2009 9U Global Sports World Series

2009 9U Global Sports World Series Matt Urban Sports Complex Holland, Michigan August 5 - August 9, 2009

Congratulations on an outstanding season and welcome to the 2009 9U Global Sports Baseball World Series. Your tournament host will be Michigan USSSA Sports. It will be our goal to create an experience that the players, coaches and families will remember for a lifetime. The tournament will be played at Matt Urban Sports Complex in Holland, Michigan, August 5 - August 9, 2009.

TO QUALIFY: Teams qualify to participate in a Global Sports World Series by earning a berth in a Global Sports World Series Qualifier. Teams must be registered with USSSA and registered with Global Sports to participate in Global Sports World Series Qualifiers. Teams may register at www.usssa.com. Global Sports registration is $15 per year and can be registered at the same time as USSSA Baseball. Please check with your USSSA State Director for qualifiers in your area.

HOW TO ENTER: Teams earning a berth at a Global Sports Qualifier may participate in a Global Sports World Series. Teams must enter Global Sports World Series at www.usssa.com and are accepted on a first come first in basis. Teams that qualify will not be assured a specific spot at a specific Global Sports World Series location. Teams may select location when submitting entry fee. Global Sports World Series entry fee is $625.

9U Global Sports World Series Format:

 Open to all Classifications  Elite World Series qualified teams are ineligible to play  Limited to 24 teams  4 day event, games played Thursday thru Sunday  Opening ceremonies on Wednesday evening  Pool play, bracket play and then into 3 final divisions  Teams will play an average of 7 games, 6 games guaranteed  Champions of the 3 divisions will be crowned Global Sports World Series Champion.  Teams earn USSSA World Series Points  USSSA Roster plus 2 additional adds at the WS.

GLOBAL SPORTS WORLD SERIES RULES: o Global Sports World Series will be governed by the USSSA National Baseball Bylaws and Rules unless noted differently below. o USSSA Rosters will be the official roster used at the Global Sports World Series. Teams may add 2 additional players to the official roster at team check in at the Global Sports World Series. o USSSA Baseball reserves the right to alter, change or abbreviate the tournament format when necessary to complete the tournament due to weather.

THE OFFICIAL TEAM ROSTER MUST BE ENTERED ON-LINE AT www.usssa.com TO BE CONSIDERED VALID FOR PARTICIPATION IN THIS GLOBAL SPORTS WORLD SERIES. THIS ROSTER MUST BE THE ONE THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO YOUR STATE AND/OR AREA DIRECTOR WHEN YOUR TEAM QUALIFIED FOR THIS TOURNAMENT. PLAYERS WILL BE INDIVIDUALLY CHECKED IN AT EACH TOURNAMENT WITH PROPER USSSA APPROVED ID OR BIRTH CERTIFICATES IN HAND.

PLAYERS PARTICIPATING IN THIS TOURNAMENT WILL BE INDIVIDUALLY CHECKED IN AT THE HOLLAND CIVIC CENTER 150 WEST 8 TH ST. HOLLAND, MI 49423, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5 FROM 11:00AM TO 1:00PM WITH PROPER BIRTH CERTIFICATES IN HAND. TEAMS SHOULD FOLLOW THE ASSIGNED TIMES AS LISTED BELOW:

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM - Teams from States Beginning with Letter A to L 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM - Teams from States Beginning with Letter M to W

All players participating in Global Sports 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 team would have been awarded at the tournament.

1. Any player who before May 1 reaches their 10th birthday shall not be eligible to play in the 9 and Under Global Sports World Series. 2. Any player can play in a higher age classification but cannot play in a lower age group. 3. Ball field dimensions will be in accordance with USSSA rules. 4. All players must be fully uniformed, which includes the following: Pants, socks, 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 (in proper fashion). 7. Protest on uniforms will not be allowed. It shall be the Tournament Director’s responsibility regarding uniform legality. 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 both sides 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, catcher’s helmet and throat guard. Ages 9-12: Catchers must wear helmet that fully covers their ears. 12. The USSSA Baseball Handbook and the Official Baseball Rules, Sporting News Edition shall govern all playing rules not specifically covered above (www.usssa.com).

Tournament Headquarters: The Double Tree Hotel at 650 East 24th Street, Holland, MI 49423 Tournament information will be available upon arrival until the conclusion of the tournament. Brackets and scores will be posted at Matt Urban Complex. Please check in upon arrival so that we know you are here, where you are staying and make sure all your documents are in order. For more information email Bob Wilkerson, Tournament Director, at [email protected].

Tournament Housing: All out-of-town teams must book their hotel reservations through Premier Sports Events at http://www.gopremierevents.com/index/event_detail/304 or you may contact them at (269) 978-2418 or [email protected] Dedicated hotel room blocks and rates have been secured and are available through Premier Sports Events. Hotels and rooms will be available on a first come first serve basis. You can book your rooms online or by calling them directly… Hotels will fill quickly, please book your rooms early.

World Series Venue: Teams will enjoy this facility that includes 4 lighted, professionally irrigated and groomed fields, full concession and clean indoor bathrooms, with plenty of parking, nice playground area with equipment, soccer field, shaded picnic areas, basketball courts and a great family atmosphere. Matt Urban Sports Complex, 270 East 32nd Street Holland, MI 49423

Bracket schedules will not be mailed out in advance. Bracket will be given to the Team Manager during the Manager’s meeting at the Holland Civic Center, Wednesday August 5.

There will be a Manager’s Meeting at 2:00pm Wednesday August 5 at the Holland Civic Center. Two (2) representatives from each Team will be permitted to attend this event. All Teams are required to have a representative in attendance. The official schedule will be distributed at this time.

There will be a "Team Mom's" Meeting at 2:00pm Wednesday August 5 at the Holland Civic Center. This meeting will coincide with the coaches meeting. Two (2) representatives from each team will be permitted to attend this meeting. At this meeting representatives from the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Holland will be in attendance as well as representatives from other area attractions to share information regarding "things to do" while your team is in our area. Team Mom’s should come prepared to purchase all picnic meal tickets for their group, players and 3 coaches free.

Reception for Manager’s and Mom’s attending information meeting. Time and Meeting Room TBD.

All Teams MUST check-in Wednesday August 5, 2009, according to their assigned times, from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the Holland Civic Center 150 West 8 th St. Holland, MI 49423. Managers MUST accompany the Team and bring Birth Certificates or USSSA- approved ID cards. Players MUST be in full uniform for the TEAM picture.

Player Picnic & Social (players and 3 coaches free) TBD-Parents and others will be able to purchase picnic tickets for a nominal fee. Team Mom’s are asked to come to the mom’s meeting prepared to purchase total tickets needed for their group. Meal ticket price TBD.

Pin Trading: This has become a tradition at USSSA World Series events. The same tradition will certainly be part of the Global Sports World Series. Players will have an opportunity to trade pins throughout the tournament. 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.

Admission: Admission during the tournament will be $7.00 per person per day or $20.00 for a tournament pass. For children (6-12) and seniors (65 and over) the charge will be $5.00 or $15.00 for a tournament pass. Children 5 and under are free. This charge includes everyone except players and team coaches. Coaches will be issued a maximum of three (3) passes per team. PASSES MUST BE PRESENTED TO GAIN ADMITTANCE TO THE PARK, NO EXCEPTIONS!

Awards: Team and individual awards will be presented to the champion and runner-up of the Red, White and Blue Divisions.

World Series T-Shirts: T-Shirts, hats, Global Sports World Series towels and other souvenirs will be available at Matt Urban Sports Complex throughout the tournament or until supply last.

Photographer: Team pictures will be taken after team and player registrations on Wednesday, August 5th at the Holland civic Center. Teams will be directed to the staging area after they finish the registration process. Game action shots during tournament play may be available, TBD.

9U Global Sports World Series Calendar (tentative)

Tuesday August 4: Teams are encouraged to check into their hotel

Wednesday August 5: 11:00am – 1:00pm: Team and Player mandatory check in according to assigned time at The Holland Civic Center 2:00pm – 3:00pm: Mandatory Managers meeting at the Holland Civic Center (2 representatives from each team allowed) 2:00pm – 3:00pm: Mom’s Meeting at the Holland Civic Center (2 representatives from each team allowed) 4:00pm – 5:00pm: Opening Ceremonies at Matt Urban Sports Complex - Master of Ceremonies - Parade of Teams - Official welcome - Honor Guard - National Anthem - Ceremonial First Pitch 6:00pm – 8:00pm: Player picnic – TBD 8:00pm – 9:00pm: Reception for Managers and Moms attending information meeting, room to be announced - Compliments of Double Tree Hotel

Thursday August 6: Pool play begins at Matt Urban Sports Complex

Friday August 7: Pool play continues

Friday August 7: Bracket play begins at 4:00pm

Saturday August 8: Bracket play continues

Saturday August 8: Championship play begins at 2:00pm Sunday August 9: Championship play continues

Sunday July 9: Championship play