On Sunday in Orlando, the Italian Athletic Club of California won their semi-final game, but had to leave to catch flights home, and forfeited out of the tournament. This past summer, the Pueblo Bandits and Portland teams forfeited out of the Best of the West tournament, resulting in cancellation of the championship game. It has happened elsewhere, but seems to be happening more often in recent years — perhaps due to the post 9/11 requirements to arrive at airports 2 or 3 hours ahead of flight time and the greater distances required, with fewer tournaments close to home.
What is the solution? Should teams that can’t stay for the championship game stay home? bring more players ? Just how early does a Sunday championship game have to be in order to allow teams to fly home in a post 9/11 world? We would be interested to hear your thoughts on the subject.
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Update: Wednesday, January 27, 2010:
We have included some readers comments below (see “Read the Rest of this entry” link below too, and click the “View results” button on polls for additional comments posted there).
Short version of reader’s suggestions from today:
1. Top rated teams should book flights that will allow them to remain through the end of the tournament, including the championship game.
* Note the polls permits you to post comments, after you vote, or view results. We invite you to do so.
2. Earlier start times for games on Sunday should be considered.
* Note the polls permits you to post comments, after you vote, or view results. We invite you to do so.
The disappointing conclusion to the 2010 AAU International tournament has generated some discussion on the issue – teams skipping the championship game of tournaments to catch flights home, and what to do about it.
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Tuesday, January 26, 2010
A couple of thoughts for tournaments with two suggestions that make sense when organizing an event:
a) With many players travelling long distances to participate in tournaments, and the simple fact that many of them have to return home (in this instance traversing the USA) with limited travel options, championship games should be scheduled to accommodate the possibility that teams may be losing players to flights.
Acknowledging that in many tournaments, a large number of fans are not a priority (simply due to the fact that there are not a large number of fans to be considered) – then the championship game should be pushed back to earlier in the day.
If some people feel that YES, fans are a priority, then they should be treated to a Championship game, which is one of the reasons that fans do support a tournament – i.e. watch the two most successful teams on the weekend duke it out for the championship.
If travel plans are an impediment for some players/teams, it would be better to have any potential forfeitures at the start of the tournament, rather than on the spotlighted final game… (i.e. start the tournament earlier or play more games in the early days of the tournament, thus necessitating fewer games on the final day (probably a Sunday). If there are fans to be considered they will return for two semis and a championship game on the final day.
b) If a team forfeits a game, then the team should lose all prize money that it may have earned in the tournament.
Quite simply, the team did not live up to its obligation that is inherent in entering a tournament.
While it may not make a sizeable dent in sponsors’ budgets, it will be a welcome financial windfall for the tournament organizers who diligently worked to stage a championship game, and who have incurred a major inconvenience and inherit a pubic relations scar on the credibility of the event.
John Thompson
You may continue to send your comments to jim (at) fastpitchwest (dot) com, regarding any of the items above. (just indicate which one you are responding to, so we can attach your comments to it)
Update: Tuesday, January 26, 2010:
We have received a number of e-mails with thoughts, opinions and comments on this issue. We have added one of them today, which appears below the jump. ( link below). We will continue to add additional comments this week. You may continue to send your comments, to the post below, or any of the comments added. (just indicate which one you are responding to, so we can attached your comments to it)
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Another commentor writes:
“The higher rated teams know they have a chance to be in the finals , so booking a 5pm flight is ridiculous. If you cannot stay until Monday morning then do not attend. My friends that attended were all coming back Monday.”
Another:
“If the tournament committee started the games at 8:00 am on sunday, the championship game would have start earlier. That would have helped. Also, before looking for flights, I tried to find out what time the championship game was scheduled, but no one i emailed could give me an answer. When having a international tournament, the championship game time should be posted along with the tournament dates. “
Editor’s note: The schedule of games, including the 2 PM start time for the championship game was posted on the Internet, at Al’s fastball, and here at Fastpitchwest, more than a month in advance of the tournament. Championship game times for past AAU tournaments, are available at Fastpitchwest, dating back to 2004.