WEST TENNESSEE /MISSISSIPPI STATE BYLAWS

 

USSSA QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS:

1. All USSSA sanctioned tournaments must be designated as Major, AAA, AA or Mixed. The State Director has final approval for tournament class designation.

2. Tournament formats:

A. State qualifying tournaments are at the Tournament Host's discretion.

B. The State Director sets state tournament formats.

3. Within 72 hours upon completion of a qualifying tournament, the director in charge must postmark to the State Director the proper USSSA paperwork and fees. Failure to comply may result in the teams that qualified to lose their berths and the host incurring additional tournament sanction fees.

4. The tournament director for State Championships is responsible to see that all USSSA rules and policies are followed. The State Director must approve any rule or policy change.

5. All teams that have earned World Series berths via qualifying tournaments must play in the State Tournament before going on to any World Series or AA National Championship. Any team refusing to play in the State Tournament will lose their World Series berth. (Article VI section 6 of National By-laws).

6. PLAYING RULES:

A. Leagues and Qualifying tournaments are not required to follow USSSA Baseball Playing rules. It is recommended that the rules are followed as closely as possible.

B. All State tournaments must follow the official USSSA Baseball rules. The State director must approve any changes.


USSSA POST SEASON QUALIFICATION PROCEDURES

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

1. There are two methods in which a team can qualify to play in a state tournament.

A. Qualify in sanctioned league play.

B. Qualify in a sanctioned state-qualifying tournament.

2. Approved USSSA League Administrators will establish how many teams will qualify for the State Championship out of league play. Leagues will use their own method in choosing which teams to send to the state tournament.

A. All leagues must have their teams sanctioned no later than May 1 for ages 10-14. Ages 15-16 must be sanctioned no later than June 1.

B. Leagues will need special approval from State Director to sanction any team after these dates.

3. A team must play in two sanctioned USSSA qualifying events (State Qualifier or NIT) to earn a berth to the USSSA State Championship. The only exception will be for teams that earn a berth from a USSSA sanctioned league. Teams that participate in qualifiers outside the West Tennessee / Mississippi area will receive credit towards this requirement.

WORLD SERIES / AA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

There are two methods in which a team can qualify to play in a USSSA World Series.

1. Qualify in a USSSA NIT (World Series Qualifier) Tournament. Berths will be awarded in the following manner:

  • 8-12 teams - two berths
  • 13-24 teams - four berths

2. Qualify in a USSSA State Championship. Berths will be awarded in the following manner:

  • Top 25% will earn berths to the USSSA World Series

EXCEPTION: "AA" National Championships are "open invitational" as long as the team has met the requirements to participate in the State Championship and plays in their respective State Championship.

FEES:

1. USSSA Registration fees will be consistent state wide set by the USSSA National Office

2. The tournament director will set qualifying tournament entry fees. 

3. State tournament entry fees will be established by the State Director.

4. There will be no refunds of state entry fee if a team cancels.

ROSTERS:

1. When a team qualifies for a state or world tournament the team roster will be frozen, whether a team accepts the berth or not. (Article IV section 4 of National By-laws)

2. USSSA Baseball National By-laws will be strictly followed for all player eligibility.

3. No change to a team’s roster will be allowed after the team has begun its first game of the tournament.

4. State Director will have final approval for all rosters.

UMPIRES:

1. USSSA Sanctioned Umpires must be used for all USSSA sanctioned events.

2. A minimum of two sanctioned umpires is to be used in all State Championship games. If possible three registered umpires should be used for the championship game.

CLASSIFICATION:

1. The State Director will have final approval for all team classifications.

2. All AA and AAA teams may ask to be reclassified to the higher classification at any time during the season.

3. All teams may have their classification changed by the State Director at anytime during the season.

4. Team classification may be appealed by the following procedure:

  • Send to the State Director a written request for reclassification with reasons for the change.

5. The following guidelines will be used when determining classification.

The below descriptions are only "GUIDELINES". The ultimate classification is determined by the overall strength of the team. Some of the major factors determining reclassification include "In class record", "Power Ratings", "Average run differential", etc. Teams may be reclassified at any time by the West Tennessee / Mississippi USSSA Baseball State office and the respective classification committee. Teams must begin play in the same division as they finished the previous season unless they have been reassigned to a higher classification  by the State Director. This means that if at least (4) players return from a previous roster are on the current teams roster then they are considered the same team, regardless of team name or manager.

USSSA "MAJOR" DIVISION

Teams classified as "MAJOR" will be considered the top Teams in the State.

USSSA "AAA" DIVISION

Teams classified as "AAA" are intermediate - 2nd Tier Select Travel Teams.

USSSA "AA" DIVISION

Teams classified as "AA" are lower - 3rd Tier Select Travel Teams.

USSSA "ALLSTAR" DIVISION

Teams classified as "ALLSTAR" are  Recreational (restricted roster) league All Star teams that form at the conclusion of their regular league season, etc.  Teams classified as ALLSTAR teams may only come out of a sanctioned USSSA league.

 

USSSA “A/Allstar” DIVISION BYLAWS:

USSSA now offers two divisions of post season play for Drafted League All Star teams.

National Division: Any team that participates as a league team in a drafted league that is registered with USSSA is eligible. This team must meet all of the criteria for being an allstar team with their league as well as with USSSA. To participate in this program the following conditions must be met. 

  1. Teams will qualify through their approved Drafted League.
  2. All of your participants must have played in your Drafted League program.
  3. You can not have any players who have played on a travel team after January 1 of the current season.
  4. You can not have started playing in tournaments (any association) as an All Star team before the Memorial Day weekend.
  5. You must register 100% of your league.
  6. Leagues must submit a copy of their rules, by-laws and schedules to the state coordinator.
  7. Players must play in at least 75% of their teams scheduled league games.
  8. All Star teams may be chosen by any method approved by the local league.
  9. Leagues may have more than one All Star team in each division and age group.
  10. Drafted leagues can not have returning teams (league teams that are not subjected to the draft) that participate in the All Star National Division.
  11. Leagues must have an approved drafting procedure. A maximum of 3 protected players are allowed on each drafted team.
  12. Only State Directors can enter / create All Star teams and enter rosters online.
  13. The league administrator must submit a signed copy of the roster to the state coordinator. The state coordinator must approve the All Star roster for the team to be official.
  14. A league must have an 8 game schedule.

American Division: Any team that is from an approved drafted league that is sanctioned with USSSA and does not meet any of the requirements listed above may still participate in the All Star Division, but they must participate in the American Division. Teams in this division are not limited in how many tournaments they participate in. They may also have players who have played on travel teams (AA, AAA or Major) throughout the year. The following conditions must still be met.

  1. Teams will qualify through their approved Drafted League.
  2. All of your participants must have played in your Drafted League program.
  3. Leagues must submit a copy of their rules, by-laws and schedules to the state coordinator for approval.
  4. All Star teams may be chosen by any method approved by the local league.
  5. Leagues may have more than one All Star team in each division and age group.
  6. Only State Directors can enter / create All Star teams and enter rosters online.
  7. The league administrator 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.

OPPORTUNITY AND HOW TO GET INVOLVED:  We are looking for leagues that are interested in becoming affiliated with USSSA Baseball for the future. We will be looking for sites to host the post season championship events. We will support those that assist in getting the division up and running. Email or give us a call at the contact information in the menu bar above.