East Texas State Open

-RKS TOURNAMENTS-

We're committed to promoting the game of softball!

We promote the game and the players through our Championship Events by providing teams and their supporters with high-quality venues and well-managed tournaments.

Teams compete with the best amateur softball clubs in the nation.

Team Entry Fee - $200

Entry Fee Payment - Please list Team Name and Age Group

CashApp - $ksmithson18

Venmo - @Kimberly-Smithson

PayPal - kimsmithson18@gmail.com

Event Info

Colleges On-Site

4 Game Guarantee - 2 Pool to Double Elimination

Pool games will seed bracket

No If Game

Pay At The Plate - $50 per game

All -RKS Tournaments- are first pay/first play. Your entry into an event is not complete until you have paid the entry fee.

Divisions may sell out prior to the payment deadline.

The number of available spots in a division may fluctuate depending on the needs of all divisions that share the same field size.

Keep an eye on the schedule until Thursday evening prior to the event. Any schedule changes will be communicated via email on the team account.

Daily Gate Fee

$10 per person / 12 & under free

3 coaches and all players get in for free.

Rules 

We play exclusively by the rules listed on the www.playncs.com website.

Teams are responsible for game balls.

Pool games will not start a new inning with less than 5 minutes.

Game Times: 75 mins

(16U-18U) finish inning, no run limit, must get 3 outs

Run Rules = 12 after 3, 10 after 4, 8 after 5

ITB - inning starts with one out and last batted out on 2B

Protests are $100. Win your protest and you will get your money back.

Awards 

All first-place teams will receive Championship Rings. (MAX 12)

All second-place teams will receive Finalist Rings. (MAX 12)

Championship and Finalist Banners

MVP Awards

How do I submit a schedule request? 

Please use the tab on the event info to submit a schedule request.

We will do our best to accommodate requests.

Can we bring outside food and coolers?

No outside food or drinks are allowed.

1 team cooler is allowed.

Can we bring our pets?

PLEASE LEAVE YOUR PETS AT HOME! Only Registered Service Animals will be permitted.

When are our rosters locked and what do I do if a parent forgets/neglects to sign the waiver prior to the cutoff?

All rosters are locked on the Friday evening prior to the event at 11:59 pm.

All players must be listed on the public view teams page by the cutoff.

Players that do not have signed waivers by the cutoff will not appear on the public view teams page and will not be eligible to play!

Behavior at the events

-RKS Tournaments- 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 anyone at the tournament.

-RKS Tournaments- reserves the right to keep any person from entering the property due to disrespectful and adverse behavior. 

Speakers are allowed. Please be respectful of the other teams that are participating. 

Zero tolerance for vulgar language.

Where will we play?

Grady T. Wallace Park

William Karrh Memorial Park

Refunds:

Once the schedule has been released, there will be NO REFUNDS!

If you withdraw from an event after you have paid and before the schedule is released, you may transfer to another -RKS Tournaments- event for no additional fees, or if you wish to withdraw completely, you will accrue a refund processing fee of $50.

Paid teams in divisions that do not make will receive a 100% refund.

If an event is canceled due to weather, teams will be eligible for the following refund:

-0- games started 100% refund

-1- game started 50% refund

-2- games started no refund

Do I need team insurance?

Yes, if you did not buy your policy through National Championship Sports you must add NCS (entity below) as an additionally insured. You can do this free of charge by contacting your insurance provider. You must upload your insurance to your team profile before the event.

National Championship Sports

2011 East Lamar Blvd

Suite 120

Arlington, Texas 76006

All coaches that will be inside the dugout or on the field must be background checked through NCS.

-RKS Tournaments- Robert Smithson

903-701-2696 rkstournaments@gmail.com

*****UPDATES TO RULES FOR 2024 SEASON*****

• the pitcher's pivot foot could become airborne with one push from the pitcher's plate. However, pitchers would not be allowed to replant their pivot foot, resulting in pushing off from a second point and the pitcher being farther away from the pitcher's plate. (Located in Definitions) (9.4, 4) 

• With an in-game pitching change, the new pitcher must pitch to 3 batters or until the end of the inning/game, whichever comes first. Injury to the pitcher, at the discretion of the umpire, may override this rule. (6.5, 2, d) 

 • NCS will implement a $100 protest fee for fastpitch, at the discretion of the tournament director. (5.2) 

• All protests for an "illegal player" must be presented in real-time and carry a $100 protest fee! 

• Illegal players will be ejected from the game, along with the head coach, and will be issued a 7-0 forfeit. The illegal player may not return to the event. (Located in Definitions) (4.16 (h) (i) 

? 6.5, 5 (Ineligible players), instead of illegal players have changed…… 

? 6.6 Re-Entry 

• Ineligible players will be removed from the game and play continues. (Located in Definitions) Please study the ineligible player section of the rulebook, as we changed illegal in places to reflect "ineligible" and the penalties have been changed in places to "remove", rather than "eject" players. NCS is placing a heavier weight on illegal players with ejection from event and 7-0 forfeit for the teams.

• Any tacky products may only be used by the offense. No defensive player will be allowed to have a tacky substance in play. (9.13, 1) 

• If in the umpire’s judgment, the throw takes the fielder into contact with the runner, it is not considered obstruction and the play continues. (8.10 Defensive Obstruction) 

• On DECK BATTER: All on-deck batters will occupy the circle behind the batter, regardless of dugout for safety. (Definitions) 

Rosters MUST be online. NO EXCEPTIONS! Players may appear on the coach's side and not public view, and all players will have a timestamp from when they were added to the roster.

Failure to have players listed online could cause your team to be protested, at which point any and all players not listed will become ineligible