Tournament Information

PlayFPN Tournament Rules at Fastpitch Nation Park 7/2/25 1. 2. 3. 4. Current National Federation of High School (NFHS) Softba l Rules and Regulations wi l apply to Fastpitch Nation Park Tournaments unless modified below in this document. The NFHS Softbal Rules Book is Available for purchase on the NFHS website. It is the responsibility of ALL coaches to be familiar with the playing rules. At least one Umpire-In-Chief (UIC) wi l be on-site during Tournaments. In the event an on-field issue cannot be resolved by the field umpires, the UIC wi l be caled to the field. Tournament Formats: Pool Play to single elimination or double elimination (Unless determined otherwise by the Tournament Director). Games a. b. c. d. Al games wi l have time limits except the finals. i. Pool Games 1. The game length is 1:20, complete the inning, if necessary a. If the home team is ahead and batting when the time expires, the game is over. The at-bat is completed. b. c. d. e. i. Elimination Games 1. Pool games can end in a tie. The international tiebreaker is used for Elimination games. No new inning after 1:15. This is to discourage coaches from unsportsmanlike sta ling to artificia ly extend a game. During pool play if the home team is up and winning when the clock reaches 1:15, play wi l continue until the half-inning is over or the clock reaches 1:20. This is because the home team may score runs needed for seeding. If the home team is ahead and batting when the time expires, the game is over. The at-bat is completed. The game length is 1:20, complete the inning, if necessary. a. If the home team is ahead and batting when the time expires, the game is over. b. c. i. No new inning after 1:15. This is to discourage coaches from unsportsmanlike sta ling to artificia ly extend a game. During elimination play, if the home team is up and winning when the clock reaches 1:15, play wi l end and the game is over. This is because the home team does not need additional runs to advance in bracket play. Finals and Double Elimination “If Necessary” Games 1. 7 Innings (6 Innings for 10U) a. If the home team is ahead and batting at the end of regulation, the game is over. iv. Pool and Bracket games of other lengths not stated, no new inning at 5 minutes less than the stated game length. This is to discourage coaches from unsportsmanlike sta ling to artificia ly extend a game. v. The scoreboard clock is NOT the official clock. The umpires maintain the official game clock. When there is a discrepancy, the official clock prevails. vi. The clock never stops for any interruption other than an injury that requires the player not be moved to wait for an ambulance. Only the UC or tournament director can stop the clock and at their discretion, decide to stop the clock for any other unusual interruption. International Tie Breaker i. Implemented in an Elimination game that ended in a tie after regulation. i. Implemented if a Final game that ended in a tie after regulation. Choosing Home or Away Team i. During pool play a coin toss determines home and away. Note, if in pool play a division has multiple pools and the event is using the results of each pool for bracket placement (ie; A1 vs B4), it’s possible for two teams to meet in elimination play with the same seed from their respective pools. In this case, a coin toss wi l determine home and away. i. i. iv. The choice of dugout is first come, first served. During single elimination, the higher-seeded team can choose home or away. During double elimination, the rules are slightly different. 1. In the losers' bracket elimination games, the higher-seeded team from pool play can choose home or away. If teams are equaly seeded, then a coin toss wi l be used. 2. In the winners’ bracket elimination games, the higher-seeded team can choose home or away. If teams are equa ly seeded, then a coin toss wi l be used with the folowing exceptions: a. In the championship game, the winner of the winners’ bracket (the team with no losses) can choose home or away. b. In the case of an “if necessary” game, both teams are again equal with one loss, and a coin toss wi l determine home and away. Every effort wi l be made to complete every scheduled game within the scheduled time limit. In the event of weather delays, darkness, or an uncontro lable/unforeseen circumstance the Tournament Director reserves the right to reduce the time limits of a l remaining games and/or change the format of the tournament to reach the conclusion and determine a winner. It is also the Tournament Director’s discretion e. if standard “official game” rules (4 ½ innings or 3 ½ innings (10U) if the home team is ahead) are used or another means such as 1 completed inning or “complete the batter” to complete the game and determine a game’s winner. In single elimination of a Championship game is ca led due to weather, darkness, or an uncontro lable/unforeseen circumstance, and the game is tied, the higher-seeded team from pool play sha l be declared the winner and awarded one run. f. g. 5. In double-elimination play if a Championship game is ca led due to weather, darkness, or an uncontro lable/unforeseen circumstance, and the game is tied, the winner’s bracket winner sha l be declared the winner and awarded one run. i. i. i. In the case of the “if-necessary” game, the higher-seeded team from pool play sha l be declared the winner and awarded one run. However, if the teams are equa ly seeded and played each other in pool play then that head-to-head result wi l break the tie and the head-to-head winner sha l be declared the winner and awarded one run. However, If the teams are equaly seeded and did not play each other in pool play, then the teams’ pool play winning percentage fo lowed by average runs alowed, folowed by average runs scored, etc. wi l be used to determine a winner. If due to weather or other circumstances games are changed from, “complete the inning” to “complete the batter”, this is the procedure to determine a game’s final score. i. i. i. The home team can win with the runs they score in their half of the inning but cannot lose or tie in their half of the inning if the home team is ahead entering the final inning and the away team takes the lead or ties in their last at-bat since the home team did not also get a fu l 3 outs in the same inning. In this case, the score reverts back to the previous completed inning and the home team wins by the score at the end of that inning. If the away team is ahead entering the final inning and the home team ties the game when time expires the game is a tie regardless of the number of outs played. Since the home team has already tied the game, it cannot revert to a previous inning where they would be the loser. In elimination play one run is awarded to the higher seed to break a tie. If less than 1 inning has been played then the game wi l be declared “no game” and no score for either team wi l be recorded. Pool play seeding and tie-breaker criteria: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. 6. 7. 8. 9. Total Number of Wins, fo lowed by Winning Percentage, fo lowed by Average Runs Alowed (total runs alowed / games played), folowed by Average Runs Scored (total runs scored / games played), fo lowed by Season Points that were earned prior to the event being played, fo lowed by Date/time the team registered in the system for the season (Ascending). Head-to-head is used only in situations where only two teams are tied at any level in the tiebreaker chain. If more than 2 teams are tied in any criteria, then head-to-head is ignored. Common Example: i. Teams A, B, and C are tied for the Total Number of Wins. No Head-to-Head is used, and the system moves to Winning Percentage. i. i. Teams A, B, and C are sti l tied at Winning Percentage. No Head-to-Head is used and the system moves to Average Runs Alowed. Team C alowed an average of 2 runs. Teams A and B are tied, alowing an average of 3 runs. Team C is seeded ahead of teams A and B. iv. Since teams A and B are the only 2 teams remaining and are tied at Average Runs Alowed, Head-to-Head is looked at between those two teams only. v. If teams A and B never played each other, the system moves on to the next criteria in the tiebreaker chain, Average Runs Scored. vi. However, if teams A and B played each other, Head-to-Head is used and the winner of the Head-to-Head game is advanced ahead of the loser of the Head-to-Head game in the final seedings. v i. Teams that move ahead via Head-to-Head are noted in the seeding table with an asterisk. v i. In the case of teams that play an unequal number of pool games due to a situation such as weather, the first criterion is important as teams with a higher number of wins, but an identical winning percentage wi l be placed ahead in the seedings. ix. In the case where a team plays an extra pool game above the norm, due to an uneven number of teams in 3-game pool play, their worst result is removed from the standings. The game wi l count for the opponent but not for a team that had its result removed. Head-to-head wi l be nulified for a team whose results were removed. The game is in the control of the Umpires on the field. Teams must be prepared to play 30 minutes prior to game time. If circumstances permit starting games early, the umpires wi l do so No warming up on the infield prior to games. Warmups must be beyond first or third base. Fastpitch Nation Park utilizes Double First bases on a l fields. Please be familiar with the double first base rule 8-10 in the NFHS rule book. 10. The manager is required at the plate conference (payment to the umpires is made at this time). 11. The manager is legaly responsible for a l the team’s equipment. 12. The manager is responsible for the team’s spectators' actions. a. Spectators/parents associated with a team are the responsibility of the Manager. It wi l be the manager's responsibility to control their team’s spectators, which may include ejection from the area of the field or entirely from the park based on the circumstances.. 13. The clock begins immediately after the pre-game plate conference. a. Game time is in the control of the umpires. b. c. The clock is not stopped for any reason except in these circumstances: i. The clock is stopped If an injury requires the injured person to remain on the field while an ambulance is ca led to transport the injured person. The UIC and Tournament Director are the only people authorized to stop the clock. i. Once the clock is officia ly stopped, time is never added back onto the clock unless authorized by the UIC or Tournament Director. We ask that a volunteer from one of the teams operate the scoreboard contro ler. 14. Run Ahead (Mercy) Rules are in effect for al games in the tournament including the finals – (14 runs after 2 innings; 12 runs after 3 innings; 10 runs after 4 innings; 8 runs after 5 innings). 15. Only coaches and rostered players are alowed inside dugouts and on the field. Defensive coaches are NOT alowed on the field of play when the bal is live during games. Defensive coaches must stay in the dugout 16. At the conclusion of the game, the Manager/Coach MUST verify and sign the scorecard with the game’s final score. Once scores have been entered into the system, seedings are made and brackets set, there wi l be no going back to fix an incorrect score that the Manager/Coach signed for on the scorecard. Also, managers/coaches must verify online that their scores are correct on the website prior to leaving the park. 17. Jewelry is alowed. However, jewelry that is judged by the umpire to be dangerous must be removed and may not be worn during the game. a. Penalty – I legal equipment sha l be removed or made legal. The umpire shal issue a team warning. The next offender and the Manager sha l be restricted to the dugout/bench for the remainder of the game. 18. Metal cleats are alowed for teams 13U and older. 19. Towels are not alowed to be hanging out of pockets or tucked into pants while batting. 20. Bats – NFHS Softbal recognizes and utilizes USA Softbal’s certification process. In order for a bat to be legal for use in NFHS and PlayFPN games it must be marked with the ASA 2000, 2004, or the USA Softbal Al-Games Certification Mark. Al bats that are approved by USA Softbal, formaly ASA, for use in fastpitch play sha l bear one of the markings shown below. Additiona ly, any bat with one of these certification marks must not appear on the list of the USA Softba l Non-Approved Bats with Certification Marks a. USA Softbal Non-Approved Bat List: https://usa.asasoftba l.com/e/BB1P2000.asp b. When the batter enters the batter's box with an altered or non-approved bat and the infraction is detected before the next legal or i legal pitch they are ca led out. The batter and Manager are also ejected. A l runners must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch, unless they were put out on the play. 21. Line-Ups/Rosters – There are multiple options to use a line-up. a. Traditional line-up with or without substitutes. b. c. d. e. Traditional line-up utilizing two APs with or without substitutes. i. Up to two Additional Players (APs) can be used to increase the batting order to 10 or 11 batters. The AP(s) wi l be placed in the batting order in the positions to be occupied. The AP(s) can also be used on defense (only 9 defensive players in the field), but must keep the same position in the batting order. The AP(s), if used, must be selected prior to the start of the game, and their name(s) must be included on the line-up card presented to the Umpire. Failure to declare the use of the AP(s) prior to the game precludes the use of the AP(s) in that game. If a pinch-hitter or pinch-runner is used for an AP, that player becomes the new AP. The original AP(s) may re-enter like any other player under the re-entry rule. If an AP is used, the position must be used the entire game. i. i. APs may play defense for any player, that player is sti l in the lineup and bats. If the AP plays defense for the Flex, the Flex leaves the game and counts as a substitution when she re-enters. Traditional line-up utilizing two APs with or without substitutes and utilizing the DP/Flex option (Max 11 Hitting). Roster or continuous batting, where everyone in the lineup hits, is a lowed in a l games in the tournament. However, there are no substitutions. This means a l players in the lineup wi l bat. APs and DP/Flex can sti l be used. NOTE: Whichever lineup is used, it must be declared when lineups are exchanged at the plate conference and remain in effect throughout the game. 22. Pitchers – Please be familiar with the pitching rules in the NFHS rule book. a. Prior to starting inning #1… Five warm-up pitches. Three warm-up pitches every inning thereafter. The new pitcher gets five to start thereafter. b. c. d. No sticky or tacky substances such as pine tar or rock rosin may be used as a substitute for a powdered drying agent such as rosin bags which are legal. Gori la Gold grip enhancer towels are legal. A towel is legal for a pitcher to possess in either the rear pocket or tucked in the rear of the uniform pants but if deemed distracting by the home plate umpire, the towel must be adjusted and made satisfactory to the home plate umpire's discretion. Each field has unprotected bu lpens. Pitchers can warm up down the first & third foul lines, throwing outward towards the outfield fence, and MUST have a spotter. 23. Courtesy Runners – wi l be alowed for the catcher and pitcher at any time by a legal courtesy runner. If a team does not have a legal substitute remaining in their lineup, they can use the Last Completed At-Bat as a courtesy runner subject to the same rules and restrictions as regular courtesy runners. 24. Ejections – a. If a Manager, Asst. Coach or Team Personnel, or someone other than a player, gets ejected from the game, they must leave the vicinity (out of sight, out of mind) of that playing field immediately and be prohibited from any further contact (direct, indirect, or electronica ly) with the team during the remainder of that game. Failure to leave or comply wi l be a team forfeit. Any ejection deemed extreme by the UIC and Tournament Director may warrant an additional game ejection. Any threat made to an official wi l mean ejection from the Tournament and the involvement of law enforcement. It is the Tournament Director’s discretion whether further penalties are warranted. b. c. If a player is ejected and a parent or legal guardian is present, the player and parent must leave the vicinity (out of sight, out of mind) of that playing field immediately and be prohibited from any further contact (direct, indirect, or electronica ly) with the team during the remainder of that game. If a parent or legal guardian is not present, the player wi l be restricted to the bench under the supervision of an adult. An ejected player wi l be able to play in the next game. Any ejection deemed extreme by the UIC and Tournament Director may warrant an additional game ejection. Any threat made to an official wi l mean ejection from the Tournament and the involvement of law enforcement. It is the Tournament Director’s discretion whether further penalties are warranted. If a parent/spectator is ejected, they also must leave the vicinity (out of sight, out of mind) of that playing field. Ejection wi l be for one game only. Any ejection deemed extreme by the umpires may warrant an additional game ejection. Any ejection deemed extreme by the UIC and Tournament Director may warrant an additional game ejection. Any threat made to an official wi l mean ejection from the Tournament and the involvement of law enforcement. It is the Tournament Director’s discretion whether further penalties are warranted. 25. Protests – a. Protests on any issue other than an umpire’s judgment or player eligibility wi l require a $100 cash fee. If a protest is upheld, the $100 wi l be refunded. If a protest is denied, the fee wi l be forfeited. b. c. d. e. Any protest regarding umpire judgment is NOT a lowed. Protests regarding rule or procedural interpretations must be made prior to the next pitch of the game and must be decided upon before the game can continue. Protests on rules or procedures that occur at the end of the game must be made before the next game begins. The protest committee wi l be made up of any part of the folowing people: i. Tournament Director i. i. Site Director Tournament UIC iv. Site UIC v. Any of the above designates vi. Player eligibility protests made during the game must be declared to the Plate Umpire who wi l confer with the UIC and Tournament Director. Player eligibility protests made after the game must be declared to the Tournament Director. 1. Before making a player eligibility protest confer with the opposing coach and/or scorekeeper as most issues are clerical. 2. 2. 26. Roster Rules a. Roster Rules b. During Pool Play a. Protests on player eligibility must be made before pool play has concluded and bracket seedings have been established. b. c. If the eligibility protest is upheld before the game is completed, the offending team forfeits the game in progress only and the player is ejected from the remainder of the tournament and the manager is ejected from the game. If the eligibility protest is upheld after the game is completed the game sha l stand as played. However, the offending player is ejected from the remainder of the tournament and the manager is ejected from the next game to be played. During Bracket Play a. Protests on player eligibility must be made before the completion of the game. If a player eligibility protest cannot be resolved at the time of the protest, the game sha l be completed. b. c. d. If the eligibility protest is upheld before the game is completed, the offending team forfeits the game in progress. If the eligibility protest is upheld after the game is completed but during the tournament, the game sha l stand as played. However, the offending player is ejected from the remainder of the tournament and the manager is ejected for the next game. If the eligibility protest is unable to be resolved before the tournament completes, the process wi l be nu lified. Teams can roster up to 20 players. c. d. e. Teams are free to add and remove players as they wish. Rosters are never locked or frozen to prevent removal or adding players. Players can be on more than one roster, hence a guest player process is not required. However, a player cannot play for more than one team in a tournament other than in exhibition games. f. g. h. i. j. 27. Forfeits a. b. The players on a team's roster prior to the scheduled start of a team’s first game in an event, is their official roster for that event. Once a team has started its first game in a tournament, a player cannot be added to a team’s roster unless injury forces the team to have fewer than 9 players. Then players can be added to the roster to bring the roster up to no more than 9 players. Players added to a roster (other than as described in 26g) after a team has started their first game would be considered i legal players and subject to the rules prescribed. A team can play with 8 players but the 9th spot in the batting order is an out. If the 9th player arrives when the game is underway, she can be added to the 9th spot in the batting order. Any missed spot in the batting order is recorded as an out regardless of the reason. The score for al forfeits wi l be recorded as 14-0 (the same as a 2-inning run-ruled game). If a team forfeits a l their games in pool play the team is NOT automatica ly the last seed. The team wi l have a 0-3 record, a lowing 42 runs and scoring 0. If another team goes 0-3 and alows more than 42 runs they would be a lower seed. 28. Electronic Communications a. A team may utilize exclusively one-way electronic communication devices from the dugout/bench only (on defense) and from the dugout/ bench or the coach’s box (on offense) for the relaying of signals to players. The device must be worn as designed by the manufacturer. No two-way communication devices, such as ce l phones, pagers, walkie-talkies, etc., are a lowed to be worn or carried onto the playing field. The choice to supply and utilize the one-way communication devices sha l be an individual team decision, and any team utilizing them sha l be lega ly permitted to do so. The penalty for misuse of this technology is the removal of the technology from a l players and coaches for the balance of the game. Any continued violation wi l result in the ejection of the manager from the game. 29. Coach Attire a. Proper coach attire is required for both decorum and safety. Coaches should wear normal athletic clothes. No torn or cut-off jeans, flip-flops, sandals, bare mid-drifts, overtly revealing shirts or shorts, shirts and hats with vulgar, profane, or inappropriate language.

LAFA Complex (LAF)

17 Sargent Road
Londonderry, NH 03053

Londondery High School (LHS)

295 Mammoth Road
Londonderry, NH 03053

Londondery Middle School (LMSC)

13 Mammoth Road
Londonderry, NH 03053

Matthew Thornton Field (MTF)

275 Mammoth Road
Londonderry,, MH 03053