What is the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation?
Who can compete?
When and where are the Bay State Games held?
Which sports are represented?
How do I register?
What if I want to enter more than one sport?
Do I have to provide proof of age?
How is entry confirmation handled?
What are the registration fees?
What is the general refund policy?
What is the refund policy regarding weather issues?
What information do we collect and how is it used?
What about returned checks?
What types of awards are given?
How much is admission to the competitions?
What about insurance coverage?
What about medical emergencies?
What behavior is expected?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What is the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation?
The Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was established in 1982 to host the first sanctioned state games of the commonwealth. It operates with the mission of promoting personal development, education, physical fitness, teamwork, and sportsmanship to Massachusetts citizens of all ages and abilities. The Foundation is recognized nationwide for holding high-quality, Olympic-style events through the Bay State Summer and Winter Games, as well as educational programs including the Kids Fitness Challenge, High School Spirit Program and Verizon Future Leaders Scholarship. With more than 30,000 people from 300 cities and towns directly participating in its programs each year, the Foundation is an integral part of the lives of citizens across the commonwealth.

Who can compete?
To be eligible, athletes must meet ONE of the following criteria:
1. A full-time Massachusetts resident for at least 30 days prior to the tournament date.
2. A full-time student at an academic institution in Massachusetts.
3. A registered member of a sport club in Massachusetts, for which you are entering. The club must be your exclusive “contact” with the sports. Athletes using the club membership for eligibility may not be a member of a non-Massachusetts club. This rule does not apply to team sports.

When and where are the Bay State Games held?
The Summer Games are held annually in July in eastern and central Massachusetts, while the Winter Games are held each January or February in Northern Berkshire County.

Which sports are represented?
The Summer Games feature 28 sports including Archery, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Juniors Basketball, Baton Twirling, Bowling, Diving, Fencing, Field Hockey, 6 vs 6 Field Hockey, Flag Football, Ice Hockey, Judo, Lacrosse, Pistol Shooting, Rifle Shooting, Soccer, 7 vs 7 Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Masters Swimming, Synchronized Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track & Field, Masters Track & Field, Trap Shooting, Volleyball, Weight Lifting and Wrestling.
The Winter Games include Figure Skating, Alpine Skiing and Masters Ice Hockey.

How do I register?
You can register by visiting the website of the sport in which you are interested in participating, and then filling out a mail-in registration form or registering online.

What if I want to enter more than one sport?
Team sport athletes who fail to qualify for Bay State Games competition in July in one region MAY NOT try out for another region in the same sport. You many enter as many sports as you wish, as long as the events are not held at conflicting times. It is the athlete’s responsibility to make sure that there are no schedule conflicts in the sports he/she enters.

Do I have to provide proof of age?
Proof of age is required for some events. Athletes are required to have documentation of their age in the event that it is requested. Athletes who are participating in festival sports such as 7v7 Soccer, 6v6 Field Hockey and Juniors Basketball may be asked to provide proof of age prior to the tournament.

How is entry confirmation handled?
Athletes will receive confirmation e-mails shortly after registration is processed.

What are the registration fees?
Registration fees differ for each sport. Please see the sports specific website for the exact amount. Team sports and sports that have qualifiers require participants to pay a finalist fee in addition to the registration fee. Finalist fees are to be paid only after an athlete has been notified that he/she has qualified for the finals.

What is the general refund policy?
NO REFUNDS will be given if events are cancelled due to inclement weather or because an individual or team does not show up. Athletes who miss the competition due to illness or injury may receive a defer certificate that can be used as a credit for future Bay State Games participation provided that they provide a physicians note verifying the injury. There will be no cash refunds of entry fees for athletes who miss the competition due to illness or injury. If an athlete cannot participate in the Finals in a team sport due to an illness or injury, the athlete’s finalist fee will be refunded only if that athlete is replaced on the team roster. A written request for refunds of team sport Finalist fees must be received prior to the start of the competition in the participants sport.

What is the refund policy regarding weather issues?
Sports utilizing outdoor sites are subject to inclement weather.  Competitions will be conducted unless game officials, facility managers, medical staff and/or Bay State Games staff declare conditions potentially dangerous or a threat to bodily harm.  Due to facility and scheduling conflicts, the Bay State Games has little or no rain dates. Inclement weather may force changes in the tournament format or number of games each team plays. With few exceptions, games lost due to inclement weather will not be re-scheduled, they will be cancelled. There will be no refunds given if events are cancelled due to weather. 

What information do we collect and how is it used?
Personal information will not be sold or given to outside parties. Information collected at registration such as mailing address, e-mail and phone numbers may be used by the Bay State Games for promotional reasons.
By registering, athletes are giving the Bay State Games permission to distribute contact information ONLY to accredited media outlets, college coaches, registered sport scouts, sports recruiting agencies and for entry into the State Games of America.

What about returned checks?
If a check is returned by the MASF’s bank, the $25 bank charge will be the responsibility of the applicant. The applicant WILL NOT be eligible to participate until the entry fee and the bank charge have been paid.

What types of awards are given?
T-Shirts are issued to all pre-registered athletes. Late entries will receive T-shirts based on availability. In Olympic tradition, medals are awarded to the top three places in each division/event. Bay State Games jackets are awarded to a percentage of top finishers in each sport at the Finals. This percentage is determined on a sport by sport basis. Bay State Games jackets are NOT available for sale.

How much is admission to the competitions?
Admission to all Bay State Games athletic competitions is free of charge for spectators. Special events, such as the Bay State Skate Figure Skating Show, may charge charge a small fee.

What about medical insurance coverage?
Every participant must provide their own personal medical insurance. Athletes unable to provide proof of insurance may NOT be allowed to compete.

What about medical emergencies?
Medical staff, consisting of volunteer doctors and athletic trainers, is on hand at selected Bay State Games events.

What behavior is expected?
Participation in the Bay State Games as an athlete, coach, parent or spectator is a privilege which can be revoked for inappropriate behavior. The Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation reserves the right to eject anyone for not conducting oneself in a sportsmanlike manner. This includes, but is not limited to, unsportsmanlike disorderly conduct, fighting, consumption of alcohol at BSG events, improper use of drugs and false representation of eligibility requirements (i.e. age, residence, grade, etc.).