Beginning with the 2007 season, NAFA is pleased to announce the
creation of a new classification of play, Class AA-Major.
After it’s
2003 World Series in Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, NAFA
decided to take a new direction in it’s classification structure.
The result
of this new direction was the creation of the Class A-Major. This
classification was created to minimize the gap that was being
created between upper level Class A teams and the remainder of the
Class A teams who were considered, for the most part, local “town”
teams.
Class
A-Major was created for those teams in Class A that had grown above
the competitive balance of the more traditional Class A teams but
not yet ready to compete competitively at the Class AA level.
The result
of this decision has been an increase in not only numbers at the
Class A and A-Major levels, but an increase in competition as well
as a noticeable competitive balance in each class.
Faced with a
similar situation the last three years, NAFA will once again take a
new direction in its classification structure with the creation of
Class AA-Major.
The current
status of the Major-level game has forced a overwhelming number of
teams that were traditionally Class AAA for NAFA into the category
of “Open” based on the need for an Open level pitcher or a handful
of “Open” level players simply to compete at the Major level.
This
situation has created a decrease in participants in NAFA’s AAA
division.
Yet, the
upper-level teams in Class AA are not on the same level as the AAA
teams that still exist in NAFA, some of which do and do not compete
at the ISC World Tournament.
As was the
case in 2003 with Class A, the same disparity has risen in Class AA
for NAFA.
The
upper-level Class AA teams are at a level higher than the teams in
the lower, which include teams reclassified from Class A-Major each
year.
It is with
this reclassification that NAFA will attempt to grow the game by
allowing the competitive balance that teams look for to continue to
strive each August.
As A-Major
currently serves as a bridge between Classes A and AA, Class
AA-Major will serve as a bridge between Class AA and AAA.
Approximately 18 teams and 25 pitchers have been reclassified to
create Class AA-Major.
Approximately 13 teams and 25 pitchers have been reclassified to
Class AA and approximately 15 teams and 30 pitchers have been
reclassified to Class A-Major, all from lower divisions.
These
reclassifications will result in a new look Class AA division that
will look similar to the inaugural Class A-Major Division of play in
Hutchinson, Kansas in 2004. The result will be a class of play that
will stronger each year.