2013 Labor Day Tournament Rules
2017 Labor Day Tournament Rules EL CAMINO PARK: NO SMOKING / NO TOBACCO PRODUCTS OF ANY KIND INCLUDING E-CIGERETTES & VAPOR DEVICES / NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED / NO BBQ’S / NO RV’S Park Addresses: El Camino Park, 400 N. Main St., Orange, CA 92868 CONDUCT, RULES & TEAM INFORMATION: Please remember to have good sportsmanship at all times & to make it fun for all teams & players. Central Orange & USA Softball Rules & Code of Conduct will be enforced at all times. It’s the team manager’s responsibility to insure their parents understand the tournament rules & code of conduct. Player age cutoff is Dec. 31st, no exceptions. Player age will be verified at team check-in. The Tournament Director has the right to alter any rule during the tournament for any reason. Penalty: Failure to abide by Central Orange & or USA Softball rules may result in the forfeiture of the game & or tournament depending upon the offense. Team Check-in All teams must check-in at least ONE hour prior to their first game. Early check-in is highly encouraged. Required at check-in: Your league’s proof of insurance & player’s age identification (Birth Certificate with Player Photo & or black & white USA ID Card or USA All Star Player Photo ID Card). PROTESTS: THERE ARE NO PROTEST. The umpires ruling is final. Umpires will have zero tolerance towards abusive language, gestures or actions of any unsportsmanlike conduct by managers, coaches, players, parents, relatives, fans or any other spectators of any team. It is the team manager's responsibility to correct these actions immediately. Any person(s) ejected from a game will not be permitted to return for the remainder of the game that person(s) was ejected from AND the teams following game. Ejected person(s) must completely leave the park. Orange PD will be patrolling the park & will assist with escorting ejected individuals who refuse to leave. GENERAL RULES: It is the responsibility of team manager to have current information regarding game time(s) and/or field changes. Warm up area at El Camino is very limited. Teams warming up outside of games underway must insure they do not interfere with the game. League staff will direct teams to designated warm up areas. There will be no infield warm-ups allowed prior to game time. No pitching machines or devises permitted, & no hitting into an open field areas. Only soft toss into a net will be permitted. There is absolutely no batting or pitching into field/park fences. (City rules). The official rules of play will be the current USA Softball rules with the following modifications (See Below):
PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTIONS FOR ALL DIVSIONS: Line ups must be provided score keepers prior to the start of each game. Line ups must also be provided to umpires if requested by the umpire. If a player is not listed on the line up at game time, player may not enter the game later in the game. If a player is listed on the lineup card & not present, team must take an out each time the absent batter spot comes up in the batting order. If a player is injured & is unable to continue, the coach must inform the umpire & declare the player out for the game due to injury. The team will not be charged an out when the injured players place in the line up comes up to bat. The Injured Player will not be permitted to reenter or return to the game once the player has been declared out of a game due to injury. If a player is injured & is in fact able to continue, the team will not be charged an out if the injured player is unable to bat immediately after the injury has occurred. This can occur only once during the course of a game. If the injured player is unable to bat a second time then when the players position in the lineup comes up to bat, the player will be declared out of the game due to injury by the umpire & the team will be charged an out for every time the injured players position in the lineup comes up to bat. Round Robin batting will be in effect for pool play & elimination play. Nine (9) players constitute a team, Ten (10) players in 8U. Eight (8) players are required to start and/or continue a game. No “Pick Up” players from other teams within your division or from any other leagues are permitted. Only original Winter/Fall Ball Season Team Rostered players will be permitted to participate. COURTESY RUNNERS FOR ALL DIVSIONS: Courtesy runners will be permitted for pitchers and catchers only. The courtesy runner shall be the player listed furthest in the line-up from the pitcher or catcher that is not occupying a base or the team may use the last player that was out. Umpire must be informed. GAME: Game time is forfeit time Home team/score keeper will be determined by coin flip. Team listed on the top of the bracket will occupy third (3rd) base dugout, unless already occupied. The umpire’s clock/watch keeps the official time. The umpire will have the official scorekeeper (Home Team) record the official start time of the game. If a new inning is inadvertently started after the appropriate time limit, the score will revert back to the previous completed inning. Home team is the official scorekeeper and will need to complete a scorecard to be verified by both coaches & returned to the tournament table or snack bar. (Umpires will give score card to home team at coin flip). Any game called due to darkness/lights out will be considered a regulation game. It is the responsibility of the scorekeeper to circle the final score, have each manager initial the score card & return the score card to the umpire. 2 POOL PLAY GAMES INTO SINGLE ELIMINATION BRACKET PLAY. POOL PLAY: All pool play games will be 1 hour & 20 minute Drop Dead. All pool play games will have only 1 umpire in all age divisions 8U thru 14U. Scores will revert back to previous inning unless the home team is batting & ahead or tie, or the inning was completed. If a new inning is inadvertently started after the appropriate time limit, the score will revert back to the previous completed inning.
Pool Play games can end in a tie. Teams that tie in pool play, tie breaker will be as follow: 1. Head to Head 2. Runs Scored 3. Runs Allowed 4. Coin Toss
ELIMINATION GAMES: Elimination games will be 1 hour 30 minutes, no new inning. 8U Elimination games will be 1 hour 20 minutes, no new inning. 8U thru 12U will have 1 umpire & 14U will have 2 umpires (if available) for all elimination games. A new inning will start when the 3rd out is recorded and time has not expired. There must be a winner in all elimination games. In the event of a tie, International Tie Breaker (ITB) will be utilized to determine the winner. CHAMPIOSHIP GAMES: 12U, 14U Championship Games will be 7 innings or 1 hour 45 min drop dead, whichever occurs first. 8U, 10U Championship Game will be 6 innings or 1 hour 45 min drop dead, whichever occurs first. No run limit for all divisions in championship play. In the event of a tie, International Tie Breaker (ITB) will be utilized to determine the winner. INTERNATIONAL TIE BREAKER: In tiebreaker innings, the last batter from the previous inning will be placed on second base. RUN AHEAD RULE: (Mercy Rule) Fifteen (15) runs after three (3) innings, twelve (12) runs after four (4) innings, and Eight (8) runs after five (5) innings. PITCHING FOR ALL DIVISIONS: Unlimited pitching outs in all age divisions. Starting pitcher will receive five (5) warm-up pitches & three (3) warm up pitches every inning after. A new pitcher will receive five (5) warm up pitches & three (3) warm up pitches for every inning after. Pitching changes need to be reported to the Umpire and Official Scorekeeper. EQUIPMENT: All players must wear their league-approved uniform. Batters must wear a batting helmet with a permanently mounted face guard & chinstrap. For player’s safety, all players with long hair must keep it pulled back in a ponytail or braid(s). RUN LIMITS (Does not apply to championship games): 8U – Five (5) run limit per inning for the first three (3) innings, unlimited in innings 4 thru 6. 10U – Five (5) run limit per inning for first three (3) innings, unlimited in innings 4 thru 7. 12U & 14U – Unlimited (No run limit). 8U ONLY RULES: Home plate is closed. Runner cannot steal home on any over throw. A runner from third base may not score on an overthrow from the catcher to the pitcher. A runner on third base may not score on a passed ball by the catcher. A runner may steal only one (1) base on an over throw. Runners may not steal home. No infield fly rule.
No dropped 3rd strike rule in effect. Coach Pitch Option (C/AP) is in effect after the umpire has called the fourth ball on any batter. Maximum of 4 Coach Pitches permitted. If the batter fouls off the fifth pitch and any consecutive pitch thereafter, the batter will continue batting till batter strikes out or hits the ball fair. Batter hit by a pitch, count is cleared & batter gets 4 coach pitches. No bunting is allowed during coach pitch. Players may not steal any base during Coach Pitch. Batter hit during Coach Pitch, the batter will continue her at bat, & will not be awarded 1st base. If the C/AP is hit by a batted or thrown ball, or in the judgment of the umpire, interferes with any player attempting to field any fair or foul ball, the ball will be declared dead & the batter will be called out, & all base runners will be returned to the base they held prior to the time the ball was pitched. Four outfielders may play outfield & they must be positioned on the edge of the grass (on the grass). The ball must be in pitchers control in the pitching circle to stop play. A base runner may only steal one base per pitch. Players may not leave or attempt to steal a base until the ball has left the pitcher’s hand. Any player leaving the base prior to the pitched ball, in the umpire’s judgment, will be called out.
TOURNAMENT RAINOUT/POOR VISIBILITY POLICY: It is CO’s intent to make any and all efforts necessary to complete all tournaments once they have begun. Safety is CO’s primary concern. If fields become too wet due to rain & to the point where the player’s cannot control running on the fields, throwing the ball or swinging a bat safely, or in the event of poor visibility due to fog or any other issue such as the setting of the sun or failure of field lights out of CO’s control, CO will make every effort to reschedule unfinished games due to the previously stated conditions. All games that have completed 4 innings will be considered a complete game & the score at the end of the completed fourth (4th) inning will be the score of the game. The Tournament Director has the right to alter any rules during the tournament for any given reason. In case there is a rainout, the following tournament "Rainout Policy" will be used. In the event of tournament cancellation due to rain, CO will make every effort to reschedule games & give as much time as possible of all rescheduled dates & times. If tournament cannot be rescheduled, entry fee will be returned/refunded to paying teams & leagues minus CO’s scheduling & administration fee of $50. Once Pool Play has begun there will be no refunds. (Central Orange USA Fastpitch reserves the right to charge a scheduling & administrative fee after scheduling has been completed. The scheduling & administrative fee is $50 per team scheduled.)
PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTIONS FOR ALL DIVSIONS: Line ups must be provided score keepers prior to the start of each game. Line ups must also be provided to umpires if requested by the umpire. If a player is not listed on the line up at game time, player may not enter the game later in the game. If a player is listed on the lineup card & not present, team must take an out each time the absent batter spot comes up in the batting order. If a player is injured & is unable to continue, the coach must inform the umpire & declare the player out for the game due to injury. The team will not be charged an out when the injured players place in the line up comes up to bat. The Injured Player will not be permitted to reenter or return to the game once the player has been declared out of a game due to injury. If a player is injured & is in fact able to continue, the team will not be charged an out if the injured player is unable to bat immediately after the injury has occurred. This can occur only once during the course of a game. If the injured player is unable to bat a second time then when the players position in the lineup comes up to bat, the player will be declared out of the game due to injury by the umpire & the team will be charged an out for every time the injured players position in the lineup comes up to bat. Round Robin batting will be in effect for pool play & elimination play. Nine (9) players constitute a team, Ten (10) players in 8U. Eight (8) players are required to start and/or continue a game. No “Pick Up” players from other teams within your division or from any other leagues are permitted. Only original Winter/Fall Ball Season Team Rostered players will be permitted to participate. COURTESY RUNNERS FOR ALL DIVSIONS: Courtesy runners will be permitted for pitchers and catchers only. The courtesy runner shall be the player listed furthest in the line-up from the pitcher or catcher that is not occupying a base or the team may use the last player that was out. Umpire must be informed. GAME: Game time is forfeit time Home team/score keeper will be determined by coin flip. Team listed on the top of the bracket will occupy third (3rd) base dugout, unless already occupied. The umpire’s clock/watch keeps the official time. The umpire will have the official scorekeeper (Home Team) record the official start time of the game. If a new inning is inadvertently started after the appropriate time limit, the score will revert back to the previous completed inning. Home team is the official scorekeeper and will need to complete a scorecard to be verified by both coaches & returned to the tournament table or snack bar. (Umpires will give score card to home team at coin flip). Any game called due to darkness/lights out will be considered a regulation game. It is the responsibility of the scorekeeper to circle the final score, have each manager initial the score card & return the score card to the umpire. 2 POOL PLAY GAMES INTO SINGLE ELIMINATION BRACKET PLAY. POOL PLAY: All pool play games will be 1 hour & 20 minute Drop Dead. All pool play games will have only 1 umpire in all age divisions 8U thru 14U. Scores will revert back to previous inning unless the home team is batting & ahead or tie, or the inning was completed. If a new inning is inadvertently started after the appropriate time limit, the score will revert back to the previous completed inning.
Pool Play games can end in a tie. Teams that tie in pool play, tie breaker will be as follow: 1. Head to Head 2. Runs Scored 3. Runs Allowed 4. Coin Toss
ELIMINATION GAMES: Elimination games will be 1 hour 30 minutes, no new inning. 8U Elimination games will be 1 hour 20 minutes, no new inning. 8U thru 12U will have 1 umpire & 14U will have 2 umpires (if available) for all elimination games. A new inning will start when the 3rd out is recorded and time has not expired. There must be a winner in all elimination games. In the event of a tie, International Tie Breaker (ITB) will be utilized to determine the winner. CHAMPIOSHIP GAMES: 12U, 14U Championship Games will be 7 innings or 1 hour 45 min drop dead, whichever occurs first. 8U, 10U Championship Game will be 6 innings or 1 hour 45 min drop dead, whichever occurs first. No run limit for all divisions in championship play. In the event of a tie, International Tie Breaker (ITB) will be utilized to determine the winner. INTERNATIONAL TIE BREAKER: In tiebreaker innings, the last batter from the previous inning will be placed on second base. RUN AHEAD RULE: (Mercy Rule) Fifteen (15) runs after three (3) innings, twelve (12) runs after four (4) innings, and Eight (8) runs after five (5) innings. PITCHING FOR ALL DIVISIONS: Unlimited pitching outs in all age divisions. Starting pitcher will receive five (5) warm-up pitches & three (3) warm up pitches every inning after. A new pitcher will receive five (5) warm up pitches & three (3) warm up pitches for every inning after. Pitching changes need to be reported to the Umpire and Official Scorekeeper. EQUIPMENT: All players must wear their league-approved uniform. Batters must wear a batting helmet with a permanently mounted face guard & chinstrap. For player’s safety, all players with long hair must keep it pulled back in a ponytail or braid(s). RUN LIMITS (Does not apply to championship games): 8U – Five (5) run limit per inning for the first three (3) innings, unlimited in innings 4 thru 6. 10U – Five (5) run limit per inning for first three (3) innings, unlimited in innings 4 thru 7. 12U & 14U – Unlimited (No run limit). 8U ONLY RULES: Home plate is closed. Runner cannot steal home on any over throw. A runner from third base may not score on an overthrow from the catcher to the pitcher. A runner on third base may not score on a passed ball by the catcher. A runner may steal only one (1) base on an over throw. Runners may not steal home. No infield fly rule.
No dropped 3rd strike rule in effect. Coach Pitch Option (C/AP) is in effect after the umpire has called the fourth ball on any batter. Maximum of 4 Coach Pitches permitted. If the batter fouls off the fifth pitch and any consecutive pitch thereafter, the batter will continue batting till batter strikes out or hits the ball fair. Batter hit by a pitch, count is cleared & batter gets 4 coach pitches. No bunting is allowed during coach pitch. Players may not steal any base during Coach Pitch. Batter hit during Coach Pitch, the batter will continue her at bat, & will not be awarded 1st base. If the C/AP is hit by a batted or thrown ball, or in the judgment of the umpire, interferes with any player attempting to field any fair or foul ball, the ball will be declared dead & the batter will be called out, & all base runners will be returned to the base they held prior to the time the ball was pitched. Four outfielders may play outfield & they must be positioned on the edge of the grass (on the grass). The ball must be in pitchers control in the pitching circle to stop play. A base runner may only steal one base per pitch. Players may not leave or attempt to steal a base until the ball has left the pitcher’s hand. Any player leaving the base prior to the pitched ball, in the umpire’s judgment, will be called out.
TOURNAMENT RAINOUT/POOR VISIBILITY POLICY: It is CO’s intent to make any and all efforts necessary to complete all tournaments once they have begun. Safety is CO’s primary concern. If fields become too wet due to rain & to the point where the player’s cannot control running on the fields, throwing the ball or swinging a bat safely, or in the event of poor visibility due to fog or any other issue such as the setting of the sun or failure of field lights out of CO’s control, CO will make every effort to reschedule unfinished games due to the previously stated conditions. All games that have completed 4 innings will be considered a complete game & the score at the end of the completed fourth (4th) inning will be the score of the game. The Tournament Director has the right to alter any rules during the tournament for any given reason. In case there is a rainout, the following tournament "Rainout Policy" will be used. In the event of tournament cancellation due to rain, CO will make every effort to reschedule games & give as much time as possible of all rescheduled dates & times. If tournament cannot be rescheduled, entry fee will be returned/refunded to paying teams & leagues minus CO’s scheduling & administration fee of $50. Once Pool Play has begun there will be no refunds. (Central Orange USA Fastpitch reserves the right to charge a scheduling & administrative fee after scheduling has been completed. The scheduling & administrative fee is $50 per team scheduled.)
