Northeast NSA - Region 1

Here are some answers to Frequently Asked Questions:
Please click on the question to link directly to the answer

Who is NSA?

Who is NSA locally and how do I get more information?

How do I register my team with NSA?

How do I determine if my team should register Class "A" or Class "B"?

How do I file my roster with NSA?

I don't have a computer or an email address, can I still register with NSA?

Where can I get information about insuring my travel team and other general information?

Who plays at NSA tournaments?

How do I register for Northeast NSA Region 1 tournaments?

Do I have to pay in full for tourmanents at the time I register?

Does registering online hold my spot indefinately?

Can I call on the phone to have the Tournament Director hold a spot for me?

Is there a cancellation fee if I register for a tournament and then drop out?

Where can I get information about tournament formats and refund policies?

How can my team earn a berth to attend a World Series?

Once I earn a berth, are there any other requirements I must fulfill before I can go to the World Series?



Who is NSA?

  • NSA is the National Softball Association. For more information on NSA at the national level, you can visit the National NSA website.

    Who is NSA locally and how do I get more information?
  • Your local NSA representatives are Stephen and Cheryl Collins. Stephen is the Region 1 Youth Director, representing Region 1 states including MA, ME, NH, RI, and VT, and he is the NSA Massachusetts Director. Cheryl is the NSA Massachusetts State Youth Director and the office manager of Northeast NSA/NSA Mass. For more information about Northeast NSA/NSA Mass., please visit our website. We are the association that is here for the teams -- you tell us what you want and we will do our best to respond. If you have any questions, you can contact our office at (978)937-5515 or email us at info@northeastnsa.com with any questions you may have.

    How do I register my team with NSA?
  • All teams must register with NSA before they can play in any NSA-sanctioned tournament. To register your team, go to the NSA Registration page and completing the online registration form. Be sure to select your password at the end of the process (after clicking on submit application) so that you will be able to enter your roster online. Print out a copy of the page for your files and one to forward to the State Director with your registration fee. All youth registrations for Region 1 states including MA, ME, NH, RI, and VT, should be payable to NSA Mass. and mailed to 88 Eleventh Street, Lowell, MA 01850. After the State Director receives and processes your payment, you will be emailed a sanction number from the National Office. The State Director will send you a sanction card and rule book, along with other local information you will need.

    How do I determine if my team should register Class "A" or Class "B"?
  • NSA does not have geographic restrictions on teams that wish to register as a Class "B" team. The only criteria used to determine if your team should register Class "A" or Class "B" is the level of play. If your team can play with known Class "A" teams, then you should register Class "A". This does not mean that you have to beat those teams half the time, but you should be able to stay in the game. On the other hand, if your team simply cannot compete with teams that are Class "A" teams and you are frequently "Mercy Ruled" then you should register your team as a Class "B" team. Most NSA tournaments in this area are "OPEN" tournaments, which means both Class "A" and Class "B" teams can register. We do not separate the teams at the tournament. Only Class "A" teams can attend the Class "A" World Series and only Class "B" teams can attend the Class "B" World Series. If a Class "B" team enters an NSA "OPEN" tournament and wins the tournament, your team will probably be reclassified as a Class "A" team if there were Class "A" teams competing in the tournament.

    How do I file my roster with NSA?
  • All teams must enter their roster online by going to the NSA Roster page and entering each players information. You must have an NSA sanction number (see above) and your password to get into the online roster system. Print out a copy of the completed roster and have it signed by players and parents and have this roster form with you at every NSA tournament. Along with the roster, youth teams must have copies of your players birth certificates and proof of team insurance with you at the tournaments available for inspection by the tournament director or NSA Officials.

    I don't have a computer or an email address, can I still register with NSA?
  • Unfortunately, no. All information required by the national office for registering your team is submitted through their website. Every team must have a team contact that has access to the internet and who has an active email address. Not only will you need this to register your team with the National office and enter your roster, but all Northeast NSA/NSA Mass. tournaments accept registrations only via our website. Over 95% of all information you will receive from NSA and Northeast NSA/NSA Mass. will be via email or through our websites, including registration confirmations, passwords, and tournament information and schedules. So, either find a coach or parent willing to be your team contact or get yourself a computer and an email address.

    Where can I get information about insuring my travel team and other general information?
  • You can visit the National NSA website for all kinds of information about NSA and NSA tournaments including insurance requirements, rules and regulations, tournaments, world series, approved equipment, and lots more. If you still have questions, you can contact our office at (978)937-5515 or email us at info@northeastnsa.com with any questions you may have.

    Who plays at NSA tournaments?
  • Many of the same teams that play other major associations' tournaments also play NSA. Several teams in the area will ONLY play NSA tournaments. We offer top-notch tournaments at the highest level of competition in the area. All our our tournaments are run in accordance with our strict tournament guidelines to insure that every NSA tournament you attend will be run in the same professional manner.

    How do I register for Northeast NSA Region 1 tournaments?
  • All teams must register for Northeast NSA/NSA Mass. tournaments online by going to the Youth Fastpitch page and entering your team information. You must have an NSA sanction number (see above) to register for tournaments (or at least have started the process). Be sure to click on "Register" after entering all information. A confirmation page will pop up on your computer screen showing the tournament information and where you should mail your payment to. Print out a copy of the confirmation page for yourself and one to send to the Tournament Director (listed on the confirmation page) along with your payment by the due date.

    Do I have to pay in full for tourmanents at the time I register?
  • No, most of our tournaments allow you to pay a "holding fee" or deposit which will temporarily hold your spot in the tournament. However, the balance of the entry fee MUST be paid by the due date.

    Does registering online hold my spot indefinately?
  • No, registering online will only hold your spot for 2 weeks or until the deadline, whichever is first, at which time a deposit or the full entry fee is due. If you fail to send in your payment within the two weeks, you will risk losing your spot.

    Can I call on the phone to have the Tournament Director hold a spot for me?
  • NSA Mass. policy is to only accept registrations via the website. Spots are filled on a first come, first served basis according to the time stamp on the registration when received in the Tournament Director's email.

    Is there a cancellation fee if I register for a tournament and then drop out?
  • There is a $50 cancellation fee for all teams that drop out BEFORE the entry deadline. If a team drops out after the deadline, a portion of your entry fee may only be returned at the discretion of the Tournament Director.

    Where can I get information about tournament formats and refund policies?
  • You can get general tournament information and tournament format information by visiting our Tournament Format/Info page. Go to our Rain Policies/Refunds page for information about what happens if it rains during a tournament.

    How can my team earn a berth to attend a World Series?
  • There are a few ways your team can earn a berth to attend an NSA World Series. You can earn a berth my qualifying at any NSA qualifier. See our World Series Berth Matrix for information about how NSA Mass. awards berths based on the number of teams in an age division. You can also earn a berth my hosting your own NSA Qualifier in accordance with our guidelines. For more information about this option, you can contact our office at (978)937-5515 or email us at info@northeastnsa.com with any questions you may have. Finally, you can earn a berth by assisting our office with field maintenance and concessions at one of our larger tournaments (NSA Father's Day Bash or the NSA State Championships). You can contact our office at (978)937-5515 or email us at info@northeastnsa.com with any questions you may have regarding this option.

    FOR CLASS B TEAMS ONLY -- Since, at this time, NSA does not run many Class B tournaments, we are more flexible with awarding berths to Class B teams that wish to attend the Class B World Series. If you are interested in attend the Class B World Series, you can earn a berth in one of the following ways. Qualify at an NSA Class B tournament and then play in the NSA State Championships OR simply participate in an OPEN NSA tournament and then play in the NSA State Championships. All teams wishing to attend the NSA Class B World Series will be subject to observation by an NSA Official to confirm that your team should in fact be registering as a Class B team. Any team winning or finishing 2nd in an NSA Open tournament will not be allowed to register as a Class B team in most cases.

    Once I earn a berth, are there any other requirements I must fulfill before I can go to the World Series?
  • Yes, every team that would like to activate their berth to the World Series MUST play in their State Championships (if available) unless your team earned their berth at an NIT (national invitational tournament) which would give you a direct berth.

    Northeast NSA - Region 1
    88 11th Street
    Lowell, MA  01850
    Att:  Steve Collins
    info@northeastnsa.com
    1-978-937-5515