Illinois NSA Slow-Pitch Tournament Rules

1.      Managers are responsible for knowing the rules and making sure that their players know the rules!

2.      Non-knowledge of the rules or approved equipment is not an excuse for not following them.

3.      Managers and players are responsible for knowing their equipment is non-altered and NSA approved.

4.      Managers are REQUIRED to do the following tasks for the team to participate in a NSA tournament.

a.      SANCTION ON-LINE before their first tournament. www.playnsa.com

b.   E-mail preliminary roster to state director for approval 10 days before first tournament

*All rosters are reviewed by state director for proper classification using 2011 NSA bylaws.

c.   ENTER APPROVED ROSTER ON-LINE* 7 days before first tournament www.playnsa.com.  

d.   REGISTER ON-LINE FOR TOURNAMENT 7 days before the tournament. www.playnsa.com

e.      ALL Tournament ENTRY FEES must be PAID BY TUESDAY BEFORE TOURNAMENT or team WILL NOT be included on the schedule.

5.      All managers and players must CHECK IN ONE HOUR before first game with PICTURE ID. NO ID - NO PLAY - NO EXCEPTIONS

6.   ALL PLAYERS must sign the provided NSA ON-LINE ROSTER at check in. All players must be entered on-line and cannot be manually added at the tournament.

7.   All players must have PICTURE ID with them at all times and cannot play without one! There will be ID-Roster checks at the fields! 

8.   All team players must be at the scheduled diamond ready to play 30 minutes before scheduled game time.

9.   FORFEIT TIME: Game time is forfeit time ONLY after notification and approval by director. After first game, forfeit time is 30 minutes before scheduled game time.

10.      Managers should ask questions at the PRE-GAME CONFERENCE at home plate. Non-knowledge of tournament or game rules or other team’s classification is not protest able.

11. Team managers are required to CHECK MAIN PAIRINGS BOARD after every game for updates!

12. The tournament will be run in strict accordance with the 2011 NSA Rulebook.

13. Tournament will use the APPROVED BAT / BALL LIST which can be found at www.playnsa.com

If a bat is NOT on the list or the model number is unreadable then the bat is NOT approved!

14. Tournament teams must “BRING YOUR OWN BALL” and will hit the ball they bring. All balls must be marked with team initials. Softball must be optic yellow with black stitches and have a READABLE stamp of “NSA approved 44 cor 400 compression” on the ball. All softballs must given to and checked by the home plate umpire and cannot be brought directly from the dugout. Teams have 30 seconds to throw in another approved ball when their ball is hit out of play.

Non-readable softballs cannot be used  

15. The NSA UNIFORM RULE will be in effect -- MATCHING SHIRTS WITH NUMBERS (See NSA rulebook)

16. NO STEEL SPIKES are allowed (Penalty = Immediate Ejection)

17. 1-1 COUNT, No courtesy fouls.

18. Teams can bat 12 people (2 EH)

19.  No one is allowed to question balls or strikes, except the batter, pitcher or catcher. (Penalty =  Ejection)

20. NSA RUN RULE:  Class B - 20 after 3 and 4 innings, 12 after 5 innings

                                     Class C D E - 20 after 3 innings, 15 after 4 innings, 10 after 5 innings

21.  Players, spectators or teams can be EJECTED from tournament (without refund or points) because of excessive inappropriate conduct!

22. NSA HR RULE

          B HR RULE - 4 HR 1-up

          C HR RULE - 2 HR 1-up

          D HR RULE - 1 HR, next is an out, progressive penalty starts on the 3rd HR (Untouched and over the fence)

          E HR RULE - 0 HR, Progressive penalty starts on the 1st HR (Untouched and over the fence)

23. One COURTESY RUNNER per inning

24. PROTEST FEES

          $75 cash protest fee for each player, rule or ball.

          $200 cash protest fee for each bat.

25. Protest must be written on a piece of paper and given with cash to the home plate umpire before any consideration will be given.

26. No judgment calls are protest able. 

27. No Profanity - Keep language to softball terms.

28. Home Team is the OFFICIAL BOOK

29. Tournament Director has the right to change tournament format including dropping the loser's bracket for any reason.

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION CAN SAVE A POUND OF COMMOTION!