We are excited to announce dates for the 2021 Midwest and Northern National events in Illinois and Minnesota. Thank you to teams that participated in 2020 -- it was one crazy year -- we are hoping for a return to more normal in 2021. 

Online registration is open for all tournaments.

Midwest (Rockford) - July 15-18, 2021
8U/10U/12U/14U/16U/18U/ 19+ age brackets

Northern
8U: Cottage Grove -- July 24-25, 2021
Max teams: 24

10U: Cottage Grove -- July 22-25, 2021
Max teams: 72

12U: Eagan -- July 22-25, 2021
Max teams: 96

14U: Prior Lake/Lakeville -- July 29-Aug. 1, 2021
Max teams: 128

16U: Champlin/Coon Rapids -- July 29-Aug. 1, 2021
Max teams: 96

18U: Eden Prairie -- July 29-Aug. 1, 2021
Max teams: 48

19+: Champlin/Lexington -- July 31-Aug. 1, 2021
Max teams: 24

NAFA National Tournament Host Hotels. We strongly encourage you set up a team block at a participating hotel as soon as possible as rooms fill fast.  Our hotel team works closely with hotels to ensure they remain in business and can accommodate the needs of each team.

NAFA has made every effort to ensure your team’s trip to attend our NAFA National tournaments are as simplified and economic as possible. We recommend teams use our online reservation tool for their housing needs. Do not contact the hotels directly.

For a list of our over 50 participating “Host” hotels choose the link below for each age bracket. Our system allows you to Select a Hotel and Create a Team block in seconds and our hotel coordinators are available to support you if you have questions or need additional rooms.

For additional support in booking your team(s) hotels contact our hotel coordinators at House My Team (844) 898-6346.

Click HERE for the host hotels for Midwest NAFA Nationals - Rockford, IL

Click HERE for the host hotels for Northern NAFA Nationals 8U & 10U - Cottage Grove

Click HERE for the host hotels for Northern NAFA Nationals 12U - Eagan

Click HERE for the host hotels for Northern NAFA Nationals 14U - Prior Lake/Lakeville

Click HERE for the host hotels for Northern NAFA Nationals 16U/19U+ - Champlin Park/Coon Rapids/Lexington

Click HERE for the host hotels for Northern NAFA Nationals 18U - Eden Prairie

8U Division:
Gold Champions: Farmington Orange
Silver Champions: Belle Plaine Tigers
Bronze Champions: STMA Blue

FINAL RESULTS

10U Division:
Gold Champions: Poplar Grove Power of Illinois
Silver Champions: Mankato Peppers Orange of Minnesota

FINAL RESULTS

14U Division:
Gold Champions: South Dakota Premier
Silver Champions: Midwest Speed 13U
Bronze Champions: Northern Ice NXT of Illinois

FINAL RESULTS

16U Division:
Gold Champion: MN Starters Smyth
Silver Champion: SE Flyers Green
Bronze Champion: AHQ Fastpitch of Illinois

FINAL RESULTS

18U Division:
Gold Champions: Rock River Stix of Wisconsin
Silver Champions: Everest Fastpitch of Wisconsin

FINAL RESULTS

The below roster is the official roster to be used at NAFA Nationals and NAFA qualifiers.

We suggest after completing, make a few extra copies to keep with your player birth certificates.

Greetings, 

2020 turned out to be an epic year in many proportions.  Our NAFA leadership team worked diligently through the many issues that were threatening to prevent us from hosting Nationals.  We accomplished what many said was impossible and would not happen hosting some of the best softball games of the year.

Our leadership met weekly with UIC’s, various community officials, tournament directors, hotel coordination team, etc. to be diligent in our approach to hosting upcoming events.

The one consistent theme we recognize is that from community to community there are many inconsistencies in how the COVID-19 approaches were handled relating to reopening.  Because of the vast divide from these communities, we have not provided a heavy hand in our approach and directives.  Instead, we have compiled and continue to update regularly, a Recommendations & Considerations document that tournament directors and community officials alike, are using to discuss hosting NAFA events.  

The Latest Recommendations & Considerations Document

We still recommend that you keep yourself up to date on the latest recommendations from the CDC on this matter as a benchmark.  If you have any questions about the recommendations that are being put forward, you can visit: https://www.coronavirus.gov/ for complete information.

We are aware that some states have modified the spring softball season causing some families and teams to decide whether they will play "Club" ball or play with their High School team.  For these 14u, 16u, and 18u teams we now know there will be minimal opportunities to qualify for our Midwest NAFA Nationals and our Northern NAFA Nationals.   To combat this challenge, our State, Regional, and National directors are prepared to provide At-Large Berths to teams that want to participate in both National Tournaments.  You can reach out to your State Director or Midwest Director to discuss any additional questions.  Who to Contact 

We will also be referencing the Recommendations & Considerations document as we continue to plan for both the Midwest NAFA Nationals and the Northern NAFA Nationals.  Any changes will be announced as we get closer to the tournaments.

We thank you for your patience and wish you all good health and safety.

Sincerely, 

NAFA Softball Leadership Team

1) Teams that place 1st and 2nd in their respective division in NAFA sanctioned events receive a berth to attend NAFA Nationals. A list of those tournaments are available on the tournaments page. 

* Some tournaments may provide additional berths beyond 1st and 2nd place.*

2a) Top four finishing teams in the Tri-County and Big West league tournaments ("A" and "B") automatically qualify (MN Teams).

2b) Top four finishing teams in the Northern IL fall NAFA league receive berths to attend NAFA Nationals.

3) All participating teams from the NAFA College Exposure tournaments receive berths to attend NAFA Nationals.

4) State, Regional, and National Directors may provide "At Large" berths to teams to attend Nationals.  Find your director.

** Receiving a berth means you have met all obligations to be able to register / qualify for nationals.  Teams are still responsible for the associated entry and gate fee.

Eric Kraushar, NAFA Minnesota State Director, a journalist in the west metro, penned a column on the NAFA experience for our Eden Prairie and Chaska host sites.

Please give it a read.

A Special Piece In The Heart