Rules

General Tournament Rules

6 Innings or 1 hour 10 min whichever comes first
No Lead Offs Until The Ball Is Released From Pitchers Hand
Batting Helmets Are Required At Bat, On Deck, and On Base
Catchers in all divisions are required to wear helmets, face masks, throat protectors, body protectors and shin guards.
The manager and/or coach can make 3 defensive trips per game
Face guards are encouraged, but not enforced
Free defensive substitutions will be allowed in all divisions, except as restricted at the pitcher’s position. A player may be removed from a defensive position at any time and may re-enter the game at the position or any other position.
All ages may choose to Bat Roster with 9 Fielders, Play 9 Bat 10 (EH) or Play 9 Bat 9 with a DH.
In pool play, a coin flip will determine the home team – teams that forfeit pool play games, regardless of reason, do not advance to bracket play
The coin flip will be conducted by the umpiring crew at ground rules
During the bracket play, the higher seeded team will be the home team in all games
Both teams should keep score books and should report the game score to the home plate umpire between innings. Umpires will maintain official game card all games.
Home team will maintain official game book and start time.
Game start time will be announced immediately after ground rules and confirmed with Home Team.

PITCHING MODIFICATION

Pitchers may start back, but cannot step back to start pitch. While the pitcher takes the signal, her stride foot may be on or behind the pitcher’s plate as far back as desired. Once the pitcher initially sets the toe of her stride foot, she CANNOT move it to increase the distance behind the pitcher’s plate. In addition, the pitcher must take or appear to take a signal while in the pitching and signal-taking positions.

COURTESY RUNNER

We will be using the written NFHS courtesy runner rule, which states the courtesy runner must be an eligible sub that has not been in the game at any capacity.

PROTESTS

Any roster protests must be accompanied by a $250 fee, be made at the plate by the opposing team’s manager only and presented before the final out has been recorded. The manager then has 5 minutes to present their protest, citing the specific rule to justify their protest to the Tournament Director along with submission of a $250 forfeit fee – cash. If the manager does not file their protest within the 5 Minute time frame, the protest will be considered as dropped and no action will be taken Fastpitch Turf will provide due diligence in regards to the player’s eligibility and return the fee in the event of a successful protest.

Time Limits

All games will be 1 hour and 10 minute time limits.

If time expires during inning, inning will finish.

Ages	Rubber	Bases	Ball Size
10U	35 feet	60 feet	11 inches
12U	40 feet	60 feet	12 inches
14U-16U-18U	43 feet	60 feet	12 inches

Age Chart: Proof of Age

Fastpitch Turf Does Not Collect Birth Certificates Prior To Tournament Events

It is the Managers responsibility to have his players birth certificates or accepted proof of age identification in the case of any question regarding the age of his players—failure to produce birth certificates and sanctioned Fastpitch Turf Roster will result in a forfeit if roster is protested by opposing team
At times and at certain parks, Fastpitch Turf will adjust base distances to adapt to park setups and field constraints
In rain shortened timed games, Fastpitch Turf does run hard stop time limits—game is stopped at designated game length (deteremined at ground rules), at that time score reverts to previous finished inning’s score
The age of the player is determined by the player’s age on December 31st, 2024

Age	Birth Year	Innings	Max Runs Per Inning
18U	2006 – 12 Inch Ball	6 Innings	Unlimited
17U	2007 – 12 Inch Ball	6 Innings	Unlimited
16U	2008 – 12 Inch Ball	6 Innings	Unlimited
15U	2009 – 12 Inch Ball	6 Innings	Unlimited
14U	2010 – 12 Inch Ball	6 Innings	Unlimited
13U	2011 – 12 Inch Ball	6 Innings	Unlimited
12U	2012 – 12 Inch Ball	6 Innings	Unlimited
11U	2013 – 12 Inch Ball	6 Innings	Unlimited
10U	2014 – 11 Inch Ball	6 Innings	Unlimited
9U	2015 – 11 Inch Ball	6 Innings	See Rules Section
8U	2016 – 11 Inch Ball	6 Innings	See Rules Section
7U	2017 – 11 Inch Ball	6 Innings	See Rules Section

10U Special Rules

Pitchers Rubber 35 ft
5 runs per inning
1 warning per pitcher per inning on illegal pitches
10 fielders per team (4 outfielders)
Stealing home and dropped third strikes are allowed
Bat 9/10 play 9/10 with DH or EH or Bat line up with free substitution. Must inform umpire prior to each game.

12U

9 fielders are allowed
No pitching limit
7 runs per half inning
Bat 9 play 9 with DH or EH or Bat line up with free substitution. Must inform umpire prior to each game.

14U - 16U - 18U

Metal cleats allowed
No Metal Cleats, No Seeds and No Gum on Turf Fields
No Run Limits
9 fielders are allowed
Bat 9 play 9 with DH or EH or Bat line up with free substitution. Must inform umpire prior to each game.

Mercy Rule

15 after 3 innings
12 after 4 innings
8 after 5 innings

Rainout Policy

0 games played=full refund minus $75 of tournament fees
1 game played=50% refund
2 games played= no refund
All refunds (Withdrawal and Rainout) Take 8 to 10 weeks to process
In the event of rain or cancellation, trophies and plaques are awarded based on seeding and only if championship game teams have been established.
Awards are only awarded at park

Complete Game Rain Rules, All Games Complete After

All games, All ages- 2 ½ innings if home team in lead
45 min in time limit played- score revert to the previous finished inning
In the event of rain and if game are incomplete- games will be started over if move to the next day due to rain or weather
No new inning may start after the time limit elapsed. A new inning automatically begins after the 3^rd out is recorded in the bottom half of the previous inning.
The official time starts after ground rules are completed- umpires will confirm official game start with home team book scorekeeper

FASTPITCH Tournament Withdrawal Policy

FPT will provide a full refund minus a $300 withdrawal fee for any team withdrawing from tournaments up to 45 days prior to scheduled start of the event
Tournament Withdrawals Inside of 45 Days From Tournament Start Date Forfeit All Tournament Fees
FPT Does, If Needed Mix Ages/Divisions To Form Brackets – Tournaments Are 4 Teams
No Withdrawal Refunds Are Eligible for the FPT World Series Events

Game Procedures-Pool and Championship Play

Pool games will end in ties after allotted time has expired – pool play games that are tied after regulation, will continue if time remaining on clock

The following Pool Play Tie Breakers will be used for seeding in the championship rounds

Head to Head Play
(If Only Two Teams With Same Record)
Total Runs Allowed
(Used When More Than 2 Teams Have Same Record)
(There Is No Head To Head At This Point)
Total Runs Scored
Coin Flip

½ Point Rule Established For Ties In Pool Play Games

All Forfeits, All Ages Will Be Recorded As 6 – 0 – Any Team That Forfeits A Pool Game Is Not Eligible For Bracket Play

Team Managers are required to verify Game Scores and Game Cards of all games immediately following completion of game. Signed game cards are the official scoring for each game played. Failure to sign Completed Game Card assumes acceptance @ 10 minutes after completion of game

Rules of Conduct – Disruptive Behavior

Fastpitch Turf strives to provide a great softball and family atmosphere for its tournament participants and guests. No unsportsmanlike conduct by participants or fans will be tolerated, and penalty for such behavior will be removal from the grounds for the remainder of the tournament.
Coaches are responsible for themselves, their players, and families at all times. Any suspension/ejection imposed by umpires or Fastpitch Turf officials will be served during the game in progress and the next tournament game and/or tournament weekend. Applies for Coaches and Parents. Players are eligible for next game. Ejected Coaches or Parents will need to be outside the park or near the foul line and foul poles during the game of which they are suspended.
Ejected coaches and players should leave playing field and report to Tournament Check In. At the time the Tournament Site Director will escort Player or Coach Outside the Park and Playing Area. Game clock continues during ejections and all time associated with the ejection. Failure to leave the field and park in a timely manner could result in a Game Forfeit. Forfeit would result in a 6 – 0 loss.
Game Umpires do not have the authority to call a game forfeit.
Max 3 Coaches and Score Keeper Allowed In Dugout – Head Coach, Two Assistants and Score Keeper
Defensive Coaches Are Not Allowed On Playing Field During Your Respective Teams Defensive 1/2 Inning – Defensive Coaches Should Remain In Dugout