It looks like the associations have got together and are enforcing the rule this year - they're not allowing boys from other other AAA orgs on the field without a release.

They 'are' allowing AA boys from other organizations to tryout for the AAA team without a release.

I know that the rule has been in place but have never seen it enforced - at least in the COBA loop.

Personally, I think it's ridiculous of them to try and force kids to play on just the one team. I realize their objective is to have an equal distribution of talent but ....

- if there's a team that the boys are not attracted to they'd rather not fix the problem to create a better team that people want to go to but 'force' boys to play on it

- it's not as if the coaches are impartial or anything - there are a ton of problems in that area. If a player/ parent does not agree with the coaching staff they have no recourse other than to just keep playing on that team.

- The coaches have the ability to cut - this is just so one-sided.

All they're doing is forcing all of those kids that want to play with a different team away from OBA to other leagues/ private teams - I think this comes to roughly 50/100 kids per age group in COBA alone. They'd have a much better league if they could retain those kids.

Well, I know none of this is new or that I'm not the first to rant but just wanted to share what I saw this year.

The rules are meant to stop players from loading up teams. Areas like Mississauga would recruit players from smaller areas leaving them without enough talent to field a team.
This applies to all AAA, AA, A level teams which only reflects the size of city you come from not the level of play. A teams can play AAA if they wish but you can't play down if you are a AAA level area.
Nothing unfair about it. They will give you a release if it is warranted. My son got a release to play COBA SR ball a few summers ago. They put up a stink but released him.

quote:

Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
The rules are meant to stop players from loading up teams. Areas like Mississauga would recruit players from smaller areas leaving them without enough talent to field a team.
This applies to all AAA, AA, A level teams which only reflects the size of city you come from not the level of play. A teams can play AAA if they wish but you can't play down if you are a AAA level area.
Nothing unfair about it. They will give you a release if it is warranted. My son got a release to play COBA SR ball a few summers ago. They put up a stink but released him.

the rules are meant to protect the board memebers and their positons - thats it. Releases are getting harder and harder to get and from my experiece its been this way for several years.

Blex that isn't the case. They have always enforced that rule and it is obvious why. They don't want strong teams raiding other teams for their players.
If you don't like their rules you can play elite where you can go where your money and talent can take you.

I think they 'are' losing boys - the talent pool they're trying to retain is in fact getting smaller because of this. What choice does someone have if they don't get along on a team other than to leave the league.

The problem with this approach is that it hides problems - why would one team attract boys and another team not. Ideally, wouldn't you want to fix the root cause so that boys want to play on that team.

There are a number of teams in the COBA area that are neither PBLO nor OBA - I'd say the only reason they exist is because there are boys that cannot afford PBLO and want a higher level ball or those that have been forced to look for alternatives due OBA rules primarily the release process. There's a problem here that can be fixed.

Anyway, I haven't seen this enforced in the tryouts before - the disappointment I saw on the faces of boys when they were not allowed on the field I think will only lead to losing more talent.

The ones that can afford the cost do go elite. Others just go to other teams. I don't think 'if you don't like our rules you can go elsewhere' is the right approach to retaining talent.

Have you tried to get a release ?
Tey have been losing players for years.

In order to play in OBA tournaments you have to be registered by a certain date. No OBA team will take you on as a player until you are released from your present association. If you have a valid reason they will release you .

It's not about us any more - we decided to go elsewehere.

I remember a coach coming over to us (a few years ago) and letting us know that his city didn't allow imports but since we'd come all they way, we could participate (rather than disappoint a boy that had turned up in baseball uniform and expectations of trying out).

I thought it was very nice of him - we could explain to him later about the rules and avoided the scenario of turning up only to be turned away.

Look at it another way. Most OBA teams have 13-15 players. How do you think local plsyers would view your son coming from another assoc and taking their place ?
I am very aware of the issues with the OBA but their rules are fair.

I would have to disagree - there are many boys playing on other teams already so it's not fair to start out with ... but the issue is beyond that.

It's not about protecting the local players but to ensure each team retains its players rather than lose them.

Put it another way, how many associations would love to have a pool of talent that they could field an additional team. They wouldn't need all the rules if they were not driving away players in the first place with those rules.

They are attacking the symptoms not the cause.

Those rules have been in place for years and years. Until elite ball came on to the scene they were the only game in town. My son is 23 and played OBA at 8-9yo. Those rules were and are necessary. They made some adjustments after elite teams started taking their best players.
I am not sure what teams play in other leagues but the OBA still offers a decent avenue for those that can't afford or won't spend the money to play elite.
In our area there is still reasonable BB offered by OBA.
They are trying to retain and players and stop them from jumping ship to play for a better OBA team. Toronto area teams would have every kid that though he could play go there. This is a no brainer.

d2e8b8 has it right and I'm afraid our kids maybe long gone before they fix the OBA.

There are residency rules in Little League as well. I do have a question as we have always avoided the politics of the OBA. If your kid tries out for the team and gets cut, would he qualify for a release?

quote:

Originally posted by GoodPitching:
There are residency rules in Little League as well. I do have a question as we have always avoided the politics of the OBA. If your kid tries out for the team and gets cut, would he qualify for a release?

if player gets cut then yes he would qualify for a release for the current playing year.

I would suggest if you are unsure simply contact your bod and ask.

So Blex how would you fix the rules ?

[

quote:

If your kid tries out for the team and gets cut, would he qualify for a release?

Not sure it is a slam dunk. I remember 1 very talented kid who was released. The local coach wouldn't allow kids on the team who played golf. He was a top JR golfer and got a release to play for Niagara Falls. I think there was more to it than golf.

quote:

Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
So Blex how would you fix the rules ?

number one, if you are on the local association board then you are NOT entitled to be on the COBA board.

Example, your playing on a OBA affiliated team for coach Joe, your kid is good but coach hates the kid for whatever reason. You then ask for a release from YOUR bod and are refused. You appeal to COBA and find out the Release Comitte is chaired by Joe.

GOOD ******* LUCK getting your appeal heard.

This has happend

I think the COBA board is not big enough..
coba board is not big enough

I have never heard of this but I would challenge that decision.
Did you know that your son is locked into his assoc even after 18yo.
My son got a release to play COBA SR ball for the Metros a few summers ago. I was surprised that he needed a release. They asked why and he said it was a more competitive league. They gave it to him without any fuss. The team is from our home town.
OBA is the governing body of all the assocs and can be appealed to directly to get the release. COBA is under their control.

quote:

Originally posted by blexann:

quote:

Originally posted by GoodPitching:
There are residency rules in Little League as well. I do have a question as we have always avoided the politics of the OBA. If your kid tries out for the team and gets cut, would he qualify for a release?

if player gets cut then yes he would qualify for a release for the current playing year.

I would suggest if you are unsure simply contact your bod and ask.

If that's the case, I'd sandbag my tryout enough to get cut then get my release. No sense keeping a bad player.