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The Pro’s and Con’s of the PRAWN rule

Sunday, September 25th, 2005


Some more good discussion at the Fastpitchwest Forum about the pro’s and con’s of the ISC’s new “PRAWN” rule, limiting the number of All World players a team can have, starting in 2006.

New player rep Rick Smith posts at the Fastpitchwest Forum and invites players and fans to post their comments on the new rule.

Please comment on the idea of the prawn ruling. Sign your name to it if you have any comment for or against it.

Thanks
Rick Smith
Player Rep for the West

Player rep Tom Crouch says:

I never said the big teams were killing the game. We need them. However, you are way off base if you feel that sponsors do not drop out because they cannot compete with the best teams. Many teams have folded becuase they cannot keep up with the pitching market.

Farm27 points out that the rule could force all-world players to travel outside their area, even if they wanted to play for the local team.

“8 new guys make all world next year but their team’s fold….now they have to find a place to play or not play at all. Just what we need lets drive more people out of the game. Guys want to play in there own area but can’t because of this rule. “

The posters make good points, pro and con, so no matter what side of the issue you are on, it makes for thought provoking reading.

Lots more discussion on PRAWN’s at Al’s Fastball Mailing List Archive.

The GHFL.ca Forum, hosted by my friend Blair Setford in Ontario Canada has more discussion, as well, including some great analysis on the possible unintended consequences of the rule, as argued by Scott Wagar:

For example if Kris Kiefel decides to not come back to the US in 2006 and County needs to find a SS. Due to Prawn, they are limited in their search. So where do they turn? Do they grab Kevin Schellenberg, Ian Fehrman or Evan Boyd. All of which would hurt the local teams that developed them.

The Prawn rule in effect promotes the raiding of the young teams that are building and may kill them off before they even get a chance to taste any success. It does not promote local development and it does not level the playing field (if that is what they are after?)

.

Posted in ISC, Players | No Comments »

Alternative to the PRAWN rule – Milt Michael

Thursday, September 22nd, 2005


Milt Michael of The Inside Curve says that 10th man should cost you $256,000.

[Alsfastball] Alternative to the PRAWN rule – Milt Michael

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ISC Executive Director Explains ISC position on PRAWN

Wednesday, September 21st, 2005

From Ken Hackmeister, Executive Director of the ISC:

Since announcing the PRAWN rule effective for 2006 ISC play, there have been numerous and predictable comments made by various individuals. We want to take this opportunity to fully explain the ISC’s position on why this rule is being adopted.

(more…)

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In favor of PRAWN

Tuesday, September 20th, 2005

A voice in favor of PRAWN rule [Alsfastball] PRAWN is a good thing – John Mikan

And a detailed response to John’s post.

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TIC Interview with ISC Exec Dir Ken Hackmeister

Monday, September 19th, 2005

ISC Executive Director Addresses Future of ISC World Tournament, including the “PRAWN” Rule

“The Inside Curve”, Milt Michael’s fine website from the Pacific Northwest has an interview with ISC Executive Director, Ken Hackmeister. For those who have been following the discussion of the new “PRAWN” rule, which limits the number of All World players a team can have, there is a good explanation of the rule and its purpose in the interview with Ken.

An Interview with Ken Hackmeister
ISC Executive Director

TIC: Congratulations on a successful ’05 tournament. Were you happy with the numbers from Eau Claire ?

Ken: We haven’t seen any numbers from Eau Claire yet. Visually, I was pleased with the attendance, particularly for the power pools round robin games.

TIC: There was a lot of talk about the “power pool concept”, where the top ten teams all played in two divisions and they all advanced. Do you think it will be continued?

Click here to read the entire interview

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Criticism of ISC’s PRAWN Rule

Saturday, September 17th, 2005

The Board of Directors of the International Softball Congress has passed the PRAWN restrictions, a set of rules governing the number of All-World players from the most recent five years a team can have on its roster.

The rule has quickly come under criticism, with a number of postings to Al’s Fastball Mailing List, including those linked below:

[Alsfastball] Prawn Ruling – by Dean Holoien

Pitcher Roberto Bahler concurs in Holoien’s criticism of the PRAWN rule.

Hallman Twins pitcher Todd Martin weighs in.

Sylvia Ryan suggests a player survey on the new rule.

What do you think? Post your comments by clicking the “comments” link below. Simple, one-time registration required to post comments, to keep the spam robots at bay.

Posted in ISC, Players | No Comments »

ISC Limits Number of All-World Players Per Team

Saturday, September 17th, 2005

I.S.C. Board of Directors Passes the PRAWN Restrictions – –
To Take Effect With the 2006 Season

The Board of Directors of the International Softball Congress has passed the PRAWN restrictions, a set of rules governing the number of All-World players from the most recent five years a team can have on its roster.

This rule, introduced to the Board in August at their meetings in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was tabled for further discussion and an e-mail vote at that time.

The PRAWN restrictions will take effect beginning with the 2006 fastball season.

Those players who comprise the PRAWN list have now been determined. These names will be made available to the teams immediately, and they are posted on the ISC website at http://www.iscfastpitch.com/webstartme/prawn/2006.htm

An excel attachment of the list will be sent to any who request it by e-mailing iscken@comcast.net

PRAWN Restrictions

A PRAWN (Player Rep All World Name) list will be maintained by the ISC containing each name of the two all-world teams for the most recent 5 years, including MV Player and Outstanding Pitcher. The PRAWN list will be released on Al’s list by August 30 each year and posted on the ISC web site as soon as possible.

Each team will be limited to 6 players (combination of pitchers and position players), plus exceptions (see below) that have been named All World in the last 5 years – only one of which may be a pitcher. Teams are still limited to 2 OOA pitchers for the season. All teams must name their PRAWNs to the Executive Director by May 1 each year. If a player who is also a pitcher is selected to either one of the All World teams at a position other than pitcher, he will NOT be considered as a pitcher for PRAWN status but rather as a player.

Current hardship rule 9a will be allowed given the following: the team replacing the player is still required to abide by the PRAWN limits for both players and pitchers. E.g. if the player being replaced is a pitcher with PRAWN status and he was the only pitcher with PRAWN status on the team then that team may replace that pitcher with another PRAWN pitcher.

Exception for a team that has 6 current PRAWNs: If a non-PRAWN player or players make an All World team in the current year, that team will be allowed to carry that player or players until such time that a PRAWN player leaves the team or drops out of the 5 year criterion. If a player makes All World while with Team A and they have 6 current PRAWN players, then Team A would be allowed to carry 7 until one of the 7 leaves the team (or they fall outside of the 5 year boundary), then they will only be allowed 6 for the following year.

This also applies for the one pitcher All World status restriction. If a pitcher is selected to an All World team in the current season and that team already has a pitcher on their team with PRAWN status, that team will be allowed to carry 2 (or however many) prawn pitchers until such time as one of the prawn pitcher(s) leaves the team or falls outside of the PRAWN status.

Phase in Period – If a PRAWN was selected all world in the last 5 years with a team and remained with that team, the team may qualify for the above exception as if the PRAWN restrictions were in effect for those 5 years. 2006 only – Teams can play the 2006 season with 2 PRAWN Pitchers if both PRAWN pitchers were on that team’s WT roster in 2005.

PRAWN Restriction Interpretation

No team may add a PRAWN to their roster until their total Prawn count falls below 6

September 15, 2005
Gordon Wise
ISC Information Officer
www.iscfastpitch.com
sgwise@woh.rr.com

Posted in ISC, Players, Tournaments | No Comments »

2006 World and National Tournaments

Tuesday, September 6th, 2005

Now that the final outs have been recorded on the final national tournaments for 2005, many are already making plans for 2006. In case you were wondering, here is where next year’s events will be held:

ISC World – Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
ISC II – Kitchener/Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
ASA Major – South Bend IN
ASA Class A – Decatur, Illinois
ASA Class B – Killeen, Texas
ASA Class C – Marietta/Cobb County, Georgia
ASA Masters 40-Over – Portland, Oregon
ASA Masters 45-Over – Rockford, Illinois
ASA Masters* 50-Over – Prescott, Arizona
NAFA World Series – Appelton-Kimberly, WI

* I notice that the ASA website refers to the 50+ as the “Seniors” not “Masters”. I resent that ! 😉

Posted in ASA, ISC, ISC-II, NAFA, Tournaments | No Comments »

Four Elected To The I.S.C. Hall of Fame

Saturday, August 27th, 2005

A pair of left-handed pitchers, a super-nimble shortstop who could HIT, and a sponsor of an ISC World Championship team and host of an ISC World Tournament were elected to the International Softball Congress Hall of Fame during meetings of the ISC Board of Directors in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

ED KLECKER of California was an outstanding pitcher who led the Lakewood, CA. Jets to the World Tournament title in 1973. In that event, he was an All-World selection. He was also the tourney’s “Outstanding Pitcher” and the “Most Valuable Player” of the tournament held in Rock Island, Illinois.

Klecker was also an All-World Tournament pitcher in 1972 and again in 1974 with the Lakewood Jets. In both the 1972 and 1973 World Tournaments, he led all hurlers in strikeouts.

BRAD UNDERWOOD of Ontario was a dominant left-handed pitcher. He was four times an All-World Tournament choice while throwing for Canadian Tire of Owen Sound, Ontario, and All Car of Green Bay, Wisconsin. In the 1991 and 1994 World Tournaments he was selected as the event’s “Outstanding Pitcher”.

In the 1991 World Tournament, Underwood turned in a performance for the ages when he beat defending champion Seattle 2-1; threw a perfect game against Aurora; tossed a 22-inning 1-0 shutout over Santa Rosa; and blanked Sioux City for nine innings in the championship contest – – – all in a span of 32 hours!

GREG SEPULVEDA of California was a splendid shortstop. He starred with several teams but was at his best while earning All-World Tournament laurels in both 1984 and 1985 with the Lancaster, California, Chameleons. He was a big man who looked like he should have been playing either first or third base, but he was a blur covering ground at shortstop and could go get ‘em and run the bases with the very best!

Sepulveda’s talents led the Chameleons to a third place World Tournament finish in 1984 and to the runner-up spot in 1986.

ART GILLIS of Michigan holds the unique distinction of having captured an I.S.C. World Championship (in 1979) as sponsor of the Saginaw Michigan Bolters and also having served as the host and sponsor of an I.S.C. World Tournament. The latter event, played in 1981 in Saginaw, is believed by many to have been the greatest World Tournament in the proud history of the International Softball Congress. Gillis was the first ever Michigan ISC commissioner. He also served later as an ISC commissioner for the state of Florida.

These four ;men, heroes to followers of fastball, will be inducted into the ISC Hall of Fame in August, 2006, during the World Tournament in Kitchener, Ontario.

August 27, 2005

Gordon Wise
ISC Information Officer
www.iscfastpitch.com
sgwise@woh.rr.com

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Streaming of Video and Audio Broadcasts from ISC in Wisconsin

Saturday, August 27th, 2005

Streaming of Video and Audio Broadcasts from International Softball Congress Tournaments in Wisconsin Draw Larger Crowds

“Is anybody ‘out there’ listening? Or watching?”

Those questions are always a key concern when any form of communication is produced and presented to audiences – – particularly audiences which are not at the scene of the action being described.

Well, they WERE out there listening, and they WERE out there watching when the streaming of audio broadcasts and the live streaming video were coming from Eau Claire and Chippawa Falls, Wisconsin, last week during the I.S.C. World Tournament and the ISC-II Tournament of Champions.

The numbers are in, and they are good – – – VERY good!

The increases in listeners/viewers compared with 2004 are impressive, to say the least.

The number of ISC World Tournament hits for the 2005 tourney broadcasts and telecasts increased by 50% to well over 15,000.

The number of hits on broadcasts from the ISC-II Tournament of Champions nearly doubled from the 2004 total to over 8,100.

Dave Blackburn, ISC Commissioner of Streaming and Broadcasting was well-pleased with the response:

“Our live streaming video of the three games on Championship Saturday provided ISC fans with a Press Box point of view and a glimpse at the future of fastball coverage,” says Blackburn. “The fact that people requested nearly 25,000 accesses to our ISC and ISC-II video and audio streams speaks to our successful growth of this five year old offering to the global fastball community.”

Jim Flanagan, ISC-II Broadcaster, of Ballparkradio.com, observed that, “The response to the broadcasts from the ISC-II fans and players has been nothing short of spectacular. We received e-mails from all over the U.S., Canada, and even Europe from listeners tuning into the games.” Flanagan further noted that, “The streaming audio broadcasts bring the excitement of the game right into the living room of the families and fans back home and provides great exposure for the game of fastball. Blair Setford has built a crew of quality broadcasters for the ISC-II, including Joe Todd, Lance Winn, Brett Bresnahan, and Chris Bach.”

Blair Setford, ISC-II Commissioner, who heads up the ISC-II broadcast program, observed that, “We are very pleased to see the increase in listeners to the ISC-II Tournament of Champions, and we look forward to bringing those games to even more fans next year.”

Blackburn referred to the coverage and the response as a “glimpse of the future.”

Well said! And BRING IT ON!!!

August 27, 2005

Gordon Wise
ISC Information Officer
www.iscfastpitch.com
sgwise@woh.rr.com

Posted in Broadcasts, ISC, ISC-II | No Comments »

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