TEAM IRELAND 2026 Halfway to St. Patrick's Day Tournament (Sept 19-20)

Tournament Dates and Locations

The tournament is being hosted by Abington Little League. The Abington LL field complex is located at 140 Ackerly Rd, Clarks Summit, PA 18411.

Field Dimensions

• 9u (ages 8 and 9) - 46/60
• 10u (ages 9 and 10) - 46/60
• 11u (ages 10 and 11) - 50/70
• 12u (ages 11 and 12) - 50/70
• 13u (age 13) - 60/90

Age Cutoffs

The 2026 Halfway to St. Patrick's Day Tournament will utilize Fall 2026 age eligibility, which aligns with a player's Spring/Summer 2027 baseball age.

Players should register and compete in the age division they will be eligible for during the 2027 spring baseball season.

The age chart below reflects the official age determination guidelines for this tournament. A player's age as of May 1, 2027 will determine their eligible division.

Tournament Format and Details

The tournament will include a Team Ireland team in five age divisions: 9u, 10u, 11u, 12u, and 13u. Each age division will include four teams: Team Ireland and three other teams.

3 Game Guarantee

Costs

The deposit amount is the full amount to cover tournament fees. Families will be responsible for these additional costs:

• Uniforms ($80). Uniform include:
  • One jersey
  • Cap
  • Belt
  • Socks
  • Please note: Players should bring their own white pants (no pinstripes or piping)
• Hotel (if traveling to the tournament)

Fundraising Commitment

Team Ireland, Emerald Diamond International, and the Irish American Baseball Society are committed to making participation as accessible as possible. Players and families are expected to actively participate in the Team Ireland fundraising program, which is designed to offset individual costs. A portion of the funds raised (20%) will support youth baseball programs in Ireland.

Rosters and Registration

This tournament has OPEN REGISTRATION: Any player in the Team Ireland program can register for the appropriate age group. We use Open Registration formats to allow us to evaluate players and give all players an opportunity to represent Team Ireland Baseball in a competitive environment.

We will accept registrations for a pre-determined number of players at each position. After we these positions are full, we will select players from the waiting list to fill out the remainder of the roster. Every player will receive playing time. Specific amounts of playing time for each player will be determined by the coaching staff.

• Catcher (2 total)
• Pitcher-Only (2 total)
• 1B, 2B, SS, 3B (1 each)
• OF (4 total)

Code of Conduct

All players, parents, and guardians are required to review and adhere to the Team Ireland Code of Conduct, which emphasizes sportsmanship, respect, accountability, and representation of Ireland on the international stage:

• Respect parents, coaches, teammates, opponents, and umpires.
• Hustle on and off the field
• Support and encourage our teammates
• Never argue with umpires or coaches
• Never throw equipment or use foul language on the field
• Master the fundamentals of the game
• Understand the game better than our opponent

In addition, players should strive to master the fundamentals of the game, work to understand the game better than our opponents, and always demonstrate professionalism, respect, and sportsmanship at all times.

Withdrawals and Cancellations

Deposits are nonrefundable without a note from a physician that demonstrates an injury. Withdrawal for non-injury reasons will be nonrefundable. A credit may be issued for a future tournament, depending on the specific circumstance and at the sole discretion of EDI.

YOUTH GENERAL SIZING - JERSEYS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Team Ireland Baseball?
The Team Ireland Baseball program is an opportunity for players to represent their Irish heritage on the baseball diamond. We organize tournaments and teams to compete throughout the USA. The program is the official national charter holder for Ireland in Babe Ruth, Cal Ripken, and NABF Baseball, and receives support from the Irish American Baseball Society and the Government of Ireland.

Who Runs Team Ireland Baseball?
Team Ireland Baseball is run by Emerald Diamond International (EDI). EDI is a US-based nonprofit organization that has been supporting and developing youth baseball programs in Ireland for over twenty years. The Team Ireland Baseball program receives support from the Irish American Baseball Society, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and the Government of Ireland.

Where is Team Ireland located?
The Team Ireland Baseball program is based in the United States. We play tournaments and showcase games across the United States. Our players come from over 30 US states, Canada, Ireland, England, and Australia.

Is Team Ireland Baseball a travel program?
Team Ireland Baseball is not a travel baseball program. Players remain with their current travel or summer baseball teams and join Team Ireland for tournaments and events as their schedules allow. We organize tournaments and games throughout the year, across the USA, and it is our hope to provide an opportunity to as many players as possible. Players should not leave their current travel and school baseball obligations to play with Team Ireland Baseball.

How much does the program cost?
There is no cost to join the program. We assemble teams for select tournaments across the United States throughout the year. The typical cost of a tournament will vary but we aim to keep the cost to $300 or less for the tournament deposit, fees, and uniforms.

What is the level of play?
Team Ireland is a competitive baseball environment. We expect tournament team players to be experienced in a competitive baseball environment. Players who are not able to compete at this level are encouraged to participate in Team Ireland clinics or games to help them improve their skills.

How Are tournament teams selected?
For each tournament, we combine player invitations with open registration to field a competitive team while giving as many players as possible the opportunity to compete and proudly represent their Irish heritage on the baseball diamond. After each tournament, our coaches share their evaluations of player abilities, which we use to help decide who gets invited to future tournaments.

How is playing time handled?
Although we cannot promise a specific amount of playing time in a specific game or tournament, we work to find opportunities for all players to have opportunities to play.

Is my son eligible to participate?
There is no minimum heritage requirement. All players are encouraged to sign up for the program and participate when their schedule allows.

What happens after I sign up?
After you sign up, you'll begin receiving emails with information about upcoming tournaments, games, events, and virtual presentations from college coaches and Irish culture experts. We encourage families to keep an eye on our emails for upcoming opportunities to play for Team Ireland Baseball.