Teams that do not participate in the Minnesota Softball State Championships will not be allowed to advance to nationals. There are no exceptions.

There are four stages of nationals in the USA Softball National Championship inventory.

• GOLD Nationals is our highest level of play. 16-Under and 18-Under are the only age groups in GOLD. College players are NOT allowed to play GOLD.
   
• USA Softball Nationals offer a national tournament, one for each age group, and usually require more travel. There will be teams from most every state in these tournaments. There are limited amounts of berths to these championships.
   
• USA Softball Northern Nationals are territorial nationals that offer nationals to A and B teams and are in close proximity (most sites are well within six hours of driving) to Minnesota.
   
• USA Softball Regional Nationals (Starting in 2018) are regional nationals that offer nationals to 8-Under teams as well as C teams that are 10-Under, 12-Under, and 14-Under.
   
• Monsta Championships are championship tournaments hosted at various sites throughout the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

GOLD is the highest level of play in girls' fast pitch softball. There are a very limited amount of berths in GOLD.

• 64 teams will qualify for the 18-Under GOLD National Championship.
• 48 teams will qualify for the 16-Under GOLD National Championship.
• These berths may be earned at Regional Championships held early in the Summer season.

The JO Cup is a by invitation only National Invitational Tournament that features the best 32 club teams in the country.

USA Softball National Championships are national tournaments that have a limited amount of berths and range in size from 40-180 teams depending on the age group.

• USA Softball Minnesota has four (4) berths for each age group based on team registrations.
• USA Softball Minnesota teams may participate in Region 8 Championships which has two (2) berths per age group. Minnesota and Wisconsin will host one (1) set of berths at each site.
• USA Softball Minnesota teams may participate in National Qualifiers (one in each region) which has one (1) berth. The Region 8 National Qualifier is held in Sioux Falls, SD on Father's Day Weekend.
• These berths are typically earned at tournaments prior to the state tournament due to a short playing season and USA Softball Code.

Northern National Championships are territorial national tournaments that occur within in our territory and usually are less than a ten (10) hour drive.

• USA Softball Minnesota has an unlimited amount of these berths.
• Your team may qualify at selected Invitational Tournaments and/or State.

Northern Regional Championships are territorial national tournaments that occur within in our territory and usually are less than a six (6) hour drive.

• USA Softball Minnesota has an unlimited amount of these berths.
• Your team may qualify at selected Invitational Tournaments and/or State.