Frequently Asked Questions About USSSA...
Below is a list of the many frequently asked questions that we are called upon to answer. They are in no particular order and some are from Managers and Coaches while others are from Parents. If you have a USSSA related question, please email Florida USSSA Baseball.
1. HOW DO I REGISTER A TEAM?
The easiest way to register a team with USSSA is by reviewing the information on the Getting Started? page. All registration questions are covered. The one thing to remember is teams must register every year. The current season runs from August 1 - July 31.
2. HOW DO I DETERMINE THE LEGAL PLAYING AGE OF A PLAYER?
Starting with the 2008 season which begins August 1, 2007, the age cut-off date is now May 1 of the current season. This means that what every age a player is at 11:59:59 PM on April 30 of that season is his/her playing age for the season.
3. HOW CAN I FIND MY TEAM'S RANKING POINTS?
USSSA has a National website, 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 infomration for the teams an fans. You should spend some time exploring it.
4. WHAT IF OUR RANKING POINTS ARE WRONG?
If we have made a mistake on your ranking points, let us know. Via email, 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.
5. HOW LONG IS MY INSURANCE GOOD FOR?
USSSA Insurance runs for the calendar year and all teams will have to re-purchase as of January 1st. USSSA Insurance will covver your team anywhere that you play. Click Here to learn more about USSSA Insurance.
6. WHEN IS MY CHILD FROZEN TO A TEAM'S ROSTER?
Players are "frozen" to a team once they participate with a team that wins a berth in USSSA. Teams win berths by finishing high enough in the final standings at USSSA tournaments and in USSSA leagues. If you are not sure if you are frozen, ask your manager if they have won a berth.
7. CAN MY CHILD PLAY UP IN AGE WITH ANOTHER TEAM EVEN IF HE IS FROZEN?
Yes, a player can be frozen to multiple rosters as long as they are not in the same age division. However, a player can never play with two teams in the same tournament.
8. DO WE HAVE TO WIN A BERTH TO PLAY IN THE WORLD SERIES?
Your team will need to win a berth to participate in a USSSA World Series and all World Series berths must be validated by playing in the Spring/Summer State Championship Tournament.
9. DO WE HAVE TO WIN A BERTH TO PLAY IN THE STATE TOURNAMENT?
No, but the State Championship Tournaments are not "OPEN" events either. All teams must meet one of the two following criteria:
1. Played in a sanctioned USSSA league between January 1 & May 31.
2. Played in at least one USSSA tournament in Florida between January 1 & May 31.
10. CAN MY CHILD PLAY WITH A MAJOR AND AAA TEAM IN THE SAME AGE GROUP?
No, a player can only legally be on one roster in an age division.
11. CAN ME CHILD PLAY IN A LEAGUE WITH A DIFFERENT TEAM?
Yes, as long as it's not a USSSA sanctioned league. If it is a USSSA sanctioned league, he would have to play up an age division because no player can be on two rosters in the same age division.
12. WHY DO YOU HAVE PTICHING LIMITATIONS?
How many innings is too much for a 12 year old arm? How many pitches are too many? USSSA did a great deal of research and came up with the current restrictions (USSSA Baseball national Bylaws Rule 8.04). Nine innings in 48 hours along with warm ups, playing other positions and playing as many as 7 games in a 3 day weekend all were taken into consideration. Our restrictions force teams to develop more pitchers and mot rely on 1 or 2 studs to get thru an entire tournament.
13. WHAT ARE THE RANKING POINTS USED FOR?
All Florida USSSA Baseball Qualifying Tournaments, National invitational Tournaments, Super NIT and State Championship Tournaments as well as USSSA World Series pools are seeded according to your USSSA Points totals. You should make every effort to get the maximum number of points before the State Championship Tournametn and World Series by playing in as many USSSA tournaments as possible. If will improve your seeding. Also, NIT, Super NIT and State Championship Tournaments are worth extra points. USSSA sanctioned leagues also offer points.
14. WHAT IF A TEAM INTENTIONALLY FORFEITS?
If a team intentionally forfeits a game in pool play, that team will be prohibited from playing in the championship bracket.
15. WHY IS USSSA PUSHING THE ON-LINE ROSTER ISSUE?
On-Line Rosters require temas to be a "TEAM," a group of players that practice together and play together over the course of a season. Not a collection of players with 2 or 3 different rinders (studs) added each weekend for the sole purpose of winning a tournament. The on-line roster requires players to be bound to one team per age division.
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