Age / Divisions / Rosters

NCS Fastpitch seasons run annually from the second Tuesday in August through the second Monday in August of the following year. Please confirm that you are registering and completing background checks for the correct season, as refunds are not issued for incorrect season selections.


Age Qualifications for NCS Fastpitch


  • Age Calculator: Be sure to select the correct season before determining player eligibility.
  • The NCS Fastpitch birthdate cutoff for each season is September 1.
  • When registering a team, determine the age of the oldest player on the roster as of August 31 of the current year.
  • That player’s age determines the appropriate age division for the entire team.
    • Example: If the oldest player on your roster is 12 on August 31, the team may compete in 12U for the full season.
    • If the oldest player is 13 on or before August 31, the team must either remove that player(s) from the roster or compete in the 14U division for the full season.
  • This eligibility standard applies to all divisions from 6U through 18U. If a player exceeds the age limit for the registered division as of August 31, that player is not eligible for that division unless the full roster is moved to the older age group.


Divisions


NCS Fastpitch offers competition in the following divisions: A, B, C, and C-REC (league-style teams).


  • Because it is understood that the 6U & 8U divisions do not play by the standard set of playing rules, including pitching, catching & base stealing, NCS has determined these divisions are more of a developmental & instructional program.
    • Beginning in the 2027 season, all NCS 6U & 8U teams will be classified as “C” only.  While the option to register in our database as “A/B/C/C-REC will still exist, NCS will periodically re-classify all 6U & 8U teams as Class C ONLY.  Tournaments will either be classified as “C” or “Open”, however, directors are instructed to only operate under the “C” division format.
      • To better help the teams we are asking our directors to split their brackets when at least 10 teams are entered into an event.  This will allow the stronger 6U & 8U teams to play in one division and the less experienced teams to play against similar competitions.
      • C-REC teams will be determined during the season by our C-REC director for championship event.
  • Class C and C-REC events permit only players ranked C or C-REC, including any players added through the Guest Player option. No higher-ranked players are allowed. No exceptions.
  • Class C-REC events permit only C-REC teams and C-REC players.


Reclassification


  • Team reclassification occurs on the second Monday of each month during the season, beginning in October and continuing through May. Teams should plan schedules accordingly.
  • Teams registered as Class C may be moved to a higher division under either of the following conditions:
    • The team has played at least 15 total NCS games and has a winning percentage of .750 or higher.
    • An NCS Tournament Director recommends reclassification before that threshold is reached.
    • C-REC teams will be moved to Class C once per month from October through May if they reach a winning percentage of .600 or higher.
  • Movement from Class C to C-REC requires the coach to submit the request and the team to have a winning percentage below .250.


Playing Up in Age Groups


Any player or team seeking to play up must receive the tournament director’s approval:


  • A team or player ranked as Class A may request to play up two age levels ONLY in a lower classification.
  • A team or player ranked as Class B may request to play up to one age level ONLY in a lower classification.
    • Exception: A 9U team ranked Class B may not play in a 10U Class C event, because that is considered its current age group. To be eligible, the team must compete in a 12U Class C event.
  • The tournament director has full authority over these decisions, and all decisions are final. Other NCS directors and officials will not overrule the tournament director’s decision.


Rosters


  • Eligible players are tracked through dated and time-stamped NCS online rosters. Paper rosters are not accepted.
  • If a player’s eligibility is protested, a copy of the birth certificate must be provided to support the protest.
    • If the protest is upheld before the first pitch of the third inning, the ruling is an illegal player, the game is forfeited 7-0, and the player is removed from the remainder of the event.
    • If the protest is upheld after the first pitch of the third inning, the ruling is an ineligible player, the player is removed from the event, and play continues without a forfeit.
  • NCS players should not appear on two active permanent rosters at the same time. A copy of the birth certificate should be available at all events for player verification. If no birth certificate is available during a protest, the player will be removed, and all applicable rules will apply.
    • Players should be added as permanent roster members only when making a direct move to a new team.  It is the new team and the parents’ responsibility to ensure that the player is removed from the old team prior to adding her to the new team.
      • If a protest determines that a player is active on two current-season rosters, the roster with the earliest date will be considered the player’s correct roster. If the player appears on a newer roster, the player will be ruled ineligible or illegal, and all applicable rules will apply.
    • Players will be ruled illegal or ineligible if parents and coaches attempt to manipulate the system by:
      • Changing the spelling of a name
      • Adding middle names or initials
      • Changing the month, the day or the year on DOB
      • Switching parent approval
        • When any of the above occur, NCS will institute a new policy beginning with the 2027 playing season:
          • STRIKE 1: 1 offense. Parents and coaches of the team(s) will be notified that they are now subject to the Strike 1 rule.
            • The Strike 1 rule means a permanent note will be placed in the account, and a second violation will result in a Strike 2 ruling.
          • STRIKE 2: 2 offense. One or more of the parties involved in the Strike 1 ruling has committed a repeat violation.
            • As a result of Strike 2, the player will be declared ineligible for the next two events that her regular team is scheduled to play in, and she will also be ineligible to serve as a Guest Player on any other NCS team during that suspension.
          • STRIKE 3: 3 offense. NCS has determined that the parties involved in the Strike 1 and Strike 2 rulings are engaged in repeated violations, and the violating parties will remain ineligible for the remainder of the current NCS playing season.
  • The NCS player ranking system and Guest Player option are in effect under the following rules:
    • In an Open division event, teams may add up to three Guest Players regardless of ranking.
    • In a Class C-REC event, teams may add up to three Class C-REC players through the Guest Player option. No higher-ranked players are permitted.
    • In a Class C event, teams may add up to three Class C players through the Guest Player option. No higher-ranked players are permitted.
    • In a Class B event, teams may add up to three players through the Guest Player option. Those players may be any combination of Class B and Class C players.
    • In a Class A / Open event, teams may add up to three players through the Guest Player option. Those players may be any combination of Class A, Class B, and Class C players.
  • Players added through the Guest Player system are automatically removed from Guest Player status at the end of the event and are not reclassified.
  • Players added directly to a higher-ranked roster without using the Guest Player option will be permanently reclassified to the higher division. The Guest Player option should be used for temporary participation.
  • Player rankings in other organizations do not apply. Only NCS criteria are used.
  • NCS Fastpitch does not use grade exceptions.