| Newbie BB Mom |
Posted - 09/20/2012 : 08:44:04
I was under the impression that under the new rules if a team had more than 3 players who played on a major-level team last year, the team was automatically classified as a major-level team this year. Is this correct? I've seen at least one new team with a roster of 5 major level players that is classified as AAA. Do I have the rule wrong? |
| legends7 |
Posted - 08/27/2012 : 21:57:05
What about if you have a player who is played up on 10aa team past season and at end of season the player plays one tournament with 9 major team before rule was put in and now the team has to play 11aaa this season. The player has been on that same team since 8cp. Playing up each year. I understand some will say why play aa if he can play major at own age and to answer that the coaching is good and he is learning more than the major team he played on is. |
| spike |
Posted - 08/27/2012 : 20:24:02
Ok help my understanding how come no one is interested in drop up players....AAA players with oportunity to play up in the fall may actually find a diamond in the rough... great oportunity for AAA players to step up for parents to see the difference...seems only negative comments are from teams wanting to add drop down players to win or be more competitave in fall to give exhisting parents false sense of goodness to keep current kids. I dont understand if a team just needs players to pick up because of football then pick them up from lower level easy for coaches to let kid go after because "they are not quite ready" Why is there such a debate for lower level teams to add upper level players besides the obvious...needless to say very interesting posts just not sure what the intent is of those who disagree. |
| Mad1 |
Posted - 08/27/2012 : 18:57:26
The new rules arent being enforced or followed yet it looks like, must not be enforcing in fall. There is one 11aa team with 8 drop down players on roster from Major and AAA teams. Was also Major drop down from SP last season pitching in AA tourney is past w/e. |
| ramman999 |
Posted - 08/27/2012 : 08:39:07
@2 seamer - just means the coaches would each have to add and remove for the weekends he played with that particular team. Most teams pick up players to fill out fall rosters anyway with football - it just means a coach can't leave the player on his roster for the entire fall if the kid isn't playing with them full time
|
| 2seamer |
Posted - 08/26/2012 : 22:36:07
quote:
The third big change could be construed as confusing but in reality it is not. Simply stated, no player at any time can appear on more than one (1)online roster (frozen or unfrozen...it does not matter) in any age division.
Does this mean our children can't be rostered with two teams in two different states? Or is this rule just for GA Utrip? This could be a hardship for parents like me who often travel to two states bringing my homeschooled child in tow. That's the only way he can get enough AB's to make competitive baseball worthwhile. It's tough being the 12th player as it is. LOL |
| tomsgal |
Posted - 08/07/2012 : 14:36:50
Thanks for clarifying! I can see how this new rule change can have an adverse effect on some kids. Now parents have an extra stresser to consider. How will coaches handle this new rule? Will they even take these issues into consideration when forming a team? |
