Why is the Last Chance Qualifier needed? Mon ey Grab or other alternatives???


Options to consider.

1) If a team has an open spot for example a 55AAA team has a Major spot open then they should at anytime be able to pick up said player. That player who played during the year on a 55 Major team may not have fit in with that team and has decided to go another avenue, why should he be penalized if he has played in the 2024 season in the SSUSA program. Just like any other organizations if a team has room for another player a level above let them pick that player up, why go thru all this red tape to make him eligible.

2) If a player has not participated in any 2024 SSUSA events then yes the Last Chance Qualifier is where said team would need to play to get that player or players eligible on the roster.

There needs to be some thought behind this. Teams just played National and the following week they now have to play again to qualify players, these options would help benefit everyone. Especially with limited field space and the amount of teams. Also, if to qualify a player he needs to check in take one at bat then that team has met the requirements and can leave after the first game which would basically mess up further scheduled games and and not save you any money on field rental since the city already has a schedule of games provided and park staff on hand.

Just my two cents worth.

The most significant (of multiple) reasons why a "last-chance" qualifier is the answer is to prevent teams from loading up with players from teams who may decide not to attend the World Championships ... Not everyone goes to Las Vegas, but almost every team that doesn't go has upper-end talent ... We have no objection to you signing them up, but we want to see you play with them to ensure we have you in the proper rating level ... It's an integrity of the game issue ...

Maybe some of the independent tournament directors who run these events can comment on the economics, but SSUSA doesn't run them and, accordingly, doesn't participate in any "money grab" ... In fact, our experience is more along the lines of wondering how they can break even ... They can't be a get-rich-quick scheme ... Maybe someone who promotes these types of events can comment? ...

Little confused with the reply if a team has a Major spot left on a AAA team in the same age group how would that impact the overall rating if they fit the 3 Major on a AAA team they should be able to add but put a rule in place that player is locked on the roster for the remainder of the season. Why make teams play if they fit the overall player guidelines the event teams will show up play one game leave and how does that impact the rest of the days schedule? Teams are not there to win the event they are there to fulfill the player eligibility requirements and leave without any players being injured for upcoming Worlds. There should be more discussion on this to make it work for all.

I am a promoter for a couple of Last Chance Qualifiers. Neither are huge and I assure you that there won't be a new yacht purchase in my future. If padding pockets was the goal, I'd probably require teams to stay in certain hotels so that I could draw a kickback or somethiing of that sort. As a parent of a kid in youth travel sports, I'm aware that "stay to play" hotel schemes are the ultimate cash grab. I don't do that. Rather, I encourage teams to stay where they want, whether that's 5 guys in an Air B&B or 5 guys sleeping on another guys living room floor.


Regarding roster make-up, some associations allow managers to "qualify" a team for their worlds by sending an email to a desk 2k miles from Las Vegas seeking roster approval. The recipient of that email has no real idea of who he is really approving to play in their biggest tournament. That's one of the reasons I'm in favor of the SSUSA policy. SSUSA asks teams to participate in their qualifiers during the year so that our directors have a chance to put eyes on the team / player and make a judgment as to whether or not they belong in said division. To DaveDowell's point, it's an integrity of the game / spirit of the game issue.

You're asking that a team be allowed to add a "chip" player prior to Worlds simply because roster space is available. Here's my response-

When every other team in the country needs to qualify players throughout the season, using a 30 yr old process (that works), why should another team be allowed to circumvent the rules just because they have deep pockets (can fly a guy in) or connections in the softball community?

To the extreme point, you're asking about a team adding 1, un-qualified out of rating guy. What happens if a team has all 3 "chip" spots available? Would you then be okay with a team flying in 3 newbies? P, SS, CF ? How about this scenario. 2 pretty strong AAA teams decide to combine for worlds, taking the 7 best from each team. Wouldn't it make sense for somebody to put eyes on that team to make sure that, as a combined group, that AAA is the right spot for them?

The line needs to be drawn somewhere, and I'm comfortable saying that the current line is accruately drawn for 98+% of all cases.

Tim,

I agree with you on some points but teams in California only border a few States and the team I am on doesn’t have deep pockets to fly in players maybe that needs to be looked at more discreetly. Some teams are local and pick up players who played previously on the team didn’t like where they went and got a higher tag and would like to come back. Everyone knows you can see where the team is from and where the player is from and make a rationale decision as to get you need to play in this Last. Chance event or no we know who the player is and his past history and make a proper decision. I’m just trying to help with options and think a little more outside the box. We know you know those teams that have access to the players that they will fly in I believe it’s more so in the Major and Major Plus division but just my opinion. Sure you have used this rationale for 30 years but over time tweaks here and there should be brought to the table and discussed what can SSUSA do to maybe make it fair and within reason. Maybe what worked years ago needs to be looked at as times have changed.

SKings24 ... The underlying theory of allowing limited additions to a "qualified" roster is to provide a mechanism for a team to have up to five "reserves" over and above their basic defensive alignment ... The process is NOT intended for adding better talent ... For teams that play with 10 defensively, that means a 15-player maximum ... You may "get to 12" with same age, same rating players ... The last three, to "get to 15", must come from the next older and same (or lower if same age) rating experience history ... You may not add ANY player with a rating experience history greater than that of your team ...

OR

You may simply attend a Last Chance Qualifier with as many as 20 players who are otherwise eligible for your team as to age, residency and experience history ... Your call ...

With 39 million residents, California teams are unlikely to garner any support from the other 49 states on this matter.

Here's something else to keep in mind- Las Vegas is driveable for California teams. If they get a case of the last minute roster "shorts" it's easier for them to bring in a player (of any skill level) than it is for a team from, say..... Ohio or North Carolina.