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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]First kid was a soccer player-- they played in a league against other teams in the division.  DD is a softball player and they seem to do random tournaments against different teams each time, plus random games/double-headers against other teams in the general area.  There's no actual league/standings/playoffs/etc?  It doesn't really matter but I'm curious why there isn't a similar format?[/quote]

Actually, there are rankings. But they're done by class and sanction using a formula, and, as they get older, by outside publications.

So a 10U softball team in this area would typically play either the United States Speciality Sports Association (USSSA) or USA Softball (which used to be ASA softball). USSSA actually has state, national and regional rankings on its Web site including a Power Ranking that goes up or down based on who you win and lose to. Teams are either Class C (which is basically rec-caliber), Class B or Class A, which is basically like miniature College players.  Around here it's mostly C and B teams. There are teams that call themselves A, but they really are not, which they invariably find out when they go to places like Florida, Texas or California and play actual A-level teams.  USA keeps standings, too. Although this only really matters when you're trying to scout out opponents. You can also check GameChanger, but that's easily manipulated.

Saturday is all pool-play to determine for win-or-go-home elimination games on Sunday. A typical 16- team field a C team plays 2 games on Saturday. B, A or Open fields play 3. On Sunday there's either one bracket or maybe a Gold and Silver bracket. Win, you keep playing. Lose, you go home.  So you could get to the field at 7 a.m. for an 8 a.m. game on Sunday, lose, and be leaving the field at 9:30.

But the point is to win individual tournaments, not really rise in rankings. Some tournaments are a bigger deal than others.[/quote]

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