1	USSSA League Baseball Join us in the fastest growing youth baseball program in the nation!
2	USSSA Background & Philosophy NATIONAL BACKGROUND In November 1996, USSSA founded a highly anticipated and much needed program, USSSA Baseball. It registered 1000+ teams in its inaugural season in 1997. It offered some refreshing alternatives in the world of youth baseball. In November 1997, the USSSA reorganized to become the United States Specialty Sports Association, a multi-sport organization. Divisions of the USSSA include baseball, basketball, fast pitch softball, flag football, golf, slow pitch softball, soccer, taekwondo, lacrosse, and volleyball with more planned to be added. At the close of business for the 2005 season, USSSA Baseball registered more than 30,000 teams and in just nine years moved from the 27th largest baseball association in the world to the 2nd largest in the world. PHILOSOPHY The philosophy of USSSA Baseball across the country is simple; we are here to provide quality administration of a quality baseball program that enables more opportunities for more kids to play baseball on their skill level. We are players. We are coaches. We are umpires. We are sponsors. We are in touch with the game.
3	USSSA Growth Total Teams 2005 – 30,863 2006 – 34,871 2007 – 40,147 World Series Participation 2005 – 1683 teams 2006 – 1818 teams 2007 – 1947 teams
4	League Benefits More Kids Playing More Baseball Kids Playing on Their Level Opportunity for Ages 5-18 in Single Age Groups Gradual Increase in Dimensions Flexibility to Control Your Local League Teams Qualify for State Championships through League Play Teams Qualify for World Series through League Play Play for FREE IN Drafted Team and All Star Team State Championships Drafted Team and All Star World Series (Play for FREE in Charlotte) League Determines Which Teams and How Many Teams Qualify. Discount on Team Insurance, Uniforms, Baseballs, and Equipment Generate League Revenue Umpire Training and Travel Program Community Economic Impact Playing Real Baseball Be Part of the Fastest Growing League and Tournament Baseball Association (2nd in the world out of 27 Identifiable Associations) Be Part of the Largest Tournament Network in the World. Be Part of the Largest Multi Sport Association in the World.
5	USSSA Sanctioned League The USSSA Sanctioned League is a league where the leadership chooses to become affiliated with USSSA. The leadership first completes the appropriate request and submits it to the USSSA State Baseball Office. Once the leagues registration is over, then the leadership of the league will submit a per team fee to the USSSA State Baseball Office. The leadership must submit a team fee for 100% of the teams in the league for it to be considered sanctioned and recognized by the USSSA State Baseball Office.
6	Types of Leagues The Drafted/All-Star Program National Division American Division The Select League
7	The Drafted/All-Star Program The “A” Division is a level for the actual “Drafted Teams” to participate amongst themselves. Age groups will include 5U-18U. The Drafted/All-Star Program will give the traditional league based All-Star teams in the country the opportunity to compete amongst teams formed in a similar format. Players for All-Star Teams will come from the “Drafted League.” Major, AAA, and AA players can play in the “Drafted League”, but All-Star players in the National Division cannot play on a AA, AAA or Major teams after January 1st of the current season. They may play in the American Division of the All Star Program.
8	National Division National Division: Any team that participates as a league team in a drafted league that is registered with USSSA is eligible. Leagues may also send an all star team. This team must meet all of the criteria for being an all star team with their league as well as with USSSA. To qualify for the World Series, a team must sign up and compete in their respective state tournament (if one is available). To participate in this program the following conditions must be met.
9	National Division Requirements Teams will qualify through their approved Drafted League. All of your participants must have played in your Drafted League program. You can only have 3 players who have played AA ball after April 1 of the current season. No players can play AAA or Major baseball after January 1 of the current year and be eligible for this division. You cannot have started playing in tournaments (any association) as an all star team before Memorial Day weekend. You must register 100% of your league. Leagues must submit a copy of their rules, by-laws, and schedules to the state coordinator for approval. Players must play in at least 75% of their teams scheduled league games. All star teams may be chosen by any method approved by the local league. Leagues may have more than one all star team in each division and age group. Drafted leagues cannot have returning teams (league teams that are not subjected to a draft) that participate in the All Star National Division. Leagues must have an approved drafting procedure. A maximum of 3 protected players are allowed on each drafted team. Only state directors can enter create all star teams and enter rosters online. The league president must submit a signed copy of the roster to the state coordinator. The state coordinator must approve the roster for the team to be official. A league must have at least an 8 game schedule.
10	American Division American Division: Any team that is from an approved drafted league that is sanctioned with USSSA and has players that play on AA/AAA/Major teams AND that started playing in tournaments (any association) as an all star team before Memorial Day weekend may still participate in the All Star or A Divisions, but they must participate in the American Division. If an American Division tournament does not make, the team must participate in the classification they would otherwise be eligible for. Teams in this division must still meet the rest of the requirements of the National Division with the exception of these two rules: You can not have any players who have played on a travel team in the AAA or Major Divisions. You can not have started playing in tournaments (any association) as an all star team before Memorial Day weekend.
11	The Select League The Select League - League play that does not consist of “Drafted Teams.” Players are selected by managers, and brought into the league as pre-selected teams. This type of league is for the travel teams that want to keep their existing team together, but want the extra experience and exposure to the game.
12	Pitching Limitations The following descriptions will describe the columns below. A=The most innings a pitcher can throw in one day and still pitch the next day. B=The most innings a pitcher can pitch in one-day period. C=The most innings a pitcher can pitch in two consecutive days. If any of these numbers are exceeded, a pitcher needs 24 hours rest before he/she can pitch again. No pitcher 12 or under can pitch 3 consecutive days. A B C 8 and Under 3 4 6 9 and Under 4 6 8 10 and Under 4 6 8 11 and Under 4 6 9 12 and Under 4 6 9 13 and Under 5 7 11 14 and Under 5 7 11 15 and Under 5 7 12 16 and Under 5 7 12 17 and Under n/a n/a n/a 18 and Under n/a n/a n/a NOTE: Each league may set their own pitching limitations, but should not exceed these limitations.
13	Field Dimensions These are recommended field dimensions. Division Bases Pitching Foul Lines Center Field 5 & Under 55’ N/A 140’ 175’ 6 & Under 55’ N/A 140’ 175’ 7 & Under 60’ N/A 150’ 185’ 8 & Under 60’ 40’ 160’ 185’ 9 & Under 65’ 44’ 170’ 190’ 10 & Under 65’ 46’ 180’ 210’ 11 & Under 70’ 50’ 190’ 230’ 12 & Under 70’ 50’ 230’ 275’ 13 & Under 80’ 54’ 260’ 300’ 14 & Under54/80 80’ 54’ 275’ 300’ 14 & Under60/90 90’ 60’6” 320’ 375’ 15 & Under 90’ 60’6” 320’ 375’ 16 & Under 90’ 60’6” 320’ 375’ 17 & Under 90’ 60’6” 320’ 375’ 18 & Under 90’ 60’6” 320’ 375’
14	www.usssa.com The league must appoint one person to be the contact person for the entire league. All correspondence should go through this person. The league director will be listed on www.usssa.com as the director for the league. The league director will have all log-in information for posting league results on www.usssa.com. Each team will have it’s own team page on www.usssa.com. Each team will have a log-in to post a team picture & team stats. This will be HUGE to the teams to see their league results & team stats posted on our national sports website.
15	The League Director The League Director will be listed on www.usssa.com as the Director for the league. The league director will have all log-in information for posting league results on www.usssa.com. The league director will be able to create league teams.
16	Team Page Each team will have a log-in to post a team picture & team stats. This will be huge to the teams to see their league results & team stats posted on a National Sports website. Team pages can be linked to the league homepage. Keeping the teams in an interactive database that USSSA provides, will make every player special! Player photos and team photos may be uploaded to the team page so everyone knows who they are.
17	League Results League results can be entered by the League director. Results can be put in daily to keep the teams in the action of their competition. Results entered online will create team stats to show improvements and accomplishments.
18	Stats and Innings Pitched Stats and Innings Pitched can be recorded as the league is in progress. This will be very helpful for the league to keep track of innings pitched during the league play.
19	League Tournaments Leagues may host USSSA events and run “A” and “All-Star” tournaments in their area during and after league play. Generates income to the surrounding community and the league program. This helps build a strong league programs and promotes league travel baseball in the local area. Players get exposure to other teams outside their league.
20	How to Qualify for State Championship and World Series in All Star and A Division There will be two divisions of play in the All Star Program. Please make sure that your teams fit the requirements for the appropriate divisions you sign them up for. (American and National) Ages 9U-14U - STATE CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING Sanctioned Leagues-Leagues may choose to send as many teams as they would like to the State Championship as long as 100% of their league is registered. Ages 9U-14U - WORLD SERIES QUALIFYING Sanctioned Leagues-Leagues may choose to send as many teams as they would like as long as 100% of their league is registered. Teams MUST compete at the state tournament to be eligible for the world series. A team that signs up for the state tournament but does not field a team is not considered eligible for the world series. Ages 15U-18U STATE CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING Leagues may choose to send as many teams as they would like as long as 100% of their league is registered. Teams will compete in the open division at the state championships. Ages 15U-18U WORLD SERIES QUALIFYING Open to any team that participated in the state championship, and teams can choose which class they would like to compete in if the All Star Division is not offered.
21	Let USSSA Baseball be a part of your community!