MANDATORY MANAGER'S MEETING

Manager's Meeting will be Wednesday, June 26th at 6:00 PM in the Columbia County Fairgrounds - Banquet/Event Hall.  Head Coach from each MUST be in attendance (Missing this meeting will lead to not being allowed to coach your team's first game) and submit Team's Credential Book upon arrival. if oyu can not attend - you must get a waiver from your district commissioner.

Meeting Agenda

• Welcome Message
• Introduction of Tournament Officials
• Overview of Park Rules
• Overview of Communications during Tournament
• UIC Rules Presentation 
• Q & A Open Discussion

Here's the address: 438 FL-247, Lake City, FL 32055

Things to know before coming to Southside Sports Complex

Managers and Team Parents should review this page before making the trip to the Florida Babe Ruth Softball Championship Tournament.

Tournament Dates

• Manager's Meeting will be held the evening of June 26th in Lake City.  6pm Start time, location are on the pop up when you log in and also available when you click on the link at the right. Manager MUST attended of they will be suspended for the first game. Attendance is limited to Head Coach Only as there is limited space. 
  

• Games will begin on Thursday June 27nd at 8am.  Your team must be prepared to play at 8am on Thursday June 27th.  Schedule will be released on Monday June 24th or Tuesday the 25th depending upon how many teams withdraw in the last few days.
  

• The tournament will conclude on Monday July 1st, 2024

Tournament Registration:

• Registration will open on June 8th.  There is a non-refundable $120 deposit to reserve your team's spot in the bracket. Link will be posted and you will need a confirmation number to complete your registration.  Team Manager will receive four (4) tournament pass wristbands upon check in at Manager's meeting in consideration for the registration deposit.  

Gate Fee

• Spectators are required to purchase either a tournament pass ($30.00 - good for all 5 days of the tournament) or a day pass ($15.00 - good for day of purchase only) for entry into the Southside Complex.  16 & Under are not charged and do not require a pass for entry.   CASH ONLY
  
  • There is no Team Fee for participation in the State Tournament.  Rostered Coaches & Players, while in uniform, are not required to present pass for entry. Your rosters will be checked against the number of people claining to be members of the coaching staff.
    
  • Gates will open for Spectators approximately 15 minutes before the first scheduled game slot.
    • Teams (Rostered Coaches & Players only) will be permitted in approximately one hour before first scheduled game slot.  People without Bands will be asked to pay for a pass or be asked to leave the park.    

 Coolers

• Team cooler and individual player coolers are permitted and MUST remain in the dugout.  Florida Babe Ruth Softball does not operate concessions during this event and coolers other than those mentioned may be asked to be removed by facility staff.  Concessions is operated by the local Babe Ruth Softball League and we encourage you to support them. 

Tents

• Tents are permitted along the fence line Past the Dugouts, The area Between the Bleachers and the back stop are prohibited from tents (ONLY the scorekeeper tent is Allowed).  Double stacking of tents is not permitted.  Tents blocking the flow of spectators and staff will be removed.

Cooling Fans

• Cooling Fans are permitted in the dugout, however they must be battery powered.  Extension cords and generators are not permitted.

Music / Aftifical Noisemakers

• Music / Speakers / Any type of artificial noisemakers are not permitted at ANY time or anywhere on site during tournament play.  Penalty will be removal of the offender from the park.

Video Recording

• Video recording is allowed - However if you wish to use a tripod or attach to the fence it MUST be past the dugouts. Absolutely no cameras around the scorekeeper, on the backstop or bewtween the 2 dugouts. You will not be allowed to stand behind the backstop/Between dugouts for any extended period of time. Videos will NOT be used for any replay - If you bring it up - you will be removed from the park.

Text Alerts

• Everyone is encouraged to sign up for TEXT ALERTS and do not silence them.  Schedule changes, Lighting Delays, Weather Delays and various other tournament information will be sent out through the TEXT ALERT system.  This is the best way to stay informed of any changes that will occur during the tournament. If you don't sign up - you will miss important information. Do NOT silence the notifications - there will be many of them and if you silence them you will miss important information.
  

Gift Bag Exchange

• Yes, we are doing it and when the brackets are done we will determine the team exchange times.

  They need to present gifts that they themselves would like to receive...

  Ideas 💡:

  Something that represents your area such as oranges/pineapples/any kind of fruit or nut - this can be a treat/item with this on it.

  Can also be a special landmark from area (ex; beaches area gave flip flops w/towel & other goodies)

  Hair ties/Bows - research team & get their colors

  Snacks - always a hit (*NO chocolate) / YES on Gatorade / Gum / sunflower seeds

  Be creative and have fun with it! 

  Remember that some keep these as memorabilia. 

  **Please remember to include coaches when doing this! (They are a part of the team!)

  We ask that teams prepare 15 players & 4 coaches bags to ensure that every team is covered! *Some teams have a bat girl/boy(?)

  ***A cool drawstring bag filled with the goodies can be the gift bag! 🤔

  Just think of the age of what your players/girls would like!

Schedule:  Will be provided at the Manager's Meeting

Pets

• Only Service Animals are permitted at the Southside Softball Complex.

Expectations for Conduct

Conduct by players, managers, coaches and spectators must be above reproach, both on and off the field. Any misbehavior or misconduct will result in the disqualification of a player, manager, or coach and could also lead to the disqualification of their team.  If you are asked to leave the facility - you will not be allowed to return. There will be ZERO tolerance for bad behavior and poor sportsmanship.  Columbia County Sheriff Office / Lake City Police Department will be onsite during tournament hours.

SIGN-UP FOR TEXT AND EMAIL ALERTS!!! IMPORTANT!!!!!!!

We will be using a text messaging service to alert you to weather conditions and changes in scheduling.  The alerts will also direct you to check the Web site for the latest news. At least ONE member of the coaching staff MUST sign up for this in order to get scheduling updates. This is the only way you will receive updates on the tournament. The answer "I didnt know" is not acceptable. Please note there will be many of these texts going out - dont ignore them even thoughh some may not be specific to you.

There are times when weather forces the suspension of games when you must seek shelter, often to your cars.  Some of those times, you will be asked to not leave the park, just in case play can resume.  If you have signed up for TEXT AND EMAIL ALERTS, you will receive via text, the message to either return to your field or that you can leave the park.  However, in order for you to receive the TEXT ALERTS, you must sign up even if you have signed up in previous years!!!!  Please sign up under Parents/scorekeeper/other DO NOT SIGN UP under tournament officials - you will be deleted.

Click here to Signup for Alerts!

ASK THE UMPIRE IN CHIEF

Post season rules can be quite different than your local league rules. We have now created a link where you can ask ANY QUESTION you have related to rules/situations as it relates to post season play.

Please feel free to ask anything, no question is silly..  Send us your questions to the following email address: flstateumpire@gmail.com 

We will provide an answer and a rulebook reference if necessary and post it on a page for everyone to be able to see. Find the Headlines Box on the top of the page and click the link to the answers.