How to Earn a World Series Berth

Western PA  & West Virginia  NSA Teams Only

Host a NSA Tournament. As a tournament host, you receive a host berth to the World Series. As a tournament Host you are not limited to hosting an event in your age group or class. Youth Softball teams may host any age group or class tournament.  The Host team will receive a World Series berth in their age and class. To activate the berth you must play in the NSA/WPA or NSA/WV State Championship Tournament.  You do not need to win the tournament just participate in the tournament.

Win an NSA/WPA-WV  Qualifier Tournament or a NSA Qualifier Tournament in another state or region or finish within the tournament rankings when World Series Berths are offered. To activate the berth you must play in the NSA/WPA-WV State Tournament. You do not need to win the tournament just participate in the tournament.

At-Large World Series Berth. Under special circumstances a World Series Berth may be awarded to a team. Contact the NSA/WPA-WV  State Youth  Director for more information. To activate the berth you must play in the NSA/WPA-WV State Championship Tournament and Two additional NSA/WPA-WV qualifying  tournaments. You do not need to win the tournament just participate in the tournament.

Berth Procedures For NSA World Series Tournaments

Class “A”  &  “B”

1.      Any team qualifying for a World Series (WS) berth, A or B, in any region or state outside of the NSA of Western Pennsylvania or West Virginia regions must participate in the NSA/WPA-WV  State Tournament in order to validate that berth.  A team’s failure to participate in the State Tournament will result in their berth being rescinded.  If a team forfeits all of their games in the State Tournament then they have not fulfilled the participation requirement.  EXCEPTION:  If the NSA/WPA-WV State Youth Director (SYD) limits entries in the State Tournament due to a maximum number of teams being reached, then a team is deemed to have fulfilled the participation requirement if it registers for the tournament and is willing and able to participate if a spot would open up within one week of the tournament.  

2.      A minimum of four teams must participate in order for a WS qualifying tournament to offer any berths.  The following are general principles in awarding berths out of WS qualifiers. 

(a)    The amount of WS berths will be determined by the number of teams participating per age bracket as follows:  

(b)   When a choice is offered, teams will have the option of accepting either an “A” or “B” berth.  This decision must be made within 7 days of the qualifier or before the beginning of the team’s next NSA qualifying tournament, whichever comes first.  Failure to make such a decision will result in the team forfeiting either berth.

(c)    If a team that chooses a “B” berth later qualifies as “A”, that team will be reclassified as “A” and must attend the "A" NSA World Series.  However, the team has the right to appeal such a reclassification and the reclassification may be overturned if conditions warrant.  

(d)   If a team earns a berth to a WS for which they’ve already qualified, the berth may be awarded to the highest finishing team in the tournament which has not yet earned a berth.  Individual tournament directors do not have the authority to hand berths down beyond what's listed above.  Only the NSA/WPA-WV Youth Director can determine if berths are to be passed down. 

(e)    The preceding points are not to be considered absolute in all cases.  Other factors could come into play when determining the nature of awarding berths.  The SYD reserves the right to determine the final amount of berths and to which WS they are awarded.

3.      A team that qualifies for a WS berth will need to submit a fully completed Berth Form and the WS entry fee to the SYD by the date posted on the NSA/WPA web site.   Berth Forms will be provided by the NSA/WPA-WV. Failure to submit either the form or the fee as required will result in the berth being forfeited.  

4.      Teams should carefully determine whether they intend to participate in the World Series for which they’ve earned the berth, as WS entry fees are non-refundable once they are submitted to the NSA/WPA-WV state office.  

5.      Teams that earn an “A” berth as described in 2.(a) above will be classified as "A", whether or not that team chooses to accept the "A" berth.  A team that earns a choice berth will be classified by the berth it chooses to accept, either "A" or "B".  If such a team chooses not to accept either berth, then the SYD will determine that team's classification.  Any team that has yet to win a berth will be considered unclassified. The SYD reserves the right to reclassify any team at any time.  

The NSA/WPA-WV State Youth Director will forward all rosters, insurance and WS entry fees on behalf of teams earning berths to the WS tournament director.  It is up to the individual teams to handle all other paperwork associated with the WS (eg, housing forms, admission passes, t-shirt orders, etc.).

How to Register for World Series

 To activate a World Series Berth, submit World Series application, roster, birth certificates and entry fee to NSA/WPA State Youth Director by the date posted on the NSA/WPA web site.