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

• 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 is determined by a coin flip. For all Tournament games: the team with the best seed will determine Home team designation.

• Game Start Time: All teams should be ready to play 30 minutes prior to scheduled start time.

• 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 9 th batting position. Each team can field ten (10) players including a pitcher, catcher, four (4) infielders and four (4) outfielders.

• Complete game: Games will consist of six (6) innings, however, it is considered a complete game after 3 innings or if the home team is winning after 2 ½ innings.

• Run rule will be:

12 after 3 innings

10 after 4 innings

 

8 after 5 innings.

• Time Limit: A one (1) hour five (5) minute time limit is in effect for all pool games. Elimination games which will be one (1) hour and ten (10) minutes. Drop dead time is 2 hours for all bracket and consolation games. If drop dead time is reached before the inning concludes, the score reverts to the previous inning unless the home team is ahead in which case the home team wins. The championship game time limit is one (1) hour and thirty (30) minutes. A new inning cannot start after the time limit has expired. Game time will stop (5 minutes max) for any serious injury. The Tournament Director reserves the right to modify the time limit for pool games 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, 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 alcohol or tobacco is allowed on the property

 

• No pets are allowed

 

 • 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.

 

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

 

• Pitching rubber will be set at 35’.

 

 • Infield fly rule will not apply.

• Dropped 3rd strike will not apply.

• 5 run limit per inning with the exception of the 6th inning (or extra innings) which are unlimited.

• A runner may leave the base after the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. 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.

• The LOOK-BACK RULE is in effect when the ball is live, the batter-runner has touched first base or has been declared out, and the pitcher has possession of the ball (e.g. has the ball in their hand, glove, under arm or chin, between their legs) within the 16-foot circle. Any runner(s) in motion may continue without stopping or may stop once. Any runner who is stopped or stops their motion must immediately move directly back to the last base touched or attempt to advance to the next base. Once the runner stops at a base for any reason, they may not move off that base. A batter-runner who overruns first and does not without delay attempt to advance to second is committed to return to first and stop. The runner, off base, may not stand motionless. There does not need to be any motion or recognition by the pitcher. Failure of the runner to respond as indicated shall cause the Umpire to signal the runner out. The ball shall be declared dead. If the pitcher no longer has possession of the ball within the 16-foot circle, the pitcher makes an attempt on any of the runners or a fake throw is made, this rule does not apply. Being in the 16-foot circle is defined as both feet within or partially within the line. The feet may touch the line and extend outside the line. When the pitcher is in the pitcher’s circle and a runner(s) is off the base, the pitcher is considered to be playing on the runner(s) when the throwing arm is raised or any forward movement of the body is made toward the runner. Movement of the head is not considered an attempted play. EFFECT: The ball becomes dead immediately. The runner is out.

• 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.

• Interference:

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

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

ιιι. 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 he was heading towards.

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

•Courtesy Runners

Courtesy runners are optional at any time for the pitcher and catcher. The courtesy runner shall be a player not currently in the lineup OR the last batted out. The pitcher or catcher for this rule is the pitcher or catcher of the previous inning. If this situation arises in the first inning and no outs have been recorded, the pitcher or catcher shall remain on the bases until an out is recorded.

 

•Ejections

If a player is ejected during a game, the name of the player will remain in the batting order and count as an out when the batting order reaches that player. If a player or coach is ejected from a game, he will serve a one game suspension. The suspension must be for the next game the team plays. If a player or coach is ejected he must leave the field and adjacent area in a timely manner. If this does not occur, the player or coach in player can be barred from the facility at the discretion of the Tournament Director.

•Injuries and Early Departures

If a player becomes injured (as ruled by the umpire) and is unable to continue playing, his spot in the batting order shall be skipped with no penalty. Once the injured player leaves the batting order, he is done for the remainder of that game.

 

•Injured Base Runner. The last player to make an out will replace any player sustaining an injury while running on base. Once a played is deemed injured, she may not return to the game.