HOW ATHLETES ENTER THE NA7IVE NA7IONS PATHWAY
BASEBALL • SOFTBALL
Na7ive Na7ions connects Native baseball and softball athletes to tournaments, showcases, evaluations, select-team opportunities, and National Team pathways designed to increase competition, development, visibility, and advancement.
EVERY OPPORTUNITY HAS A PURPOSE. EVERY STEP CAN OPEN ANOTHER DOOR.
HOW THE PATHWAY WORKS
Athletes may enter the Na7ive Na7ions pathway through tournaments, showcases, evaluations, scouting, coach recommendations, or competitive performance. Not every opportunity is a National Team event. Na7ive Na7ions may also form select teams to provide athletes with additional competition, development, evaluation, and exposure.
Select Teams and National Teams serve different purposes and may have different eligibility requirements, selection standards, commitments, and levels of representation.
WHAT COACHES AND EVALUATORS CONSIDER
Coaches and evaluators consider athletic ability, position-specific skills, competitive performance, physical readiness, conditioning, preparation, teamwork, coachability, leadership, accountability, attitude, availability, communication, conduct, and the needs of the opportunity or roster.
Evaluation and selection standards may differ between showcases, select teams, and National Teams. Decisions are based on the complete athlete and the purpose of the opportunity—not statistics or talent alone.
ATHLETE AND FAMILY READINESS
National Team and select-team opportunities require commitment beyond the field. Athletes and families may be responsible for timely communication, required forms, deadlines, training expectations, scheduling, travel, lodging, documentation, and any financial responsibilities communicated for the specific opportunity.
For youth athletes, parent or guardian responsiveness, conduct, support of team expectations, and ability to manage required logistics may be considered because their actions affect the athlete and the entire team environment.
Adult athletes are responsible for meeting these expectations directly. All athletes and families must contribute to a safe, respectful, prepared, and accountable program culture.
PATHWAY OPPORTUNITIES
MULTIPLE WAYS TO ENTER. MORE THAN ONE OPPORTUNITY.
Athletes do not all follow the same sequence. Participation in one opportunity does not guarantee advancement to another, but each experience can support development, evaluation, visibility, and future consideration.
TOURNAMENTS
Na7ive Na7ions tournaments create competitive opportunities for Native baseball and softball teams while also giving athletes another setting to demonstrate their ability, preparation, teamwork, and character.
Tournament participation may contribute to athlete identification and future consideration, but it does not automatically place an athlete on a select or National Team roster.
SHOWCASES & EVALUATIONS
Showcases and evaluations provide focused opportunities for athletes to be seen by Na7ive Na7ions coaches, evaluators, and approved scouts. Athletes may be assessed through position-specific skills, game performance, physical readiness, conditioning, communication, coachability, and overall preparation.
Athletes evaluated through showcases, tournaments, scouting, or coach recommendations may be considered for future select-team or National Team opportunities. Evaluation provides consideration—not guaranteed placement on a roster.
NATIONAL TEAMS
National Teams are selected for designated national and international competitions in which athletes officially represent Na7ive Na7ions, their Tribal Nations, and their Communities.
These rosters require the highest level of preparation, physical readiness, accountability, teamwork, conduct, availability, and commitment. Selection is specific to the team, age division, event, and roster needs.
SELECT TEAMS
Na7ive Na7ions may assemble select teams for designated tournaments, competitive experiences, athlete development, and additional evaluation. These rosters allow selected athletes to compete together without being designated as an official Na7ive Na7ions National Team.
Select-team participation can create valuable experience and future visibility, but it does not guarantee advancement to a National Team.
SELECT TEAMS IN ACTION
MORE PLAYING TIME. MORE DEVELOPMENT. MORE OPPORTUNITY.
Na7ive Na7ions Select Teams are designed to give Native athletes additional opportunities to compete, develop, gain meaningful playing experience, and be seen in new competitive environments.
Athletes may be identified through Na7ive Na7ions showcases, evaluations, tournaments, scouting, or coach recommendations. Select Teams may be assembled for one designated tournament or for multiple competitive events. The schedule, expectations, and level of commitment are unique to each team and opportunity.
Because athletes may come from different Tribal Nations and communities across wide geographic areas, regular team practices are encouraged and may be requested, but they are not always possible. Coaches communicate available practice opportunities, preparation expectations, tournament schedules, and team responsibilities for each specific roster.
Select Teams are part of the growing Na7ive Na7ions Athlete Pathway, but they are not automatically designated as official National Teams. Participation provides valuable experience and future consideration but does not guarantee selection to another Select Team or National Team.
Na7ive Na7ions is continuing to build Select Team opportunities across additional ages, regions, and levels of competition as qualified coaching, athlete interest, partnerships, funding, and meaningful tournament opportunities become available.
THE FIRST NA7IVE NA7IONS 12U SELECT TEAM
FROM INTEREST TO OPPORTUNITY
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Athletes may enter the pathway by expressing interest or registering for a designated Na7ive Na7ions tournament, showcase, or evaluation. Each step provides consideration, but no step guarantees selection or placement on a roster.
01 — EXPRESS INTEREST
Athletes or families may submit information to be considered for current and future baseball or softball opportunities. Expressing interest does not replace registration or attendance at a required evaluation event.
02 — REGISTER AND ATTEND
When an appropriate tournament, showcase, or evaluation becomes available, the athlete must complete the required registration and participate in the designated event. Registration without attendance does not complete the evaluation process.
03 — EVALUATION AND REVIEW
Approved coaches and evaluators review competitive performance, position-specific ability, physical readiness, conditioning, teamwork, coachability, conduct, communication, and the needs of the opportunity or roster. Additional film, references, statistics, or documentation may also be requested.
04 — OPPORTUNITY-SPECIFIC CONTACT
Athletes or families may be contacted when the athlete aligns with an available tournament, Select Team, or National Team opportunity. Not every athlete will be contacted immediately, and consideration may continue for future events.
05 — INVITATION AND COMMITMENT
Athletes offered a roster position will receive the specific team designation, schedule, expectations, travel information, forms, deadlines, costs, and conduct requirements before accepting the opportunity.