SHOWCASE & TOURNAMENT
GAME RULES
We follow NFHS softball rules, with slight changes to fit our events.
QUICK REFERENCE
THE BIG FIVE
1:20
GAME LENGTH
Finish the batter. If the home team is batting and ahead when time expires, the game is over.
12/10/8
RUN RULE
12 runs after 3 innings. 10 runs after 5 innings. 8 runs after 5 innings.
TIES
ALLOWED IN PLAY
Pool play: Ties OK, no extra innings. Sunday bracket: tied games go to the International Tiebreaker.
SAT
COURTESY RUNNERS
Saturday only, for your pitcher and catcher.
8/31
AGE CUTOFF
Your age on August 31 sets your division.
GAME DAY
HOW A GAME RUNS
GAME TIMES
LINEUP OPTIONS
Coin Flip
A coin flip decides the home team.
1 hour 20 minutes
Finish the batter.
Home team ahead
If the home team is batting and ahead when time expires, the game is over.
NINE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
All nine bat and can play any position without reporting to the umpire.
DP/FLEX
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
F
Ten are listed, but only nine bat. The DP bats for the player you designate (the Flex), listed in the 10th spot. Any of the ten can play defense.
SHOWCASE RULES
Bat everyone with unlimited substitutions. Keep your batting order and give a lineup card to the official.
ELIMINATION PLAY (NFHS)
Nine batters with substitutions listed. DP/Flex allowed. Courtesy runners must come off the bench for the pitcher or catcher.
ON THE FIELD
THREE RULES PLAYERS ASK ABOUT
SATURDAY ONLY
COURTESY RUNNERS
One runner for your pitcher and one for your catcher.
The same runner can't be used more than once per inning unless a college coach requests it. Same for batting twice.
Hit by a pitch: put a runner on first and the batter continues with a new count.
Hit or walked again, the batter takes the base.
PITCHING
PITCHING RULE
While taking the signal, the stride foot may be on or behind the pitcher's plate, as far back as desired.
Once the toe of the stride foot is set, she cannot move it back to increase the distance.
She must take, or appear to take, a signal in the pitching and signal-taking positions.
WALKS
INTENTIONAL WALKS
All pitches, including a pitchout, must be legally pitched to the catcher.
The ball is live and runners may advance at their own risk.
SEEDING
HOW TEAM ARE RANKED
Best record
Head to head
Runs allowed
Run differential
Runs scored
EXTRA 4TH GAME?
If a team plays an extra 4th game, a number is drawn out of a hat and that game is dropped, win or lose.
EJECTIONS & UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Any coach or player ejected from a game must sit out the next game.
ELIGIBILITY
WHO CAN PLAY WHERE
AGE DIVISIONS
Your age on August 31st of the current year decides your division.
14U
BORN SEPT 1, 2011 OR LATER
14 or younger on August 31
16U
BORN SEPT 1, 2009 OR LATER
16 or younger on August 31
18U
BORN SEPT 1, 2007 OR LATER
18 or younger on August 31
CHECK FIRST
COLLEGE PLAYERS
College players, college students, or anyone who has been on a college roster may NOT be allowed to play in this event.
Please check with the tournament director before each event.
PLAYING UP
Allowed in older divisions
PLAYING DOWN
Strictly prohibited
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