Does this rule not apply to the rest of the country?
I think we're different here in Minnesota but I understood what SoCalDad was talking about and didn't really understand why anyone would be complaining. We have a number of girls in our community who used to play travel and now play rec. Reasons may be:
1. They play another sport that eats up there time so they can't commit to the heavy commitment of travel. Heck one girl was playing rec baseball (not softball) because she was on the travel soccer team. The soccer coach demanded more time out of her which was going to ruin her hockey season so she switched to travel softball cause we'll accommodate her hockey schedule.
2. They don't feel they can compete at travel levels anymore.
3. They want to play with their friends.
4. They (and their parents) just don't want that heavy of a commitment.
I wish SoCalDad and his DD lots of success on the season and the tournament.