First, thanks to all that helped make our 30th anniversary year such a great success. It would not have been possible without the help of dedicated people who love this league and the bigger and better heights we are aiming for.
The tournament is exciting and I'm really enjoying playing as well!
Thinking about next year, Lord willin', I have a couple of thoughts running through my mind. I share them here in no certain order.
BTW, most of these are things I would submit for a vote at the winter meeting.
Parity. With a high water mark of 19 teams and one division, there is naturally going to be some really good teams (record wise) and some really bad teams (record wise). Obviously recruiting, talent, chemistry etc. all contribute to a teams won loss record. I would like to take a look at handicapping under 500 teams. Nothing radical like spotting them runs or anything, I was thinking more along the lines of allowing a sub-500 team to field 5 outfielders in either a 3 deep 2 short or 4 deep 1 short configuration. This would give defensively challenged teams a little better chance of competing against top tier teams.
Co-ed. I'd also like to look at making teams have 2 female fielders before being allowed to field a 10th (or 11th) fielder.
Division Play. I like the idea of having 2 separate tournaments with 2 separate champions. The thought is to have sub-500 teams compete in their own tourny. 500 and over in their own. This accomplishes making the tournament more competitive for both tiers of teams. Realistically, can a 2-10 team compete against at 11-1 team in a tournament?
Expansion. I would like to explore a southern division comprising teams in Crystal Lake, LITH and Algonquin. This would take some real effort and dedication from a willing person to organize, recruit teams and secure ballfields (with lights preferably at one location.)
I would also like to seek out a 2nd site for our league that would allow further expansion. Some have suggested 9:30 games but we all know what that would mean since our no time limit format can push back 7:30 and 8:30 start times.
Bats. I'd like to consider a 2nd and final adjustment to the non-wood bat rule and lower the age limit to 50. I would not support lowering it any further.
Regional tournament. I'd like to explore having a regional, invitational church softball tournament to be held on a Saturday in July next year. Round Robin format with a guaranteed minimum number of games. (This would HAVE to have time limits.) I'm aware of a similar tournament in Western Illinois that draws teams from several states. My brother-in law is in a church league in Lombard. I know of another one in Bollingbrook and I'm sure there are lots more with which to build an invite list.
I look forward to other ideas and lively discussion.
Thanks.
2 comments:
Hey Doug,
Only going to comment on the parity thing right now. Seeing as the three teams with the best regular season records are now in the Losers bracket, are they really that much better than the rest of the field?
It is great that people can play for their church, with fellow church members. I highly doubt that the majority of ball players attend the church which they represent, maybe this should be challenged. Therefore, we could throw all the players into a pool, with each captain picking in snaking order from the pool. This would also more evenly distribute the women players throughout the league. This would also limit/protect against teams stacking their lineups just for the playoffs. There would have to be some exceptions for Husband/wife combos, but other than that it would encourage fellowship with others, and level the playing field. Just a thought.
Tj - Anchor Baptist
Thanks for the input TJ.
I would disagree with the DRAFT idea. Many players would simply not come back and I think the league would quickly disintegrate.
Being a church league in my mind means a church filling their team roster.
I've heard the comment before questioning the ranks of players on each team. That is why this year, I instituted the new Roster submission policy. Every team had to have their roster filled out on church stationary and signed by the head clergy.
I know that some churches have teams with 100% people that go to their church. Some a mix. I believe that Dave M. stated that your team has players on it that do not go to Anchor. That's ok, since Pastor Rudy signed off on the roster.
So, getting back to the parity issue. The one mechanism that stands out for me would be a division mix.
What happened in the tournament this year could only be described as rare indeed.
Post a Comment