2009 National Information.

AZ Wiffle has yet to announce dates and formats for this year.

2009 Season Information

Regional Fee will be $400.00

A percentage (33%) of the fee is to be paid at the conclusion of each NCQ. 33% is equal to approximately $135.00. This percentage must be paid prior to the next scheduled NCQ. If Fast Plastic has not received payment by that time the next scheduled NCQ will not be sanctioned by Fast Plastic. FP needs to collect fees earlier in the season in order to pay bills and better prepare for the NCT. We can no longer wait for Directors to pay at the conclusion of the season or just days prior to the NCT. Payments can be made using PAYPAL, check, money order, or cash if needed.

32 teams accepted to the NCT

The 2009 NCT is expected to be similar if not exact to last year’s tournament. Same format, same times, same weekend…Columbus Day.

Each Region will host a regional playoff

Contact Bill Owens if you are unsure how to conduct a playoff system for your region.

Each region will host 3 (three) NCQs only

Last season more than half of FP’s regions rescheduled NCQs and each time the dates dragged on later and later into the season putting more pressure on FP.  By changing the number of NCQs to three we will have fewer scheduling conflicts and many more open dates that might allow teams to play in adjacent regions more often.   I also believe this could allow each NCQ to pull in more entries…basically creating demand. All Regions must complete three NCQs. Failure to complete all three will force the region not to be sanctioned by FP.

Regional Directors will determine the format used within each region

As Regional Director you are in complete control of your region. For the first time FP will allow you to determine how teams earn allocated bids within your region. Regions should formulate a type of point system and award teams points based on performances from each NCQ and then select the top teams for the playoffs to fill the final bid(s). Once you have determined your region’s format details should be forwarded to Fast Plastic for posting on your regional page of the website. Players will want to know the format well in advance in order to decide where they will compete for an NCT berth for 2009.

All NCQs and Regional Playoffs must be completed on or prior to 09-05-09

In previous years RDs’ have had to reschedule NCQs and requested dates beyond the cutoff which puts strain on the entire NCT process. NO EXCEPTIONS for 2009…all dates are to be completed prior to the cutoff.

All NCQs must be scheduled no earlier than February 6, 2009

The additional month is needed for FP to go after new regions.  Last season I logged about 40 requests for expansion.  I have several strategic locations that I’d like to focus on this year.  Most guys are not thinking about Wiffleball during the winter months making it harder to sell them on the FP concept.  So more time is needed to add new regions to FP.  This has always been one of major obstacles.  Most of our requests for expansion come with the start-up of baseball season. By scheduling early NCQs we are placing time constraints on the organization.  FP needs more than 2 months of off season each year in order to keep the machine moving forward in a positive direction. 

The FP3 Points System (Fast Plastic Power Points) will not be used for the 2009 season

In an effort to help FP grow some regions will be asked to rename to a more locally, identifying, or geographically precise title. See below. If you feel this is not indicative of your region please contact me and propose a more logical name.

1. Oakland

2. Los Angeles

3. Salt Lake City

4. Austin

5. Dallas

6. St. Louis

7. Chicago

8. Tampa

9. Savannah

10. Baltimore

11. Cincinnati

12. Boston

13. Long Island

14. North Jersey

15. Phoenix

NCT BIDS have been predetermined for each region

Each region was given bids based on previous years’ accepted bids. In the past some regions have failed to send teams to the NCT. Its up to you, the Regional Director, to determine which teams within your region receives the bid(s). All new regions receive one bid. Regions re-emerging (those that may have folded in the past and are now attempting to reopen) receive one bid. Bids are shuffled around some in the event of new regions signing on or regions folding or not sending teams. For example, Boston starts the season with 6 bids but gains a bid if any region folds or fails to honor a bid. The grid considers expansion as high as 19 total regions and contraction as low as 11 Regions.

* each of the remaining regions gets one bid

Cash Prizes

When possible, entry fees taken throughout the season should be set aside to use as payout for a post season playoff. By doing so the playoff will gain legitimacy and more teams will place emphasis on winning. Fast Plastic was founded on awarding Regional Champions a significant prize.

No game play rule changes for 2009

The team roster rule will see a change for ‘09. Player transactions will be allowed for a fee. The complete written rule will be made available prior to the first NCQ.

The 2009 NCT is planned for October 9-11

2010

The goal is to have the 2010 Fast Plastic structure in place and posted to the website by April 2009. It is 90% complete. The system will take the organization in a new direction and open up the future for growth while increasing the competitive nature of pro wiffleball.

It’s fantastic to think about the growth of the Fast Plastic organization over the past nine seasons. Regardless of changes to rules, point systems, and tournament formats, players adapt and build teams with a goal of qualifying for the National Championship Tournament. This final tournament of the year has proven to showcase the best talent from coast to coast over and over again. The team that wins this event has no doubt persevered against some of the highest quality teams that can ever be assembled at one tournament. But as Fast Plastic expands into new regions, this national tournament is starting to display an increasing gap between the elite teams and the competitive teams.

Elite teams (also known as “super teams”) are formed and made up of the best players from different rosters of the previous season. The sole purpose of putting together this type of team is to create a stronger unit for the next NCT. This is an acceptable form of team development that has resulted from the intensity involved at the national tournament.

Competitive teams can be described as first-time NCT participants or the combination of fractured remains of rosters that were left by members who went on to form the elite teams. These teams still play well enough to qualify for a national tournament berth, yet they are clearly overmatched as the tournament progresses.

The gap between the elite and competitive teams has become so wide that predictions for the top 16 teams for the 2008 NCT were too accurate. Although 32 teams participated, experts were nearly dead-on about which 16 teams would advance to the championship rounds. Almost half of the field was virtually eliminated without a single game being played! If it can be determined that a good portion of the tournament participants are not even capable of challenging for a top spot, then perhaps this is the perfect time to propose a new approach to the NCT.

Proposal

Each region will be assigned a certain number of NCT bids prior to the season.

Some regions will have more than others; this is dependent on past experience with the region’s support of the NCT.

Teams earn the bids through the regular season qualifying tournaments. More to be announced.

The overall regional standings will determine which teams earn the bids. More details about this to be announced.

Teams earning a bid will be able to participate in an optional draft for players from unqualified regional teams in order to improve their roster for the NCT.

How it works

The National Championship Tournament will accept 32 teams.

All new regions will be awarded only 1 bid to the event. One bid will be awarded to existing regions as well if history has shown this region is still developing. Stronger veteran regions will be awarded additional bids based on past experience with the FP organization and the region’s support of the NCT. Bids will be adjusted every year to accommodate additional regions or fluctuations in participation within existing regions.

At the conclusion of the season, qualifying teams will be able to participate in a draft for players from non-qualifying teams. The eligible draft players are from the HOME region only. Simply stated a Los Angeles team can only draft Los Angeles players.

The draft process will be:

1. Qualifying teams declare to FP their intention to participate in the draft.
   1. This will clearly establish the draft order and inform all players of which teams are looking to add to their roster.
   2. Some teams may decline the draft and hence be satisfied with their NCT roster.
   3. FP will post the draft order and instruct the regional director to contact the eligible draft players.

1. Eligible draft players declare themselves willing to be drafted.
   1. Players wishing to be drafted must send FP their name, email, and phone number as contact information.
   2. If drafted, players may decline their selection. If this happens, they are removed from the draft and cannot be selected with any future picks.
   3. FP will post the players of the draft and inform the qualified teams to begin the selection process.

1. Draft
   1. The first team of the draft will notify FP of their selection and whether or not the player has accepted the selection.
   2. If the selection is accepted, then the second team will be instructed to select a player.
   3. If the selection is not accepted, then the first team will be allowed to select again.
   4. The draft is complete when all teams have a full roster of 5 players, all players have been selected, or all teams have decided to stop drafting.

Execution

The first steps of this process are being implemented for the 2009 season.

Impacts and Goals

The most desirable impact expected as a result of this proposal is a more competitive field of teams for the national tournament. The main goal is to provide the best opportunity for regions to showcase the highest level of talent at the most important tournament of the year. There are several examples each season of teams declining their NCT bid or the absence of many top quality players at this tournament. When this proposal is adopted, it is expected that nearly all bids will be accepted and the regions will be represented by most, if not all, of the best players from that area.

The impact on developing regions will be a reduction in the growing pains felt by these areas at the national level. The goal that will be accomplished by this proposal is that developing regions will experience a smoother transition to the national game. In order to ensure support from these regions for future seasons, they must send their highest quality teams and players to the NCT as soon as possible. These regions must have an experience that gives them the best chance at competing at this tournament.

New talent that is discovered in the stronger regions will benefit from this proposal as well. Whether it is a single player or an entire team, new talent is rarely willing to make a commitment to the NCT even if they qualify. Considering they are coming from such a strong region, they have experienced top level competition immediately. Perhaps they have already determined that their chances at the NCT level are too slim and would rather stay home.

Whether a team qualifies through a developing region or a strong region, this drafting proposal provides tremendous benefits for the Fast Plastic organization and the NCT. Imagine a team qualifying through a brand new region being able to add the two best pitchers from the second best team for the NCT roster. Perhaps a solid team has earned an NCT bid, but suffered a late season injury to a key player. They will decline the bid for sure, unless they can add another player or two to fill the gap. Maybe a couple great veteran NCT players were part of teams that missed out on a bid in a strong region. This proposal permits them to be drafted to an NCT roster of a team within their region.

The impacts of this proposal extend throughout the Fast Plastic system. While the main focus is on improving the overall quality of players attending the NCT, regional events should notice a positive result as well. The competition level at the NCT coupled with the current roster rule has forced the best players from each region to merge rosters each year. While this is necessary for an NCT title run, this practice puts too much stress on the regional tournament.

Most developing regions have enough talent to form several competitive teams. But when the elite players are dropping their above average teammates and combining with other elite players, the overall number of teams at each tournament instantly diminishes. In addition, any new teams looking to get involved are not likely to return once they experience the sheer power of these super teams.

It’s important to recognize that regional tournaments should avoid showcasing too many teams stacked with the most dominant players. Little League baseball provides a model that can be understood. The talent during the regular season is spread as best as possible throughout the teams. But once the season is over, the All Star teams are formed and sent out to represent the community, region, state, and then nation. This organization would not be as popular if they consistently allowed the best players to form teams for the regular season.

Ultimately, this system will grow Fast Plastic and strengthen all aspects of the organization.

I look forward to a great season of wiffle®ball Fast Plastic style. As always feel free to contact me at your convenience. Also, while on the tournament circuit this year be sure to congratulate the 603 Allstars…they are the Fast Plastic National Champions….Kings of all the wiffle world.

Bill Owens

Fast Plastic

714…

nationalchampionship@fastplastic.net

www.FASTPLASTIC.net