Tournament Director Guidelines

All NSA Mass. tournament directors will following the following guidelines unless specific permission is received in writing prior to advertising any NSA sanctioned tournament.

Promotional Materials
"NSA" or "National Softball Association" will be included in all promotional materials used for the tournament, including announcements, tournament materials, and t-shirts, etc.

NSA Rule Book
All NSA rules will be followed at all times throughout the tournament.

Entry Fees
No tournament director will charge in excess of $425 for a 4 game guarantee tournament (entry fees for other formats will be determined by the NSA Mass. office).

Tournament Format
All NSA tournaments will use 4 game guarantee format that includes 3 round robin games and a single elimination bracket with the exception of showcase tournaments and the State Championships.

Round Robin Group Assignments
All NSA tournaments will use either a random drawing (or online randomizer) or date of entry to determing the group assignments for round robin play.

Time Limits
All NSA tournaments will use a 90 minute time limit throughout the tournament except for the Championship game (no time limit -- new in 2009). Round Robin games can end in a tie. Elimination games need a winner -- International Tie Breaker rule is used after 7 innings or the 90 minute time elapses, whichever comes first.

Tournament Deadline
All NSA tournaments will establish a deadline date that is not more than 4 weeks prior to the tournament. Teams must receive a refund of the entry fee (less the $50 cancellation fee) if they cancel on or before the deadline date.

Tournament Adverse Weather Refund Policy
All NSA 4 game guarantee tournaments will adhere to the NSA Mass. Refund Policy as outlined below: (refunds for other formats may vary as determined by NSA Mass.)
     No Games Played -- At least 75% of entry fee will be refunded--retained amount must be approved by NSA Mass.
     1 Game Played -- 50% of entry fee will be refunded
     2 Games Played-- NO REFUND REQUIRED

Umpires
All NSA tournaments will use two NSA sanctioned umpires for EVERY tournament game. Current umpire pay rates are available from the NSA Mass. office.

Umpire Assigning Fees
All NSA tournament directors will pay the NSA Umpire Assigning Fee to the tournament UIC before the first game of the tournament is played. Assigning fee amounts are available from the NSA Mass. office

Sanction Fees
All NSA tournament directors will pay all an NSA Sanction Fee to the NSA Mass. office before the first game of the tournament is played. The current NSA Sanction Fee amount is available from the NSA Mass. office.

Tournament Results
All NSA tournament directors will promptly forward the tournament results to the NSA Mass. office within 3 days of the completion of the tournament.

Balls
All NSA tournaments will use the NSA Stamped Optic Yellow Worth Dream Seam leather ball applicable for the age division participating in the tournament [Model Number C11NYL (11") or Model Number C12NYL (12")]. Worth Dream Seam balls are available through the NSA Mass. office for NSA tournament directors at discounted prices.

Awards
All NSA tournament directors will award, at a minimum, one team trophy and 15 individual trophies each to the first and second place teams. Championship trophies will measure 24" (team) and 12" (individual). Runner Up trophies will measure 20" (team) and 10" (individual). Awards not meeting these specifications should be of approximately the same total value ($250+ per age division).

Fields and Facilities
All NSA tournament games will be played on well maintained skinned infield softball fields. Fields will be maintained throughout the tournament by the tournament director. Maintenance will include grooming the infield prior to every game and lining the field at least every other game with field chalk.

All NSA tournament venues will have sanitary facilities available on site. If porta potties are used, a minimum of one porta potty will be available for each field used during the tournament.

Determining Home Team
All NSA tournament directors will use a coin flip to determine home team for all round robin games. The highest seeded team has choice of home or away in all elimination games. The only exception to this rule is you should use a coin flip in any IF game.

Contingency Plan
All NSA tournament directors should prepare a contingency plan in advance of the tournament if there is a reasonable possibility of adverse weather.

Tournament Insurance
NSA Mass. recommends that all NSA tournament directors secure Tournament Insurance to cover their team's liability in connection with running an NSA tournament. NSA Mass. assumes no responsibility or liability in connection with any NSA Sanctioned event. Information on tournament insurance is available from the NSA Mass. office.