National Team Identification Series About | USA Baseball (2024)

The USA Baseball National Team Identification Series (NTIS) is the most comprehensive player identification program offered by USA Baseball. Launched in 2009, the program was created to provide all athletes from across the United States an opportunity to compete for a spot on a USA Baseball national team.

The NTIS includes six age groups and must conform to the following international age guidelines:

• 16U NTIS:born on or after Jan. 1, 2008 OR born on or after Jan. 1, 2007 with an anticipated 2026 grad year
• 15U NTIS: born on or after Jan. 1, 2009
• 14U NTIS: born on or after Jan. 1, 2010
• 13U NTIS: born on or after Jan. 1, 2011
• 12U NTIS: born on or after Jan. 1, 2012
• 11U NTIS: born on or after Jan. 1, 2013

Players from across the country will begin the identification process by participating in camps and tryouts at the local level in their designated region. Every region will name 30 athletes from the 11U and 12U age groups, and 36 athletes from each of the 13U, 14U, 15U and 16U age groups, to two All-Region teams that will participate in the NTIS Champions Cup at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.

NATIONAL TEAM IDENTIFICATION SERIES CHAMPIONS CUP (CARY, N.C.)

11U NTIS Champions Cup: August 22-25, 2024
12U NTIS Champions Cup: August 15-18, 2024
13U NTIS Champions Cup: August 22-25, 2024
14U NTIS Champions Cup: August 15-18, 2024
15U NTIS Champions Cup: August 8-11, 2024
16U NTIS Champions Cup: August 8-11, 2024

The NTIS Champions Cup takes place at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. The event features 12 teams per age group and athletes will participate in workouts and a championship-style tournament while being evaluated by national team coaches and scouts. Following the Champions Cup, USA Baseball will invite a minimum of 72 athletes to national team and National Team Development Program (NTDP) events in the subsequent calendar year.

• 16U NTIS will name 12 players to the 2025 17U National Team Development Program
• 15U NTIS will name 12 players to the 2025 16U National Team Development Program
• 14U NTIS will name 12 players to the 2025 15U National Team Training Camp
• 13U NTIS will name 12 players to the 2025 14U Athlete Development Program
• 12U NTIS will name 12 players to the 2025 13U Athlete Development Program
• 11U NTIS will name 12 players to the 2025 12U National Team Training Camp

NATIONAL TEAM IDENTIFICATION SERIES REGIONS

The NTIS utilizes a six-region system for the initial player identification process. The six regions consist of the Midwest, Northeast, Northwest, South, Southeast and Southwest. All six NTIS regions will be managed and operated by a USA Baseball-appointed Regional Director. Each Regional Director is responsible for the planning and execution of the player identification process for their assigned region(s), and will ultimately name the All-Region teams that will move on to the NTIS Champions Cup.

NATIONAL TEAM IDENTIFICATION SERIES FEATURES

The NTIS presents all participating athletes with great national exposure, as well as an opportunity to develop their skills through an unparalleled baseball experience.

• All participants will compete in a combination of games and on-field skills testing
• One on one interaction with USA Baseball Task Force members
• Individual skills testing
• Competition against top players from across the country
• Opportunity to make Team USA programming
• Participants will receive a USA Baseball National Team Trials style uniform
• College and university coaches and professional scouts will be in attendance
• Event held at the USA Baseball National Training Complex -- the home of USA Baseball

NATIONAL TEAM IDENTIFICATION SERIES RULES AND REGULATIONS

Field dimensions for the USA Baseball NTIS are as follows:

• 15U & 16U: 60-foot mound, 90-foot bases
• 13U & 14U: 60-foot mound, 90-foot bases*
• 11U & 12U: 51-foot mound, 75-foot bases*

*14U, 13U, 12U and 11U field dimensions may vary at regional tryouts

Bat regulations for the NTIS and all regional tryouts can be found here.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

If you are interested in learning more about the National Team Identification Series, fill out the USA Baseball National Team Interest Form or email Play@USABaseball.com with the athlete’s birthday and current state of residence.