During these month of 05 we ran two surveys - this simpler one on MVP selections and a more complex one on 9-man ball.

This survey began (as many do) with a conversation on the topic and some opinions we saw expressed elsewhere, along with our own experience in tournaments run both ways. The question was simple... who should pick each game's MVP in a tournament, the players' own coaches, or the opposing team coaches. There are arguments in favor of both but the results are clear...

Who should pick? What's the impact

Many coaches already enter the tournament with pre-conceived bias toward certain players, especially their own children. This is apparent on the field, and it can be seen through MVP selection as well. We have been in too many tournaments where the coaches' kids play the entire game, no matter how many errors or strikeouts they make, while the remaining players are relegated to the bench. I would, however, be in favor of coaches awarding MVP if they did not have children on the team. - Gary Johnson

Baseball is a team game and throughout a tournament everyone on the team does something for the team to win. To be honest, I would rather have no MVP award. - Kevin Morris

If at all possible it should be someone from the hosting tournament who doesn`t have any relationship to either team and has knowledge of the game to know when someone plays above or makes that play to change the outcome. I have done the job when asked and i usually write every play that develops, so when the game is over Ihave a reference to go over and I try not to repeat the player if he or she has won before. - Bob Burkmar

MVP awards should NOT be given to players until they are in high school. Any league below high school is mostly teaching & development and we should focus on that. My rewarding comes at the team level... I give stars to put in their caps. - Perry Hess

I believe it would best be handled by the players. I have found they are very good at spotting great play by their teammates and opponents. - Rick Garhart