TOURNAMENT FORMAT
4 Game Guarantee Tournaments -- teams will be placed into brackets to
play a three-game Round Robin on Friday and Saturday. Single elimination play
will begin on Sunday. A 4 Game Guarantee format is just that, a format -- not
a guarantee of 4 games in the event of inclement weather or other adverse conditions.
SEEDING:
Teams will be seeded for single elimination play based upon the following round robin play results:
1. Best Record
2. Head to Head
3. Fewest Runs Allowed
4. Coin Flip
NSA also uses a three game minimum format and double elimination format. Teams will be placed in these brackets by a tournament draw conducted by the tournament director.
ALL TEAMS MUST HAVE THEIR ROSTER ENTERED ONLINE
PRIOR TO PLAY IN ANY NSA TOURNAMENT. STATE DIRECTORS MUST SIGN ROSTERS BEFORE POST-SEASON PLAY.
Teams must have their properly filled out roster (entered online, printed out, and signed by players and parents), birth certificates, and proof of insurance
available for review by the tournament director at all times during the tournament. PLAYERS CANNOT BE ADDED TO THE ROSTER DURING THE TOURNAMENT ONCE PLAY HAS BEGUN IN A WORLD SERIES QUALIFIER.
ALL TEAMS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPORTING ALL GAME SCORES TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
GAME TIME IS FORFEIT TIME (15 min. grace 1st time slot of day only). IF A TEAM FORFEITS TWO OR MORE ROUND ROBIN GAMES, THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PLAY IN THE SINGLE ELIMINATION PORTION OF THE TOURNAMENT
HOME TEAM DETERMINED BY COIN FLIP DURING ROUND ROBIN PLAY
NO TIEBREAKER IN ROUND ROBIN PLAY AFTER TIME LIMIT --
GAMES CAN END IN TIE IF TIME LIMIT HAS EXPIRED
THE HIGHEST SEEDED TEAM WILL HAVE CHOICE OF HOME OR VISITOR DURING SINGLE ELIMINATION PLAY ON SUNDAY
ALL GAMES WILL CONSIST OF 1 HOUR AND 30 MINUTES -- NO NEW INNING WILL START AFTER THIS TIME
WORLD SERIES BERTHS
Please refer to the World Series Berth Matrix to determine the number of berths to be awarded for each age group.
If the first place team has already qualified for the World Series in a previous tournament,
that berth may then be awarded to the second place team, provided there are a minimum of 6 teams in the age division. Berths will be
passed down solely at the discretion of the State Youth Director.
Any team wishing to activate their World Series berth must play in their NSA State Championships, unless the tournament is full
at the time they earned their berth. In this case, they must be placed on a waiting list and be available to fill a slot up to 1 week
before the tournament. NorthEast NSA will make every effort to accommodate every team wishing to play in the States.
EQUIPMENT
All tournaments will use Worth Dream Seam (C12BYK) yellow softballs with the NSA logo (11" version for 10U).
All bats must be listed on the NSA approved bat list -- coaches are responsible for verifying bats used.
RULE HIGHLIGHTS
BATTING HELMUTS
It is mandatory that all teams wear face guards. [Rule 1, section 10)].
COURTESY RUNNER
The player in the batting order where the last out was recorded or any player not currently in the game may replace the current (player physically playing the position when the 3rd out was recorded) pitcher/catcher as a courtesy runner at any time. The pitcher/catcher will remain in the game and the courtesy runner will retain all substitution rights (if the courtesy runner has substitution rights). [Rule 4, section 6(f)].
INTERNATIONAL TIE BREAKER RUNNER
The runner placed on 2nd base will be the last batter of the previous inning, whose turn at bat
had been completed (Rule 1, sec. 51).
RUN RULE (MERCY)
The NSA will use the 12, 10, and 8 run rule in all Tournament Play.
If one team is 12, 10, or 8 runs ahead after 3, 4, or 5 innings
respectively, or after 2 1/2, 3 1/2, or 4 1/2 innings if the home
team is ahead by 12, 10, or 8 or more runs respectively,
the team with the 12, 10, or 8 run lead shall be the winner (Rule 5, Section 3(a)exception).
CONDITIONS
The Tournament Director reserves the right to change any game time, playing field, or date; or make any other changes necessary to conduct the tournament,
including dropping the round robin bracket or dropping teams from the single elimination, due to inclement weather or other valid reason.
The Tournament Director, sponsors, and hosts assume that all players are competing at their own risk and will not be liable for any
accidents or injuries. Entry into the tournament constitutes agreement to these conditions.