Frequently Asked Questions
General Event Questions
What is required to participate?
The SlumpBuster is open all teams and does not require a qualification. A paid registration in full, a completed online digital roster (no paper rosters), team insurance (other organization/league team insurance will work) and your team being validated for lodging as this is a Stay to Play event.
How much does the event cost?
Depending on the age division, session you want to attend, and between the 4gm or 6gm option, pricing will vary.
Sessions 1 & 3 are the more popular sessions (weekend sessions) and both offer a 4gm and 6gm option. 9u 4gm option is $1845 and 6gm option is $2045
10u – 14u 4gm option is $2045.00 and 6gm option is $2245.00
Sessions 2 & 4 is $1845.00. Session 2 & 4 are four game options only, mid-week events and do not offer a festival night.
Sessions 1 & 3 are the more popular sessions (weekend sessions) and both offer a 4gm and 6gm option. 9u 4gm option is $1845 and 6gm option is $2045
10u – 14u 4gm option is $2045.00 and 6gm option is $2245.00
Sessions 2 & 4 is $1845.00. Session 2 & 4 are four game options only, mid-week events and do not offer a festival night.
What do those fees include?
The fees include the game guarantee (minimum), 20 General admission non-guaranteed CWS tickets, a dozen baseballs, gate fees into all the parks for all players, parents and coaches, a dozen baseballs and our Festival Night (Opening Ceremonies).
do you offer early bird discounts?
There are no early bird discounts for this event.
Do you allow for partial payments (a deposit)?
No, when you have your funds available please be sure to pay in full to guarantee your spot.
What is the difference between the 4 game option and 6 game option?
Sessions 1 & 3 both offer the six-game option. The six-game option is also referred to as our Lightning Round Bracket and does require you to come in a day earlier to play the two extra games.
*Teams will be combined between D1/D2/D3 (Majors/AAA/AA) depending on our final team numbers for the 6gm option. In most cases, we will match you up with “like competition” during these two games.
*13u & 14u teams play two exhibition games on Wed, while 9u-12u teams will play two exhibition games on Thurs.
*All teams need to be prepared to play at 8am.
*These two extra games will not count toward pool play standings, but innings pitched WILL be recorded.
*Lightning Round bracket games will be reduced format (1hr 45min NO NEW INNING time limit for all ages).
*Lightning Round (6 game option) teams will merge into the same pool as all 4-Game option teams for pool play beginning Thurs for all 13u & 14u teams and on Friday, for all 9u - 12u teams.
*Teams will be combined between D1/D2/D3 (Majors/AAA/AA) depending on our final team numbers for the 6gm option. In most cases, we will match you up with “like competition” during these two games.
*13u & 14u teams play two exhibition games on Wed, while 9u-12u teams will play two exhibition games on Thurs.
*All teams need to be prepared to play at 8am.
*These two extra games will not count toward pool play standings, but innings pitched WILL be recorded.
*Lightning Round bracket games will be reduced format (1hr 45min NO NEW INNING time limit for all ages).
*Lightning Round (6 game option) teams will merge into the same pool as all 4-Game option teams for pool play beginning Thurs for all 13u & 14u teams and on Friday, for all 9u - 12u teams.
Do you combo all age divisions?
2020 will be the first year we will offer a Division I (Majors) only for pool play and bracket play (4gm option) for Session 1 & 3. 9u & 10u may vary depending on final team numbers (i.e. may combo). All pool play games will be against other Division I teams. Once pool play has ended all those teams will go to a Division I bracket which may offer a Platinum, Gold, Silver, etc. If you’re one of the best teams from your state and want to play the best and challenge teams from California, Texas, Arizona, Florida we recommend signing up for Division I.
If you sign up as a Division II or Division III team you will not have a chance to participate in the Division I bracket, even if you go undefeated in pool play. Division II and Division III teams will be combo’d for pool play and will be seeded out accordingly depending on their pool play results.
If you sign up as a Division II or Division III team you will not have a chance to participate in the Division I bracket, even if you go undefeated in pool play. Division II and Division III teams will be combo’d for pool play and will be seeded out accordingly depending on their pool play results.
How do we complete the online digital roster?
Whomever has access to your teams Triple Crown Account can log in and click on the roster tab. Add all the players names and birthdates with the parent contact information (name, number and email). Once that has been entered there is a “Send Parent Authorization” button you can click on and it will send out all the waivers to the parents for them to sign to allow their son/daughter to participate in the event. Any player not signed will not be allowed to participate.
What if we do not have team insurance?
If your team does not have team insurance you can purchase this through any third party or our website.
What is your “Stay to Play” policy?
Please be sure to review our Lodging Policy Link under Lodging Partners or refer to our FAQ on Lodging.
What does non-guaranteed CWS tickets mean?
Please see the CWS tickets FAQ questions.
Where do we check in?
|
Check in is at our Headquarter Hotel, Embassy Suites La Vista (12520 Westport Parkway, La Vista, NE 68128) in the Gatsby Room.
|
Do players need to check in?
No, only coaches, team managers or team moms can check in the team.
What HAPPENs at check in?
The person checking in will need to have a hard copy of all Birth Certificates. Also, if you team had any pre-orders, they will need to sign for your teams 20 General Admission CWS tickets that are included with your team registration. At check-in we will have all tournament merchandise for sale and players can sign one of our 10ft wood bats that we will burn during Session 3’s festival night.
What is Division I, Division II and Division III (classifications)?
Like college sports, Division I is considered our highest tier of baseball much like a Majors team. Division II is your middle tier teams or AAA and Division III is your lower tier or similar to a AA team.
What airport do we fly into?
|
Eppley Airfield. This is a small airport that most major airlines fly into. It is about 7min from downtown and easy to get in and out of during your trip.
|
When is the last game of the day and when should we schedule our flights home?
Weather permitting, all Championship games will start roughly at 1:15pm or 1:30pm depending on your age division and should be done around 3:30pm, out of the park around 4pm (again weather permitting). A lot of Session 1 teams usually stay Sunday night so they can see additional CWS games on Sunday and head out on Tuesday.
Will the event sell out?
Sessions 1 & 3 will likely sell out in each age divisions (9u-14u). 13u & 14u teams will sell out much quicker than the younger age divisions.
Does being penciled in guarantee a spot?
No, being penciled in shows us you are interested in attending. Only a paid registration in full guarantees your spot into the event.
Where / what are your bat rules?
To view our bat rules, please click here.
FACILITIES
Where will my age division play?
The SlumpBuster will be played on fields throughout the Greater Omaha and Council Bluffs, IA and surrounding areas. The majority of facilities are approximately within a 20-mile distance (north to south and east to west). All teams should be prepared to travel up to 1 hour outside of the metro area (depending on our final team numbers).
What type of fields are we playing on?
Omaha and the surrounding cities take great pride in their fields. However, this event isn’t a “field of dreams” tournament and teams should be ready to play on fields that might be lower than your standards. The field quality could be rated as above average and every field is safe.
Are we playing on turf fields, grass infields fields or skin infields?
The vast majority of fields utilized for the event are skinned infields (especially for 13u and younger).
The majority of 14u games will be scheduled for grass infields (high school like fields).
Only three turf infields are presently available to us.
The majority of 14u games will be scheduled for grass infields (high school like fields).
Only three turf infields are presently available to us.
Will the fields have portable or permanent mounds?
The majority of our facilities will have portable mounds in use for the tournament.
14u will generally have more facilities with permanent pitching mounds, however some portable mounds will also be utilized. As a reminder, no metal cleats may be used on a portable mound – molded cleats and turfs are permitted.
14u will generally have more facilities with permanent pitching mounds, however some portable mounds will also be utilized. As a reminder, no metal cleats may be used on a portable mound – molded cleats and turfs are permitted.
Can we schedule a practice time?
We DO NOT schedule any practice times prior to the event, but for teams that play in Sessions 1 or 3, we do have a 6gm option for your team to choose from.
What are the gate fees at the facilities?
Gate fees for Players, Parents and Coaches are already included in entry fee.
Are coolers allowed at the parks where we play?
Typically, a team cooler with water is allowed. Most parks do sell concessions and use that for local fundraisers and greatly appreciate your support.
Are pets allowed into the parks?
For the most part yes, if not, it is rarely enforced. All we ask is that you clean up after your pet and keep them under control.
Are the dugouts covered?
Very few fields have covered dugouts
Is there shade at the parks or do we need to bring a canopy/umbrellas?
It is a good idea to bring a canopy/umbrellas, there is not a lot of shade at the parks.
Are there water coolers in the dugouts?
No, please be sure the players bring their water to the games (typically water bottles or hydro-flasks)
Does 13u play 54/80 or 60/90?
13u will play 54/80 for this event.
LODGING
Is this a Stay to Play event? How many room nights are required?
Yes, all out-of-state teams (or teams over 100 miles within the state of Nebraska) are required to book a minimum of 24 room nights (example: 6 rooms for 4 nights or 8 rooms for 3 nights) at a partnered property, inside the Triple Crown Block of rooms we have set aside for your team, listed on our site. For more information please visit our Lodging Policy under the Partnered Property tab.
How do we book a block of rooms for our team in the Triple Crown Block at a partnered property listed on the site?
You need to call the number listed on our tournament website which is www.omahaslumpbuster.com click on the Lodging Partners tab, find the property that you want to stay at, and under the Reservations Tab in the middle section will be the contact person’s name, number and email address. Let them know you are attending the Triple Crown SlumpBuster and they will get a contract out to you for your team.
Are we allowed to book directly on the hotel website at one of your partnered properties?
No, all bookings need to go through the Triple Crown Contact person listed on our website. A direct call or email needs to be made in order to get the discounted rate. Any rooms booked directly through the website, not in the Triple Crown Block of rooms will not count towards the teams 24 required room nights.
Can we use a third party booking (hotels.com, Priceline, etc)?
No, all bookings need to be made directly with our contact person listed on the website where your team would like to stay via phone or email. If you choose to book with a third party then the team will incur a $750.00 lodging surcharge in order to participate.
Can I use my lodging/hotel points?
Personal points do not count towards the minimum 24 room nights required for teams to participate, even if you are staying at the partnered property is listed on our site.
The rooms MUST be in the Triple Crown Block of Rooms we have reserved for your teams.
Now if the team has already met the minimum room nights (24) then yes you can still use your hotel or lodging points.
The rooms MUST be in the Triple Crown Block of Rooms we have reserved for your teams.
Now if the team has already met the minimum room nights (24) then yes you can still use your hotel or lodging points.
Can I use my veteran discount/rate?
No, all bookings need to be made directly with our contact person at one of our partnered properties listed on the website where your team would like to stay via phone or email.
Now if the team has already met the minimum room nights (24) then yes you can still use your veteran discount.
Now if the team has already met the minimum room nights (24) then yes you can still use your veteran discount.
We would like to stay a partnered property on your site but it is Sold Out. When we called, they still have rooms available but at a higher rate. Can we still stay there if we are willing to pay the higher rate?
Before you book any rooms at a partnered property that is sold out, you need to call our Lodging Department (Rick Walters) at 970-672-0534 and he will communicate with our contact person and see if they are willing to extend the Triple Crown Block of rooms.
Do you guys offer a “Buy Out” if we choose to rent a house (AirBnB), camp, stay with family or stay at a non-partnered property?
Yes, if your team chooses to do something else, other than to stay with a partnered property, the team can choose to pay the $750.00 lodging surcharge fee.