Congratulations on an outstanding season and welcome to the 2008 USSSA AA Baseball World Series 13 & Under. Your tournament host will be the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitor’s Bureau 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 Baseball State Director will enter teams in the appropriate age and appropriate division of play. The tournament will be played at Winged Deer Park on July 15-20, 2008. Contact Karen Hubbs if you have any questions (423-461-8012) and we are excited to be able to have the opportunity to join players, coaches, families, and the community in experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime event.

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 that 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.

Teams that win World Series berths from an NIT Tournament must play in the State Championship in their home state to be eligible to play in the World Series. Contact your State Director for information on State Championships.

Your team’s World Series application, entry form, official roster (www.usssa.com) and cashier’s check or money order for the entry fee MUST BE RECEIVED BY YOUR STATE DIRECTOR BY JULY 4, 2008 to guarantee your spot in the tournament. Your entry fee, in the amount of $495.00 should be made payable to: USSSA Baseball.

All of the above should be sent to your USSSA Baseball State Director who will then forward this material along with your official roster and a letter of transmittal to World Series Headquarters: Karen Hubbs 603 East Market St. Johnson City, TN 37601, Fax 423-461-8047 or hubbs@johnsoncitytnchamber.com. Entry for World Series teams MUST BE RECEIVED AT TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS BY 5:00 P.M. July 7, 2008.

Your State Director must sign the roster we receive. This roster must be the one that was submitted to your state and/or Area Director when you team qualified for this tournament. Failure to comply with this rule will result in your team’s suspension from participation in this tournament. Players will be individually checked in at each tournament with proper birth certificate or USSSA approved ID card in hand.

NOTE:

1. Bases and the pitching distance will be as prescribed in the USSSA
Baseball Handbook.
2. 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.
3. Managers and coaches must wear a baseball cap with team
insignia and will be properly dressed. (Coaches may wear coaches'
shorts).
4. While in the field, as a defensive player, team caps must be worn.
5. 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.
6. PITCHERS will not be allowed to wear Metal spikes on the mound.
The complex does not allow them on there portable mounds.
7. 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.
8. All bat boys/girls will wear full-use batting helmets when their team
is at bat.
9. 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.
10. All playing rules not specifically covered above shall be governed
by the USSSA Baseball Handbook and the National League rules for
Major League Baseball.
11. Time limits will be used throughout the event. 13U will be 1:40. We will add 10 minutes to the Championship

Brackets and schedules WILL NOT be mailed out in advance. Official Brackets will be given to the team manager during the manager’s meeting. They will be posted on this site as soon as they are ready.

Tentative Schedule: Subject to change

Tuesday, July 15th

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Teams check in and registration at the host hotel

Doubletree Hotel (211 Mockingbird Lane, Johnson City 37601).  All teams will be assigned a check- in time.

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Practice time at the tournament sites.  Each team

needing a practice time MUST contact Karen Hubbs @ 423-461-8012

or e-mail hubbs@johnsoncitytnchamber.com.  Deadline for request is July 11th.

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Team photos at the Doubletree Hotel.  We request that your athletes be in uniform

9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Pick-up pre-ordered items @ the Doubletree Hotel

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Mom’s meeting at the Doubletree Hotel (211 Mockingbird Lane, Johnson City 37601).  Our staff will be available to answer any of those questions that you might have pertaining to the tournament and the City. 

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Mandatory manager’s meeting Doubletree Hotel (211 Mockingbird Lane, Johnson City 37601).  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. Any times given out before this meeting are tentative.

4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Pick-up pre-ordered items @ Winged Deer Park

5:00 -5::30 p.m. Teams arrive and line-up for parade

6:00 p.m. Team parade starts

6:15 p.m. Opening Ceremony

6:30 p.m. Athlete’s Festival

NOTE: Pin Trading has become a tradition at USSSA events, players will have an opportunity to trade pins during the skills competition and team social. 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. We suggest that you contact your local Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureaus or other community businesses in your area about obtaining items to trade.  You can estimate 15-20 per team and we are expecting 35 teams.

July 16th – 20th  USSSA Baseball AA World Series competition

July 17th (Time TBA) Mandatory manager’s meeting @ the Doubletree Hotel (211 Mockingbird Lane, Johnson City 37601) to discuss brackets

Check in & Manager’s Meeting

Because of space considerations, a maximum of two people per team will be allowed at this meeting. Players should NOT attend this meeting. Team managers need to have the following item with them when they check in:

1. USSSA roster that will be compared with one submitted earlier that will be supplied by USSSA.

2. Cell number and hotel of where you are staying (please fill out an intent form and submit to tournament headquarters by July 11th.)

3. Current age verification for each member of your team to verify they are the proper age.

-After checking in, team representatives will be directed to where they can pick up and pay for pre-ordered passes and shirts. A local Convention and Visitor’s Bureau person will be available to describe locations of interest in the area.

-The mandatory manager’s meeting will cover rules and procedures to be followed during the tournament. Teams can be checked in after the meeting if necessary.

We are asking that teams arrive in full uniform at check-in for Official Team Photo.  If you entire team is unable to arrive before the Manager’s meeting, please make arrangements for team photo with tournament staff @ 423-461-8012 or hubbs@johnsoncitytnchamber.com.

Admission

Admission during the tournament will be $25 for a tournament pass or $7 per person per day for ages 14 and up. For Children ages 6-13, the charge will be $20 for a tournament pass or $5 per day. This charge includes everyone except players and coaches in uniform. A maximum of four passes will be issued. To purchase tickets prior to the World Series, please use the PRE-ORDER TICKET FORM and the deadline is July 11th

Tournament Program

A tournament program will be created that will include schedules and elimination brackets. It will also include rosters and teams that submit their rosters (603 East Market St. Johnson City, TN 37601 or hubbs@johnsoncitytnchamber.com)   USSSA rosters will not be used for roster information that will appear in the program. This program will be sold for $5.00.  Please refer to the attached program roster form and this will need to be submitted by July 4th.  All information will be forwarded to our printers on Monday, July 7th.  Information given to us after that time will not be included into the Official program. We encourage that you look over the spelling and other information before submitting and please print legibly or type information.  We will use what you provide.

In addition, ad space available for coaches, parents and/or fans.  If you would like the opportunity to place a special greeting to your athlete &/or team in the Official World Series Program, please provide our staff the information by July 4th.  The ad prices are $25.00 for a business card, $50 for a half page and $100 for a whole page.  If you need design assistance or layout, there will be a $15 fee applied.

Pre-Ordering Items

There are a number of items available for purchase relating to this tournament. Orders will be accepted prior to the tournament (deadline July 11th) and can be picked up at the following locations/times on July 15th.

9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. @ the Doubletree Hotel (location of registration, mom’s meeting, Manager’s meeting & team photos)

4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. @ Winged Deer Park (practice, opening ceremony and game location)

-Tournament t-shirts and other souvenirs will be available for purchase. T-shirts may be ordered in advance by completing order form- team orders accepted only. Mail completed form and money orders to Johnson City CVB C/O Karen Hubbs, 603 East Market St. Johnson City, TN 37601. Phone 423-461-8012 or 423-461-8047 fax. Email hubbs@johnsoncitytnchamber.com. T-shirts will be available on-site while supplies last.

-A tournament collector’s pin will be offered for $5.  Teams may order collector pins in advance-team orders accepted only. Complete the order form and return with your check payable to Johnson City CVB C/O Karen Hubbs, 603 East Market St. Johnson City, TN 37601. Phone 423-461-8012 or 423-461-8047 fax. Email hubbs@johnsoncitytnchamber.com.  Pins will be available on-site while supplies last.

Links to the order forms will be posted in April.

Awards to be presented

1. Team trophies to the first four teams
2. Individual awards to the first - fourth place teams
3. Outstanding offensive player award
4. Outstanding defensive player award
5. MVP award
6. Sportsmanship award
7. Individual awards (min. of 15) to All National Team
8. Individual National Championship Certificates for Each Player
9. Consolation Champion and runner-up team and individual awards

WORLD SERIES EXTRA'S

Team Gift

At registration (July 15th), your team mom or coach will receive a certificate for a complimentary World Series cooler.  Teams will need to present the certificate to the Food City team member at our host headquarters (Food City, 4307 N. Roan St.) 

Limited one cooler per team

Save your Food City Receipts!

In addition, we will be offering our “Great Receipt Giveaway” again this year.  Several local businesses will be providing items for a drawing that will take place Saturday morning. To enter in the drawing, individuals will need to write their name, team, address, phone number on the back of a Food City receipt.  The official rules will be explained at the Mom’s Meeting on July 15th

For More Information or to find answers to your questions, please contact your

Director of Sports Development: 

Karen Hubbs at 423.-461-8012 or hubbs@johnsoncitytnchamber.com 

East Tennessee State Director

Contact Travis Leming at 423-349-9996 or mailto:tleming@chartertn.net

WORLD SERIES HOST HOTEL

Doubletree Hotel – Cornelia Dobbins 423.929.2000

OTHER PREFERRED HOTELS

AmericInn Lodge & Suites – 423.753.3100

Carnegie Hotel – Crystal Phillips 423.979.6400

Comfort Suites – Kate Van Huss 423-610-0010

Hampton Inn – Brandy Crawford 423.929.8000

Holiday Inn – Nancy Lester 423.282.4611

Ramada Limited – Mike Tate 423.282.4011

Super 8 – Mike Patel 423.282.8818

CABINS

Bee Cliff Cabins – Norine Allen 423.542.6033

**** PLEASE LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU ARE WITH THE USSSA 13 & UNDER AA BASEBALL WORLD SERIES IN JOHNSON CITY