Page 174 - (FINAL!) UPDATED 13.0) 2020-2021 HANDBOOK - SEPTEMBER 2020 EDITION_Neat

24. SOFTBALL – DIVISION I
Section 1. Tournament Dates
The NJCAA Softball Tournament will finish on the Saturday prior to Memorial Day.
May 25-29, 2021 at Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex; Yuma, AZ
May 24-28, 2022 at Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex; Yuma, AZ
May 23-27, 2023 at Choccolocco Park; Oxford, AL
Section 2. Tournament Host Pre-Tournament Responsibilities
A. Pre-Tournament information shall be sent out by April 1, 2021 by the Tournament Director to each coach.
B. All colleges must qualify in compliance with Article XII of the NJCAA bylaws.
C. The Tournament Host shall notify the participating teams of time schedules, hotel assignments, confirmed room rates, team host
information and other pertinent materials including a coaches and officials’ pre-tournament meeting.
D. The Tournament Host shall be responsible for the promotion, advertising and ticket sales of the contest. They shall secure the
playing site and make all the arrangements for the handling of the spectators.
Section 3. Qualification of Teams for Competition
A. At least 25% of the overall schedule for Division I teams must be against Division I opponents.
B. Districts:

2020-2021 NJCAA DI SOFTBALL DISTRICTS

DISTRICT REGION(S) DISTRICT REGION(S) DISTRICT REGION(S) DISTRICT REGION(S)
Appalachian 7 Central 24 Mid-Atlantic 10, 15, 20, 22B Mid-South A 14A

Mid-South B 14B Midwest 11, 16 Plains 6, 9 Rocky Mountain 18

South 22A South Atlantic A 8A South Atlantic B 8B South Central 2, 23

Southeast 17 Southwest A 5W Southwest B 5N West 1

C. Regional Directors/Coaches shall send a roster and formal team photo with players in team uniforms and a visible number either the
size of 5x7 or 8x10 to the National Tournament Director by the Monday prior to the start of the National Tournament, May 16, 2021.
D. District and Region play must be completed on or before May 16, 2021 TBD due to COVID-19
E. District Tournaments must be at least double elimination.
F. District Directors shall be responsible for the following:
1. Meet with Region Director for all regions involved in the District Playoff to determine:
i. Playoff format, dates, sites and financial responsibilities.
ii. Submit the completed and signed District Playoff Championship Contract to the Division I Softball Chair at the NJCAA
Annual Meeting.
2. Notify National Tournament Director and National Office when district results of that tournament are known.
G. Substitution Process
1. In the event there is not a representative from a district, a runner-up from another district will be selected to fill the vacancy
using a substitution order. When a team accepts or declines the opportunity to compete in the NJCAA Tournament through the
substitution procedure, that district drops to the end of the substitution order and the next district moves up accordingly.
2. The substitution order is as follows: District SC, S, E, Pla, SA-B, RM, SE, SW-A, SA-A, App, MS-A, Cen, MS-B, MW, W, MA.
3. All postseason tournament play shall follow the NJCAA rules with the exceptions noted in 5A.
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H. The following is the 2021 National Tournament 1 round pairings. The tournament format will be double elimination:

#1 Seed #3 Seed
Game 1 Game 5
#16 Seed #14 Seed
#8 Seed #6 Seed
Game 2 Game 6
#9 Seed #11 Seed
#5 Seed #7 Seed
Game 3 Game 7
#12 Seed #10 Seed
#4 Seed #2 Seed
Game 4 Game 8
#13 Seed #15 Seed

Section 4. Tournament Seeding
A. The seeding committee will consist of the NJCAA DI Softball Committee. The committee will seed all sixteen teams on Sunday,
May 17, 2021 on a conference call. TBD due to COVID-19
B. All teams will be seeded and (at large if necessary) teams will be chosen by the following criteria:
1. Final Poll results (regular season).
2. Results of Region/District playoffs.
3. Strength of Schedule (to include strength of schedule when teams have traveled outside their Region as well as contests
played at neutral sites).