International Guidelines
2025 USSSA INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE CUP GUIDELINES
CHALLENGE CUP COMMITTEE EMAIL
DATES:
Black American – JANUARY 9-12 (THU-SUN)
Men’s & Women’s – Comp & Rec
Men’s & Women’s 50+ – Please see the seniors guidelines https://challengecup.usssa.com/senior-cc/
Men’s 40+ – Please see the seniors guidelines https://challengecup.usssa.com/senior-cc/
HISPANIC – JANUARY 9-12 (THU-SUN)
Men’s Comp
Men’s Rec
Women’s
INDIGENOUS – JANUARY 9-12 (THU-SUN)
Men’s & Women’s – Comp & Rec
Mixed Please see the Mixed guidelines- https://challengecup.usssa.com/mixed-cc/
Players must have played USSSA or GSL in 2024 (Slow Pitch or any Specialty program) 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 State Director regarding eligibility. Exception(s) must be granted by the State Director and approved by the Challenge Cup Committee.
# OF TEAMS PER STATE: Teams are allowed to send TWO teams per division
SCHEDULE: We will release the schedule 10 days prior to the start date. We will post projected start times for each class December 30th. 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 – 60 MINUTES (MERCY RULE APPLIES)
PLAY-OFF GAMES – 75 MINUTES (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 15th, 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 BLACK, HISPANIC, LATIN & INDIGENOUS 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. Any BSC Team please contact Clay Dickey
MEN’S COMP CLASS: Players with a 2024 PRV (Player Rating Value) in USSSA/GSL of C ELITE or higher can only participate in the COMP class. Players actively participating on a Slow Pitch Conference roster in 2024 can only participate in the COMP class.* Teams participating in the International Challenge cup event will be allowed to have up to 4 “others” that are not of Indigenous or Black origin on their rosters. Those 4 players will be allowed to participate in the game on offense or defense at the same time.
WOMEN’S COMP CLASS: Players with a 2024 PRV (Player Rating Value) in USSSA/GSL of C ELITE or higher can only participate in the COMP class. Players actively participating on a Slow Pitch Conference roster in 2024 can only participate in the COMP class. .* Teams participating in the International Challenge cup event will be allowed to have up to 4 “others” that are not of Indigenous or Black origin on their rosters. Those 4 players will be allowed to participate in the game on offense or defense at the same time.
MEN’S REC CLASS: Players with a 2024 PRV (Player Rating Value) in USSSA/GSL of C or lower can participate in the COMP or REC classes (IN BSC C Elite or below can play Rec) Players actively participating on a Slow Pitch Conference roster in 2024 CANNOT participate in the REC class. Players with no PRV will be given a PRV based on player history. Players under classed will be reviewed by our Challenge Cup Committee and will be adjusted. *Teams participating in the International Challenge cup event will be allowed to have up to 4 “others” that are not of Indigenous or Black origin on their rosters. Those 4 players will be allowed to participate in the game on offense or defense at the same time.
WOMEN’S REC CLASS: Players with a 2024 PRV (Player Rating Value) in USSSA/GSL of C or lower can participate in the COMP or REC classes (IN BSC C Elite or below can play Rec) Players actively participating on a Slow Pitch Conference roster in 2024 CANNOT participate in the REC class. Players with no PRV will be given a PRV based on player history. Players under classed will be reviewed by our Challenge Cup Committee and will be adjusted. *Teams participating in the International Challenge cup event will be allowed to have up to 4 “others” that are not of Indigenous or Black origin on their rosters. Those 4 players will be allowed to participate in the game on offense or defense at the same time.
NEIGHBORING STATE RULE FOR CHALLENGE CUP ONLY (WITH RESTRICTIONS): Neighboring states are states that are touching. California, Texas, and Florida are the only three states restricted to recruiting ONLY players residing in the state they are representing. All three states have three areas within their state and can build a team to represent each area. Players residing in a RESTRICTED STATE can’t play on teams outside their State including neighboring States.
All other states may recruit players from neighboring states to fill a state Challenge Cup team with the exception of players from RESTRICTED STATES (CA, TX, FL). If you are unsure whether a player is eligible, please contact your State Director or [email protected]. SPECIAL NOTE: Players being recruited by a neighboring state team outside their own state are eligible to be recruited if they HAVE NOT been invited to participate on their own state team AND have approval from their State Director NO EXCEPTIONS. Managers must confirm the neighboring State Director approval prior to adding the player to the roster. Players refusing to play for their own state WILL NOT be eligible to participate in Challenge Cup. If a state has no USSSA or GSL State Director or program, approval will not be required (please check with the Challenge Cup Committee). This is a hot topic, so managers are 100% responsible for player compliance to the guidelines.
Our preference is teams recruit players from multiple teams within the state, but we will make exceptions for states with limited number of teams. Players must have a valid/current State ID to qualify as residing in a State.
Due to Hawaii’s unique circumstance and extremely limited player pool, Hawaii will be allowed to recruit Hawaiian born players living in the States with approval from the State Director in the State they currently reside in. Teams representing other countries (example: Canada, Mexico, etc.) will be restricted to players residing within their country’s borders.
POTENTIAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION: If a Challenge Cup team doesn’t qualify for our REC class, we will place the team in the COMP class. We will give the manager an opportunity to adjust the roster prior to moving the team back to their desired class. Our Challenge Cup Committee will review REC rosters to ensure ineligible players don’t get overlooked. Each player’s State will be listed on the online roster. If a player doesn’t comply with the neighboring or restricted State rule, we will remove the player from the roster. We will give the manager a chance to provide proof of residence prior to adding player back on roster. If you have any questions, please contact your State Director or contact [email protected].
ALL TEAMS MUST BE PREPARED TO PLAY AT THE RELEASED PROJECTED START FOR EACH DIVISION. WE CAN NOT TAKE SPECIAL REQUESTS.
SENIOR PLAYING & EQUIPMENT RULES: Rules will be adjusted to fit our two class (COMP & REC) model and posted under EVENT INFO on our Challenge Cup event page. Most of the high-level playing rules will remain the same.
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.