Great point. With respect to Nationals I would say that both associations cater first and foremost to the egos of the coaches and the parents. It has little if anything to do with the players.
His statement about the NGB relationship being unlikely to change is really telling, it tells me that conversations have already been had and they are getting a greenlight from somewhere that this is the right move.
This isn't the first time ASA tried using their JWNT as leverage and they picked a horrible time to do it again. Two years ago, ASA said players needed to play in their Gold events (later expanded to ASA/USA) in order to be identified for the JWNT. The result was a few players picked up with other teams to ALSO play Gold - it really isn't effective at coercing teams to switch. The result was less HS players were chosen than normal for the JWNT because they didn't have all the best in the selection camp.This is the first real challenge ASA has thrown PGF in this area. It will be interesting to see how the PGF reacts. If the ASA has even moderate success (and if I was them I would be using my leverage with USA Junior National Teams members to do so - you turn up or you wont be considered and I'd be backdooring some teams in with lesser fees to bulk numbers up), PGF is going to be in a position next year of needing to match with their own prize pool (which is going to be difficult to justify with this response) or come up with another way to entice teams.
I wouldn't call PGF's numbers "weaker" since they are expanding while others are declining. I seriously doubt PGF will ever have overall numbers that approach ASA, LL, PONY or U-trip because that isn't their focus. Hay-maker will take any other business that comes his way, but PGF really isn't putting much effort into expanding their lower-level business. In some ways, it detracts from their main brand.Some good points Marriard, PGF is indeed far weaker in numbers and I am sure their coffers are not as full as ASA,
Someone is going to have to explain the benefits of this free market system to me. If several companies are competing with each other to attract customers, the free market system says the consumer benefits because ultimately the price goes down or some other benefit is realized. I've seen the cost of TB go up and up over the years and I don't see where the players reaping the benefits of increased competition. This latest development makes me think even more players are going to be left out.