Softball Rules

SPORTSMANSHIP

There is ZERO tolerance for disruptive behavior by fans, coaches, or players. Derogatory comments, poor behavior and negative verbal communications toward any event staff, coaches or players will be cause for removal from the event and complex ie: taunting, use of words or actions to incite or try to incite spectators to demonstrate. a) use of profanity, intimidation or deceitful tactics, baiting or taunting, embarrassing, ridiculing or demeaning others in any circumstances including race, gender, religion or nationality. b) Behavior of any manner not in accordance with the spirit of play – team personnel shall not charge an umpire. Arguing balls and strike calls or other other Umpire judgment calls are prohibited. Penalty- The umpire shall eject the offender from the game unless the offense is judged to be minor in nature. If minor, the umpire may warn the offender and eject if the offense is repeated. Coaches who violate may be restricted to the bench/dugout for the remainder of the game or ejected from the game. Coaches are responsible for their fans’ behavior. SPECTATORS ARE NEVER TO ADDRESS UMPIRES ON OR OFF THE FIELD.  If a fan is deemed to be disruptive and an ejection is necessary, both the fan and manager will be ejected from the game.

BATS

USA & USSSA Approved bats with the USA/ASA stamp and/or the USSSA thumb 1.20bpf print only. This is the coach’s responsibility to check that all players are properly equipped. Illegal bats will result in the ejection of the player and coach from the game. CHECK YOUR BATS.

SCORE

Umpires will keep the official score. They will check with each team every half inning for verification. The scorebook of the home team shall be the official scorebook unless the plate umpire rules otherwise. Forfeits are recorded as 7-0. Mercy Rule: 13 runs after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4 runs, 8 runs after 5 innings. In ‘Drop Dead’ if the inning is not complete it will revert back to the last completed inning. As time expires in the last inning of ‘Drop Dead’, if the home team is behind and either ties or takes the lead before the 3rd out is completed, it will count as a tie/walk off win; 3rd out is not needed. ***10U only, after 7 runs scored, teams will switch no matter how many outs there are during pool and BUT bracket it will be open through the championship game***

START TIMES

Please be prepared up to 15 minutes before posted start time of any game. Any changes above 15 min. will be made by and communicated through the Event Directors through League Apps or via text message. Once the Umpire(s) are on the field and calls for a plate meeting, all warmups must stop, and coaches must at once proceed to the plate meeting.

HOME TEAM

Pool play

Each team will receive one home game and one visitor game in pool play that will be pre-assigned. (No dugouts assigned to home or away.  Teams can occupy any open dugout)

Bracket

Higher seed will be the home team unless they choose otherwise.

GAME LENGTH

Pool Play

1 Hour and 15 mins Drop (1 Ump) Bracket: 1 Hour and 15 mins Drop

Championship

1 Hour 20 mins No New (2 Umps Championship)  

TIES

Pool Play games may end in a tie. Bracket must have a winner. If the game is tied at the end of the time limit or 7 innings, then the game will proceed to an International Tie Breaker (ITB). In the event of an ITB, the last complete batter will be placed at second base at the start of each inning. **

Tie Breakers

Head-to-Head, Runs allowed, Run differential, then coin flip**

BATTING ORDER

Pool Play

Option 1, 2 and 3 Bracket

Play

Option 1, 2 and 3 Bracket is not final until all pool games have been completed, scores entered, and bracket has been released. We will NOT PREDICT seeding for brackets. The following batting orders may be used:

1. Option 1-Straight nine- those nine can play any position on defense without reporting to the umpire.
2. Option 2 – Dp/Flex-10 players are listed on the line-up, but only 9 will bat. The DP can bat for any player that you name prior to the start of the game. That player is designated as the Flex and should be listed in the 10th spot on the line-up card. Any of the 10 players can play on defense.
3. Option 3- you may bat up to the whole line up, using unlimited EHs, with or without a DP/Flex. Players not in the line up must be reported before entering the game. Must declare pitcher and catcher substitutions including courtesy runners. Courtesy Runner must be a person off the bench or last out.

Players, Guest and Illegal Players Each team must start with nine players, must have 8 to continue. *Any falsification of identity will be considered an Illegal player and will be ejected from the event (birth certificates are best form of back up in the event a team wants to protest a player’s age). NO REFUNDS for roster errors! Rosters are locked once submitted to the Velo City tent and MUST be submitted PRIOR to the team’s first pool play game. A player may always play up age divisions but cannot play under their eligible age division. No player may play on more than one roster in the same age division during the event.

PROTESTS

Protesting the application of a rule only; you cannot protest a judgement call. Protests require a $100 fee made Velo City Tournaments and will be settled by the on-site tournament director. If the protest is upheld the $100 will be refunded. If the protest is denied the fee will be forfeited.

1. Coaches shall immediately notify the plate umpire of his/her intent to protest before the next pitch. All play must stop, the director contacted immediately and clock will continue to run. Protests on a rule or procedural interpretations will be decided upon before the game is allowed to continue.
2. A protest on a tournament procedure or player’s eligibility must be made before the umpires vacate the field of play of THE GAME IN QUESTION.
3. Illegal Player protest can be made at any time, by the current offended team, while the player in question is in the game and before the umpires leave the playing field.