Q. Where can I find tournament information?

A. You can find a direct link to each tournament under the current year 'Tournaments' heading on our homepage (http://pa-softball.com). Also, under 'tournament info', you will be able to access the date, location, complex(es), awards, game minimum, cost, hotel info, tournament deadline, teams entered, etc. If you can't find the information your looking for, please feel free to email us

Q. Where are the tournaments located/How far are they?

A. PA Softball tournaments are located in or near South Central Pennsylvania, just north of the Maryland border off I-81, and just West of Harrisburg, also off I-81. We are easy to get to as the PA Turnpike, I-81, Rt. 11, and Rt. 641 are all within minutes of most complexes. Each tournaments uses different complexes due to a varying amount of teams in each tournament, however, we typically use fields in and around the Chambersburg, PA area. On larger weekends we will likely use additional facilities near Mechanicsburg, PA and Hagerstown, MD. To find out how far you are from our us, you can visit our driving distances section, which also has directions for over 50 locations from the Mid-Atlantic. We are located approximately 2 hours from Philadelphia, State College, Washington DC, Baltimore, Sterling, Scranton, Johnstown, and Allentown and 3 hours from Pittsburgh, Richmond, New York City, & Binghamton.

Q. How do I get to the fields?

A. The fields are relatively easy to find as they as conveniently located off major interstates such as I-81, Rt. 11, Rt. 641, etc. To get directions to the fields off I-81, you can use our park directions area, which also has detailed park information, including regional and local maps and the complex address.

Q. What hotel should I stay at?

A. It is recommended that you call Maxine, our hotel coordinator at 717 243-3956 before making your hotel reservations. She will be able to determine where your team is expected to play and can make hotel recommendations. Site locations vary from year to year and tournament to tournament so please do not make any assumptions based on the location prior years or prior tournaments.

Maxine is familiar with the area and has information on the hotels’ amenities, rates and availability. Hotels are screened, room blocks are arranged and group rates are negotiated in advance for the teams benefit. There is no cost or obligation to you for this service.

As some teams have found out in the past, area hotels can fill quickly over the summer months due to the many special events held throughout the summer. Rooms are available on a first-come first-served basis and the earlier you make your reservation, the better selection you will have to choose from.

Maxine and PA Softball are not responsible for finding you and your team lodging, rather we provide a free service to try and help locate decent, affordable housing for teams in our tournaments. Generally the only problems in the past have been with teams asking for help at the last minute, which is too late.

Finally, please contact her irregardless of what you choose to do as it will help us with the scheduling process. When you finalize your plans, please drop her a note to let us know where and when you will be staying. If we know where you are staying, we are often times able to place you at the complex closeest to your hotel in the event that it's a big weekend and we are using multiple parks for your age group. It also allows us to properly distribute the late starts to the proper teams and ensure you are not staying in a dump, which reflects poorly on the area and our tournament. Thanks.

Q. How good is the competition / How do you level the playing field?

A. In the past we've had numerous National Champs in attendance. Most of these teams attend our qualifying events, which are generally held between May and early July. Our tournaments are becoming well known and approximately 70% of the teams came from out of state - impressive considering the size and # of teams in PA. Don't get me wrong however, while we have some really great teams, we also have some beginning travel teams and some recreation all star type teams that attend our tournaments. Most times the recreation caliber teams attend our late summer tournaments from July 4th on. We recognize the disparity among travel teams and have created different tournaments for the different ability levels. We have qualifiers (typically July 4th and prior), recreational tournaments (typically during the month of July), and invitationals (also during July and in the fall) for the different ability levels. We also make use of gold, silver, and bronze championship brackets when the # of participating teams allow for it, which again seperates teams based on ability (see seeding section above).

Q. Can I get a late start?

A. It's rare that our tournaments start before 9:00 am in the morning, particularly on the first day of the tournament. Some tournaments we may start early (8am) on the second day if there are a lot of games to be played or if there is a special event going on that night, or the 2nd day of a 3-day tournament when most teams are in hotels (allwoing them to enjoy their evening by ending early). Late starts (2nd round games) are generally given to teams traveling about 2 hours so they can commute the first morning - Philadelphia, State College, Washington DC, Baltimore, Sterling, Scranton, Johnstown, Allentown, would be examples. Usually local teams and teams traveling 3+ hours play the first rounds. We feel as though teams from 3 hours or more should drive in the night before the tournament but we can save teams from 2 hours or so a day in hotels. Remember - most times first in equals first out. Don't expect to get a late start and get out early! While you can request a late start by sending an email, we won't guarantee it as many times we have an overabundance of requests. We do not allow a team to request coming in late and playing 3 games straight. No team, when possible, is ever scheduled for 3 games straight as it's not only lead to exhaustion depending on the weekend, but it could also hold up our other fields at the complex and case all other teams to run late.

Q. Where can I get tournament brackets?

A. Tournament brackets are posted approximately 1 week in advance of the tournament. In the event that a tournament closes early, which is often the case with several of our events, the brackets may be set up farther in advance. Brackets are placed on our web page in viewable and printable form, are also e-mailed to the head coach and assistant, and you'll receive a voice message from us. Please check over the brackets for any errors. While we look over them several times, we are human and they can almost always be corrected! Any changes to the brackets will be made via email and posted on the internet. When there are significant changes made due to weather, teams dropping, etc., we will attempt to get you an updated copy when you check in at the tournament. When a change affects your team within 48 hours, we also make every effort to let you know by phone/email.

Q. How many berths to nationals will you be awarding?

A. The number of bids to nationals depends on the number of teams entered in a tournament. PONY uses the chart below for it’s qualifying tournaments. The berth must be accepted and marked in the online system within several days on the tournaments end. We typically have 2-3 berths to award, however, there is a limit on how far down I feel berths should be awarded. Generally, 2 berths are awarded per age group. We have a number of events where we will have all 4 bids and may even get an at-large bid based on the # of teams (up to 64 teams in some age groups).

10&U / 12&U			14&U / 16&U / 18&U
Teams	Berths		Teams	Berths
4-8	1		8-12	1
9-12	2		13-16	2
13 - 18	3		17 - 23	3
18 over	4		24 over	4

Q. Will you have a concession stand available?

A. Yes, concessions will be available at all complexes. While we use many complexes over the course of the season, our hosts will always be able to provide food available for the participants. Some have more to offer than others, however, they will all have something available. If you do bring your own food and beverages, please pick up after yourselves. At present, all parks allow coolers. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at any of the parks and will not be tolerated.

Q. What is there to do in the area?

A. The South Central PA area offers quite a few attractions to visitors, including Hersheypark, a nearby theme park and chocolate factory. I highly recommend the park as a day trip the day before the tournament you attend. Many other things are available, including the Sports Emporium (Carlisle) and Cluggies (Chambersburg), an area entertainment complex with go karts, batting cages, mini golf, arcade, and more. Hagerstown also has a small waterpark. There are a number of minor league baseball teams nearby (Harrisburg, Hagerstown, York, Frederick, etc.) The Carlisle Car Shows and Gettysburg Battlefield are in the area, as well as a number of malls, restaurants, and movie theatres. Newville offers an old fashion drive in movie theatre and a number of state parks, lakes, and campgrounds. All of our town have at least 1 bowling alley, movie theathre, etc. See our area events and attractions page for more details.

Q. Are we classified as a "Recreation" team?

A. Everyone has a different classification of a "Rec" team. If you are in doubt as whether you are a rec or "class B" team, please email me specifics about your team.

Q. How long does an online entry hold my spot?

A. An online registration does not guarantee a spot in a tournament, however, it does let us know you have the intent of playing. It often times allows us to contact you in the event it fills or is getting full. It is advised you register online so we can confirm that we do in fact have availability. Teams are accepted on a first come, first served basis based upon when we receive your check. You will receive notice saying that we have received your entry, and well as a confirmation stating that we have received payment and you are accepted.

Q. How do I register/pay within 2 weeks of the tournament?

A. If you are entering within 2 weeks of the start of a tournament (assuming we still have room) a credit card is the only way to hold a spot. We will call and get a credit card number. Note: Reason for this is due to teams getting in at the last minute, then changing their mind, causing scheduling problems and uneccessary last minute changes, which is not fair to the other teams or us. There are NO EXCEPTIONS!

Q. How do you handle tournament cancellations?

A. Although we try to work with all teams that enter our events, you must understand the problems that are created when a team registers for an event and then does not follow through with their commitment to participate. When you enter a tournament, we make a commitment to you - we expect the same type of commitment in return. These instances not only effect our organization but every other organization that has committed to play. Therefore the following cancellation policy is in effect:

• All cancellations must be received in writing via email, fax and standard mail. Verbal cancellations will not be accepted.
• All tournament registrations must be accompanied by a $100 non-refundable deposit. Many teams will pay for the tournament in full on one check.
• Teams canceling with 30 days notice will receive a refund less deposit
• Teams canceling inside 30 days but not less than 14 days will receive a credit in the full amount towards another tournament the same calander year.
• Once a game schedule has be distributed or within 14 days, absolutely no refunds or credits will be given.
• In the somewhat rare event that there is between 4-6 teams in a tournament, at the tournament directors discretion refunds may not be granted. For example, if there are 4 teams and 1 team wants to pull out, effectivly canceling participation and ultimately affecting plans of the other 3 teams. While a 4 team tournament is not ideal, it's also not fair to change the plans for the other teams so one team can go elsewhere or stay at home. If it is the decision of all 4 or 5 teams not to play, that is fine as it is the decision of all involved. While it doesn't happen often, it has happened (probably once a year), and all too often in the past, 1 team made the decision for all involved.

Q. How do you handle showcase camp cancellations?

A. A full refund less $30 non-fundable deposit can be obtained anytime up to 30 days prior to the camp. A full refund for our showcase camp may be obtained at any time until 30 days prior to the camp. Some parents have mentioned taking a player off a waiting list. We do not keep a waiting list for the simple reason that it creates confusion at to what a player's status is, and once we stop taking registrations we process each players profile sheet, have books printed for college coaches, order in t-shirts for each camp participant with their corresponding showcase # and graduation year. Each player is then grouped according to their position and assigned a group #. We allow a player not able to participate to send someone else to take their spot, HOWEVER, that player will inherit the former players shirt size, which also corresponds to the former players profile sheet and graduation year. They will also be assigned to the group of the former player, so if she was grouped to be at 2nd base, that is where the replacement will be placed. Needless to say, changes are not really feasible once we begin preparing for the camp, which is the reason for our 'no refunds' policy once we begin making our final preparations. It is between the 2 players to pass along camp information, collect payment, bring the proper materials, show up on time, etc. The only additional help we are able to provide is to indicate to college coaches the name of the player not attending and the name of the player participating in her place.

Q. How do you handle rain/rainout's?

A. It is our policy to make every effort to fulfill the minimum number of games guaranteed during a tournament weekend with inclement weather. However, there may be instances when not all games can be played or the tournament format may have to be changed. In those instances, the PONY Host Guidelines will take effect.

b.) Rainout Policy- hosts should make every attempt to start and complete the tournament. If after every attempt has been exhausted, please refer to the PONY Rule book for 2011 in the tournament section under tiebreakers to determine final finish. b. PONY Refund Policy once the tournament begins: 1.) If no (0) games are started or completed, the teams will be refunded 2/3 of the original entry fee within 7 days. 2.) If only 1 game is completed, the teams will be refunded ½ of the original entry fee within 7 days. 3.) After 2 games are completed, there is no refund necessary. Over and above the PONY guidelines, we offer the PA Softball Guarantee: If you haven't played at least 50% of your guaranteed games, you will receive a refund of $50 for each unplayed game under the minimum amount of games guarenteeed or PONY's refund policy, whichever is a greater refund (example: if you played 3 games of an 8 game event, you'd get a refund of $250). Once 50% of the games have been played, champions may be awarded and the tournament will be considered complete. Options such as finishing at another date may be considered, if feasible. Why only 50% of the games? After 50% of games we feel you have a pretty good idea of where teams are going to seed and feel champions may be determined for the purpose of awards and bids to Nationals. Also, most rainy weekends are more work than a normal weekend and require additional expenses for field dry, maintainence, and communications. If teams don't get 50% of their games in, we feel that teams umpire and ball fees should be returned (roughly $50/game) to them.

Q. Is my team eligible for 19-O tournaments?

A. Any team is eligible for the 19-O (Adult) tournaments. While we prefer players to be a minimum of 16 years old for safety reasons, 18&U teams may compete if they desire. The tournaments are geared toward college age players. Teams DO NOT need to be registered with a particular organization, nor do you need to have an official roster. These are open tournaments. Teams do not need matching uniforms, but the uniforms should be similar and identifiable as a team unit. The events are meant to be relaxed, while playing good competitive ball.