Frequently Asked Questions

USSSA

           HOW DO  I START A TEAM ?

           In order to start a team you will need the following things:

           1)  A manager, coaching staff and business manager.

           2)  Dedicated players and parents

           3)  A philosophy of how your team or club will handle player selections time, practice, etc.
  
           4)  A practice facility.

           5)  An operating budget.  You will need to figure out what this will cost and how you are going to raise the money.

           6)  Uniforms

           7) Click here to create your team! http://www.usssa.com/sports/ISTSIDCreation.asp?WhatToDo=New&Sport=16

           HOW DO I ENTER A TOURNAMENT?  

Go to playutrip.com Fast-Pitch site and look for the enter a tournament link.

Click the link and fill out all the info.

Then print it out and mail in your entry fee to the proper director

Keep in mind that many events will close early and it is best to enter as early as possible.  Always contact the director of choice and make sure he knows you are coming.

             WHEN WILL BRACKETS BE POSTED?

Brackets are usually posted or emailed to managers on the Tuesday or Wednesday night before the tournament. Get Brackets at http://www.playutrip.com/

              WHAT DO I DO ONCE I HAVE MY GAME TIMES

All teams must check in before their first game.  You will need your roster with which is available on the website USSSA.com , copies of your player's birth certificate , and proof  of team insurance. 

            WHAT IF I HAVE TO DROP OUT OF A TOURNAMENT ONCE  I HAVE ENTERED?

            A team may drop out of a tournament anytime up until 1 week before with no penalty, Pull outs  1 week before or later is a $50 pull out fee, the brackets are Generally done 12:00 Noon Wednesday, but they are sometimes posted  earlier or later.  Once brackets are completed, a team may not withdraw from a tournament unless the tournament director has a replacement team. If a team does withdraw once the brackets are completed, they are responsible for the entire entry fee. If a replacement team is found it is just a $50 fee.

             HOW DO I REGISTER A TEAM?

            The  USSSA season will run until August 1st to July 31st. Register at http://www.usssa.com/
USSSA.com help link - http://www.usssa.com/sports/ISTSIDCreation.asp?WhatToDo=New&Sport=11

              WILL MY FIELD LOCATION OR GAME SCHEDULE CHANGE?

              USSSA makes every attempt to keep changes to a minimum, but sometimes changes have to be made due to circumstances beyond our control.  Always re-check your schedule at our website right up until the Friday night before the tournament to make sure that no changes have been made.

             HOW DO I FIND A TEAM FOR MY Daughter?

           USSSA has a web page listing teams that are looking for players. It is on the Message Board Coming Soon. Look for the Free Agents forum. You can also post your kids info.

            HOW CAN I FIND MY TEAM'S RANKING POINTS?

           USSSA has a National website called USSSA.com on which we keep track of the results, scores, and ranking points for every tournament that we host. This Website contains a wealth of information for the teams and fans.  You should spend some time exploring it. 

        WHAT IF OUR RANKING POINTS ARE WRONG?

        If we have made a mistake on your ranking points, Email us bsctournaments@gmail.com.  Make sure you provide us with the tournament ID # that is on the website. Please keep in mind that we input an incredible amount of information and many teams have similar names.  If we make a mistake please notify us and we will get it changed. 

         WHERE DO WE PURCHASE TEAM INSURANCE FROM ?

         You can purchase team insurance from USSSAinsurance.com

         HOW LONG IS MY INSURANCE GOOD FOR?

         Our insurance runs for the calendar year and all teams will have to purchase insurance as of Jan. 1 Our insurance will cover your team anywhere that you play. Click on the insurance link to purchase insurance. It is located at playutrip.com on the welcome page look under quick links. or visit usssa.com

     WHEN IS MY Daughter FROZEN TO A TEAM'S ROSTER?

         Players are "frozen" to a team once they participate with a team that wins a world berth in USSSA.  Teams win a berth by winning a USSSA tournament, or by being the highest finishing team in a tournament that does not have a berth.   If you are not sure if you are frozen, ask your manager if they have won a berth or contact us. We do not freeze teams automatically in the fall/winter. 

        All USSSA roster's become unfrozen at the completion of each age group's World Series or July 31st.

          CAN MY Daughter PLAY UP IN AGE WITH ANOTHER TEAM EVEN IF SHE IS FROZEN TO A ROSTER IN HER OWN AGE?

Yes a player can be frozen to two rosters if one of them is a play up to an older age. However, remember that a player can never play with two teams in the same tournament weekend.   

          DO YOU HAVE TO WIN A BERTH TO PLAY IN THE STATE TOURNAMENT?

          You do not have to win a berth to participate in the State Tournament.  All legal teams are eligible.

          IF WE WANT TO GO TO A WORLD SERIES EVENT DO WE HAVE TO PLAY IN THE STATE TOURNAMENT? YES

                 CAN MY Daughter PLAY LEAGUE WITH A DIFFERENT TEAM THAN THE ONE IS HAS QUALIFIED WITH?

               Yes, your daughter can play with a different team in league.  However, she can not play with any other team than the one she has qualified with in tournaments after being frozen. 

            CAN MY DAUGHTER PLAY WITH AN "A"  AND "B" TEAM IN THE SAME AGE GROUP

 No, your daughter may only play with a team within her classification, the only exception is if she plays for an odd age group.

             WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE USE AN OVERAGE PLAYER IN A TOURNAMENT?

            Using an overage player in a tournament is a very serious offense and will be treated as such. The team would forfeit all games that the overage player participated in and will be dropped from the tournament. The manager and player would be liable for up to a one year suspension from USSSA play. Under no circumstances will this be allowed.

            WHAT IS THE PENALTY FOR UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT BY A MANAGER , COACH, OR PLAYER?

             If a manager, coach,  is ejected from a game, they will sit out that game and the next game.  The penalty could be longer depending on the severity of the situation.  If the manager, coach, or parent is involved in a fight, the penalty could range up to a one year suspension from USSSA. Physical abuse of our officials will not be tolerated and will be dealt with severely by suspending the guilty party and pressing criminal charges with the police if necessary.  A player will usually sit out only the game they are ejected . The penalty for a player could be longer, depending on the severity of the situation.

           Do the ranking points matter?

        Our World Series events are seeded according to your point totals.  You should make every effort to get the maximum number of points before the World Series by playing in as many tournaments as possible.  It will improve your seeding at the World Series. Remember that NIT' S and State Tournaments are worth extra points.  USSSA sanctioned leagues, starting with the January Spring leagues,  now offer points as well.

          Can a team win more than one berth in a season?

       When a team wins and accepts a berth in USSSA, that is their qualified or frozen roster.  You can not re-qualify in another tournament and submit a new roster.  All roster questions will revert back to the original qualified roster.

         What if a manager will not release a player?

Contact the State office if the reason is not valid we will try our best to accommodate you

             When can a team drop from a tournament with no penalty?

1 week or earlier if brackets are not drawn

We consider 4 teams to be a tournament. We will play with three teams if all teams in the tournament agree to play .

            What if a team intentionally forfeits?

         If a team intentionally forfeits in pool play in order to save pitching or change their playoff seeding, that team will be dropped from the playoffs.

            How do I determine my Teams/Players proper age group?

     The  USSSA  season  starts on August 1st  This means whatever age a player is on December 31st, 20xx, will be their age for the 20xx season.
USSSA allows all players to play "up" in a higher age bracket.

Or check Age Calculater Located On The Information Page:

        It is the belief of USSSA Fast-Pitch that this age cutoff will enhance
the opportunities for all players to play the game of softball in a fun
and exciting atmosphere.

                      Where and when can my team find there game times?

         For AthruZTournaments events game times will be posted  here at the PlayUtrip.com Site
Look for them Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons before your scheduled tournament.

How do I pull out my team from a tournament if we entered and they can't make it? Call and email us! Make sure you get a confirmation that we got your message!!  Mention

We have attempted to answer some frequently asked questions.  If you have any other questions please check the National USSSA Website  www.USSSA.com