Tournament Rules

Check in

Insurance information, Birth Certificates, and your roster (We will hold on to copy of roster only) shall be presented to the field director at the complex before your first game. The field directors will be stationed near concession area. You will be also asked to verify the name of the contact person, hotel information, and contact#.

Tournament Rules will be USA Softball with the following exceptions and clarifications:

Time Limit: Pool games (70 minutes) Bracket games (80 minutes)

A new inning starts at the completion of the 3rd out by the home team of the previous inning.
At the 70 or 80 minute expiration mark we will finish the inning. If the home team is winning and batting when time expires the game is over.
Game time begins at the conclusion of pre-game meeting. The official clock is declared by the umpires.
The umpires may suspend the clock at their discretion.
Tactics designed to speed up or slow down a game will not be tolerated and may end up in ejection or forfeit.

Each team has sixty seconds to prepare to start the next half-inning which includes warmups.

Run ahead rule: as follows will be in place for all games:

15 runs after 3 innings, 12 runs after 4 innings, and 8 after 5 innings.
In pool Playgames, games can end in a tie.
- Ties will be recorded as such in pool play after 70 minutes has elapsed.
In Elimination Round games, TB will begin after 80 minutes has elapsed or 7 innings have been played (whichever comes first). We will play until a winner is declared.
- The last batter due up on the offensive team will be placed on second base to start each inning in TB.
  Note: A substitute with eligibility may be used to pinch run in this situation as a runner.
Championship Play seeding, criteria, and if necessary the tournament winner shall be based upon (In Order)
- Points per game (Win = 2 points, Tie = 1 point, Loss = 0 points, Forfeit = (-1) point
- Least Runs Allowed Per Game
- Most Runs Scored Per Game
- Flip of a coin

NOTE: A Forfeit is a 7-0 win. Completed game procedure follows USA rules.

Equipment

Batting helmets must be NOSCAE stamped and have a approved facemask (no chinstrap requirement)
Jewelry will follow the USA Softball rule.
14U and above are permitted to wear metal cleats.

Offensive Team

A courtesy runner (CR) can be used for the pitcher and/or the catcher at any time. The same runner may not be used for both. Only players not yet in the game may be used. If NO substitutes are available, there is NO CR.
The batter shall keep one foot in the box between pitches.

Conferences

Defensive: 3 per game. On the fourth, and each subsequent conference in a regulation game, the pitcher must be removed from the pitching position. 1 per inning when in the TB.
Offensive: 1 per inning between the coach and any offensive player.

Pitching

A pitcher may be removed as a pitcher, move to a different defensive position and return as a pitcher but will not receive any warmup pitches in that inning.
The pitcher may start with one or both feet on the pitching rubber. If a pitcher takes a step backwards, it may be done prior, during or after the pitcher has brought her hands together.
Distances: 14, 16 & 18U – 43ft., 12U – 40ft., 10U – 35 ft.

Miscellaneous Tournament Information

Game time is forfeit time – To be regulated by tournament director’s discretion. In rain situations please do not leave fields as tournament schedule may be adjusted without prior notice.
Home Team shall be determined by flip of coin for ALL games.
Bracket Games Highest seed picks home/visitor.
Championship Game will have a time limit; however the run rule will remain in place for ALL games.
Head Coach must sign umpire’s game slip with final score and winning team indicated. By signing, the head coach verifies that the score and winning team are correct. Once signed, score is a final.
ALL Player’s, both starters and substitutes, may re-enter game one time.
Protest on a “Rule interpretation” will be settled by the UIC in a timely manner. Protest cannot be made on an umpire’s judgment call – only rule applications.
Practice and Warm up areas will be designated at check in. Please don’t hang or climb on fences.
Short Handed Player’s Rule. A team must have 8 players to start a game and will record an automatic out in the ninth spot in the batting order. A team may start or finish the game with 8 players unless due to an ejection.
Additional Information:
- Announce ALL substitutions to the umpire.
- Coaches must remain in dugout during game. Non-playing members are to remain in dead-ball territory until time has been called by umpire.
- Please do not impede the progress of the game – any signs of poor sportsmanship, actions that demean opposing players, fans, or the umpire are subject to be removed permanently from the game and premises. Any coach/player ejected from a ball game will be reviewed by the tournament committee and further action may be taken.
- Alcohol is forbidden at ALL complexes.
- Additionally, please do not smoke near players. All our parks are SMOKE FREE,
- Pets are not allowed around fields. Please use outer pet trails for animals.
Extra Player Rule (EP)
- Any team may use 1 or 2 extra players (EP) per game and it must be made known prior to the start of the game and properly indicated on the lineup. The use of an EP without indicating as such on the lineup is an unreported substitute.
- The EP must remain in the same position in the batting order for the entire game.
- The EP may play defense at any time without her status being affected. She may go in and out of the defensive lineup as often as needed as long as her position in the official batting order is not altered.
- The EP may be substituted for at any time with the substitute becoming the new EP. The substitute must be a player that has not been in the game.
- If an EP leaves the game and no player is available to substitute, that spot in the batting order becomes an automatic out. A team must have 8 eligible players to continue or complete a game.
Final Say
- The tournament director reserves the right to adjust the schedules, brackets, and field locations as needed to complete the tournament due to inclement weather or darkness. Every attempt will be made to honor the game minimum – however, if a situation develops where a team forfeits or the weather does not cooperate, the Tournament Director will make an attempt to reschedule games or shorten games. If the need arises to determine a champion prior to all games being completed, the Tournament Directoris to determine a champion.