KC&BO Paid Berth to The Natty Texas Style

Keep Calm & Baseball On is a 501 (c)(3) organization seeking to promote the Greatest Game! 

THIS IS A PAID BERTH EVENT!
Champions will receive a PAID BERTH to the KC&BO - THE NATTY TEXAS STYLE World Series in June, 2025! (Paid Berth equals paid entry fee!)

Team Event Registration Fee: (Number of Teams by Age/Div. that we are accepting: based on field availability at time of posting. This is subject to change as some fields/complexes are yet to be secured.)

7U D3: $395 (We are accepting the first eight {8} paid teams in 7U)

8U Open: $395 (We are accepting the first twelve {12} paid teams in 8U) {Please Note: the 8U Division is OPEN this weekend}

9U D3: $450 (We are accepting the first twelve {12} paid teams in 9U D3) 

10U D3: $450 (We are accepting the first twelve {12} paid teams in 10U D3) 

12U D3: $450 (We are accepting the first eighteen {18} paid teams in 12U D3)

13U D2: $475 (We are accepting the first seven {7} paid teams in 13U D2)

14U D2: $475 (We are accepting the first twelve {12} paid teams in 14U D2)

Gate Fee:

$150 team gate fee

When do I pay the tournament entry fee? 
All KC&BO tournaments are first pay/first play. Your entry into an event is not complete until you have paid the entry fee and/or the gate fee. The age/division may sell out prior to the payment deadline (in most cases they do). The number of available spots in a division may fluctuate depending on the needs of all divisions that share the same field size. KC&BO does not accept checks. If you need to pay by cash, the deadlines still apply and you will need to make arrangements with us to drop off a cash payment. Our Entry/Gate fees are due (AT THE LATEST) on the Friday, a week prior to the tournament dates (our goal is to start scheduling over that weekend and post schedules on Tuesday, after NCS makes any classification "bumps"). SEE TOURNAMENT PAYMENT & REFUND POLICY BELOW. THIS IS A "PAID BERTH EVENT" FOR THE KC&BO THE NATTY TEXAS STYLE WORLD SERIES IN JUNE 2025. The Champion of each Age/Div. earns a *PAID BERTH to "The Natty" in June 2025! (*Paid Berth = FREE Entry Fee into The Natty Texas Style World Series; the team pays "gate fee" only for THE NATTY!)

Do teams supply their own baseballs? 
Yes, teams supply their own baseballs for game play. 

Rules:
We play by the rules listed on the playNCS.com website, with these noted exceptions: 

Pitching: There are no enforceable pitching limitations for this weekend tournament. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND PARENTS & COACHES ABIDE BY THE USA BASEBALL/MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL "Pitch Smart" GUIDELINES. We do NOT know the number of pitches thrown during the week, during league play, during private lessons, leading up to tournament play, etc. and do not feel we can effectively manage the safety of any child's arm. We believe that responsibility belongs with the PARENTS & COACHES who know the players pitch count leading up to, during, and after tournament play. PARENTS & COACHES, please do not overuse young arms. The WIN today is not worth it in the long run!

Sick/Injured Player: If a player is removed from a game due to sickness or injury, the lineup is simply compressed. (If removed by ejection, and no legal substitute is available, an out will be declared each time the ejected players spot comes up in the batting order.) If an offensive player is removed from the field of play due to an injury/sickness (e.g., a player breaks ankle after safely reaching first base), he will be replaced on the bases by a legal sub, or by the last batted out. This exception is used to promote player safety and in the spirit of fair play. 

*** NEW NCS BAT RULES ***

Bat Restrictions Effective 8/1/2024:

13U Division:

• D2, D1 & Open: Must use (-5) or (-3) bats.
• D3: May use (-8), (-5), or (-3) bats. However, if playing up in D2, D1, or Open divisions, the bats must comply with the above restrictions.

14U Division:

• Must use BBCOR (-3) bats.
• If 13U teams play up in the 14U division, they must also use BBCOR (-3) bats.

The logic behind these changes is twofold: to prepare the players for high school baseball and to ensure their safety on the field. Bats can be expensive, so we wanted to get this information out as soon as possible to help parents make informed decisions regarding equipment

Additional Rules Notes:

Our 13U tournaments are played at 54/80, unless otherwise noted.

We do not allow metal cleats on any turf fields or temporary mounds, or in the batting cages or soft toss stations, or in our Pitchers and Catchers Practice Venue.

Additionally, metal cleats are only allowed at 13U and up.

Slashing is NOT allowed at 13U and below. 

Rule 7.06: One-way electronic communication devices are permissible from the dugout to the catcher while the team is on defense for the purpose of calling pitches. When using the electronic communication device, the coach cannot be outside the dugout/bench area.

Awards:

All Gold Bracket Champions and Finalist will receive NCS Championship Rings
If there are multiple brackets, then all Silver Bracket Champions and Finalist will receive NCS Medals or Rings
All Brackets receive team Championship Banners
CHAMPIONS RECEIVE A PAID BERTH (Paid Entry Fee) TO THE NATTY TEXAS STYLE WORLD SERIES IN JUNE 2025!

How do I submit a schedule request?

Any schedule request MUST be submitted using the schedule request tab on the event menu. We will take schedule request until the Friday evening one week prior to the event. You can block out a 4 hour block on Friday or Saturday that you cannot play only! Schedule request that are more restrictive than a 4 hour "no play" block will be difficult to accommodate but we will do our best!

Example of a schedule request we will accept: We cannot play between 10 AM and 2 PM on Saturday.

Example of a schedule request that we will have trouble accommodating: We cannot play before 4 PM.

Teams must be prepared to play from Friday evening until Sunday evening, we will do our best to accommodate request. Please Note: We ONLY play on Friday's if absolutely needed, it is not our intention to play on Fridays. 

How Does the Wait List Work?
Teams get "Wait Listed" when they Register but do not pay the Entry Fee/Gate, and the tournament sells out of available slots for their age group. I get a lot of emails, phone calls and text messages saying "hey, why did you put me on the wait list." The Wait List is an automated process. When age group sells out, all of the teams that have not paid the Entry Fee/Gate Fee, are automatically shifted to the Wait List. Thus, it is incumbent on the teams to both register and pay for tournaments they truly plan to attend. (A lot of teams register for multiple tournaments on the same weekend, and the only way for us to know if a team is going to play with us is if they pay with us.) Teams will NOT be scheduled unless they have fully secured entry to the tournament (registration and payment).

When do schedules post?

Typically we post schedules on the TUESDAY preceding the tournament weekend. (We do reserve the right to post on Wednesday's during the Fall Tournament Season when "Special Requests" are exceedingly high.) 

Pool Play Time Limits are:

7U/8U: 1hr 15min
9U-12U: 1hr 30min
13U-18U: 1hr 30min

Bracket Play Time Limits are:

7U/8U: 1hr 15min
9U-12U: 1hr 30min
13U-18U: 1hr 45min

Can we bring outside food and coolers?
Yes, participants and fans are allowed to bring outside food and coolers excluding alcohol. HOWEVER, NO GLASS CONTAINERS.

Can we bring our pets or comfort animals to the tournament?

Yes, but strict adherence to Town of Flower Mound Leash Laws and Cleaning Up after your pet. (Please consider weather conditions, and please consider leaving your pet at home. Please do NOT bring any aggressive pets to the ballfields.)

When are our rosters locked and what do I do if a parents forgets/neglects to sign the waiver prior to the cutoff?
All rosters are locked on the Friday evening prior to the event. All players must be listed on the public view teams page by the cutoff. Players that do not have signed waivers by the cutoff are not eligible to play! 

Where will we play? 
Bakersfield Park: 1201 Duncan Lane, Flower Mound, TX 75028
Wagon Wheel Park (1), fields 1-5: click on fields link
Wagon Wheel Park (2), field 6: click on fields link

Behavior at the events
KC&BO has a Zero Tolerance Policy towards disrespectful and adverse behavior. Any fan, parent, player or coach will be ejected from the event, for the duration of the event for adverse behavior towards a tournament official or umpire. (See below for more information.)

SPORTSMANSHIP

Each Head Coach is responsible for the sportsmanship of his entire team, both players and parents and also his assistant coaches (and fans). Please always make sure to demonstrate GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP so that these young athletes see a good example presented to them. Remember, only Head Coaches talk with the umpires regarding questions, etc. (The two Head Coaches and the two Umpires only, no assistant coaches.) Assistant coaches must refrain from this and allow the Head Coach and the Umpire to work through any issues that may arise. KEEP CALM & BASEBALL ON!

BEHAVIOR AT EVENTS

KC&BO has a Zero Tolerance Policy towards disrespectful and adverse behavior. Any fan, parent, player or coach will be ejected from the event for adverse behavior towards a tournament official, or umpire, or another team, or within teams, etc. Anyone ejected as a result of the zero tolerance policy must immediately leave the facility & is EJECTED for the full tournament. There is no ejected today, hang around the parking lot/facility, or come back tomorrow. (While we have some leniency with players being removed from the event, we do not have that same leniency for adults.) Behave and it’s not a problem. Remember these are GAMES played by CHILDREN. KEEP CALM & BASEBALL ON!

Tournament Payment & Refund Policy

Payment Policy

Tournament "Entry Fee" payments are due a minimum of 10 days in advance of the tournament start date. No exceptions. Registrations are not complete until the "Entry Fee" payment is received. In the event of an age group or division reaching a "waitlist", or "sellout", teams that have paid are "in" based on the order in which their payments are received. The team "Gate Fee" (if applicable) must also be paid in advance of the tournament (10-days in advance). NO TEAM WILL BE SCHEDULED WITHOUT THEIR REGISTRATION BEING 100% COMPLETE.

Weather/Rainout Policy

If games are cancelled due to weather after pool play games are completed, awards will be given to the highest seed --- pool play is important!

• If no games are started/played = FULL REFUND (minus $75 admin fee) (credit card processing fees are non-refundable)
• If one game is started/played = 50% REFUND (credit card processing fees are non-refundable)
• If both pool play games are started/played = NO REFUND
• If a team chooses, when no games have been played, they may accept a full credit (vs. full refund) towards a future tournament (no admin fee to bank a credit)

Withdraw Refund Policy

Refunds will be given to "withdrawing" teams based on the following:

• 10+ days in advance of tournament start date = FULL REFUND (credit card processing fees are non-refundable) ($75 admin fee will be deducted)
• 6-9 days in advance of tournament start date = 50% REFUND (credit card processing fees are non-refundable)
• 5 days or less = NO REFUND