PlayFPN Rules

PlayFPN Rule Books and Documents

Go to the rules tab on the schedule page for any specific event rules. 

What are the PlayFPN playing rules?

  • The base rule book for PlayFPN tournaments is the NFHS (National Federation of High Schools) rule book. This is the same rule book used to govern high school softball across the country.
  • The NFHS rule book is available for download for $7 or in hard copy for $10. See the NFHS website.
  • More information about rules can be found at playfpn.com/rules.

Does PlayFPN have team strength classifications and tournaments or divisions for those classifications?

  • We offer team strength classifications.
  • Some events are listed as a particular strength classification, and more often, event divisions will be created on the fly when making a schedule based on what teams have entered. In open events, we use the classifications to assist in scheduling pool play.
  • Teams self-select a classification upon registering and we will monitor a team's progress as they play in the season to determine if re-classification is required.
  • These are the strength classifications we use:
    • A - Any team considered to be the highest-level competitive travel team regionally. If your team is normally in or should be in contention to win each tournament you enter, you beat the "better" teams in your state, and you have multiple front-line pitchers, then you should consider yourself an "A" team. A small percentage of teams qualify for A.
    • B - Any team considered to be a solid but average to above-average travel team. If your team is occasionally in or should be in contention to win a tournament you enter and you are competitive with most teams like you in your state, and you have good but not overwhelming pitching, then you should consider yourself a "B" team. The majority of teams qualify for B.
    • C - Any team that typically plays in a local league or town league, or a team that might only play in one or two tournaments a year.  A "C" team is also any team considered to be an entry-level or novice travel team with kids new to travel softball, and lacks the experience and number of skilled players and pitchers to compete with “A” and “B” teams.  A small percentage of teams qualify for C.
    • PlayFPN reserves the right to adjust your strength based on your results in our events and/or external events.

What are the PlayFPN roster rules?

  • PlayFPN keeps rostering simple and easy.
  • Teams can roster up to 20 players.
  • Teams are free to add and remove players as they wish.
  • Players can be on more than one roster, so a guest player process is not required. However, the players on a team's roster before the start of an event are their official roster for that event, and a player cannot play for more than one team in a tournament other than in exhibition games, such as a showcase.
  • Rosters are electronically locked at 8am on the first day of play. They will remain locked through 11:59 pm of the last day of play of an event.
  • If, during an event, injuries force a team to have fewer than 9 players, the team can add players to the roster during an event ONLY to bring the roster up to a max of 9 players. However, coaches must alert the Tournament Director as the roster will be locked to the coach during the event.
  • 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.

What are the season and playing age determination dates?

  • The season runs from 9/1 to 8/31. Each fall, teams will be required to make a new team for the new season (9/1 to 8/31).
  • We use the age guidelines of USA Softball.
    • For the 2026 season, which begins on 9/1/25, whatever the player's physical age is on 8/31/25 is their playing age for the full season, which runs 9/1/25 to 8/31/26.
    • When you create your 2026 team, if you choose to copy over players from the 2025 team, it will only copy over players who are age-eligible under the new rules. 

What insurance is required, and can I purchase insurance through PlayFPN?

  • Team insurance is required to play in any PlayFPN event. Teams must have a minimum of $1,000,000 of liability coverage per occurrence and a minimum aggregate of $1,000,000, and Accident Only policies are not accepted. 
  • Fastpitch Nation and the premier sports insurance agency in the Northeast, Fairway Underwriters, is now bringing to teams great, affordable insurance and the complete simplicity of purchasing, creating, and downloading team insurance and additional insured certificates ONLINE, INSTANTLY, and without ever needing to call or email anyone! Our Team Insurance program offers industry-standard team insurance valid for ANY organization's events, plus practices and scrimmages. Read More about our Team Insurance Program. 
  • If you have other team insurance, there is a place to upload the team’s insurance certificate. The certificate must name Fastpitch Nation Inc. as an additional insured. Details regarding the additional insured certificate are available in the team manager’s account.
  • Each tournament host will let teams know directly about any other particular needs for the insurance certificates.
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