- Feb 20, 2019
- 109
- 28
Over the last few years, it seems the focus of tournament play has shifted from 4-pool, single-elimination in 1 or 2 brackets, to 2-pool, double-elimination with 3 brackets being the standard. In the "old" days, fields were 30-40+ teams with only the true champions and runner's up in the top bracket receiving individual awards. The winner of the 2nd level bracket would get a team trophy.
Now I'm seeing 12-team tournaments break into 3 brackets, with the 4 best records going to the top bracket, next 4 to the middle bracket and teams that couldn't win a pool game going to the lowest bracket. The winner and runner's up of each bracket get "Champions" and "Finalists" banners and rings. That's HALF of the teams getting rings...and they're not even the best half. I also saw a 7-team tournament break into 2 brackets, with 4 teams gets rings and banners. A team can go 2-3 and win a bracket. Then the proud parents take to social media proclaiming little DD's team went out and "won the championship!!" Wait!!! What are we doing here? This is essentially a participation trophy. I thought society have moved on from that?? I don't mind it so much for 8U and maybe 10U, but I'm seeing this in 12U-16U too.
What's sad is that most of these teams are just awful. The players aren't getting any better but they have this false confidence that they are because the "won" their tournament. I don't get it.
This is bad for softball and bad for youth sports in general.
Now I'm seeing 12-team tournaments break into 3 brackets, with the 4 best records going to the top bracket, next 4 to the middle bracket and teams that couldn't win a pool game going to the lowest bracket. The winner and runner's up of each bracket get "Champions" and "Finalists" banners and rings. That's HALF of the teams getting rings...and they're not even the best half. I also saw a 7-team tournament break into 2 brackets, with 4 teams gets rings and banners. A team can go 2-3 and win a bracket. Then the proud parents take to social media proclaiming little DD's team went out and "won the championship!!" Wait!!! What are we doing here? This is essentially a participation trophy. I thought society have moved on from that?? I don't mind it so much for 8U and maybe 10U, but I'm seeing this in 12U-16U too.
What's sad is that most of these teams are just awful. The players aren't getting any better but they have this false confidence that they are because the "won" their tournament. I don't get it.
This is bad for softball and bad for youth sports in general.