Tournament Information

Final - King's Win the National Tournament!

Tournament Director

Chris Thomas

PO Box 3867 Urbandale, IA  50322

Business: (515) 208-4287 Mobile: (515) 249-5880

E-mail: christhomasiop@hotmail.com

Tournament Umpire-In-Chief

Ed Murphy, Marion, IA   emurphy@umpire.com  (319) 310-4210

ASA National Tournament Representative

Bill Blanchard, Iowa City, IA   billyb@mchsi.com

        Tournament Information            

          Entry Deadline/Rosters/Entry Fee:  Friday, August 22nd at 5 p.m.

        Fee:  Checks in the amount of $300 should be made out to "Urbandale Sports Association."

        The three items below must be mailed to the Tournament Director by

        the entry deadline:

1.     Official Entry Form (must be signed by your state commissioner or his/her designee).

2.     $300 entry fee (payable to Urbandale Sports Association)

3.     Championship roster/affidavit (must be signed by your state commissioner or 

      his/her designee)

4.  (if applicable) Pick-Up Player Form  must also be signed by the teams state commissioner or his/her designee.

·        

         Mail to:

          Chris Thomas

          PO Box 3867 Urbandale, IA  50322

          Bus: (515) 208-4287 Mobile: (515) 249-5880

          E-mail: christhomasiop@hotmail.com

·       Note:  Iowa teams must send their entry fee to the Iowa ASA State Office to: Iowa ASA, 1534 Penrose St., Grinnell, IA  50112 no later than Monday, Aug. 18th at 5pm.  Checks should still be made payable to Urbandale Sports Association.  All information (roster, entry form, entry fee and pick-up player form - if applicable) will be verified, signed and forwarded to the National Tournament Director.

Hotels/Lodging

The Urbandale Sports Association and the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau have negotiated guaranteed quality and prices with select properties. These select properties will honor committed availability, have been screened for quality, and have locked-in prices. You may go outside the select properties, but rooms will likely be more expensive.  Please contact the housing coordinator.

          The Host Hotel is:

          Holiday Inn Northwest         

          4800 Merle Hay Road

          Urbandale, IA  50322

          (515) 278-4755

          Other Participating Hotels:

          Stoney Creek Inn  (515) 334-9000

          Hilton Garden Inn  (515) 270-8890

          Townplace Suites  (515) 727-4066

          Housing Coordinator: Mark Headlee

          PO Box 3867 Urbandale, IA  50322

          Mobile: (515) 229-8230

          E-mail: mheadlee@yahoo.com

          For more housing and accommodation information and Access the Greater Des Moines Convention and

          Visitors Bureau at:  http://www.seedesmoines.com/  
 

          Pre-Tournament Team Manager Check-In - This check-in is for managers ONLY.  11:30am  Friday,

          August, 29th .  Holiday Inn Northwest  Players check in and sign the tournament sign-in sheet prior to

          their first game with a photo ID.

Manager's Meeting -  Friday, August, 29th at 12:00pm (noon).  Holiday Inn Northwest   Tournament rules will be discussed at this mandatory meeting for managers. Food is provided for the team Manager and 1 additional team member.  No additional meals may be purchased at the door.
 

          Opening Ceremonies - 6:00pm, Friday, Aug 29th at Walker-Johnston Park Softball Complex  See Map

          Opening Games:  Play begins 6:30pm Friday, August 29th.

          Player Identification:

          Each member of a ASA Adult team competing at all ASA Championships must provide proper

          identification to the tournament director before the start of competition. This must be done on site at

          check-in starting at 4:30pm. Friday afternoon at the Walker-Johnston Softball Complex.  Proper

          identification includes a current photo and player's signature.  See ASA Code, Article 501 for further

          explanation.

Player Sign In: Players must sign-in (player signature) prior to playing their first game in the tournament on the Player Verification Sheet in front of the Tournament Staff and present a photo ID of themselves.  The Photo ID must have photo and signature of the player.  Code Article 501A7 a 2. of the ASA Code on the ASA website.

          GENERAL INFORMATION

Awards -

         CATEGORY   III                                                     ( 17 - 32 Teams )

                                                   Teams Awards                                                       First, Second, Third and Fourth Place

Individual Awards                                                    First and Second Place

All-American Awards                                              First Team Awards and Second Team Certificate

Home Run Champion                                              Leading Home Run Hitter

Batting Champion                                                   Leading Hitter

Most Valuable Player                                              Most Valuable Player

         Championship Jackets.  In all adult divisions of play, the National office shall provide National Championship Final Jackets ( with appropriate embroidery ) to each individual whose name appears on the National Championship Final roster and who is present at the tournament. One manager and one coach shall also receive a jacket.

         Team Award Fund.  A team award fund consisting of $50.00 per team entered in each adult National Championship Final ( except USA Softball Men’s and Women’s National Championship Series ) shall be distributed as follows: 40% of the team award fund for that National Championship Final shall be given to the first place team and 20% each to the second, third and fourth place teams.   Distribution of the team award fund is the responsibility of each respective National Championship Final.

Playing Fields -  The Walker-Johnston Softball Complex 9000 Douglas Ave. Urbandale, IA  50322 - (4 Lighted Fields) will be used during this event.  Fence distances are 285 ft. with 10 ft. fence height.  Scoreboards on all fields. A map and directions to will be provided upon arrival at the managers meeting and is also available online.  
 

Draw Procedure -  Article 511 of the ASA Code governs the draw. The double-elimination bracket draw will be Monday, Aug. 25th at 8:00pm via conference call at the Walker-Johnston Softball Complex. The region with the most teams will be drawn first and placed away from each other unless the teams in a region out number the number of brackets.   The only two teams seeded are the previous years defending champion and the first runner-up and current years hosts teams in the top division of play (Code Article 511 E 2).

Uniforms:  All players competing in the National Tournament shall properly wear uniforms that are alike in color, trim and style. Short or long pants may be mixed.  Coaches must be neatly attired or dressed in team uniform in accordance with the color code of the team. Please see the ASA official playing rules (Rule 3, Section 6) for complete information.

Line-Ups:  Tournament officials will provide line-up cards for each team. An official line up must be submitted to the scorekeeper at least 15 minutes prior to the game's scheduled start time.

Game Times:  Please follow the times listed on the tournament bracket. Game time is forfeit time. Teams should be prepared to start a game once the preceding game is completed.

Infield Practice/Pre-Tournament Practice:  No infield practice will be permitted.  Warm up is allowed in designated areas only. Teams may warm up in the outfield grass if time permits.  Warm up areas will be listed in the team check in packet.  No reservations will be taken for practice games or fields.

Bench Area:  Maximum of 20 Players listed on the Official ASA Roster, 3 coaches, scorekeeper and a bat person are the only individuals allowed in the bench area.  There is no smoking or drinking of alcoholic beverages on the playing field, in or OUT of the dugouts.  Players are not to drink alcoholic beverages while their game is in progress and by doing so may render themselves ineligible for the game and may be ejected.

Protests:  The tournament committee will decide all protests. A manager, please be familiar with rules of the game including proper protest procedures. See ASA Playing Rule 9.

Run Rule:  The 12-after-four-innings and 10-after-five-innings rule is in effect.

Rain Delay:  In the event of rain or any cause that interrupts a game, the game must be resumed at the exact point where it was stopped. It is the manager's responsibility to call the Rain-Out Hotline 515-276-3246 or visit the Tournament Headquarters for rescheduled game information.

Team Seating:  The team at the top of the bracket will use the first base dugout. The team listed on the bottom of the bracket will use the third base dugout.

Official Game Balls:  The official softball for the tournament is the deBeer CF16 Clincher 16" Softball.

Game Rules:  The 2008 ASA Official Guide and Rule Book will govern all playing rules and regulations for the tournament.

Conduct:  Managers and coaches are asked to have complete control of their players, parents and supporting spectators both on and off the field. The tournament committee will deal with any report of damage by hotel management.

Spectators that become abusive or generally vulgar to umpires, opposing players or fans will be handled in a three-step process:

1.     Notification to the manager during a break in the game

2.     Direct warning to the violator/s

3.     Suspension of the game and ejection of the individual from the facility within a two-minute time period. 

Eligibility:  Please see the 2008 ASA Code, Article 501 for clarifications and interpretations.

Player Passes:  Player passes will be issued to players listed on their official roster and three coaches/managers. All participants must have a pass to gain entrance to the softball complexes.  Participants without player passes will be required to pay the daily admission price. The player passes and two coaches/managers passes will be distributed at the team check-in. We do not allow bat persons, scorekeepers or more than three coaches/managers free admission.  More coach's passes may be purchased at the gate.

Souvenirs:  Souvenirs will be available throughout the weekend at the Walker-Johnston Softball Complex.

Admission: Daily gate admission: $6/Adults (Friday $2/Adults), 12 & Under Free. 

                               Tournament Passes: $10/Adults, 12 & Under Free.

         Attention:  On July 1st, 2008 Walker Johnston Softball complex became smoke free due to the Iowa

         Smoke Free Air Act.   Smoking will only be allowed in the parking lots.

          Coolers/Pets/Scooters/Bicycles/Rollerblades/Skateboards:

None of the above items are permitted in the fenced ball field area.  NO team coolers are allowed.

          MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION:

The City of Urbandale Parks and Recreation Dept. manages park sites which feature tennis courts, basketball courts, skateboard park, picnic areas and playgrounds and and aquatic center. Visiting players and their guests are welcome to use these facilities while in Urbandale.  A complete packet of visitor information will be available at team check-in, or visit the city of City of Urbandale website at: http://www.urbandale.org/ 

Need more information about the Tournament or the City of Urbandale? Contact Tournament Director Chris Thomas at (515) 249-5880, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or e-mail

christhomasiop@hotmail.com

Schedule of Events:

Tournament Fact Sheet       Urbandale Softball Association