You have questions, we have answers! If you need more help, please feel free to give us a call or e-mail. We are happy to help!
Age divisions are based upon player’s age as of May 1st., 2021.
Example: A 12u player cannot turn 13 prior to May 1st., 2021 and play in the 12u division. The player would need to participate in the 13u or older division.
Who is eligible for each division?
8u Division: Players who turn 9 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 2nd grade. Also, any player turning 10 prior to May 1 will not be eligible. Players who are 8u are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.
9u Division: Players who turn 10 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 3rd grade. Also, any player turning 11 prior to May 1 will not be eligible. Players who are 9u are eligible for this division regardless of their grade
10u Division: Players who turn 11 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 4th grade. Also, any player turning 12 prior to May 1 will not be eligible. Players who are 10u are eligible for this division regardless of their grade
11u Division: Players who turn 12 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 5th grade. Also, any player turning 13 prior to May 1 will not be eligible. Players who are 11u are eligible for this division regardless of their grade
12u Division: Players who turn 13 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 6th grade. Also, any player turning 14 prior to May 1 will not be eligible. Players who are 12u are eligible for this division regardless of their grade
13u Division: Players who turn 14 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 7th grade. Also, any player turning 15 prior to May 1 will not be eligible. Players who are 13u are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.
14u Division: Players who turn 15 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 8th grade. Also, any player turning 16 prior to May 1 will not be eligible. Players who are 14u eligible are eligible for this division regardless of grade.
15u Division: Players who turn 16 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are a freshman in High School. Also, any player turning 17 prior to May 1 will not be eligible.
16u Division: Players who turn 17 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are a sophomore in High School. Also, any player turning 18 prior to May 1 will not be eligible.
17u Division: Players who turn 18 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are a junior in High School. Also, any player turning 19 prior to May 1 will not be eligible.
18u Division: Players who turn 19 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are a senior in High School. Also, any player turning 20 prior to May 1 will not be eligible.
Yes. We need to be able to verify the age of every player participating in the tournament. Teams must carry birth certificates for all players and present them upon request by Nations staff.
Grade Based Players: NW Nations has adopted an age based system with grade exceptions. All grade based players must have a copy of their current report card or official school ID with the current grade on it.
Either is acceptable. Often coaches find it easiest to carry a notebook with copies of birth certificates for all players on the team.
Frozen Rosters: Rosters will freeze at midnight the day before the start of a tournament and will unfreeze on Monday morning. NO players will be able to be added to rosters after the midnight deadline or anytime during the event without permission from NW Nations.
Sometimes. NW Nations reserves the right to combine age brackets. (Example: 9u with 10u.) This decision will be based on the number of teams that enter into each bracket and available fields. Generally, an age group/ bracket will be held as long as there are at least three paid teams in a given age bracket unless field space dictates otherwise. It is our preference to not combine age groups
The schedule will be posted on our website when it is complete, typically on the Tuesday prior to a tournament, unless circumstances dictate otherwise. We also send e-mails out with tournament start times and additional information to all of the participating coaches.
Not specifically. Coaches are not required to wear a uniform during the games, but are expected to be dressed appropriately.
No. New Wilson NW Nations stamped quality game balls are provided by NW Nations for all games.
Bats and Equipment
Bats must be made of an approved material, and they must be smooth and round. Wood bats are permitted in all age divisions.
9u-13u Age Divisions: No bat size restrictions. All Bats must be certified by the manufacturer to meet a Bat Performance Factor of 1.15 or less and must bear the BPF 1.15 stamp or new USA Bat stamp. All (-3) bats must be BBCOR approved and bear the BBCOR stamp.
14u Division:
14u Major Division: Only (-3) bats are allowed. All (-3) bats must be BBCOR approved and bear the BBCOR stamp.
14u AAA Division: (-3) and (-5) bats are allowed. All (-5) bats must bear the BPF 1.15 stamp or new USA Bat stamp. All (-3) bats must be BBCOR approved and bear the BBCOR stamp.
Note: In the event that a tournament is a 14u Open (mixed Majors/AAA) division, the AAA bat rule will be used.
High School Divisions: High school divisions (15u-18u) bats must conform to the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS) bat standards. Including a length to weight ratio no greater than negative three (-3) ounces. These bats must be permanently stamped with the BBCOR.50 Certified Mark or made of wood.
Illegal Bats
NW Nations utilizes the USSSA Non-Compliant Bat List. Please click here to check bats that are not compliant for NW Nations play.
A batter is deemed to have used or attempted to use an illegal bat if the player brings such a bat into the batter’s box.
- Penalty – the bat will be removed from the playing field by the umpire and the manager of the team will be warned against further use.
- If the illegal bat is discovered after the end of the play, and the play results in the batter/runner safely reaching first base, the batter/runner will be declared out and all runners must return to the last base legally occupied prior to the play. No run may score on this play. Any out that results on the play will stand.
- On a second offense, the above penalties will apply and the manager of the offending team will be removed from the field and will be prohibited from managing for the remainder of the game.
- Additional penalties, including forfeit, ejections and suspensions could occur.
Our first priority is the safety of everyone at the facility. If we were to experience weather that was determined by the field staff, tournament director and umpires to be severe enough to pose a player safety concern, we will delay games until conditions improve, cancel games or cancel the entire tournament if necessary. The ultimate decision on whether we can play or continue to play is made by the parks department. We will make every effort to play all tournament games, we want to play them as much as you do!
Yes. We must treat each game fairly. Early games may have ended due to the time limit so that later games could be played on time. It would be unfair to allow the last game of the day to play beyond the time limit if earlier games were restricted by time.
All games will have two umpires scheduled. This includes one-day and two-day events.
All information regarding results, standings, and seeding will be centrally located on the tournament board, typically located at or near the tournament desk. Our tourney machine app will be updated throughout the event too.
If your team has left the park prior to the conclusion of the seeding games for your division, we will post the Sunday brackets on our website. Click here. We will do this as soon as we are able to on Saturday evening. Please keep in mind that we cannot do so until the Saturday seeding games for a division have concluded.
Yes. In all age groups that are scheduled for six innings, a pitcher cannot pitch more than 18 outs in any given day or 27 outs in a tournament.
In all age groups 14 and younger that are scheduled for seven innings, a pitcher cannot pitch more than 21 outs in any given day or 30 outs in a tournament.
No pitching limitations for high school divisions.
Yes. We will have merchandise for sale during the tournament. The merchandise booth will usually open at the start of games on each day, and will close during the last game of the day.