Has anyone seen this article: http://www.perfectgame.org/Art...ew.aspx?article=6496
Looks like PG and the new (PW and UA) World Scout League are going head to head. Any thoughts?
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Looks like a low blow from PG to steal an idea and try to put a hurting on something before it starts. I was contacted in May of last year by the guys from the WSL and they are in it for the right reasons. Bad form.
That's not really correct. Our son plays for a team that is involved. They actually had the idea to play in a Florida league and asked for some administrative guidance from PG. Each of these 6 teams hosts a tournament each summer in which the majority if not all of the other teams compete in. This way the teams are committed to each tournament, it insures that other teams will participate and more ballplayers will be seen by more coaches, and PG can give some administrative support. I probably am not doing a good job with my description, but do not think these tournaments are designed to exclude or hurt any other organization. These tournaments have been held the past few years anyway, now there will be a "league" concept with some bragging rights- all in good fun.
CoachCarter,
This Scout League involves one state (Florida).
What idea was stolen, we have been running scout leagues for 15 years in the midwest. Besides, as "smalltownmom" mentioned this was something that happened because the teams wanted it. Those same teams have been playing in PG tournaments for many years.
They wanted this, they asked, and we decided to help them. For sure these teams are doing this for all "The right reasons"! Seeing we will not make any money for being involved, guess you could say we are also in it for the right reason. Is someone else doing this without profiting?
If you're from the West Coast, you're thousands of miles away from this. And your thinking is even farther away from the truth. Bad form is talking before one knows what is really happening. I hope in your case it's just bad form and not some kind of a personal agenda.
If you want to know more, feel free to send me a PM.
This Scout League involves one state (Florida).
What idea was stolen, we have been running scout leagues for 15 years in the midwest. Besides, as "smalltownmom" mentioned this was something that happened because the teams wanted it. Those same teams have been playing in PG tournaments for many years.
They wanted this, they asked, and we decided to help them. For sure these teams are doing this for all "The right reasons"! Seeing we will not make any money for being involved, guess you could say we are also in it for the right reason. Is someone else doing this without profiting?
If you're from the West Coast, you're thousands of miles away from this. And your thinking is even farther away from the truth. Bad form is talking before one knows what is really happening. I hope in your case it's just bad form and not some kind of a personal agenda.
If you want to know more, feel free to send me a PM.
My son is also a member of one of the teams involved. smalltownmom and PG Staff are both very accurate in their statements. I was with the GM of our team tonight before I saw this thread and he actually replicated exactly what PG Staff has said in his post. I think it is a great opportunity for all of the teams involved and appreciate PG's help in administering this league.
PGStaff -
Simple question: If you're not charging the teams to be in the league, and there is no sponsor, then SOMEONE is getting charged. These facilities, umpires and baseballs don't pay for themselves. Does that mean the lesser players on "lesser" teams that aren't in your "elite" league are the ones getting charged to attend league events and fund this whole thing out there?
If so, do you find this to be something ethical and within NCAA rules to put your name on and "support"? Charging the bad players to make it free for the good ones in your league? How do you think the parents of the lesser talented teams would feel to know that their household income is making it free for the good players?
From where I'm sitting, it seems to fall in line with what I experience with my kids. My kids constantly ask me if they should spend the $600 to get into your showcases. Meanwhile, their best friends on other powerhouse teams who come from financially stable families gossip that they are getting in for free or significantly discounted because they are good players. So from my understanding, it is the lesser players who fund everything for the good ones with at least a few of your endeavors. Is this accurate?
So yes, I do have an axe to grind. And I'd like an explanation because it is one of the biggest problems I have with your organization and why we will likely never do your stuff. I am not a fan of your apparent agenda to control all of amateur baseball and give my program 1 option. Now when I see you have put your name on a Scout League months after the other guys announced their league idea, it is obvious what is happening. And I know it's my families who will eventually fund everything. Been to too many events where I look around the room and can't find the sucker. It was me.
Simple question: If you're not charging the teams to be in the league, and there is no sponsor, then SOMEONE is getting charged. These facilities, umpires and baseballs don't pay for themselves. Does that mean the lesser players on "lesser" teams that aren't in your "elite" league are the ones getting charged to attend league events and fund this whole thing out there?
If so, do you find this to be something ethical and within NCAA rules to put your name on and "support"? Charging the bad players to make it free for the good ones in your league? How do you think the parents of the lesser talented teams would feel to know that their household income is making it free for the good players?
From where I'm sitting, it seems to fall in line with what I experience with my kids. My kids constantly ask me if they should spend the $600 to get into your showcases. Meanwhile, their best friends on other powerhouse teams who come from financially stable families gossip that they are getting in for free or significantly discounted because they are good players. So from my understanding, it is the lesser players who fund everything for the good ones with at least a few of your endeavors. Is this accurate?
So yes, I do have an axe to grind. And I'd like an explanation because it is one of the biggest problems I have with your organization and why we will likely never do your stuff. I am not a fan of your apparent agenda to control all of amateur baseball and give my program 1 option. Now when I see you have put your name on a Scout League months after the other guys announced their league idea, it is obvious what is happening. And I know it's my families who will eventually fund everything. Been to too many events where I look around the room and can't find the sucker. It was me.
Wow! Some harsh accusations being thrown around. This certainly was not my intention. I just found it interesting that earlier on, the WSL represented that several of the teams in the PG article would be part of the WSL. I was curious if those teams would still be participating in the WSL as well.
CoachCarter,
Simple answer: Yes the teams are funding the League and hopefully they will be making some money. We do not receive any entry fee money at all.
I don't know who you are. I'm very easy to get in touch with if you have an axe to grind. You are misinformed about several things.
You are not anything close to what or who you're portraying. I do believe you have an axe to grind. It's VERY obvious you are out to cause some harm.
The league in question is only in Florida. We have had several teams from other states contact us about doing the same thing. We have built a close realtionship with many of the top summer teams in the country, we don't need to steal them. We didn't feel like we could do a good job if we are involved all over the country this year.
FYI, These are teams that have run their own tournaments in the past. They do it to help make money for their programs. Our main objective is to see the top players. This gives us a chance to scout many of the top Florida players more often than in the past. We are basically interested in helping these teams that have been loyal to us in the past. They plan to play in each others tournaments. I would imagine they will all pay an entry fee for each tournament they attend, thus supporting each other. That part is none of our business. We do not allow any teams in our WWBA or BCS tournaments unless they pay the entry fee. We have no problem getting teams to play or to pay.
These (Florida) programs attend our bigger tournaments and they ALL pay the same as any other team... Ask them!
Regarding weak players paying for good players. You can't possibly know how that works or you wouldn't talk about it. If anyone wants to attend an event but can't afford it, we always try to figure out how to help them. It doesn't matter how good the player is. People who can afford it do pay. Doesn't make any difference if it was the Uptons, Scott Kazmir, Prince Fielder, etc., they all paid. If someone can't pay, we try to figure out how to help them. Sometimes it even happens through these many travel teams that we work with. It's not always easy because of NCAA rules, but we can usually get it done. The NCAA knows what we do and how we do it.
We actually work very closely with a former NCAA Compliance officer. Last year at our National Showcase, full of top prospects, the head of amatuerism and eligibility for the NCAA, spoke to every kid at our National Showcase. MLB also sent someone from the Commissioners Office to talk to the players. Both of these people mapped out the legalities involved. Why would we invite the NCAA to talk to the kids at our event that has the most talented players, if we had anything to hide?
You are claiming we have an agenda to control all of amatuer baseball and trying to give your program 1 option. Please, people have many options including you. We are a very small part of amatuer baseball. No one is forced to be involved with PG. Besides we turn away 100s of teams each year that we simply don't have room for. That's why we are building a 16 field complex.
Once again, if you're on the up and up, contact me. I will be more than happy to very politely answer all your questions. You have to understand that the last time something like this came up here, it was investigated and the poster was working for a competitor. If you're for real and do care about all this, please at least have the guts to stand up and let me know who I'm talking to, rather than making anonymous accusations.
Simple answer: Yes the teams are funding the League and hopefully they will be making some money. We do not receive any entry fee money at all.
I don't know who you are. I'm very easy to get in touch with if you have an axe to grind. You are misinformed about several things.
You are not anything close to what or who you're portraying. I do believe you have an axe to grind. It's VERY obvious you are out to cause some harm.
The league in question is only in Florida. We have had several teams from other states contact us about doing the same thing. We have built a close realtionship with many of the top summer teams in the country, we don't need to steal them. We didn't feel like we could do a good job if we are involved all over the country this year.
FYI, These are teams that have run their own tournaments in the past. They do it to help make money for their programs. Our main objective is to see the top players. This gives us a chance to scout many of the top Florida players more often than in the past. We are basically interested in helping these teams that have been loyal to us in the past. They plan to play in each others tournaments. I would imagine they will all pay an entry fee for each tournament they attend, thus supporting each other. That part is none of our business. We do not allow any teams in our WWBA or BCS tournaments unless they pay the entry fee. We have no problem getting teams to play or to pay.
These (Florida) programs attend our bigger tournaments and they ALL pay the same as any other team... Ask them!
Regarding weak players paying for good players. You can't possibly know how that works or you wouldn't talk about it. If anyone wants to attend an event but can't afford it, we always try to figure out how to help them. It doesn't matter how good the player is. People who can afford it do pay. Doesn't make any difference if it was the Uptons, Scott Kazmir, Prince Fielder, etc., they all paid. If someone can't pay, we try to figure out how to help them. Sometimes it even happens through these many travel teams that we work with. It's not always easy because of NCAA rules, but we can usually get it done. The NCAA knows what we do and how we do it.
We actually work very closely with a former NCAA Compliance officer. Last year at our National Showcase, full of top prospects, the head of amatuerism and eligibility for the NCAA, spoke to every kid at our National Showcase. MLB also sent someone from the Commissioners Office to talk to the players. Both of these people mapped out the legalities involved. Why would we invite the NCAA to talk to the kids at our event that has the most talented players, if we had anything to hide?
You are claiming we have an agenda to control all of amatuer baseball and trying to give your program 1 option. Please, people have many options including you. We are a very small part of amatuer baseball. No one is forced to be involved with PG. Besides we turn away 100s of teams each year that we simply don't have room for. That's why we are building a 16 field complex.
Once again, if you're on the up and up, contact me. I will be more than happy to very politely answer all your questions. You have to understand that the last time something like this came up here, it was investigated and the poster was working for a competitor. If you're for real and do care about all this, please at least have the guts to stand up and let me know who I'm talking to, rather than making anonymous accusations.
I'll send you a private message.