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Originally posted by turntwo

USSSA will have it's classification report out next week. So any teams that played USSSA last year, will be 'somewhat' classified this year. And if the team or coach has changed, but 6 (or more) of the players are the same, they still my go where USSSA puts them (meaning you can't sandbag/play down). That assumes coaches are honest, and/or other coaches police the teams. A true AA team doesn't want to play AAA or Major teams if they don't have to (yes some just choose to chase points). Otherwise, if you're truly a new team, and a mix-match team of players, 'classification' isn't that important, but I guess AA would open as many doors as possible, in terms of being able to play in AA, AAA, Major, or Open tourneys. YOU (or the coach) may play in ONE AA tourney and decide never to do that again (say y'all run-rule every team in the 3rd inning). So then your next tourney is AAA, and see how that goes. I know some register as AAA, but try to play all the SNIT's at the Major level. Just to challenge their team, rather than chase wins, or trophies.

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Originally posted by CaCO3Girl

A true AA team would be run ruled by any major team 99.999% of the time. Expect a Major level team to have every single kid able to bat 3rd or 4th on most teams, expect the pitchers to be throwing at least 10-15+mph over any AA pitcher, and expect that every child will be physically fit to the n'th degree and larger but with the ability to run.

There are reasons for the divisions/classes. While it may be fun to play a Major team once in a blue moon being mercy ruled on a near constant basis because you are entering tourneys out of your teams ability level isn't fun. I'm a firm believer that there are sub classes within the divisions. Teams are typically High A/Low AA, High AA/Low AAA, High AAA/Low Major, and true Major. There could be a huge difference between A/AA and AA/AAA.

If you have at least 6 kids that can consistently hit the ball, and at least 4 pretty good pitchers I say start with AAA and make your decisions from there. While USSSA does police itself, not allowing a team to stay AA if they consistently crush all competition in the AA events, it does take them awhile to determine there is sandbagging going on. I have also found that the caliber of teams drastically changes at 12u and above in USSSA. By that point many teams are trying to play more triple crown and PG tourneys and the USSSA tourneys aren't really drawing the best competition and many Major teams don't play them anymore, with the exception of the SNIT's.

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Originally posted by bfriendly

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Originally posted by turntwo

USSSA will have it's classification report out next week. So any teams that played USSSA last year, will be 'somewhat' classified this year. And if the team or coach has changed, but 6 (or more) of the players are the same, they still my go where USSSA puts them (meaning you can't sandbag/play down). That assumes coaches are honest, and/or other coaches police the teams. A true AA team doesn't want to play AAA or Major teams if they don't have to (yes some just choose to chase points). Otherwise, if you're truly a new team, and a mix-match team of players, 'classification' isn't that important, but I guess AA would open as many doors as possible, in terms of being able to play in AA, AAA, Major, or Open tourneys. YOU (or the coach) may play in ONE AA tourney and decide never to do that again (say y'all run-rule every team in the 3rd inning). So then your next tourney is AAA, and see how that goes. I know some register as AAA, but try to play all the SNIT's at the Major level. Just to challenge their team, rather than chase wins, or trophies.

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Thanks turntwo! Makes sense that USSSA would police their own and sheds some light on it. I'd like to see success then step up to the next level, but I'm not in charge

Definitely would like to play against much better teams for sure!

It'll be interesting to see how the numbers change as the year goes on.........or next week.

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