Masters Games

Question:  Besides the World Masters Championships are there any slightly lower level games for Master athletes to attend?

I do not mean masters state championships, I am referring to something larger or are the bigger ones invite only? Or Pro Masters only?

Now that there is a Pro-Masters Group can Masters that threw in a Pro-Masters event throw in any Masters Group?

Alan,

You should have taken the $100.00 bucks and volunteered yourself to drug testing.

Big Rob,  if you want to come up for a MASA game you are welcome to crash at casa de Dickens.

I'd like to get you guys' input on this a little further.

As a fairly New AD (Greenville), I've strived to maintain or improve upon the Standards that I learned by, which were Kay Cummins. His views on Pro/Am Status were very well known and he didn't hesitate to tell you what they were. Being in the South, my only real exposure has been to SSAAA (Kay Cummins) or SHAG (An Off-Shoot of SSAAA), so the same basic rules applied.

My goal is and has been to grow our game to the highest level achievable. This means the highest level of exposure to the public. Creating a Family/Festival Atmposhere that brings the people to our game. As a secondary goal, I want the very best competition, i.e. everyone wanting to throw as hard and far as they can throw. Good competitive scores and a close match for the win. (Just my 2 cents).

I can truly see both sides of the coin as far as having (Pro/Masters and Am/Masters throwing together vs. separating the two.

Do you see an advantage to having Pro/Masters throwing with Am/ Masters? Do you think that there's a fall-off of participation from your Am/Masters if they know they're going to be throwing with a couple of Pros? Again, as an AD, I want the biggest and best participation available. That's what brings more people in the gate.

Personally, I've had the absolute pleasure of getting to throw with Gene Flynn, Chris Chafin and Mike Neise. I can't remember when I've learned as much and simply stood in awe of what they were able to do. Braidy Miller is a new thrower in the 40-44 Age group who simply throws Bombs!! I can see from a competition standpoint, that having those two guys go head to head at my game would be simply spectacular to watch. Would it cause some of the other Am/Masters to throw B Division instead? Does my crowd get bored knowing which one or two guys are going to dominate every event? I don't know, that's why I ask.

I've always tried to be open to learning something new or seeing things in a different light and this is no exception. What are the compelling reasons to change from what's always been done to something new? Will it help grow my game (Greenville) and our Overall Sport as a result of changing? That's where I need others' input. I'd be interested in hearing from other AD's and their experiences with making this leap, if it really is a leap.

John Allen

www.glsaa.com

Mostly games in Ohio but we don't care who comes as long as they know how to laugh.

John,

Kay always told me that the reason he did want pros at his competitions was he felt the friendly competition between athletes went from helping each other to becoming enemies for the money. He told me he saw two athletes that threw together for years  as armatures  that always helped one another go from friends  to being enemies over $25.00 dollars in the sheaf and he did not want that to happen in his games.

Rob Schultz wrote: phatmiked wrote: Big Rob,  if you want to come up for a MASA game you are welcome to crash at casa de Dickens. Thanks Mike, I have wanted to see your basement where the dancing moves were created. I must say I have watched your video a few times (In a non-gay way)*** What is the next masters games you are doing? I have a little son now and can't do any games for 2-3 months.

Rob, next masters game for me is NA champs at the 'Claw.  Throwing open a Sean MacKay's game in Jersey at Glasgowlands, both in July.

We will definitely pull out some cardboard and work on your pop and locking when you come up.