10u play offs 2009

[jnetto]

DBA tournaments hosted by Allen Park, what a horrible experience this was, 40ft mound and POOR field conditions. This game started with a soft infield that caused a ridiculous amount of dead balls and then when we started to question the mound placement, the home team (allen park#1) conveniently did not have a tape measure with them and the game continued as the parents of Wyandotte#3 looked for one. When one of our parents lent us one, we discovered the mound was at 40 feet not the regulated 34 feet. I feel that this was the worst field our team played on the entire season and I expected the best for a DBA tournament field. (40 foot mound!! really!!!)

[jgriffiths]

We ran into similar problems with our playoff game at Cabrini in Allen Park yesterday. There was no pitching mound; luckily, the other team had one; however, it could not be bolted down. There was no pitching circle either.....not good!

[mzacny]

I agree, the field conditions were not the best and the fact that these are the last games to be played on it this summer is somewhat understandable. However, both teams had infield warm ups on the field and could assess the conditions and adjust their players accordingly. Per DBA Playoff rules, the "home" team was determined by coin toss. Allen Park was the home team by coin toss and did not conveniently have a tape measurer (nor did the Wyandotte coach) because it was assumed that the fields would be set up properly by the "Host" city. After the first inning was complete, the Wyandotte team questioned the placement of the mound and it was determined at that point that the mound was incorrectly placed. However, Wyandotte was not the only team that did not have the benefit of the placement, Allen Park was at a disadvantage as well. The game did not continue until the mound was properly set and approved by the Wyandotte and Allen Park coaches. THEN the second inning began. The game did not continue until the tape measurer was found as suggested by the previous poster.

[dmadigan]

Allen Park has hosted softball (and sometimes hardball as well) play-offs since the DBA was formed. I have been an acting softball GM for 5 season and have had only one previous complaint about the condition of a field (Allen Park Middle School), which I completely agreed with and did not use for any of these playoff games. I have never heard of any other complaints internally or from other cities about the fields that were selected for the games played last night. I've spoken directly to the Parks and Rec director regarding the two incorrect pitching mounds. As is the case with every other city, I'm at the mercy of many others involved to ensure that these playoffs run smoothly. I spoke with the Wyandotte coach (Jeannette) during the game and at length after the game. She was understandably frustrated but was also very realistic and rational about the situation by the time our conversation ended since both teams were playing in the exact same conditions. The 10U DBA coaches this season have been nothing short of phenomal to deal with. Hopefully, the parents realize the hard work (and cost!) that goes in behind the scenes to make things happen out there by the coaches, the cities who host these play-offs and all the DBA folks who give so generously and tirelessly of their time and resources so the kids from all our DBA communities can participate. The complaints have been noted and measures have been taken...not much more to say.

[ADMIN]

So, I'm guessing that there is no truth to the rumor that Allen Park 9s and 10s practice from 40 feet just to cover these contingencies?

The truth is that most of us are at the mercies of people who set up our fields. For the most part they do great work, but there are invariably a few screw ups, no matter where you go. I know that my 14U hardball team played a game this summer where first base was at 80 feet and third base was at 90 feet. If I was better with geometry I probably could figure out the 2nd base distance, which was some sort of compromise between the two.

N.

[dmadigan]

LOL, Neill.

I came back here last night to re-read this string of posts after posting the 10U playoff results for the evening, and it dawned on me that the original poster who initiated this thread was indeed the coach that I spoke with at length on the phone (just minutes prior to her 10:45 PM post on Monday evening.) When I first read the post, I actually thought it was a random parent from the team who had no real clue and was just venting. I wouldn't normally give this a second thought, but since she is one of the 10U coaches I have had the pleasure of serving this past season, I'll address her comments directly:
The fields were in great conditions when I personally checked them all over the weekend. The Allen Park #1 team was playing on this field as well, so trying to paint a picture of the "home team advantage" being given to the host city team sounds somewhat absurd. First, why in the world would I put a team from my own organization on "the worst field" in Allen Park...that really makes no sense whatsoever and is in direct contradiction to the nature of your post. There is no secret agenda on my part with regard to the placement of teams on any particular field, short of perhaps placing the AP teams on the fields that may be harder to find. (Hey, this ain't my first rodeo...)
Second, Allen Park #1 was not deemed to be the "home team" until a coin toss prior to the start of the game, so there's that.
As for the comment about the tape measure... in Allen Park, the field conditions and set-up are the responsibilty of the Parks and Rec department, not the coaches. Neither the APAC organization nor the DBA put this expectation on any coach. Tape measures are optional as far as I know and I imagine most 10U coaches don't even think to carry one.
As a long-term member of the DBA (both coach and GM) I know that we've all had to deal with unpleasant situations...it's part of the territory and not for the faint of heart. I was clearly not happy with the field situation on Monday. But to have someone come on this message board and effectively bash me, my organization and the community of Allen Park is a bit extreme...and hardly reasonable or rational.

Very few organizations are hosting a play-off torunament this season. These 10U play-offs are not "free" and will cost my organization over $1,000 to host. Umpires must be paid, trophies must be purchased and game balls provided. That does not include the expense to our city to prep and dress the fields for the use of all the 10U DBA teams participating (and AP only has 2 teams in this division.) There is a general lack of interest in volunteering throughout the DBA...especially in softball. Unfortunately, I can understand why. It takes quite a bit of extra time and energy to GM an entire division...and the job is often times thankless. I've been fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet and work with many fantastic coaches, association softball directors and DBA personel...these are the ones who really make things happen for the kids.

There will always be THAT game, or THAT situation, or THAT coach (sometimes multiple "THAT" coaches). Thankfully, those games and situations and coaches do not make up the majority.

The twenty-four hour rule is a good thing...

My final two words: "You're welcome"

[jnetto]

You are correct I am the coach of Wyandotte#3. I understand that everything in your control as GM was done correctly. I am standing by my complaints, someone other than you decided that it would be a good idea to take a disc to that field the day before the game. That was NOT a good idea it made the field worse and as for the mound placement, whoever did that ( not you), should have placed it correctly at 34 ft. The people at Allen Park park and rec dept should have done a better job and paid attention to these details because the girls were really excited about that game and it was important to them. I applaud you for being the GM and you do a great job. That being said, that field was the worst we played on and parks and rec are at fault.