• The age cut-off date for the tournament is January 1st.

• All judgment calls by an umpire may not be protested or argued. Umpires have the final say. Rules protests can be made to the Tournament Director. All rulings by the Tournament Director are final.

• No Protested Games: Rules interpretation may be argued as soon as the dispute arises. The umpire and/or Tournament Director will resolve the dispute before play resumes. All decisions are final.

 

• Coaches are responsible for the behavior of the team and fans. No arguing or poor sportsmanship from players, coaches, parent’s, and fan’s will be tolerated. Any team violating this rule will be given one (1) warning, the second, the individual guilty-coach, player, parent or fan, will be suspended from the current game and the next upcoming game. A suspended coach, player, parent or fan will be removed from the entire park.

• The tournament is for the players. Parents and coaches can get excited. Fans can not involve themselves in the game. All questions for the umpires and directors are to come from the coaches only.

 

• Home Team Designation: Home team designation is determined by coin flip for pool play games. For all Tournament games: the team with the best seed will determine Home team designation. For the Championship game, a coin toss will be used if both teams have the same seed number from their respective pools.

• Minimum Players to Play: The minimum number of players to start and finish a game is eight (8). There will be an automatic out in the 9th batting position. Each team can field ten (10) players including a pitcher’s helper, catcher, four (4) infielders and four (4) outfielders. A defensive coach is allowed on the field of play to provide instruction to the outfield.

• Complete game: Games will consist of five (5) innings, however, it is considered a complete game after 3 innings or if the home team is winning after 2 ½ innings.

• Run Limits: There is a five (5) run maximum per inning. The fifth inning (or extra) is unlimited.

• Run rule will be:

o 12 after 3 innings

o 10 after 4 innings 

• Time Limit: A one (1) hour five (5) minute time limit is in effect for all games except elimination games which will be one (1) hour and ten (10) minutes. The championship game will be limited to one (1) hour thirty (30) minutes. A new inning cannot start after the time limit has expired. An inning must be completed once it has started. Game time will stop (5 minutes max) for any serious injury. The Tournament Director reserves the right to modify the time limit in the event of weather or scheduling issues. The start time shall begin when the pre-game conference ends. The home plate umpire or designee shall monitor the official time.

• If a tiebreaker is needed to determine playoff teams (wildcards, etc.), the following tiebreakers shall be used:

a. Overall won-lost record

b. Least number of runs allowed throughout the tournament

c. Run differential

d. Total runs scored

 

e. Coin flip 

• The Tournament Director may modify the number or length of games when necessary due to weather, field, or scheduling issues. This includes modifying the time limit if games get backed up.

• Refund Policy

In the event the tournament is shortened due to weather, the following refund policy will be honored by 5 Tool Academy:

0 Games Played – 100% Refund for tournament registrations fees, less a $30 administrative fee.

1 Game Played – 50% Refund for tournament registration fees.

2 Games Played – 0% Refund for tournament registration fees.

Game played is defined as 3 innings or 2~1/2 if Home team is winning when they come to the plate for the second time. Any games shortened by weather, teams must submit their scores at the time the game was called.

• Entry fee includes 11” softballs

• No smoking or tobacco use is permitted.

• No alcohol is permitted.

 

• No pets are permitted.

 

PITCHING & BATTING RULES 

• Teams will use a continuous batting order. This means all players in uniform (unless injured) must be in the batting order. If a team has 12 or more players present, they bat 12. There is no penalty for having less than 12. If a team has less than 12 players present and an additional player arrives late, that player must be inserted into the last spot in the batting order.

• If one of the teams has less than 12 batters to start the game, the other team has the option of matching the same number of batters. This “mirror rule” prevents teams with a larger roster from playing at a disadvantage.

• If a team has more than 12 players present, they have the option of batting as many players as they want. If a team chooses to start a game batting more than 12, they must finish the game batting the same number of players they started the game batting.

• There is a free substitution among the players listed on the batting order. There is no designated hitter.

 

• If a batter hits the pitch and the ball hits the coach/pitcher, the play will be called dead and the batter will take first base. Base runners will advance one base.

• Each batter will receive a maximum of five (5) pitches or three (3) strikes in order to put the ball in play. If the fifth (5 th), sixth (6th) or any subsequent pitch is fouled, the batter gets an additional pitch. The batter is out after 3 strikes. No walks.

• Coaches will pitch with both feet in the pitcher’s circle. Pitching rubber will be set at 35’. Coaches will receive one warning, then a strike will be added to the count for each infraction.

• The pitcher’s helper must wear a helmet or fielder’s mask and will position themselves with one foot in the circle.

• It is recommended that coach pitchers should try to leave the field (away from the play and toward foul territory) after the ball is hit.

 

• There are no bat restrictions. Players may use the bat of their preference. 

 

• In order to speed up the game, the speedy rule will apply for the catcher on base. This rule applies to the player who will be playing the Catcher position in the very next defensive inning ONLY. If the Catcher is on base, withtwo (2) outs, she can be replaced with another runner. The runner, who substitutes for the catcher on base, will be the player who made the last out or the furthest away. The base runner that is replaced MUST catch the complete next inning.

• Infield fly rule will not apply.

• Dropped 3rd strike will not apply.

• Stealing will not apply.

• A runner may leave the base after the ball passes the home plate. If the umpire determines that a base runner leaves early, the team will be given a warning. Any other occurrences will result in the base runner being called OUT.

• Stopping the lead runner – play will continue until the UMPIRE calls timeout. Defensive players will not be able to call timeout to stop the progress of the base runners. Until the umpire calls timeout, all base runners may still advance. The umpire will call timeout, when the ball is secured by the pitcher’s helper in the circle or the forward progress of the lead runner is halted by the actions of a defensive player, and the defense is not attempting to make a play on the base runner. This does not require a step back to the base. Once the forward progress of the lead runner is halted and the umpire calls timeout, all base runners that are not at least halfway to the next base, must return to the previous base.

• The mandatory slide rule is in effect for all close plays at a base. A player not sliding may be considered out in the judgment of the umpire, and the play is considered dead. Once the play is considered dead, all other base runners must return to their previous base and may not advance. Base runners attempting to score must slide at home plate unless in the umpire’s judgment, contact is not likely without sliding.

• No head first slides, except to go back to a base already passed.

1. Interference:

i. A coach cannot touch or assist a player between the bases during a play. This is an automatic out.

ii. Base runners who intentionally interfere with the defensive player will be called out.

iii. Defensive players must remain out of the base paths and not block bases or home plate. If a Defensive player interferes with the base runner or intentionally blocks a base or home plate, the player is automatically awarded the base she was heading towards.

2. Over Throws. Over throws that land in out of play territory shall result in the base runner(s) advancing only one base.

 

3. Injured Base Runner. The last player to make an out will replace any player sustaining an injury while running on base