It is similar to the Womens College World Format except starting with 100 to 110 teams. 16 Regions with an average of 7 teams in each region. The teams are ranked 1-32 and get placed in those regions accordingly. #1 team is with #32 Team and #16 team is with #17 team. Other teams fill the regions based on the same concept. The regions play and the top 2 teams in each Region advance to Tier 1, the next 32 ranked teams to Tier 2 and the remaining teams to Tier 3. It is now 3 separate tournaments that I believe all follow a similar format. They break it down to 8 four team regionals which play double elimination format to get down to 8 teams. The Elite 8 is then two 4 team double elimination brackets to get to the Final 2 and then the play the best of 3. Your ranking is based on your record in Alliance Events, some holding more weight than others. This year around 110 teams qualified for 16U, so qualifying should not be difficult. The real tournament is Tier 1 for the top 32 teams. There is no doubt that all of these teams are very talented. Tier 2 is competitive softball and a better alternative to PGF Midwest Nationals in Peoria. It is on par with the PGF Platinum division. The Alliance tournament format is nothing like PGF’s pool play, relaxed atmosphere into a bind draw. It is intense from the first pitch. I have been to both and prefer PFG Premiere but the blind draw needs to go, it is awful. Playing Alliance is competitive but going to Indianapolis is not the same as going to Huntington Beach. Get to Huntington Beach once and get to Colorado once. If you spend the rest of your time in Indianapolis it will still be good softball and there will be coaches.