2026 Northern NAFA Nationals
2026 NAFA Nationals
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How to Qualify for NAFA Nationals
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.*
2) Top four finishing teams at each age group in all NAFA Illinois and Wisconsin fall and spring tournaments.
3) All participating teams from the NAFA College Exposure tournaments in IL and WI receive berths to attend NAFA Nationals.
4) State, Regional, and National Directors may provide "At Large" berths for 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.
Booking Your Hotel Stay
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 The Larry - Sioux Falls-Brandon, SD
Click HERE for the host hotels for Midwest NAFA Nationals - Quad Cites-Moline
Click HERE for the host hotels for Northern NAFA Nationals 8U - Lexington
Click HERE for the host hotels for Northern NAFA Nationals 10U - Cottage Grove
Click HERE for the host hotels for Northern NAFA Nationals 12U - Eagan/West St. Paul
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 - Champlin Park
Click HERE for the host hotels for Northern NAFA Nationals 18U - Eden Prairie/Chaska
NAFA Team Registration
Teams need to be registered to participate in NAFA sanctioned events.
1) Complete the online registration (Online NAFA Team Registration).
Upon receipt of payment and processing, NAFA Team Registration numbers will be posted under the NAFA Teams section of the website.
NAFA Lexington MN 8U National Tournament 2026
Dates: July 17-July 19, 2026;
Format: 4-game guarantee, 36 teams. Machine pitch (Blue Flame).
Bracket play: Gold, Silver, Bronze
Fields: Lexington Memorial Park, Sunrise Park
8U Parade of Teams: Saturday, July 18 at 1 p.m.
Gift Exchange: first pool play opponent ($10-12 max per bag)
Pin Trading: optional
Online Registration:
Online Registration for the 8U Northern NAFA Nationals
We are excited to host the 8U Nationals in Circle Pines/Lexington!
Fee: $400 includes $100 gate fee
2025 8U Gold Champions: Eau Claire Fury
Tournament Information
8 U Hotel Information
Tournament Contacts
Pat Mahr
8U Tournament Director
Phone: 651-357-2742
Field Locations
Lexington Memorial Park
9100 Hamline Ave NE, Circle Pines, MN 55014
Sunrise Park
6918 Sunrise Dr, Circle Pines, MN 55014
NAFA Northern Nationals 10U Tournament 2026 (Cottage Grove, MN)
Dates: July 16-19, 2026; games begin at 8 a.m. on Thursday
Format: 5-game guarantee, three pool games into double elimination brackets. All teams are guaranteed to play into Saturday. Single umpire until final rounds on Sunday; two-man for trophy games.
Fields: Lamar Park 1-4, Grey Cloud Elementary Fields 1-5, Cottage Grove Middle School 2-4
Parade: Thursday, July 16 at 6 p.m. at East Ridge High School
Skills Competition: Friday, July 17, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Cottage Grove Middle School
Awards: Top four teams in each bracket; team and individual.
Tournament Apparel: NAFA Northern Nationals T-shirts are on sale all tournament at both Lamar and Grey Cloud locations
Online Registration:
Online Registration for the 2026 10U Northern Nationals
We are excited to host the 10U Nationals in Cottage Grove!
Teams must be registered with NAFA for the 2026 season, and must qualify for the tournament before registering for Northern Nationals.
Fee: $950 includes $200 gate fee
2025 10U Platinum Champions: Forest Lake Rangers
Tournament Information
10 U Hotel Information
Tournament Contacts
Tournament Directors
Kyle Field
Riley Krenz
Field Maps
Cottage Grove Middle School Fields 2-4
Field 3 is located in between 2 and 4
NAFA Northern Nationals 12U Tournament 2026 (Eagan-West St. Paul, MN)
Dates: July 16-19, 2026
Format: 5-game guarantee, three pool games into double elimination brackets. All teams are guaranteed to play into Saturday. Single umpire for all pool play games; two-man for all bracket games
Max teams: 128
Fields: Northview Park 1-8, Lexington-Diffley Fields 1-6 in Eagan, Harmon Park Fields 1-4 in West St. Paul.
Parade: Thursday, July 16 at Eagan Community Center
Skills Competition: Friday, July 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Northview Park - JV Field on top of the hill
Awards: Top four teams in each bracket; team and individuals
Online Registration:
Online Registration for the 12U Northern NAFA Nationals
We are excited to host the 12U Nationals in Eagan and West St. Paul!
Teams must be registered with NAFA for the 2026 season, and all Tri-County and Big West Minnesota teams must qualify for the tournament before registering for Northern Nationals.
Fee: $1,025 includes $200 gate fee
2025 12U Platinum Champions: South Dakota Players Black
Tournament Information
12 U Hotel Information
Tournament Contacts
Tournament Directors
Eric Kraushar (Lexington-Diffley)
Jeff Husom (Northview)
Field Maps
NAFA Northern Nationals 14U Tournament 2026 (Lakeville-Prior Lake, MN)
Dates: July 23-26, 2026
Format: 5-game guarantee, three pool games into double elimination bracket play; all teams will play pool games on Thursday and Friday. Bracket play begins on Friday afternoon. All teams are guaranteed to play into Saturday.
Max Teams: 136
Fields:
The Ponds (Prior Lake)
Aronson Park (Lakeville)
Lakeville North High School Varsity and JV Fields
Prior Lake High School Varsity and JV Fields
Two-man umpire crews for all pool and bracket games depending on umpire availability. All games are seven innings or no new inning after 75 minutes.
Parade: Thursday, July 23. Prior Lake. Time 6:30 p.m.
Home Run Derby: Thursday, July 23. The Ponds in Prior Lake. Time 7-9 p.m.
Awards: Top four teams in each bracket; team and individual.
Tournament Apparel: T-shirts $20. Available onsite.
Online Registration:
Online Registration for the 14u Northern NAFA Nationals
We are excited to host the 14U Nationals in Lakeville and Prior Lake!
Teams must be registered with NAFA for the 2026 season.
Fee: $1,075 includes $200 gate fee
2025 14U Platinum Champions: Stateline Fury Marszalec
Tournament Information
2025 Northern Nationals Parade Registration
All teams wishing to participate in the parade MUST register by July 7
14 U Hotel Information
Tournament Contacts
Tournament Directors
Kyle Field (Lakeville)
Riley Krenz (Prior Lake)
Field Maps
Prior Lake High School
Varsity and JV Fields
Lakeville North High School
Varsity and JV Fields
NAFA Northern Nationals 16U Tournament 2026 (Champlin, MN)
Dates: July 23-26, 2026
Format: 5-game guarantee, three pool games into double elimination bracket play; 80 minutes finish the inning for every game. Two umpires per game.
Max Teams: 104
All game results and brackets will be posted on Tourney Machine.
Skills competition will occur on Thursday, July 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Andrews Park.
On behalf of NAFA Softball and Champlin Park Fastpitch, we look forward to hosting your team!
Online Registration:
Online Registration for the 16u Northern NAFA Nationals
We are excited to host the 16U Nationals in Champlin!
Teams must be registered with NAFA for the 2026 season.
Fee: $1,075 includes $200 gate fee
2025 16U Platinum Champions: MN Royals
Tournament Information
16 U Hotel Information
Tournament Contacts
Jeff Husom
Tournament Director
Phone: 763-670-4544
Nate Stulc
Champlin Park Fastpitch President
Phone: 612-685-3109
Field Maps
Online Registration:
Online Registration for the 18u Northern NAFA Nationals
We are excited to host the 18U Nationals in Eden Prairie and Chaska!
Teams must be registered with NAFA for the 2026 season.
Fee: $1,075 includes $200 gate fee
2025 18U Gold Co-Champions: Falls Angels
2025 18U Gold Co-Champions: NE Echoes
NAFA Northern Nationals 18U Tournament 2026 (Eden Prairie-Chaska, MN)
Dates: July 23-26, 2026
Format: 5-game guarantee, three pool games into double elimination bracket play. All teams are guaranteed to play into Saturday. Two umpires per game. All games are no new inning after 80 minutes.
Max teams: 72
Fields:
Miller Park in Eden Prairie, Community Park in Chaska.
Home Run Derby: Thursday, July 23 at 6-8 p.m. at Miller Park
Awards: Top four teams in each bracket; team and individual.
Tournament Apparel:
Tournament Information
18 U Hotel Information
Tournament Contacts
Tournament Directors
Brian Fernette (Community Park, Chaska)
(630) 728-8646
Kyle Field (Miller Park, Eden Prairie)
(612) 978-2753