Sport Today

I would like to encourage all travel ball coaches to email the ASA national
board in Oklahoma with you views on the conduct of the So Cal ASA board members
regarding the insurance mess this year. Karen Weisman is the Junior Olympic

I would also encourage you to email the So Cal ASA commissioners with your
views.


If enough people show their concern and anger at the poor behavior of So Cal
ASA then we CAN change things.

Just what exactly are we to complain about?  Can you provide specifics on
exactly what the "mess" is, how bad it is, and what is wrong with it?

Seeing how your on the So Cal ASA board please tell everyone what is so good
about this. Your taking shots with little if any information.

Not signed

Sorry Don, but I knew little about the individual insurance program until I
called and asked.  I have some information on the program, and what I question
is how someone can say it's a "mess" if they don't know much about it.

If it is true that SoCal ASA will not register a team without purchasing
insurance from ASA, I would be complaining also.

I have never heard an ASA commissioner or directer speak to a room full of
people and not ask the audience what can be done to keep ASA/USA Softball in
the forefront in the world of softball.  Well, this is the sort of thing which
turns people against ASA and it is a shame the the locals organizations do some
things upset people.  

One of my pet peeves, Don and Andy can probably attest to this, is that folks
automatically blame ASA for any wrongdoing, perceived or actual, that takes
place in their State/Metro without getting the facts about the situation.  I
doubt that SoCal is the only area where things are done outside the ASA Code
and I guess to some point, they have the right to operate their own
organization as they see fit.

Though I am probably considered an advocate of ASA on this board, I can only
suggest that if you don't like the rules of the organization, find another
sanctioning body and play their game.  Whether it be an insurance,
registration, equipment or tournament issue, if the grass is greener on the
other side of the fence, I'd be looking for some wire clippers.  And I don't
see how anyone could blame you one bit.  

It is no different than shopping.  You go to the store where you are going to
get the best bang for your buck.  The only way the competition gets the idea is
by watching the other parking lot fill up while their's sits empty.  There is
no reason the same theory shouldn't apply here.

JMHO,

Mike

Mike,

I personally have no prefernce as far as ASA vs NSA as an Organisation. Here is
my experience in dealing with both.

Nsa is a much more player friendly org. It allows us caoches to play more kids
and not have such a strict rule in dealing with the lineup cards. In nsa you
can bat 11 kids.

Other than that, its not much different from a coaches standpoint.

Now for ASA here is what i like. keep in mind NSA is just starting to find its
way in ca.

The umpires in our ASA tourneys are much better IMO. I think many of the NSA
crews are coming from slowpitch, im not sure, just a guess.

The teams/ competition in the ASA tourneys is better. we dont want to play in
weak tourneys. To say if you dont like one org, just go play somewhere else, is
not really doable.

IMO the org is only as good as the teams playing in that Org. Since ASA has
almost all of the teams in CA that is where we will have to play for now. If in
2 years there is really no distinction as far as teams playing in NSA or ASA, I
will play in either.

As a team, we want good competition, if that is in ASA or NSA I could care
less. We are in it for the girls, not the organization. I think NSA coming to
Ca is a good thing, simply because now the ASA has to compete a little for
teams.

Its too bad that these organizations will soon be battling, and the teams/girls
ill be the people stuck in the middle.

corey

Never said it was a mess but questioned the need for it and the reason behind
it. If it were cheaper for the teams and gave better coverage then I would have
nothing to say.

Not signed

None of our ASA registered travel teams ever received "packets" from So Cal ASA
regarding changes in insurance registration and coverage.  We have been in
contact with several other ASA registered travel organizations who have never
received any information regarding insurance changes.  The So Cal ASA web site
has NEVER been updated to show that  insurance is being handled differently
this year. And the web-link to Bollinger remains on their website to this day.
If you try to use the Bollinger ASA insurance website to sign up for insurance
it lets you sign up and pay your fee--then about 2 or 3 weeks later you receive
notification that you CAN'T register thru Bollinger and you are not covered.
Someone tells you to call Linda Henry, but good luck getting thru to her.  It
took us a week of phone calls and emails.  It's not her fault, So Cal ASA
dropped this mess of individually registering over 500 travel teams in her lap
and she has no one to help her. Yes, I am frustrated at being required to buy
insurance thru So Cal ASA that probably won't provide the coverage that my
teams need - according to Margaret at Bollinger the ins is Individual and will
not cover players that are not registered with ASA if they come practice or
try-out or play on your team.  You will be required to register each girl that
hasn't previously registered thru ASA before they can practice, play, or
try-out with you team.  Yes I think thats a PROBLEM!
Beth

I want to respond because I think some of the original concerns and
complaints I had have been tied into Socal ASA with respect to
individual insurance and not where at least "I " intended it to which is
the National Office. I fully think National is behind the individual
registration and the use of Bollinger as an ASA "sole source" provider
and since finding out that Socal's costs would not be 20-25$ as
previously reported, I have no complaint with Socal ASA on this
particular matter. After all, Socal has waited a full year from the rest
of the Nation to implement this policy which started last year Nation
wide.
 We have received all our packets in a timely manner and each of the 7
individual managers got their packets turned in so that their players
are registered. When I approached Linda Henry about the many "riders" we
need along with our basic team insurance in order to secure practice
fields she obtained all of ours so that we could practice last weekend
or play games. Each of the teams has their own proof of team insurance
and we have the 9 riders we needed. It did require me to fax her a copy
of what we had last year but that is only because Bollinger did not
supply that data to her in advance.
8-10-12 dollars for a "secondary" insurance is not bad. yes, it is an
increase over last years team costs but not so far out of line had it
been the rumored 20-25$ fee.
I think so of the confusion is caused because teams in Socal needed
their insurance by 1 January in order to play or practice as most teams
started back up the first weekend. Past years had Bollinger sending us
our packets direct in December so that teams were insured by the first
of the year. Registration and player contracts did not happen until our
annual "coaches" meeting typically on Superbowl Saturday. The annual
event in which all the 500 or so  travel teams attend meetings and
register and have a chance to look at all the many vendors as well as
set up games and tournaments for the spring and summer. As the
individual insurance method required actual players to ge insurance
versus having only a single manager send in a check it did caused some
delays and confusion but remember it is the National Office who started
this whole thing an it is they who have received the biggest commissions
as well as a whole new target audience to market. Socal already had that
information.
Despite what may seem like a lot of fighting in Socal generally speaking
our Staff supports their teams much more so then other areas. having
been to many other areas and spoken with many state an area
commissioners, few are as organized and offer as much support or even
listen to their teams like Socal does. Actually few have as many on
staff either. We are fortunate to not only have  the regular JO, UIC,
and Local Commissioner we also have age group coordinators for each age
group, the rec league commissioners and of course Lorrie Ivie and the
Socal ASA Players Association. Doesnt mean there ar eno complaints or
that things could not work a bit better  but I dont think there is cause
fo rmajor upheaval

I want to respond because I think some of the original concerns and
complaints I had have been tied into Socal ASA with respect to
individual insurance and not where at least "I " intended it to which is
the National Office. I fully think National is behind the individual
registration and the use of Bollinger as an ASA "sole source" provider
and since finding out that Socal's costs would not be 20-25$ as
previously reported, I have no complaint with Socal ASA on this
particular matter. After all, Socal has waited a full year from the rest
of the Nation to implement this policy which started last year Nation
wide.
 We have received all our packets in a timely manner and each of the 7
individual managers got their packets turned in so that their players
are registered. When I approached Linda Henry about the many "riders" we
need along with our basic team insurance in order to secure practice
fields she obtained all of ours so that we could practice last weekend
or play games. Each of the teams has their own proof of team insurance
and we have the 9 riders we needed. It did require me to fax her a copy
of what we had last year but that is only because Bollinger did not
supply that data to her in advance.
8-10-12 dollars for a "secondary" insurance is not bad. yes, it is an
increase over last years team costs but not so far out of line had it
been the rumored 20-25$ fee.
I think so of the confusion is caused because teams in Socal needed
their insurance by 1 January in order to play or practice as most teams
started back up the first weekend. Past years had Bollinger sending us
our packets direct in December so that teams were insured by the first
of the year. Registration and player contracts did not happen until our
annual "coaches" meeting typically on Superbowl Saturday. The annual
event in which all the 500 or so  travel teams attend meetings and
register and have a chance to look at all the many vendors as well as
set up games and tournaments for the spring and summer. As the
individual insurance method required actual players to ge insurance
versus having only a single manager send in a check it did caused some
delays and confusion but remember it is the National Office who started
this whole thing an it is they who have received the biggest commissions
as well as a whole new target audience to market. Socal already had that
information.
Despite what may seem like a lot of fighting in Socal generally speaking
our Staff supports their teams much more so then other areas. having
been to many other areas and spoken with many state an area
commissioners, few are as organized and offer as much support or even
listen to their teams like Socal does. Actually few have as many on
staff either. We are fortunate to not only have  the regular JO, UIC,
and Local Commissioner we also have age group coordinators for each age
group, the rec league commissioners and of course Lorrie Ivie and the
Socal ASA Players Association. Doesnt mean there ar eno complaints or
that things could not work a bit better  but I dont think there is cause
for major upheaval

Andy,

I believe you are correct about the "individual registrations" coming out of
OKC, however, to the best of my knowledge, it isn't mandatory.  The method of
registration was supposed to be left up to the State/Metros.

I know that the ASAs method in which the information was collected from the
State/Metro organizations was in such disarray, our commissioner is considering
NOT accepting individual registrations until OKC can resolve their issues.

However, I still have not seen anyone provide documentation that ASA requires
insurance.  It certainly is not part of the Code or roster agreements.

Individual registration is a plus to the organizations that have multiple
"recreational" teams that play league ball and at the same time play on an
"all-star" type of travel ball team.  The players are registered for all ASA
teams on which they play and need not re-register every time they sign a new
roster.

Has it proven to be a money maker?  I would say yes, but I do not think there
is as much additional "profit" as some believe.  Individual registrations
increase the paperwork 10-fold.

JMHO,

Mike

These ASA people don't care about your complaints, they think its funny.  Just
don't take their position away from them.  Wake up and get out of ASA, I did
and happy of my decision.

AND the winner of your change was??? and there are no problems or
complaints there and their Nationals runs smoothly and insurance if
free and you can play anywhere