TOURNAMENT RULES AND GENERAL INFORMATION
 

1. Check in Information:

Teams should check-in at the Coaches meeting. Any team not attending the coaches meeting MUST check-in at the Main Tournament Desk at least 2 hours prior to their first game. Teams must submit a copy of their insurance and a team roster, unless you have submitted this in advance. Teams will receive their player wristbands at check-in (see Item #20 for wristband information).

2. No players, team coaches, or parents/spectators will be allowed in areas designated "College Coaches Only". This includes the Hospitality Tents and the Scouting Areas behind each field's backstop. Please do not take the chairs. Please do not sit in the chairs. Please remind parents that if there is no space for the college coaches, then the girls are the ones who will miss out.

3. USFA Official Rules of Softball apply.

     3a. Teams may opt to bat their rosters during pool play with free defensive substitution.
     3b. 16U & 18U division will participate at 43' pitching distance
     3c. All player may wear metal cleats if they chose

4. Tournament Format:
All teams will play 3 Pool games followed by double elimination. Pool games do not count toward seeding. Seeding will be determined by USFA points.

5. Mercy Rule:
The 12 - 10 - 8 runs after 3 -4 -5 innings "mercy" rule will be in effect for ALL games.

6. Playing Rules:
Teams may use unlimited defensive substitution during pool play and you may bat upto 12 players in bracket play. This is very simple. Put the 9 / 10 / 11 or 12 girls that you want to hit on your lineup. Then put any 9 of those players on field that you want to play defense. You can change the defensive players every inning if you want. If you change the batting order, you must report that to umpire in both pool and bracket play. You do not need to tell the umpire about defensive changes, nor do you have to worry about reentries, unless they are going back into the batting order. There is no catcher speed up rule, but you may utilize the USFA courtesy runner rule for pitchers and catchers. For this tournament, the definition of courtesy runner is a player who is not currently in the batting order.

7. Uniforms must be identical.  No duplicate numbers allowed. No jewelry other than post type earrings in ears is allowed. Post type earrings in ears may be worn but must be taped. Umpires will be the judge in jewelry matters. If the umpire deems the earring unsafe, then the player must remove them with no argument.

8. Protests:
There is a $75 protest fee. All protest must be handled at the time of the occurrence. No protest may be filed once the game has been completed.

9. No glass containers, no pets, and no alcoholic beverages are allowed at the park. No smoking is allowed on the fields or in the dugouts or in the bleachers. If you need to smoke please move away from spectators.

10. Please assist in keeping the dugouts clean for the next team, by picking up your trash after the game and placing it in the receptacle provided in the dugout.

11. Game Time: Official game will end at 7 innings or 1 hour 15 minutes.

12. Forfeits: Forfeits are to be avoided at all costs.

·  12a. Forfeits are at the discretion of the Tournament Director or staff. If you are short a player during pool play (due to injury or other unforeseen circumstances) and need one to keep you from forfeiting, please contact the Tournament Desk or Tournament Director immediately. Temporary replacement players may be available, but we do need some notice. To avoid a forfeit, you are allowed to borrow a player from another team, as long as that player is registered with the tournament. However, you must receive approval from the Tournament Desk to do this. Forfeits benefit neither team since the objective during pool play is to better prepare for bracket play and for the girls to be seen on the field by the college scouts!!!

13. International Tiebreaker:
During all bracket play, if the game is tied at the end of seven (7) innings or time expires, the International Tiebreaker will be used. This entails placing the last out from the previous inning on 2nd base to start the tiebreak inning with no outs. This will continue until a winner is determined. During Pool play, a game may end in a tie. Obvious delaying tactics will not be allowed by umpires. Remember - the college coaches want to see girls playing, not coaches maneuvering.

14. Weather Contingencies:
In case of uncontrollable circumstances or interruptions due to weather, the Tournament Director reserves the right to alter the tournament format in any way necessary to reach a conclusion. This can include, but may not be limited to, shortened game times, fewer games guaranteed, or playing rule changes. Games interrupted might not be resumed. Everything possible will be done to get the players on the field as soon as possible.

15. It is the responsibility of the team managers and coaches to know their field assignments, times, etc, for all games. The Official Tournament Game Schedule will be maintained at the Main Tournament Bracket Tent. Please verify your game schedule occasionally and prior to leaving for the day.

16. Injuries:
Emergency First Aid supplies: it is recommended that each team bring their own first aid supplies. We will attempt to have trainers on site but this should not be relied upon.  If a player on your team experiences an injury that requires medical attention, please contact a Tournament Official immediately. An injury report must be filled out in order to have a record of the occurrence. If needed, and in severe cases, emergency equipment will be called. Players who are unconscious or who were unconscious or experiencing neck/head injuries should not be moved off the field.

17. Unsportsmanlike Conduct:
Managers/coaches are responsible for their own conduct and for that of their players, assistants and spectators. Abusive language and/or unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated in any degree. Coaches, players, and spectators may be ejected from the game if in violation of this rule. The initial "cooling off period" is the rest of the game. Any manager, coach, player or spectator who is ejected from a game may/will have their behavior reviewed by the Umpire in Chief or the Tournament Director, and the "cooling off period" may be extended from one game to the rest of the day and even to the rest of the tournament, depending on severity of conduct. Any manager, coach, or spectator who is ejected must leave the park for the duration of the cooling off period. A player who is ejected will be restricted to the dugout for any games during the cooling off period and will not be allowed to play in any games in any manner for the rest of the cooling off period. This is a severe penalty so be on notice that misbehavior on the part of players, coaches or spectators will not be tolerated. Managers/coaches may be held responsible for players and spectators behavior also. If any one who has been ejected fails to follow umpire instructions or fails to abide by the cooling off period, the team will be ejected from the tournament. USFA has a "zero tolerance" policy.

18. Wristbands:
All players must wear the appropriate colored wristband ON THE GLOVE HAND during the entire duration of the tournament. Players without wristbands will not be allowed to play. A limited number of extra wristbands will be available at the tournament desk if a band is lost or broken, but it is recommended that the players be extremely responsible with their wristbands. It is recommended that the wristband be attached loosely to the wrist so it can be taken off and put back on during the week. The wristbands will show that the players are eligible to play in the tournament, PLUS they designate to the college coaches the year of graduation of the player and their eligibility.

19. The tournament does not provide water in the dugouts.

20. Official Ball:
We will be using the Baden Yellow Optic .47 cor ball during the tournament. Baden is the official USFA and no other ball will be allowed during bracket play. Each team will be issued balls at the check-in. Teams may opt to use other balls during pool play.