The 2023 JUCO Kickoff Classic and Showcase will be held in Clearwater Florida on January 27 - 29, 2023. This will be the 14th Anniversary of this very successful Junior College showcase tournament. The event is hosted and managed by Fastpitch Headquarters. The managing personnel of our organization have over 4 decades of experience in running reputable tournaments and recruiting events. Our goal is to make the JUCO Kickoff Classic a great start to your team's season.

This tournament will be held at Eddie C. Moore Park in Clearwater, Florida, only 20 minutes from Tampa International Airport or 10 minutes from the Clearwater/St Petersburg International Airport.
 
This Kickoff Tournament will attract JUCO teams from across Florida and from around the country. This event is designed specifically for all divisions of JUCO teams. The format is totally customizable. Teams can select the number of games they want to play, and what days they want to play.
 
The entry fee is $125 per game (minimum 2 games), with the total fee based on the number of games requested. We are determined to make this event the best JUCO Kickoff event in the country. Just let us know what you want to play.

TOURNAMENT FEATURES:

As college coaches submit RSVPs, see the List of Recruiting College Coaches for the updates.

Game schedule has been completed and is posted on this site. Click on Tournament Game Schedule.

If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to call Patti Shotwell at 954-540-7850 (cell) or Linda Derk at 561-632-0511 (cell). You can also email Patti at fastpitchheadquarters@gmail.com.

1. Check In - All teams must check-in at the Tournament Desk prior to their first game.

2. Game Balls -Teams must provide game balls for all of their games. Please see the Ball Management System in the Covid-19 Protocols and Guidelines.

3. During the game, each team MUST have someone retrieve game balls that are hit out of play. See Game Ball Management System in the Covid-19 Protocols and Guidelines.

4. Lineup Cards - You must submit a lineup card at the beginning of the game to the plate umpire and to the other team.

5. Dugouts - The team listed first on the schedule will have the 1st base dugout. You will not have to change dugouts if you have back-to-back games. Please clean up your dugout when you leave so it is ready for the next team. Please do not leave any trash or cups.

6. Home Team - Home team will be determined by coin toss at the beginning of the game.

7. The designated home team will need to have a player or fan operate the scoreboard during the game, if necessary.

8. Bat List - All teams MUST have the most current Bat List available for the Umpire in Chief at the beginning of the tournament. All bats are to be presented at Initial Bat Check. The UIC will pressure check bats and certify them for the day. Please make sure that your bat list is completed prior to seeing the UIC. The most current Bat List will be advised prior to the tournament. Each day upon arrival at park, the Daily Bat Check will be performed.

9. Bat Check - Upon entering your dugout prior to your game, please immediately place ALL bats outside the dugout for Game Bat Check by umpires.

10. Coolers - Tournament will NOT provide coolers during this event due to Covid-19 Protocols and Guidelines. Teams should bring their own coolers with bottled waters. No spigot coolers allowed. No spectator coolers allowed.

11. Base coaches MUST wear helmets. This is a Florida JUCO rule and ALL teams MUST follow this rule.

12. Injury Ice - Tournament Desk will have ice available for injuries and icing after games. Teams should bring their own plastic bags. The tournament does not provide trainers on site.

13. FPAlerts - All teams must sign up for the FREE FPAlerts text messaging service.

14. Cancellation Policy - Once you are accepted in the tournament, and the game schedule has been finalized, if you cancel you will have a 100% cancellation fee.

15. Forfeits - Forfeits are not allowed. Teams should be prepared to play all games scheduled. If you forfeit a game, you will be charged a fee not to exceed $200 in order to cover the game fee for the other team and any costs incurred.

16. The tournament reserves the right to remove any individual (player, fan or coach) or team from competition at any time due to conduct considered detrimental or harmful to the ideals or spirit of the tournament, its staff, volunteers, officials, fans, or other participants.

17. Hotel Requirement - All out of area teams are required to stay at one of our Tournament Approved Hotels for their hotel reservations. If you are using alternative housing, you will be required to pay a housing fee. Teams will receive a Housing Agreement with more information when they submit their entry.

18. Player Profiles - each team should designate one person on their staff to submit the player profile information for all players. We will provide you with the database template to submit. You will receive additional information regarding this requirement with the deadlines for compliance. Teams are encouraged to provide as much information about players as possible for the use of college recruiters.

19. When your game is complete, team must exit dugout immediately and hold any post game discussions off the field. If you have a back to back game, you must clear the infield area so maintenance staff can prep field for next game.

20. Park Rules: Park is a non-smoking facility. No pets. No alcoholic beverages.

21. Gate Fee: The gate fee for spectators is $10 per day (over 10 years of age). There is no gate fee for team personnel. All spectators must enter and exit park at main entrance at each complex. At complex 1, only team members, recruiters and tournament staff are allowed to use the team entrance.

22. Team Bus Parking - Team buses must park in designated areas and buses are not allowed to enter some areas of the parking lots. More information on this will be provided prior to event.

23. Rain Outs - We will do whatever we can, within reason, to play all of the games in the tournament. This could include shortening the games, changing your opponent, changing your time/day/field, or cancelling games. If weather disrupts the event, we will not refund lost games.

24. Refunds (This is from our Competition Agreement and is our stated policy) – No refunds will be made to any team that withdraws after game schedule is finalized. No refunds (whole or partial) will be given for weather disruptions. Since this is an important showcase opportunity for your players, all efforts will be made to play all or most games. At tournament discretion, a partial future credit may be given if entirety, or most, of the tournament is rained out. Teams need to be able to play if/when games are rescheduled anytime during the tournament from Fri - Sun.

25. Covid-19 Protocols and Guidelines - We will address any Covid-19 issues as we get closer to the event.

GPS Address for Park:

Via I-75 From the South:

Via I-75 From the North:

Via I-4 From the East:

ALL team coaches MUST register their email addresses and their cell phone numbers in order to receive text/email communications during the tournament. We will not be able to make individual phone calls when we have last minute or late game changes due to weather or team cancellation. We will only be using this service. We highly encourage all teams to have their players and their parents register for this service as it will facilitate quick communications.

To sign up:

Go to http://fastpitch.ealert.com click on "Signup" in the top menu. Set up your account with an email address and a password. On the next page, select "Add Cell or Email". You can subscribe either email addresses or cell numbers. If your cell phone carrier is listed then enter it using the Cell/SMS button, but if your cell phone carrier is not listed, you will need to enter your cell phone as an email address (see information below on how to convert your cell number to an email address). After entering your email or cell number, you need to open the Subscription Category of "College Tournaments" by clicking it to open and select "College Tournament (FL) - JUCO Kickoff Classic" listed. You can also select any other groups from any category that you want to receive alerts or have previous subscribed to. You can register as many email addresses and cell phone numbers as you want.

Once you register an email address or cell number, you will receive a confirmation text message or email right away with a verification code. Click on Modify Alerts on the Account Management page to enter the verification code and you are all set up. If you do not receive the confirmation message within a few minutes, you did not enter your email or cell number properly so check them for accuracy and try again.

If you receive text messages only on your phone, we highly recommend that you subscribe your cell phone number in addition to your email address. You need to be able to receive these communications while away from your home computer. But if you receive emails on your phone then either or both addresses are good.

To unsubscribe:

If you no longer want to receive FPAlert texts or emails, you can easily unsubscribe by going to http://fastpitch.ealert.com, login to your account and cancel your subscriptions. Or when you receive a text or email, you can opt-out to no longer receive alerts.

If you have any problems or questions, please contact Patti Shotwell at 954-540-7850.

For a print-ready pdf of the instructions, go to FPAlerts Instructions.