Super Series Baseball of America^® tournaments provide four distinct divisions of competition in order to allow an opportunity for teams of varying skill levels to enjoy competing in qualifying tournaments, and to earn a berth in a true National Championship Tournament.   Team classifications are made by Super Series qualifying tournament directors, following pool play, based upon a team's performance.  

Elite Classification Level:          SUPER 16
Highest Classification Level:   NATIONAL
Middle Classification Level:     AMERICAN
Lowest Classification Level:    MINORS

CLASSIFYING YOUR TEAM

  Many teams allow the post-season tournament location influence which Super Series division they try to play within.  Regrettably, Super Series does quite work that way.   Teams need to play in the appropriate division which best matches the team’s ABILITY.   And, even though a team was a Minors or American Division team last year – it doesn’t automatically mean they are in the same division THIS year. 

  Sometimes, a team thinks that just because they couldn’t win a National Championship last year, they need to step down in division this year.  That’s not necessarily appropriate either – because most teams usually have roster changes from one year to the next.  It’s not usually the same team, with the same players.

  Classification of teams is determined EACH YEAR based on the team’s ability for THIS year.

  First, understand that classification is subjective.   The subjective opinion of what division a team belongs in, often differs depending on who you ask.  But the opinion of the Super Series national office, is the one that truly counts.   We are making a serious effort to do a better job than ever before.   Will we be perfect in our judgment?  Probably not.  When subjectivity is involved, there likely is no perfect system.   But we WILL be fair to the best of our ability!

  If a team ended up 1^st or 2^nd in a Minors or American National Championship last year – we WILL expect that team to play in the next HIGHER division this year.   This WILL be closely monitored.  And, we’re not talking just a single qualifier, where a team could ‘sandbag’, finish poorly, and then say “we belong in a lower division.”  We do monitor rosters from year to year as well.

  Teams will be evaluated and screened after EVERY qualification throughout the season. 

  When we receive the list of teams entering a national championship event, we will thoroughly examine each team’s performances and opponents, not only within Super Series, but also in other organizations as well.  Many of our Super Series teams also participate in other organization including AAU, USSSA, Triple Crown, and others.  

  This does NOT mean – just because a team is classified as “Majors” in USSSA – that they are automatically in the Super Series National Division.   If a team is participating (for example – in the USSSA Majors division) – but that team has a losing record at the higher level – then obviously Super Series would consider allowing the team to play in our American division. 

 But, conversely, if we found a team was willfully participating in another organization's “higher level” events – and experiencing success with a winning record – but yet playing in a lower division within Super Series – then we will require the team to participate in our equivalent (or associated) level.

In summary, here are our recommendations for
properly classifying your team:

 1)      Your division is NOT determined by your team’s DECLARATION – but rather your team’s CLASSIFICATION within a division - determined by your team's performance in Super Series tournament competition.

 2)      If your team is playing successfully in a higher division in another organization – you can expect Super Series to elevate your team to our equivalent divisional in our program as well, especially for national championship events.

 3)      If your team was improperly classified by another organization – and your record proves it – then Super Series justifiably would likely allow you to play in a lower division within our program.

 4)      If your team finished among the top four teams in an American Division or Minors Division national championship last year – STEP UP at the outset of the season and test the stronger competition in at least three qualifying events.

 5)      Classification is NOT dependent on the size of your community.  Great teams have come from small towns, as well as large cities.   Where you come from has NOTHING to do with your team’s proper classification, or ability.

 6)      Don’t base your classification perception on a post-season destination.  Just because you want to go to ‘Tulsa’ for the National Championship – does not mean you are necessarily an “American” division team.  For Super Series’ program structure to work, we can’t allow teams to simply choose classification based on ‘destination.’

 7)      Don’t avoid the tough tournaments.  If your team is taking an “easy route to victories” this sometimes can lead to your team being bumped up in class more quickly.  Play the toughest schedule you can – so that your team can be PROPERLY classified.

Team composition within Super Series National and the SUPER 16 Division is open to teams with players from ANY STATE.   There is no limit to the number of out-of-state players allowed.  Your roster is limited to 18 total players.  In the National Division only, no border exemption is required for out-of-state players.

To register out-of-state players, your team must participate AS A SUPER 16 or NATIONAL DIVISION team.

Team composition within Super Series American and Minors Divisions is limited to  in-state players only (unless a border exemption is granted).

Classification of all teams is subjective.  It is impossible to define comparative athletic ability in baseball.  Nor can we compose hard and fast rules of what is, or is not, a "National" team - or an "American team.  Our objective is to simply classify teams into a division where they can be competitive, and do our best to exclude over-qualified teams from participation in a division in which they do not belong.

Super Series takes a strong stance in our desire to curtail sandbagging.  Over-qualified teams take the fun and competitive balance out of a tournament.   We will not tolerate "trophy hunters" playing at a level lower than which they belong.

Our tournament directors are directed to view and evaluate all teams and scores within pool play.  Should a team "roll" through pool play, and over-power all opponents by a wide, or run-rule, score margin, our directors may "bump" up such a team immediately to a higher division for the elimination rounds - or disqualify a team which is blatantly sandbagging, from that event.  If the team is bumped up and advances to the final four of the higher division, they will be classified in the higher division for the remainder of the season.

SUPER 16 DIVISION:

The Super 16 Division offers regional and national championship events for ANY and ALL teams. 

In Super 16 Regionals - teams which fail to qualify for the Super 16 National Championships revert to, and retain, their prior classification.  Teams which finish in the TOP FOUR of Super 16 Regionals are elevated to the Super 16 classification.

The National Division is designed for the nation's most competitive, "select"  teams. Players on these teams may now be recruited from any state. The National Division is our most talented and highly skilled division, and provides outstanding teams, who take pride in striving to be the best,  an opportunity to compete against the best in the nation.

National Division teams are also eligible to appear in any Super Series' nationally televised events. 

The American Division is designed for those "select" or "recruited"  teams which cannot attain qualification at the National Division level.  If we find that an "American" team consistently wins within the American Division - Super Series reserves the right to elevate such a team to the National Division. The American division is intended to be the "middle ground" of Super Series.

American Division teams must be comprised of players from within their state, unless the team is based within 30 miles of a state border, and has received a border exemption from the national office to add players from across the state border.  If an exemption is granted - the out-of-state players must reside within 30 miles of the same state border.

The Minors Division is our division designed primarily for lesser talented teams which cannot achieve qualification after repeated attempts in the American Division.

The selection process for players alone is not a determining criteria - as many recreational leagues utilize a player draft - and other recreational leagues allow coaches to select their players of choice. 

If a team has participated in at least three American or higher divisional events in any season, and failed to qualify in any of these events, such team may certainly expect approval of a "Minors" classification from the national office.

Minors Division teams must be comprised of players from within their state, unless the team is based within 30 miles of a state border, and has received a border exemption from the national office to add players from across the state border.  If an exemption is granted - the out-of-state players must reside within 30 miles of the same state border.

Prevention of sandbagging in this division is a priority.  However, since a team's ability is again subjective - Super Series reserves the right to elevate any team, which demonstrates a skill level and ability, which, in our opinion, is over-qualified for this level of play.

7U YEAR OLD COMPETITION:

Hosts of Super Series 7U qualifying tournaments may offer competition featuring  Coach Pitch or Machine Pitch. 

There is only one division within the 7U Division. 

Our 7U National Championships will feature Coach Pitch format.

7U teams do not have to qualify for the Championships and may enter at-large.  However, those teams choosing to participate in qualifying events, and finishing in the top four, will earn points, which can earn the team a higher seed in the pool play rounds of the championship event.

8U YEAR OLD COMPETITION:

Hosts of Super Series 8U qualifying tournaments may offer competition featuring 1) Player Pitch; 2) Coach Pitch; or 3) Machine Pitch. 

The National Division in our 8 year old World Series and Championships competition will feature "Player Pitch" games.

The American Division in our 8 year old World Series and Championships competition will feature "Coach Pitch" games.

The Minors Division in our 8 year old World Series and Championships competition will feature "Machine Pitch" games.

8U teams are classified based on the delivery of the ball to the batter - not on the strength of the team. 

National Division (Player Pitch)
American Division (Coach Pitch)
Minors Division (Machine Pitch)

A team may change divisions, up or down, provided it has not qualified for a national berth.

Once a team qualifies for a national berth in any
division, they no longer can move down in class
for the remainder of that season.  The team may
still move up.

Teams which qualify for a berth in a National Championship event will be extended eligibility only in the highest division in which they qualified.

Copyright 2010
Super Series Baseball of America ®
info@superseriesbaseball.com