AFA Midnight Madness-National Qualifier

Hello Coaches-

Know Before you Go Information for Midnight Madness event @ AAG.

Admission to the Park:
Discounted pre-purchase amount is $7.50 using this link:
https://www.tixr.com/groups/azgrounds/events/afa-midnight-madness-national-qualifier-fastpitch-softball--195101

Coaches (up to 3) and players are FREE

Otherwise, it will be $8.50 on site (walk up pricing).

PARKING:
Kiosk to park
(you do not have to pay to park, but may risk the chance of being ticketed)
Lots 1, 2, and 8 are the easiest to park in for softball

Overnight RV parking is approved for this event***

Coolers:
Allowed with waters and hydration drinks only
No outside food/drinks that will compete with vendors on site. NO alcohol.

There will be a baseball event going on during the day and into the evening and a basketball event-so please plan accordingly for parking and getting on site.

Tempe Sports Complex gates will open @ 4pm for 5pm games.

Thank you everyone & best of luck!!!
Stacey Stepek
AFA State Director of Arizona

Coaches-

AFA Midnight Madness-National Qualifier
Saturday, June 20th 2026
Tempe Sports Complex (16u18u)
Arizona Athletic Grounds (12u & 14u)
***Fields will open @ 4pm for warm ups***

Arizona Athletic Grounds
*All fields are turf-molded cleats, rubbers, turf shoes, gym shoes approved (no metal cleats for any ages)
*RV overnight parking is OK for this event - regular payment at parking lot kiosk

Vendors: Underground Bats @ AAG
DJs will be playing from 8pm-midnight @ both locations
Food Vendors @ both locations

2 pool play games into seeded single elimination bracket play
***Seeds will be determined by: win-loss-tie record; head to head (if applicable and all opponents have played one another); runs allowed; runs scored

Schedule and brackets are now LIVE!!!
Check out the exposure site to view your team's schedule or download our app "WESTCOASTAFA” to view schedule/brackets/keep an eye on scores as they are recorded as your games wrap up this weekend!
https://softball.exposureevents.com/263644/afa-midnight-madness-national-qualifier/schedule

Please make sure that your team has paid the $55.00 membership fee to play AFA events. The AFA season runs September 1st-August 31st and is $55.00 per season. YOU MUST HAVE THIS BEFORE YOU HIT THE DIRT.

***You will need this prior to check in one hour before your first pool play game on Saturday. This fee goes directly to headquarters. If you have not already paid your sanctioning fee and been assigned your 4–6-digit number, please do so by clicking the link: https://fastpitch.afasoftball.com/get-involved/team-membership/

(questions on AFA membership-please contact our national director, Glen Messick at 818-389-3467)

One Hour before first game:
-Team must turn in their PRINTED & SIGNED roster/liability waiver (attached)
-Team must show proof of up-to-date team insurance with their team’s name listed as insured
-Please carry copies of birth certificates with you at all times in case of protest
-AFA Membership must be valid and for this season running September 1st-August 31st ($55.00 per team, per season)

***Please make sure that all possible players are listed on the lineup that is turned in on Saturday (even if they are only able to attend on Sunday).

***No players are allowed to hop from one team to another within the same event regardless of what age division they are playing in

***Please make sure that your team brings their own First Aide Kit & Ice for team injuries & emergencies***

National Qualifier Tournament Rules
(High School Federation w/ Arizona AFA Modifications):
1. AFA pool play games will be 1:10 no new inning Saturday (can end in tie) & 1:10 no new inning for bracket play Saturday (must have a winner)
2. Team listed first on the pool play schedule will be in the first base dugout
(unless game before already has next opponent in dugout-please take the open dugout)
3. Coin flip for home/away on Saturday (pool play)
4. Bracket play, the higher seed will automatically be the home team and take the 3B dugout (if same seed-coin flip)
5. Lineup cards must be turned in at the plate meeting
6. POOL PLAY: you may bat your entire line up
7. BRACKET PLAY: You may bat 11, and play 12 (extra players will be listed on lineup card as “EP” and you may use DP/FLEX
8. Courtesy runner for pitcher/catcher must be the last recorded out (Saturday) and Sunday the courtesy runner must be a sub on your lineup card
9. Coaches are allowed one mound visit per inning
10. x
11. Rule rules will be as follows:
12 runs after 3 innings ; 10 runs after 4 innings ; 8 runs after 5 innings
12. In the case of a tie breaker during bracket play, LAST RECORDED OUT is placed at 2B with no outs (International TB)
13. Illegal bat: Easton Ghost-Gold
-If your player steps onto the field with the 2018 Gold Ghost bat, both head coach and player ejection for one full game. Must exit the complex completely until the next game
-If this happens a second time, player and coach are both ejected for the ENTIRE TOURNAMENT
14. Head coaches-it is up to you to make sure that your spectators, fans, assistant coaches, and players are being good sports at all times. Any unruly behavior will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal. Umpires reserve the right to eject head coaches for player/fan behavior if not corrected.
15. A team may start a contest with 8 players, however, the empty spot on the lineup card will take an out each time they come up to the plate for the entire contest until they arrive
16. If there are no substitutes, and a player gets injured during game play and must be removed, they will take an out each time they come up to the plate for the rest of the contest
17. Please be ready to start up to 20 minutes early. We will get games started if blues are ready and fields are prepped and ready to go (be ready to start up to 20 minutes early if blues/fields are ready)
18. To keep the games moving along and maximizing game times, please no huddles on the field and please do not throw the ball around
19. Protests for AFA:
Head coach must bring $60.00 cash to home plate with both umpires where the game clock will be stopped, and umpires and director of the site will meet to discuss the protest. Money will be handed to the director of the site.
Umpires, UIC, and director will make the call on the protest. If the protesting coach is correct, the money goes back to the coach and the umpire will carry out the call. If the protesting coach is incorrect, the director keeps the money and the game will resume
20. Coaches: it’s recommended that you carry a first aid kit and ice packs. ● Sportsmanship is a must. Ejected players and coaches may need to sit the following game. Final decision will be made by the UIC. There will be zero tolerance of harassment of umpires by fans.

● Adverse Weather: The American Fastpitch Tournament could be played in adverse weather conditions. The format may be changed and may include lesser time limits or fewer innings to complete the tournament. Coaches and players accept these conditions when entering the tournament.

*Restrooms will be available on site
*Concessions will be available on site
*Tournament t-shirts will be available in adult sizes - $25.00 per shirt
*Cool towels will be for sale for $5.00 each
*Viper Sunglasses will be for sale for $25.00 each
Payments will be accepted in the form of cash, Venmo, Zelle.
*Used tournament balls will be available for purchase for $40.00 per dozen-if enough inventory.
See main table to put your name on the list. First come, first serve.
*Homerun balls will be available for purchase at the table for $5.00 each.

Thank you in advance for participating in our event!
Best of luck to you and your girls!
Stacey Stepek
AFA State Director (AZ)
630-335-6830

***Site lead @ AAG will be Anna McCray 480-824-8486***
***Site lead @ Tempe Sports Complex will be Rhoe Yancey***

UIC's assigned to both sites-see directors table if you have any issues, and our team will send over appropriate staff to handle issues on site.

THANK YOU AND BEST OF LUCK TO ALL TEAMS!!!

Attachment

Happy Sunday, Coaches & Admin-

Friendly reminder that our AFA Midnight Madness (Saturday, June 20th) Summer Event is finally here and payments are now due to lock in!!!

Due to the high demand of this event, we will have the following locations:
12u & 14u-Arizona Athletic Grounds (Mesa, AZ)
16u/18u-Tempe Sports Complex (Tempe, AZ)

Need to know information:
Games will begin for pool play on Saturday, June 20th, with first rounds of games beginning at 5pm (2 pool play into single elimation bracket play)

Brackets and seedings will be determined based off your 2 pool play games (win-loss-tie record; head to head (if applicable); runs allowed; runs scored)

***We will have a DJ playing music from 8pm-midnight
***Food vendor on site until at least 2am, if not later
***Tournament shirts and merchandise for sale at Directors Table
***These are family friendly events for our youth athletes-No alcohol is permitted at these events. Zero tolerance.

$695.00 payment in full or $200 deposit per team now due to lock in
(spots are limited and payments are non-refundable after once made for scheduling and planning purposes)

Venmo @Stacey-Stepek or Zelle to sstepek.azafa@gmail.com (S&G United, LLC)
***Please include team name, age, and event title in subject line***

Thank you!!! We are looking forward to this amazing event!!!
Stacey Stepek
AFA State Director of Arizona
630-335-6830

If you cannot make this event, or would like to play in another overnight, we will also be having another "AFA Under the Stars" event at Arizona Athletics Grounds on August 29th!!!

Please also take a look at our AFA Triple Play-National Qualifier event happening in Prescott, AZ July 25-26th to beat the heat this summer!!!

Attachment

Good Morning Coaches/Admin-

Friendly reminder that our AFA Midnight Madness Summer Event is finally here and payments are now due to lock in!!!

Due to the high demand of this event, we will have the following locations:
12u & 14u-Arizona Athletic Grounds (Mesa, AZ)
16u/18u-Tempe Sports Complex (Tempe, AZ)

Need to know information:
Games will begin for pool play on Saturday, June 20th, with first rounds of games beginning at 5pm (2 pool play into single elimation bracket play)

Brackets and seedings will be determined based off your 2 pool play games (win-loss-tie record; head to head (if applicable); runs allowed; runs scored)

***We will have a DJ playing music from 8pm-midnight
***Food vendor on site until at least 2am, if not later
***Tournament shirts and merchandise for sale at Directors Table
***These are family friendly events for our youth athletes-No alcohol is permitted at these events. Zero tolerance.

$695.00 payment in full or $200 deposit per team now due to lock in
(spots are limited and payments are non-refundable after once made for scheduling and planning purposes)

Venmo @Stacey-Stepek or Zelle to sstepek.azafa@gmail.com (S&G United, LLC)
***Please include team name, age, and event title in subject line***

Thank you!!! We are looking forward to this amazing event!!!
Stacey Stepek
AFA State Director of Arizona
630-335-6830

If you cannot make this event, or would like to play in another overnight, we will also be having another "AFA Under the Stars" event at Arizona Athletics Grounds on August 29th!!!

Please also take a look at our AFA Triple Play-National Qualifier event happening in Prescott, AZ July 25-26th to beat the heat this summer!!!

Attachment