Congratulations on an outstanding season and welcome to the 2008 USSSA Baseball 14 AAA  World Series.  Your tournament host will be Kansas City Sports and it will be our goal to create an experience that the players, coaches and families will remember for the rest of their lives. Your USSSA State Director will enter teams in the appropriate age and appropriate division of play.  The tournament will be played at the outstanding state of the art 8 field Tiffany Hills Sports Park. The tournament dates will be July 13-20, 2008.

The USSSA Baseball program will use the "Pool-Play" format in its World Series.  Teams will be placed in pools where they will play a round robin within their pool.  A double elimination format will be used in the Championship bracket following pool play.  A single elimination consolation tournament will be held for the teams, which do not qualify for the championship bracket.  The exact format of the tournament, e.g., number of pools, number of teams in each pool, etc., will be set by the Tournament Director following USSSA Baseball guidelines and being approved by the USSSA Baseball National Committee.

Your team's application (Click Here for USSSA World Series Entry Form) and cashier's check or money order for the entry fee MUST BE RECEIVED BY YOUR STATE DIRECTOR BY JULY 7, 2008. The State Director will then forward this material with your official roster and a letter of transmittal to World Series Headquarters: Kansas City Sports 6324 N. Chatham Ave. #136, Kansas City, Missouri 64151 to guarantee your spot in the tournament.  Your entry fee, in the amount of $495.00 should be made payable to: USSSA Baseball. (Click Here for a listing of State Directors) 

YOUR TEAM'S OFFICIAL ROSTER MUST BE ENTERED ON-LINE AT  WWW.USSSA.COM.  ALL ROSTERED PLAYERS WILL BE INDIVIDUALLY CHECKED IN AT EACH TOURNAMENT WITH PROPER BIRTH CERTIFICATES IN HAND.

All players participating in USSSA Baseball tournament play shall have photocopies of their original birth certificates in the possession of their team manager.  Failure to have a copy of the birth certificate available upon demand will result in the offending team losing the game, being ejected from the tournament, being placed last in the standings and forfeiting all awards, sponsors travel money and tournament berths the would have been awarded at the tournament.  

NOTE:

1. Any player who before May 1, 2008 reaches their 15^th birthday shall not be eligible to play in the 14 AAA (54'-80') World Series.

2. Any player can play in a higher age classification but cannot play in a lower age group.

3. Bases will be 80' and the pitching distance will be 54'.

4. All players must be fully uniformed, which includes the following: Pants, sox, cap, and team shirt with numbers that are non-duplicating and at least three inches in height.

5. Managers and coaches must wear a baseball cap with team insignia and will be properly dressed. (Coaches may wear coaches' shorts).

6. While in the field, as a defensive player, team caps must be worn.

7. Protest on uniforms will not be allowed.  It shall be the Tournament Directors responsibility regarding uniform legality.  Violation of the uniform rule will result in the violator being allowed to conform or be removed from the game.

8. Metal spikes are prohibited in age groups 9-12.

9. A full-use batting helmet which covers the top and back of the head and the side of the face must be worn by every player while in the on deck circle, when at bat and while on the bases.

10. All bat boys/girls will wear full-use batting helmets when their team is at bat.

11. The catcher must wear protective gear: Mask, chest protector, shin guards, protective cup, catchers helmet and throat guard.  Ages 7-12: Catchers must wear helmet that fully covers their ears.

12. All playing rules not specifically covered above shall be governed by the USSSA Baseball Handbook and the National League rules for Major League Baseball.  

Tournament Headquarters-Kansas City Sports, (816) 587-4545 will be open on Sunday, July 13, 2008 until the conclusion of the tournament. 

Bracket schedules WILL NOT be mailed out in advance. Brackets will be given to the team manager during the manager’s meeting on Sunday July 13.

NOTE: (Pre-Tournament Meetings & Activities)

There will be a manager's/coaches meeting on Sunday, July 13, 2008 (time and location TBA). Two representatives from each team will be permitted to attend this meeting.  All teams will be required to have a representative in attendance.  The official schedule for when teams play will be distributed at that time.

There will be a "Team Mom's" meeting a on Sunday, July 13, 2008  (time and location TBA). Two representatives from each team will be permitted to attend this meeting.  All pre-orders can be picked-up at this meeting.

Team Check-In (time and location TBA). All teams must check in with all players in uniform. All players will need to have birth certificates. Check-in times will be assigned. You must call KC Sports at 816-587-4545 for your check-in time.

Skills Competition, Social & Opening Ceremonies -(time and location TBA)

SKILLS COMPETITION DETAILS: The overall objective of the skills competition is to have every player on each team participate and enjoy the social interaction of this tremendous event. No player may enter more than one event.

“Round The Horn”- (5 Players)

Five (5) players from each team will be allowed to participate.  The players will take their positions in the infield (1B, 2B, 3B, SS, C).  The catcher will start the event.  The catcher will throw to third baseman, third-baseman throws to second baseman, second-baseman throws to shortstop, shortstop throws to first-baseman and first-baseman throws to catcher.  The time will start when the catcher throws and time will stop when the catcher receives the throw from the first-baseman. ANY DROPPED BALLS OR BAD THROWS ARE CONSIDERED LIVE AND TIME WILL KEEP RUNNING!

“Accuracy Throw” - (3 Players)

Three (3) players on each team can participate.  Each player will get three (3) throws to hit the target.  Players must throw behind the marked position on the field.  Players will be awarded 1pt for bouncing the ball into the target and 5 pts for hitting the target on the fly.

“Base Running” - (4 Players)

Four (4) players from each team will be allowed to participate.    Each player will start inside the batters box and run the bases.  Time will start on first step and end when touching home plate.  Any additional player who has not participated in any event can participate.

NOTE: Pin Trading has become a tradition at World Series events, players will have an opportunity to trade pins during the skills competition and social prior to the opening ceremony. Team pins are not mandatory but certainly adds to the fun of this special event. We encourage each team to bring some small item to trade. Other examples other than team pins include ............ contacting your local Chamber of Commerce for state/city pins ............... contacting any Professional Sports team in your area for left over promotional items, etc.

AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED:

A. Team trophies to the first four teams

B. Individual awards to the first - forth teams

C. Consolation, champion and runner-up team award

D. Individual awards to first and second place consolation teams

E. Outstanding offensive player award

F. Outstanding defensive player award

G. MVP award

H. Individual World Series Certificates for Each Player  

IMPORTANT:  Kansas City Sports has made arrangements with local hotels to assure that there are plenty of hotel rooms at discounted rates available for this World Series event.  Click here for a complete listing of hotels.

ADMISSION: during the tournament will be $7.00 per person per day or $25.00 for a tournament pass.  For children (6-12) the charge will be $4.00 or $15.00 for a tournament pass.  This charge includes everyone except players and team coaches.  A maximum of 3 player/coach passes will be issued.

SOUVENIR WORLD SERIES T-SHIRTS / TOURNAMENT PASSES: Avoid the rush at the World Series for souvenir T-Shirts and Tournament Passes. You have the opportunity to preorder these items.  Click on "T-shirts" and "Tournament Passes" above to avoid waiting in line, your pre-ordered items will be available and waiting on you at the "Team Mom" meeting on Sunday  July 13, 2008.

AREA ATTRACTIONS: Water park, Kansas City Royals, Kansas City T-Bones, Worlds of Fun, and Zona Rosa

 Tentative Itinerary:

TBA

USSSA RULES OF CONDUCT

It is the purpose of USSSA Baseball to conduct the best possible Tournament from all aspects. To achieve this objective USSSA must have the cooperation of each player, manager, coach and sponsor.

We are the guest in the city that the tournament is conducted and nothing should occur that would reflect aversely on your team, players, our host city or USSSA Baseball. Therefore, it is required that all teams in the tournament comply with the following rules:

1. Team managers must have full control of their players at all times. This means "on" and "off" the field.

2. In case of disputed play or decision, team managers or captains may consult the game official. The other players and coaches or sponsors are to be kept out of the discussion.

3. Managers, coaches and players  are not to fraternize with the spectators while on the playing field. At no time will participants be allowed to smoke on the field or in the coaching box.

4. At no time will participants be allowed to drink or have in their possession any alcoholic beverage while in the dugout, coaching bases or on the playing field during the course of the game.

5.Managers are to report any unsportsman like conduct or derogatory acts by players or spectators to the tournament director. The purpose here is to prevent any serious situation from developing that would be harmful to the tournament.

6. Managers, coaches, players, sponsors and teams are liable for the suspension by not adhering to the tournament rules in effect. This could mean suspension for a game, games tournament or a longer duration depending on the act of violation.

7.A player, coach, manager or sponsor may be suspended for fighting, abusive tactics or unbecoming acts that are detrimental and not in the best interest of USSSA baseball and tournament play.

8. Be careful of your conduct. Be sure that no actions occurs that could reflect adversely on your sponsor, team or region. Remember that the wrong actions of even one player can reflect upon you team an the game of baseball.

9. Any report by hotel or motel management, where any team competing in USSSA play is staying, of destruction of property or abuse of hotel or motel property will be dealt with sternly. Team mangers and sponsors will not be warned other than through this notice. Failure to pay hotel or motel bills can result in the team disbarment form future USSSA play.

10. Any teams submitting bad checks to the USSSA will be subject to disbarment.