National Softball Association                                                        

Girls Fast-Pitch

CENTRAL ILLINOIS DIAMONDS CLASSIC

World Qualifier                                                                             

June 29 - July 1, 2007 - Champaign-Urbana, IL

TOURNAMENT RULES          

NSA Girls Fast-Pitch Tournament

PARK RULES:  No individual coolers (team water coolers acceptable), no pets, no outside food.

TOURNAMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS

1.       RULES:  All Managers should read and understand NSA rules and these tournament rules.  The manager is responsible for insuring his/her team knows and abides by these rules.  NSA rules will be in effect during the entire tournament.

2.   CHECK-IN:  Manager should check in at their game site at least one hour prior to their first scheduled game.  Manager must bring:

a.       Copy of signed ON-LINE roster for Tournament Director to keep;

b.       Copy of insurance certificate for Tournament Director to keep;

c.       Copies of players’ birth certificates or i.d. cards for age verification, if required.

3.       READINESS:  Teams must be at the field ready to play at least 30 minutes before scheduled game time.  If opportunities exist to start games early, they may be started early (after 1st game).

4.       LINEUP CARDS:  Lineup cards are provided in your team packet.  Lineup cards must be properly completed, including players’ and substitutes’ first and last names, uniform numbers and on-field positions.  Managers must turn in completed lineup card to home plate umpire at the time of the coin toss.

5.       HOME TEAM:  Will be determined by coin toss at the pre-game meeting, which may be held at home plate or by the umpire coming on the assigned field as prior game is being concluded.  Game time starts with first warm-up pitch.

6.       WEATHER ISSUES:  In case on inclement weather, tournament director reserves the right to modify the format of the tournament in order to complete the tournament within the time frame allotted.  Teams must be ready to play within thirty (30) minutes of notification.  WEATHER HOTLINE:  217/202-5522.

7.       FIELD CONDUCT:  No infield practice allowed.  Teams may warm up beyond outfield fences only.  No batting practice allowed in between the fields.  No infield/outfield ball after the first inning.  Teams should hustle on and off the field.  No batting practice hitting into fences.

8.       WARM-UP PITCHES:  The starting pitcher or a new pitcher will be allowed a maximum of five (5) warm-up pitches, and no more than three (3) between innings.  Each additional warm-up pitch will constitute a ball on the batter.

9.       NSA MERCY RUN RULE:  12 runs after 3 innings; 10 after 4 and 8 after 5.

10.   TIME LIMIT:  Tournament games have an eighty (80) minute time limit.  Games in the pool bracket have a seventy-file minute time limit.

11.   TIE-BREAKER:  If games are tied at the end of regulation (7 full innings or time expired), the international tie-breaker will be used until a winner is determined.

12.   DUGOUT CONDUCT:  No alcoholic beverages or smoking allowed in dugout.

13.   UNIFORMS:  Uniforms are recommended to be similar in color and style and have numbers on the back.  No identical numbers.  If batting helmets have chinstraps, they are to be used and properly secured.

14.   PROTESTS:  All protest must be accompanied by a $75 Cash Protest Fee, which must be paid immediately to the home plate umpire before the next pitch.  No protests are allowed for any judgment calls.  A protest hearing will be held to make a final decision.  If upheld, the protest fee will be refunded.

15.  APPROVED BATS:  Only bats listed on the NSA APPROVED BATS LIST will be allowed.