Time Limit

There is a 1 hour and 30 minute (90 minutes) time limit on all games except for the championship games. This rule means that no inning can start after 90 minutes, it is NOT drop-dead timing. 



This allows the tournament to stay on track for the entire day. We do allow extra innings, as long as the time limit is still in play. 

Slaughter Rule

12 after 3, 10 after 4, 8 after 5

Rosters

Any team can start 9, 10, or 11 players. The lineup must stay with the same number of batters for the entire game. Once the first pitch has been thrown the lineup is locked and the lineup can NOT be reduced or added. If a player gets hurt and there are no substitutes available, that team will occur an out in that injured player’s spot in the lineup.

The 10th and 11th hitter, if used, will be designated as an Extra Hitter and Super Hitter in the lineup. The EH and Super Hitter may bat at any spot in the order. The EH and SH is the same as any position on the field as far as substitutions are concerned.



A team may use the designated player, DP/Flex option as well. The DP may re-enter once. If the Flex player bats for the DP and the DP returns, the flex player may stay in the field.

Protest Fee

$100 cash (on rule interpretation only). Protests must be made prior to the next pitch being thrown. Umpire(s) must be informed first of a protest made during the game. The Tournament Director will make the final decision on all protests.

Game Time

Starting time is forfeit time, unless a delay is created by the USA Tournament Series. Game time starts at the completion of plate meetings.

Home Team

A coin toss administered by the site supervisor at each field will be used to determine the home team for each game.

Player Minimum

A team must start with a minimum of 9 players but can finish with fewer, taking outs in the vacant batting order positions.

Championship Games

No time limit. No Tiebreaker. Run rule still in effect.

Ties

There are ties in pool play, NO TIES IN championship brackets.

Tie Breakers

Pool Play – Overall Record/Winning Percentage, Head to Head – (Two and Three or more Teams), Pool play runs allowed, Pool play run differential, Pool play runs scored, Coin flip 

Visits to the Mound

Circle visits are limited to 1 per inning. You are allowed 3 visits per game.

Pregame Warm Ups

All teams are encouraged to warm-up as much as possible before game time. No pre-game infield

Footwear

Players participating in the age divisions (14U and older) are allowed to wear metal spikes unless the facility where the event is being hosted is a turf complex.

Bat Restrictions

Must be marked with the ASA 2000, 2004, or the USA Softball All-Games Certification Mark. All bats that are approved by USA Softball, formally ASA, for use in fastpitch play shall bear one of the markings shown below. Additionally, any bat with one of these certification marks must not appear on the list of the USA Softball Non-Approved Bats with Certification Marks.

USA Softball Non-Approved Bat List

Adverse Weather

Due to unforeseen issues or mother nature, there are times games will be canceled because of rain, thunderstorms and poor field conditions beyond our control here at the USA Tournament Series. We will always try our best to get games in, move games around so EVERYONE has the same opportunity as others in our events but in this case, this does NOT happen, our policy is in place to protect our products and your programs.



There will be administration fee charged for complete rainouts the fee is a percentage of the entry and this amount is available in the team's confirmed registration for the event; 1 game played = 50% future USA Tournament Series event credit, 2 games played = NO FUTURE EVENT CREDIT

Courtesy Runners

Courtesy Runners are allowed for Pitcher and Catcher ONLY! Must be a player on your bench or last out.

Substitutions 

ALL substitutions and changes must go through the home plate umpire. 

Extra Inning Rule

(Only when within time limit for pool play or game will be determined a tie; all playoff/championship games will start with this rule in the 8th inning)

• 8th inning: Runner on 2nd with no outs (Runner on 2nd was last batter of previous inning).
• 9th inning: Runner on 1st and 2nd with no outs (Runners on 1st& 2nd were last 2 batters of previous innings, placed accordingly i.e. last batter on 1st base and previous batter on 2nd base).
• 10th inning: Runners on 1st, 2nd and 3rd with no outs (Runner on 1st, 2nd& 3rd were last 3 batters of previous inning, placed accordingly i.e. last batter on 1st, previous batter on 2nd base and so on).
  

Ejections

Any coach or player that is ejected from a game is automatically suspended for the next game of the tournament. 

Decisions

Tournament Director shall have final decision on all tournament questions.