1. Rosters are to be submitted to the tournament official at the first game.

A. ASA birthdate will apply

B. Birth certificates will not be required. Please have them available in case the age of a player is questioned. Any team found in violation of the age rule will forfeit all games.

C. Individual and team trophies will be given to the first and second place teams. All teams will be given participation t-shirts.

D. Teams must arrive at the designated diamond 30 minutes prior to game time. All warm-ups must be taken prior to the starting time of the game. A forfeit will result 15 minutes after designated starting time. A minimum of nine players is necessary to play a game. Less than nine players will result in a forfeit.

E. Game balls will be provided.

F. Teams must bat their entire number of players in attendance in all pool play games. Also in playoff rounds for U10

When the entire group is batting, the manager may substitute freely in the field. An injured player, not able to bat will be skipped, without penalty, and is out the remainder of the game.

When a 9 player order is used, (U12 & U14 playoff rounds) only a starter may re enter the game one time in the same batting order slot. All players need not play, but we should remember why we are here. No DP/Flex

NOTE: If a player is injured while at bat and no substitutes are available, the last batted out will take the place of the injured player, and the count continues.

2. Proof of insurance coverage must be submitted to the tournament official at the first game.

3. No team will be allowed to play in the tournament until the registration fee and team rosters have been received by the Tournament Director.

4. The tournament director may make changes to the schedule as necessary.

5. The Tournament is played according to rules established by Pony Softball for Girls. The following rules are established by the Park Ridge Tournament Rules Committee and supercede any established by Pony Softball.

A. Base distance will be 60 feet. Pitching distance will be 40 feet. (35' U10)

B. The ball used will be a 12" hard ball. (11" hard U10)

C. Players can play on only 1 team in the entire tourney.

D. The defensive lineup will consist of (9) nine players.

 F. The strike zone will be the armpits to the knees. There is no limit on foul balls.

G. A batter hit by a pitch out of the strike zone will be awarded first base. All rule book limitations apply.

H. Infield Fly Rule is not in effect for U10.

I. Bunting is allowed at all levels. Note: (U10 )-> Once the batter assumes the batting position, she must either offer at the pitch or pull the bat out of the strike zone. She may not slash hit. Penalty: Automatic Out/Dead Ball.

STEALING

U12 & U14

J. Stealing is permitted at any base after the pitcher releases the ball. Runner may score from 3rd on a passed ball, wild pitch, overthrow of return from catcher to pitcher, and on a play on a runner at any base. If the umpire determines that a runner left early, the umpire will declare "NO PITCH" and the runner will be called out.

U10

No stealing of home plate. Stealing is permitted at 2nd and 3rd base after the ball reaches the catcher's glove or beyond or is grounded. No delayed steals are allowed. NO continuing to 2nd after a walk. No stealing of home after a wild throw to 3rd . If in an umpire's opinion a runner leaves early, the umpire will declare "NO PITCH" and the runner will be called out.

K. The dropped third strike rule does apply. U12 & U14 ONLY

L. On any close play at 2nd, 3rd, or home, the runner must slide or avoid contact. NO COLLISIONS. Failure to do so will result in the runner being called out, and ejected if flagrant.

M. No metal spikes are allowed.

N. Helmets must be worn at bat, on base, and when on deck.

O. Bats may not be more than 2 ¼" in diameter. They shall not be more than 34" long nor exceed 38 ounces in weight.

P. All games will be seven innings. (6 INNINGS U10)

Q. All games will be complete after 4 full innings. Incomplete games (games not through 4 innings) that are called for any reason, other than the time limit, will be rescheduled and resumed from the point they were halted. The lineup will remain the same.

R. Mercy Rule: ahead by 15 runs after 4, 10 after 5 and 8 after 6.

S. All games except for the championship and semi final games will be limited to no inning starting after 90 minutes has elapsed from the starting time designated by the umpire. Games tied at the end of play shall be recorded as a tie, unless time permits extra innings. All extra innings shall be played under the international tie breaker format. Note: A winner must be declared in the trophy and medal rounds.

T. All umpire decisions are final. Arguing calls by players, coaches, or spectators WILL NOT be tolerated, and shall result in a warning, followed by ejection from the game, the field, and ultimately the tournament. Questions by the manager will be entertained regarding rule interpretations if done so in a respectful manner.

6. Pitching Rules:

A. All rostered players are eligible to pitch.

B. The pitcher must start her motion with both feet on the pitching rubber and present the ball. If the pitcher does not start in this manner, the umpire shall declare "no pitch". The pitcher may step backwards to begin her windup.

C. Players may pitch only 4 innings per game. (3 for U10) One pitch constitutes an inning pitched.

D. A starting pitcher may return to the mound one time. A relief pitcher once removed from the mound cannot return to the mound.

E. If a manager or a coach makes more than one trip to the mound in an inning, the pitcher must be replaced during the second trip.

7. General Information:

A coin flip will determine home and away in all pool games. The higher seed will be home team thereafter. The same seed will be decided by coin flip..

The team listed 1st on the schedule will occupy the 1st base dugout when feasible.

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A. Each team will play pool games in the format specified on the schedules. The field will be seeded into slots to play for the championship or the consolation bracket. (See schedule for breakdown)

Ties for seeding will be broken by

1. head to head result ( 2 teams only tied)

2. avg # of runs allowed per game

3. most shut out innings of opponents

4. best combined record of opponents played.

NOTE: forfeited games do not count in average runs allowed, etc.

B. Rainouts: In the event of rain, games will be rescheduled by the tournament director. In the event of score appears to be out of reach, the tournament director can declare the game complete. In doubt about the field conditions, call the Park Ridge Rainout number: 847-692-3624 (MY BENCH). MANAGERS ONLY TO HAVE THIS NUMBER. Do not call until two hours before the game time. You can also check our web site at www.prbaseball.com

C. Managers are responsible for the behavior of all players, coaches and fans.

D. No alcohol or smoking is permitted on the park district grounds.

E. No rhythmic chanting. NOTE: It is permissible to cheer for your own team at any time, however, rhythmic chanting is not allowed. It is OK for tasteful cheer to be in unison between innings, but at no time should any yelling occur while the pitcher in in her motion.

*If a team elects to use a progressive batting order and a player does not take her regular turn at bat; an automatic out will be recorded for the team at bat unless:

a. The manager of the team at bat advised the umpire and the opposing manager that the player who is not taking her turn at bat, is being removed from the game as a batter and as a fielder without the option to return to the game due to illness.

b. In such case the removed player's batting position will be skipped and no automatic out will be recorded.

E. No jewelery is allowed on players. IHSA guidelines will dictate.

There shall be no more 3 offensive conferences per game. A conference held during a defensive trip to the mound will not be charged to the offense, but must end when the charged conference has ended.

Warm ups are allowed between innings, but not more than 1 minute shall pass from the end of the inning until the start of the next. Courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher or catcher at any time. (last batted out or other non player only)

ONLY THE ON DECK BATTER IS ALLOWED IN THE ON DECK AREA. (Fenced in) ALL OTHERS ARE IN THE DUGOUT/BENCH AREA, UNLESS WARMING UP TO GO IN, COACH A BASE, COME ONTO THE FIELD FOR A CHARGED CONFERENCE, OR ARE BECKONED ONTO THE FIELD BY THE UMPIRE.

HAVE FUN!!!!!!