2026 NSA BATTLE OF THE BELT SERIES-UNIQUE FORMAT-ST PAT'S GREEN BELT - PLAYERS WIN AWARDS SAT/SUN

IMPORTANT INFO FOR COACHES/PLAYERS:

BATTLE OF THE BELT SERIES #3 RULES

Thank you to all the teams that are participating in the first ever Battle of the Belt Series. We strive to try and keep travel ball fresh and look for new and exciting ways to do so. We felt this format would make every game matter because of the desire to keep/win the belt plus it will give 4 teams in every age group the opportunity to win prizes during the tournament, as well as qualify them automatically for the Battle of the Belt Championship. Please read the instructions below so that you understand completely how the unique format will work this weekend. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your site director whose number is listed on the schedule or to Pat Affrunti.

1.  On Saturday, every team will play 1 seed game and then go into a single elimination format that will be played on Saturday as well.

2.  On Saturday, 1 random team per age group will start with a green heavyweight championship belt. They will have to defend this belt every game they play starting with seeding. If they win, they keep the belt, if they don't, they must pass it to the winning team and then they must defend it in the next game. This will continue through all the seeding rounds and then the elimination bracket as well until the last team is standing and wins the championship. The random teams that will start with the belt on Saturday morning are:

       10U - Tropics

       12U - Academy 23 Porter

       14U - Outkast

3.    Every age group this weekend has an uneven number of teams, so there will be teams that play 2 seed games instead of one. Very important! --- If you play two seed games you get to decide which game you would like to throw away; however, if you happen to have the belt and lose it then you must give it up regardless of which game you threw away.

3.    On Saturday, once we finish seeding games, you will be placed accordingly for the elimination round. The 1^st and 2^nd place teams will win awards. 

4.   On Sunday, every team will play 1 seed game and then go into another single elimination format. The same rules apply for the passing of the belt. The only difference is that whoever won the belt on Saturday night with a first-place finish will now get to defend it until they lose or win it all again. There will also be 1^st and 2^nd place awards for this elimination bracket on Sunday

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

·      ALL TEAMS MUST BE SANCTIONED FOR THE NEW SEASON (2026) TO PLAY THIS WEEKEND!  IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT CHRISTY RANDOLPH AT (727) 348-7301.  ALSO MAKE SURE YOUR INSURANCE IS CURRENT.

·      EVERY TEAM IS REQUIRED TO HAVE AN ONLINE ROSTER. YOU MAY ALSO CONTACT CHRISTY IF YOU ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH YOUR ROSTER.

·      PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU OR A REPRESENTATIVE FROM YOUR TEAM CHECKS IN WITH THE SITE DIRECTOR BEFORE YOUR FIRST GAME, EVEN IF YOU HAVE PRE-PAID. CASH & CHECK PAYMENTS ONLY!

·      ANY PLAYERS NOT ON ONLINE ROSTER THAT ARE PLAYING WITH YOU THIS WEEKEND WILL NEED TO BE ON A GUEST PLAYER FORM (SEE BELOW BY SEEDING SCHEDULE). 

ADDITIONAL INFO:

*PLEASE CHECK THIS SITE OFTEN FOR WEATHER UPDATES & SCHEDULE CHANGES.

*ALL BATS MUST HAVE NSA STAMP. (NO EXCEPTIONS!)

*PITCHERS IN ALL DIVISIONS MUST WEAR FACEMASKS.

*PAPER SCOREBOOKS ARE REQUIRED.

*ALL CHANGES ON DEFENSE ARE SUBSTITUTIONS AND MUST BE REPORTED TO THE UMPIRE.

*ONLY ONE SET OF TWINS IN THE LINE UP IS PERMITTED.

INFO FOR THIS WEEKEND:

CITY OF CLEARWATER DOES NOT ALLOW PETS OF ANY KIND.  MEDICALLY NECESSARY SERVICE ANIMALS ONLY WILL BE PERMITTED.  PLEASE DO NOT PUT TENTS OVER BLEACHERS – YOU WILL BE ASKED TO REMOVE THEM.

FEE:  $595

SITE DIRECTOR:    CHRISTY (727) 348-7301