RECRUITING
TOURNAMENTS
October 14-16
Clearwater, Florida
Eddie C. Moore Complex
6 fields
Other Rising Stars fall event is Oct 21-23 , so there is no conflict.
Questions asked of the NFCA Division I coaches was sent out on two separate occasions. 6/11/10 &
8/17/10.
The reason they were sent twice was due to the low response of the first attempt (97 responses). The
second attempt was worse (48), unfortunately. My hope in sending the survey out again was that it was
the end of the summer, and folks would have a good feel on what the liked/disliked at all of the
tournaments they attended.
The breakdown in response REGIONALLY is as follows, so you have an idea of the audience:
Central:
Great Lakes:
Mid-Atlantic:
Mideast:
Midwest:
Northeast:
Pacific:
South:
Southeast:
West:
4
20
18
19
18
28
11
7
13
6
I combined the responses I received from both surveys
Do you regularly attend NFCA recruiting camps
Yes
9
31
No
29
33
A few (list) 9
33 (Vegas, Pennsbury or Aurora dominated this list)
Would you prefer a mandatory pre-game routine as opposed to a full day of a Recruiting Camp?
Yes 88
No
46
Maybe 47
It appears that a mandatory pre-game routine is preferred, but there were a lot of questions as to what the
pre-game routine would entail. This would be an area I will have to revisit as it is still too vague:
Infielders:
Grounders & throw to bases – both teams in positions
Outfielders: Fly balls, throw to bases - both teams in positions
Offense:
Tunnels between fields from sponsor & front toss or tees – (NO machines)
Timed running: would have to be done outside of this and posted online (or at tournament site)
H-1st & 2B-H only should be done – 2x each player.
Pitchers:
Not sure – people want to see their technique, but also have the MPH. Maybe
another area (tunnel?) for this?
SOLUTION:
If you have two games a day guaranteed for each team – we would PRE-designate a team for the field
doing a defensive workout the other for the batting cages, much like a pre-game routine for college
tournaments – only teams participate in only ONE of the activities before your games - this way the
coaches would have the chance to view both in a day and things for the teams are less rushed.
QUESTION:
Is there enough time in the 15 minutes between games to actually put this to action and for coaches
to get something out of it? That will be the wild card. It will all need to be very organized and
teams/TB coaches will be prepped so there are no issues or delays.
The other option would be to invite the Allister’s (OnDeck Softball) to come and run one of their
“camps.” They have worked more out in the west, and have not yet had a camp in the Southeast.
Thoughts? Thursday night? Friday morning? Game times are tight as it is with only 6 fields for our
Florida tournament. Coaches do not want games starting after 6pm/7pm, but the Allister’s run a GREAT
camp and would bring in the top coaches AND prospects.
How would you feel if games were shortened by innings in an attempt to keep the day on schedule?
46% would rather have a time limit than see this happen
12% think shortening the games isn’t too bad
36% want them to play the full game, but have a “break” in the day to allow for schedule catchup
In general, it is decided that a time limit allows the coaches to plan accordingly. My conclusion would be
to have a 1.45 game time limit, but to complete that inning you are in, so it is not a drop dead time limit.
Also, we will play with the “speed rules” – one foot in box, limit conferences, etc.
There will be no more than three games in a day
How many teams is manageable for a Friday through Sunday tournament?
60 is the magic number. Almost 70% of the responses voted for this answer. (options were 40, 60, 80,
100)
Some notes coaches added:
Depends on the # of fields & distance from each other, Depends on the quality of teams, Two people
wrote “60 max, 40 preferred”.
I would like to model the NFCA Recruiting Tournaments after Team NJ
They have 40 teams, 6 fields, 7 game guarantee, Wed-Sat. (4 days).
We can do a 5 game guarantee – one game Fri, two on Sat & Sun.
What are some things you would like to see at NFCA administered tournaments? Mark all options
you like: (shown in order of importance, coaches could check more than one box)
1.. 95% - Game schedules providing team names – (not 1A vs 4B) – will provide BOTH
2. 90% - Accurate Roster book – MOST IMPORTANT
3. 84% - Roped off area behind home plate for coaches only (and outfield!)
4. 30% - DVD/CD available post tournament with all roster info
5. 29% - Set situations throughout the game (1st inning: runner on 1B, 2nd inning: runner on 2B, etc).
Comments from coaches:
- Mix teams but only if the 16U teams can compete with 18U, otherwise all Gold teams is preferred.
- Need an easy way to check the schedule throughout the day, especially if brackets are involved.
- Have game MVP’s, all tournament teams for each pool.
- Radar guns on pitchers during game & post results.
- A few folks suggested no contact/communication with travel ball coaches
- Two divisions, one 16U, one 18U (32 each makes perfect pool play & brackets)
- Hospitality tent for college coaches (shade, water & snacks)
- All at one park
- Text message service if game times change.
- Presentation for parents, coaches, players before tournament – NCAA rules review for all levels so
they understand what they can/cannot do, and what college coaches can/cannot do.
- COMPETE, COMPETE, COMPETE.
SAMPLE FORMATS
48 teams – PREFERRED # of teams due to number of fields
24 16U teams --- 24 18U teams
6 pools of 4 in each category
If 64 teams – we will have to run games later than 6pm
32 16U --- 32 18U
8 pools of 4 in each category
Friday – one pool play game for each team - + Allister’s camp?
Sat – two pool play games
Sun – ELIMINATION DAY – two games after seedings/rankings into four groups
PLATINUM – GOLD – SILVER – BRONZE
If you lose your first game, you play the other loser in your “category”
If you win, you play the other winner for the “championship” of your “category”
NFCA Endorsed (sanctioned) Tournament Guidelines (ideas):
University Athlete must be present
– This guarantees accurate roster information & easy access
– Also gives coaches ability to update evals & avoid data entry later.
– Hard copy of roster book is available to those who do not want to upload.
– Easy lookup by player/team OR by field, time, ratings given to players, it is limitless.
– Brackets will automatically update in your phone as day goes on, no need to go update your
brackets like at any other elimination tournament.
Time limit of no less and 1.5 hours
Championship type format – “winner” of some sort so there is a heightened sense of competition
“Speed Rule” – one foot in box, limit conferences, etc. Will keep the game going.
No more than x amount of teams (TBD)
No more than x amount of fields for tournament off-site (TBD)
Press releases to NFCA website
Others?
CHAMPIONS CUP – Jim Bollinger – possibly the first “endorsed/sanctioned” tournament –
Great tournament, well run, Jim wants to be a part of what we are trying to do.
Also interested in hosting one of our camps at a future event (good income for NFCA).
Being a part of this tournament will allow JG to be behind the scenes, see what we like about it, what we
don’t, and adjust our own tournament accordingly. It will also give JG some “tournament hosting”
experience to see what some of the “day of” challenges can be and how to anticipate such issues.
Donna Vavrinec
Sally Walker – February
What our thoughts are on running the tournament
Can they recruit the umpires?
Travel information
Email schedule
Maybe more of a “camp”
18’s could be 3-man?
[email protected]
Umpire budget – if there is – do we have it set
Needs to know if every game will have two umps or three
Nine fields – 4 umps per field –
Is there something for travel
Something for lodging & food
Evaluators
Min of 68 umps – crews of 8 fields 1-7, crews of 6 on 8 & 9
4 games a day for each
3 opps at each position - using 3 man.
If we need to change that –
Plus paying for clinicians - + hotels + If we cover hotels
If we run as a camp for umpires – if we just cover hotel – two people – they may get enough fees –
When people realize they will be evaluated and trained by 5-6, 3 are on the National Staff – they will want
to come. Springboard for Donna to see someone – if she brings in others to train – they will want to be
better.
NFCA – X toward travel -