EVENT DETAILS

HOTEL INFORMATION
This is a Stay to Play event and teams must use our housing agency in order to participate in this event. We use the company “Traveling Teams” for our housing needs and all teams will need to go through them for their hotel arrangements.

Welcome to the 2026 SE National Championship “Music City USA” style! Congratulations on an outstanding season and thank you for choosing our event as your post season destination. This webpage will consist of valuable information and will serve as your tournament guide to the event itself. Please check this page frequently for possible updates.

MONDAY: Opening Ceremonies

TUESDAY: Pool play begins

WEDNESDAY: Pool play concludes

THURSDAY: Bracket play begins

FRIDAY: Bracket play continues

SATURDAY: Bracket play / Championship Day

SUNDAY: Will only be used for a rain day.

QUALIFYING INFORMATION
Teams must qualify for this event. Click HERE to view the qualifying process. Please note that if your team DOES NOT have any USSSA points, it’s possible they will be placed in the OPEN division, unless there are no USSSA events in your area.

ENTRY INFORMATION
To guarantee your team a spot in this event, your team must complete the online registration process and pay the $695 entry fee. Simply registering for the event does not guarantee you a spot in the event.

ENTRY FEE INFO
The team entry fee for this event is ($695) and must be made to secure your spot into the event.

TEAM SPECTATOR GATE INFO
We charge a team gate fee ($575) for each team in place of the normal individual gate fee for spectators where they have to wear wristbands, stamps etc. By doing this, everyone can come and go as they please and not get stopped every time they enter the park. Invite grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends without worrying that they have to pay to watch their player. Teams save much more via the team gate fee route. This fee is in addition to the tournament entry fee.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT
This event will feature a 5 game format, three pool games followed by double elimination. The teams will play a combination of 3 pool games on Tues & Wed. Example: 1 pool game on Tues & 2 on Wed or 2 pool games on Tues & 1 on Wed. Teams will NOT play 3 pool games in one day, even if requested to do so.

POOL PLAY/BRACKET SCHEDULE
The pool play and blank bracket schedule will be released one week prior to the event. Pool play results will seed teams in bracket play. **No special requests for pool game times will be granted.

GAME TIMES
70 minute pool games and 75 minute bracket games, both finish the inning. We will play one inning of tie breaker in pool play and if it is still tied it will remain that way.

TOURNAMENT RULES INFORMATION
All playing rules shall be governed by the official USSSA Fastpitch Softball Rule Book and national by-laws. Note that the rulebook online at www.usssa.com will always supersede the latest printed version if a discrepancy exists.

*Teams will be seeded into bracket play based on pool play results.
*Game balls will be furnished by the tournament
*Teams will flip for home team in pool play and the higher seed has the option of being home or visitor in bracket play. In the championship game if the higher seed is in the losers bracket, then there will be a flip to determine home team.
*Protest fee is $200 cash and is refundable if upheld by the tournament director or UIC. All protests must be made prior to the next pitch.

ROSTER/GUEST PLAYERS
All teams must have their rosters completed online by logging into their USSSA account, clicking your team name and then clicking on “Manage My Players”. Teams can pick up Guest Players and this needs to be done online by logging into your USSSA account and clicking on “Manage Guest Players”. If you are not sure how to do this and are an out of state team, you will need to contact your state director. The maximum amount of guest players a team can pick up in this event is three.

UNIFORMS
Per the USSSA rulebook, uniforms must match in National Championship play. A final determination will be made by the tournament director of the event.

INSURANCE/BIRTH CERTIFICATES
If you do not have USSSA insurance, a copy of your COI must be emailed to [email protected]. Your birth certificates need to be in your possession at all times in case another team protests the age of one of your players.

COACHES MEETING
We will have a virtual coaches meeting approximately two weeks prior to the event. We use Microsoft Teams to host the meeting. More info on this will be sent out at a later date.

VENUES
All games will be played at Drakes Creek and Veterans Park in Hendersonville, TN and possible other nearby locations.

INFIELD SURFACES
All infields are dirt.

TOURNAMENT THEME
Music City USA and Country Music

HOTEL INFORMATION
This is a Stay to Play event and teams must use our housing agency in order to participate in this event. We use the company “Traveling Teams” for our housing needs and all teams will need to go through them for their hotel arrangements.

T-SHIRTS
Will be presold prior to the event and additional information regarding this will be posted a few months prior to the event. Shirts will also be sold at opening ceremonies and a limited amount will be sold at the event each day. We encourage teams to order them when we do the presale as we have sold out in the last few National Championships we have hosted.

GIFT EXCHANGE INFORMATION
Teams are welcome to exchange gift bags, but the event doesn’t coordinate gift bag exchanges, it’s the responsibility of the teams to do so.

NO TOLERANCE POLICY
Music City Sports and USSSA have in place a no tolerance policy for any coach, parent, player or fan that physically or verbally abuses a staff member, director, umpire or park official. Anyone abusing this policy will be asked to leave the park for the day and possibly the week depending on the severity of their actions.

$695

The team entry fee for this event is ($695) and must be made to secure your spot into the event. Simply registering for the event does not guarantee you a spot in the event.

$575 (TEAM SPECTATOR GATE FEE)

We charge a team spectator gate fee of ($575) for each team in place of the normal individual gate fee for spectators where they have to wear wristbands, stamps etc. By doing this, everyone can come and go as they please and not get stopped every time they enter the park. Invite grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends without worrying that they have to pay to watch their player. Teams save much more via the team gate fee route. This fee is in addition to the tournament entry fee.

Welcome to the 2026 USSSA Southeast National Championship!

Get ready for an unforgettable week of fastpitch softball as teams from across the country gather in Hendersonville, Tennessee, just minutes from Music City USA – Nashville. From July 13–18, 2026, athletes, coaches, and families will experience elite competition, outstanding facilities, and the warm Southern hospitality that Tennessee is known for.

This year’s championship features three pool-play games followed by a double-elimination bracket, providing every team with plenty of opportunities to compete and showcase their talent. Beyond the diamond, the event is packed with exciting activities, including:

• Skills competitions
• Parade of teams
• Pin trading
• Vendors
• Music and entertainment
• Much more for players and families to enjoy

And when teams are ready to explore, downtown Nashville is just a short drive away—offering world-class attractions, live music, and unforgettable experiences for families of all ages.

What Nashville Has to Offer for Tourists

Music & Entertainment

• Broadway’s famous live music venues
• The Grand Ole Opry
• Ryman Auditorium
• Country Music Hall of Fame
• Music Row

Family-Friendly Attractions

• Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
• Adventure Science Center
• General Jackson Showboat
• SoundWaves Waterpark at Gaylord Opryland
• Centennial Park & the full-scale Parthenon replica

Sports & Activities

• Nashville Sounds Minor League Baseball
• Nashville SC Soccer Club
• Tennessee Titans stadium tours (subject to availability)

Shopping & Local Flavor

• The Gulch shopping/dining district
• Opry Mills Mall
• 12 South boutiques and murals
• Local BBQ, hot chicken, and Southern cuisine

Arts, History & Culture

• Johnny Cash Museum
• Frist Art Museum
• Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery
• Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage

Whether families are looking for live music, history, great food, or unforgettable fun, Nashville has something for everyone—making the 2026 USSSA Southeast National Championship not just a tournament, but a full vacation experience.