Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series
Premier Youth Softball National Championship
The Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series (AFCS) is the premier national championship in youth softball, emulating NCAA Softball’s postseason format to help prepare our athletes for the next level. The top youth teams in the country compete in the AFCS with a National Champion crowned at each age division. Host cities for the AFCS rotate each year.
HOW TO QUALIFY
The AFCS has a limited number of berths in each age division. Each season, teams must earn a berth to the AFCS through qualifiers and points from our Alliance Rating System.
Member leagues are awarded a specific number of AFCS berths at the beginning of each season based on League membership numbers and historical attendance. Member Leagues then assign those AFCS berths to tournaments in their regions. The Alliance Fastpitch also awards its national events, including the Super Cup Qualifiers, with AFCS berths. A certain number of ‘national berths’ in each age division will be held by the Alliance Fastpitch to award to growing territories.
Check your league schedule (search “QUALIFIER” under “event types”) to see which tournaments in your region have AFCS berths for your age division.
TOURNAMENT SEEDING
Given the AFCS format, all qualifying teams are “seeded” for the national tournament, just like in college softball. The AFCS Seeding Committee reviews each team’s resume and then places the top 32 teams in Regionals for 14U-18U divisions.
Your team earns points through our Alliance Rating System all season to help with your AFCS seeding as well. Check your league schedule (search “POINTS” under “event types”) to see which tournaments in your region award points based on your game results. If you regularly compete in a tournament that is not listed on your League Schedule, click here to have that tournament added to our League Schedules.
TIERS
All teams will begin the AFCS in the Regional Bracket. Based on your performance in Regionals, teams will be seeded into a Tiered Super Regional Bracket. This Tiered System allows all teams to continue to compete for a National Championship in a balanced format. Teams who did not receive a top 32 seed have the opportunity to play their way into Tier I. Teams who did not play well in Regionals have an opportunity to reset and compete for a National Championship in Tier II or Tier III.
2024 AFCS INFO
Teams participating in the 2024 AFCS, click below for detailed information (event host info, facilities, lodging, roster info, etc.)
2024 AFCS Schedule & Locations
18U & 16U AFCS | Westfield & Kokomo, IN | July 21-28, 2024 - Registration & More Info
14U & 12U AFCS | Chino Hills, Riverside & Lake Elsinore, CA | July 28 - Aug. 4, 2024 - Registration & More Info
Sunday, July 21st - Player's Experience & All-Star Game
Player's Experience: 1:30 - 4:00 PM
Alliance All-Star Game Presented by EvoShield: 5:00 PM
Kokomo HS Stadium: 2501 S Berkley Rd, Kokomo, IN 46902
| Age | Location | Day 0 | Games Start | Games End | Camps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18U & 16U | Westfield & Kokomo, IN | Sunday, July 21 | Monday, July 22 | Sunday, July 28 | Sunday, July 21 |
| 14U WEST | Chino Hills & Riverside, CA | Sunday, July 28 | Monday, July 29 | Sunday, August 4 | |
| 12U WEST | Lake Elsinore & Perris, CA | Sunday, July 28 | Monday, July 29 | Sunday, August 4 | |
| 10U WEST | West Covina & Riverside, CA | Sunday, July 28 | Monday, July 29 | Sunday, August 4 |
Helpful Links
18U/16U AFCS - Westfield & Kokomo
EventBeacon App (for college coaches) - AFCS rosters & schedules
Grand Park Map (for college coaches)
Grand Park Map (general public)
Field directions (Championship Park, Grand Park, Noblesville Youth)
Day 0 Itinerary (camps, team check-in, Player's Experience, All-Star Game)
Running/Throwing Skills Challenge Sign Ups
Coach Fungo Skills challenge Sign Ups
14U/12U AFCS - Chino Hills, Riverside & Lake Elsinore, CA
Event format & schedule
Opening Day (Day 0):
- College Camps (14u, 16u, & 18u)
- Team Check-in & Coaches Meeting
- Player's Experience
- Skills Challenges
- Home Run Derby
- All-Star Game (18U/16U location)
AFCS Regionals (Day 1 & 2):
- 16 Seeded Brackets
- Double Elimination Format
- Top 2 finishing teams from each Regional move to Tier I Super Regional
- 3rd and 4th place teams from each Regional move to Tier II Super Regional
- Remaining places move to Tier III Super Regional
- All teams will advance to a Super Regional Bracket (Tier I, Tier II, & Tier III)
AFCS Super Regional (Day 3 & 4):
- 8 Brackets -- 4 teams per Super Regional Bracket
- Double elimination bracket
- Winner from each Super Regional advances to their respective Tier's Elite 8
AFCS Elite 8 (Day 5 & 6):
- 2 Brackets - 4 Teams per bracket determined by overall seeds
- Double Elimination Format
- Winner of each bracket advances to the AFCS National Championship Series
AFCS National Championship Series:
- Final 2 teams in each age division and Tier
- Best 2 out of 3 Series Format
Qualified Teams
18U
16U
14U
12U
Colleges That have attended the AFCS
