First Defense Guidelines
2025 USSSA CHALLENGE CUP EVENT DATES
FIRST DEFENDERS – JANUARY 26-28 (NO LAUNCH EVENT)
MILITARY DIRECTOR EMAIL
CHALLENGE CUP COMMITTEE EMAIL
DATE: First Defense – JANUARY 26th-28th (SUNDAY-TUESDAY)
USSSA MEN’S & WOMEN’S DIVISIONS
Men’s & Women’s
Men’s 40+ (Please see our seniors guidelines tab- https://challengecup.usssa.com/senior-cc/
MILITARY DIRECTOR EMAIL
CHALLENGE CUP COMMITTEE EMAIL
TEAM MAKE-UP: Teams can consist of Military, Police and Fire personnel combined.
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:
Military – Active Duty, Reserves/National Guard, Retiree, and DD-214 (limited to 2 per team).
No DOD Civilians, Contractors, Dependents and DD214 Spouses. Military players must play with a team from the State where you are ASSIGNED, not where you reside and not your home of record.
Police – Active and Retired Law Enforcement personnel
Fire – Active and Retired Fire/EMT personnel
Players must have played USSSA or GSL in 2024 (Slow Pitch or any Specialty program including military ) with the exception of no events being offered within 200 miles from a team’s registered address. Each State’s eligibility requirements will differ from State to State based on number of events offered within the State. Check with your military Director regarding eligibility. Exception(s) must be granted by the military Director and or approved by the Challenge Cup Committee.
SCHEDULE: We will release the schedule 10 days prior to the start date. We will post projected start times for each class January 16th,2025. We will have age group projected starts prior to the release date, so please email ([email protected]).
FORMAT: Two seeding games then a double elimination play-off. We will do everything possible not to combine divisions, but there is always a possibility we may combine for SEEDING GAMES ONLY with no equalizer, then split teams into their own division play-offs. If the need arises, the Challenge Cup Committee will determine how we will proceed for divisions with less than FOUR teams. The deadline to enter the event is December 9th, 2024, so the Challenge Cup Committee will have enough time to decide how we need to proceed. Event will start Thursday due to extended time limits and projected increased participation.
REGULATION TIME LIMITS:
SEEDING GAMES – No new inning after 65 MINUTES (MERCY RULE APPLIES)
PLAY-OFF GAMES – No Time Limit (MERCY RULE APPLIES)
CHAMPIONSHIP & IF GAMES – NO TIME LIMIT (MERCY RULE APPLIES)
ROSTER DEADLINE: Preliminary online rosters will be due December 1st, 2024. Online roster must be finalized BEFORE December 12th, 2024. We understand emergencies occur, so all emergency changes must be emailed to Challenge Cup Committee after December 30th, 2024.
ENTRY FEE PAYMENT: Teams will be allowed to enter without payment, but the entry fee will be due NO LATER THAN December 1st, 2024. We understand situations occur that require a payment extension. Please communicate any delays to [email protected]
TEAM CLASS REGISTRATION: State Directors will need to email a list of First Defense Challenge Cup teams for their state with the appropriate division (COMP or REC), manager name, manager cell and email. Teams will be created, and managers will be notified team is ready for their online roster.
NEIGHBORING STATE RULE FOR CHALLENGE CUP ONLY
NO Combine states in First Defense.
If a state has no USSSA or GSL Military Director or program, approval will not be required (please check with the Military Director or Challenge Cup Committee). This is a hot topic, so managers are 100% responsible for player compliance to the guidelines.
ALL TEAMS MUST BE PREPARED TO PLAY AT THE RELEASED PROJECTED START FOR EACH DIVISION. WE CAN NOT TAKE SPECIAL REQUESTS.
All Bats must have the 240 Stamp. They must meet 240 compression standards. Passed bats will be stickered. Any player that steps in the batter’s box with an unstickered bat will be DQd from the event.
TEAM MAKE-UP: Teams can consist of Military, Police and Fire personnel combined.
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:
Military – Active Duty, Reserves/National Guard, Retiree, and DD-214 (limited to 2 per team).
No DOD Civilians, Contractors, Dependents and DD214 Spouses. Military players must play with a team from the State where you are ASSIGNED, not where you reside and not your home of record.
Police – Active and Retired Law Enforcement personnel
Fire – Active and Retired Fire/EMT personnel
Players must have played USSSA or GSL in 2024 (Slow Pitch or any Specialty program including military ) with the exception of no events being offered within 200 miles from a team’s registered address. Each State’s eligibility requirements will differ from State to State based on number of events offered within the State. Check with your military Director regarding eligibility. Exception(s) must be granted by the military Director and or approved by the Challenge Cup Committee.
SCHEDULE: We will release the schedule 10 days prior to the start date. We will post projected start times for each class January 16th,2025. We will have age group projected starts prior to the release date, so please email ([email protected]).
FORMAT: Two seeding games then a double elimination play-off. We will do everything possible not to combine divisions, but there is always a possibility we may combine for SEEDING GAMES ONLY with no equalizer, then split teams into their own division play-offs. If the need arises, the Challenge Cup Committee will determine how we will proceed for divisions with less than FOUR teams. The deadline to enter the event is December 9th, 2024, so the Challenge Cup Committee will have enough time to decide how we need to proceed. Event will start Thursday due to extended time limits and projected increased participation.
REGULATION TIME LIMITS:
SEEDING GAMES – No new inning after 65 MINUTES (MERCY RULE APPLIES)
PLAY-OFF GAMES – No Time Limit (MERCY RULE APPLIES)
CHAMPIONSHIP & IF GAMES – NO TIME LIMIT (MERCY RULE APPLIES)
ROSTER DEADLINE: Preliminary online rosters will be due December 1st, 2024. Online roster must be finalized BEFORE December 12th, 2024. We understand emergencies occur, so all emergency changes must be emailed to Challenge Cup Committee after December 30th, 2024.
ENTRY FEE PAYMENT: Teams will be allowed to enter without payment, but the entry fee will be due NO LATER THAN December 1st, 2024. We understand situations occur that require a payment extension. Please communicate any delays to [email protected]
TEAM CLASS REGISTRATION: State Directors will need to email a list of First Defense Challenge Cup teams for their state with the appropriate division (COMP or REC), manager name, manager cell and email. Teams will be created, and managers will be notified team is ready for their online roster.
NEIGHBORING STATE RULE FOR CHALLENGE CUP ONLY
NO Combine states in First Defense.
If a state has no USSSA or GSL Military Director or program, approval will not be required (please check with the Military Director or Challenge Cup Committee). This is a hot topic, so managers are 100% responsible for player compliance to the guidelines.
ALL TEAMS MUST BE PREPARED TO PLAY AT THE RELEASED PROJECTED START FOR EACH DIVISION. WE CAN NOT TAKE SPECIAL REQUESTS.
All Bats must have the 240 Stamp. They must meet 240 compression standards. Passed bats will be stickered. Any player that steps in the batter’s box with an unstickered bat will be DQd from the event.