ASA COUNCIL MEETING
There’s a storm brewing out in the Gulf of Mexico – the skies darkened, the wind freshened, but the storm did not move into Mobile Bay – so we wait another day to see what portent this storm has for the local weather.
The ASA Council meeting is something like that. On Sunday, delegates debated more than 100 proposals, including several which would alter the JO landscape. Many of course proposed diametrically opposite solutions. By Wednesday, when the Legislative Committee and Playing Rules Committee voted, the list had been pared considerably.
Still, readers are cautioned. The ASA Council is much like the US Congress, wherfe no bill is truly dead nor safely alive until final passage. Proposals which did not survive in committee can be brought up again in Thursday’s final general session.
So, tonight’s report is only an indication of where matters stand before final decisions are taken by the 280 voting delegates tomorrow.
Interestingly, the proposal which has most often been discussed with SPY, and seemingly has strong support at the highest levels of ASA, is to limit Gold Nationals to 48 teams, beginning in 2006 when the tournament moves to Oklahoma City. Yet, there is no proposal on tomorrow’s docket to set that limit, nor a scheme for redistributing berths. But, it’s coming, if not in 2006, not long thereafter.
The other hot button issue – eliminating pool play or revising it -- is addressed by several proposals, some of which would substitute a 3-game format, others would keep the two-game format but have teams draw for position in their four-team box. Note that the 3-game elimination format is likely to be adopted for other ASA divisions. We have seen the proposed bracket and several commissioners say they have some problems with it.
The proposals which have survived so far include:
n Beginning January 2005, for Gold, Class A and Class B, pool play would be eliminated, and a three-game elimination bracket substituted. Teams from the same region would be protected from playing each other for two rounds. The region with the most teams would draw first, etc. Before approving this motion, the Committee rejected a motion to eliminate pool play but keep the 2-game elimination format.
n A companion resolution keeps the 3-game format but, if the Gold tournament in OKC is televised, ASA could divide the 64-team field into two brackets of 32 teams each, with the two bracket winners playing for the championship. The amendment does not specify a format for dividing the field.
n Fill-in procedures (eg, 18A) cannot be used if more than 138 teams qualify
n For boys 10-16U, pool play is eliminated and a three-game format employed
n Regions could negotiate dates for the two tournaments in each Gold sector
n An amendment would redistribute berths for all divisions except Gold, with a ceiling of 135 teams – but another amendment lets the cap rise to 156 teams
n A playing rule change redefines infield fly to mean a ball which can be caught with ordinary effort
n A proposal regarding batting helmets would have required the face mask to be permanently attached; this was amended to read securely attached
n A playing rule change clarifies that time begins with the first pitch
Some proposals which died aborning could be revived.
The Committee rejected a proposal to redistribute Gold berths, by eliminating the four returning berths and the two host teams, adding these berths to the sectors, eg, Sector IV would get 12 berths.
As expected, there were several proposals seeking to prohibit college players, and proposals to eliminate pickup players in the entirety. Alternatively, another rejected proposal would have allowed teams to pickup players from any team within their state association. A proposal to allow foreign players in championships was rejected. Another proposal rejected would have moved Gold, 18A and 16U n
up by one week each.
While approving at least one concept for the 3-game elimination bracket, the Committee rejected a proposal that this bracket be used for regional and sector tournaments.
Another rejected proposal would continue pool play but pool play would not be used to seed the elimination bracket.
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