Spiderz Mega Draft Softball Tournament Rules
OUTDOOR TOURNAMENT RULES (updated July 1, 2025)
DRAFT DAY FORMAT
Females, Pitchers, SS, 3B, 2B, 1B, OF and C/AH will be split up and randomly drafted as evenly as possible across the entire draft board trying to create as much parity as possible for each team.
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TOURNAMENT FORMAT
4 Game Guarantee (weather permitting, of course)
1 or 2 Play-In Games (each event will be different)
Seeded double elimination championship bracket
Consolation bracket (Dog House), single elimination
Re-Draft (if time permits)
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EQUIPMENT
All defensive players must have a fielding glove while playing defense.
No foreign substance can be used in fielding gloves.
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SHOES
All players must wear shoes. No metal cleats. Soft or hard rubber cleats are allowed.
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UNIFORMS
While Spiderz uniforms are provided, teams do not need to match uniforms each game. All players must be wearing a shirt/tank/jersey, pants/shorts, and proper shoes to play.
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APPROVED BATS
240 compression stamped (slow pitch only) or USA/ASA slow pitch softball bats are approved in Spiderz Mega Draft play.
Dual stamped bats must have 240 compression stamped (slow pitch only).
No Senior stamped bats allowed (on their own or dual stamped with another association)
ILLEGAL BAT APPEAL/RULING:
If a player hits a ball using an illegal bat, and the play is protested by the defending team, before the next pitch, the play will be ruled as a DEAD BALL OUT. The offensive team will be issued a TEAM WARNING.
If an illegal bat is used again in that game, by the same team, the play will be ruled a DEAD BALL OUT and the hitter will be ejected from the remainder of the game. The ejected player’s spot in the lineup will be an automatic out each time that spot comes up in the lineup.
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APPROVED BALLS
12-inch Ball
Men MUST hit the official 12 inch .44/375 ball with Spiderz factory logo CLEARY PRINTED on it.
11-inch Ball
Women will have the option to hit the men's 12 inch ball or an 11 inch .44/400 ball with Spiderz factory logo CLEARY PRINTED on it.
Teams will hit their own balls, specified above.
ILLEGAL BALL APPEAL/RULING:
If the offensive team THROWS IN an illegal ball the defensive team can appeal the ball before the 1st pitch with this illegal ball is thrown. If the ball is determined illegal, the offensive team will have the ball removed and a team warning will be issued.
In the scenario where an illegal ball is thrown in by the offensive team, and the defensive pitcher has pitched the ball and the batter puts the ball in play. The defensive team would need to appeal before pitching to the next upcoming batter. If the ball is determined illegal, the hit would be ruled a DBO and the batter on base will be out. If the ball is appealed after the next batter comes up and is pitched to, that batter in the box would be out.
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GAME TIME LIMIT
Game times are 60 minutes or 7 innings, whichever happens first. No new inning may start after 60 minutes expires. No games end in ties.
Time starts after the coin flip. Hustle in and Hustle out.
Games can start as early as 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. BE EARLY!
Winners Bracket Undefeated Game, Loser's Bracket Final and Championship Game(s) will be 90-minute games.
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INTERNATIONAL TIEBREAKER RULE
In the event, it’s a tie ball game, at the end of 7 innings or time has expired, each extra inning the LAST OUT will go to 2nd base as a runner. There will be a normal pitch count (1-1).
This rule will continue until one team scores more runs than the other at the end of a complete inning to determine the winner.
Per Tournament Director’s approval, extra innings may go to a one pitch in the event a field is running behind on time.
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RUN RULES
20 runs after 3 innings
15 runs after 4 innings
10 runs after 5 innings
Run rules are in effect EVERY GAME. NO FLIP FLOP.
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HOME RUN LIMIT
Five (5) Home Runs/Game.
Female home runs DO COUNT towards total.
All home runs over the limit will be considered a Dead Ball Out.
Hit and Sit Rule, baserunners do not need to advance to the next base. They can go directly to the dugout.
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ROSTER ADDITIONS
Absolutely NO additions/pickups will be made to any roster unless a Spiderz Mega Drafts Tournament Director adds them. Teams will need to communicate with tournament directors when any players fall off their roster. If a team protests an illegal roster and wins, the team protested will be removed from the tournament.
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PLAYER SUBSTITUTIONS
Player/Pitching substitutions with 2 minutes or less on the clock, will stop the clock. Once players are in position, time will resume. Players must hustle in and off the field.
Pitcher substitutions will have 1 min to warm up, max of 3 pitches.
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INJURED PLAYERS
In the event a player is severely injured during the game and cannot continue the rest of the tournament, that spot in the lineup will be an automatic out the 1st time that spot returns to an AB, then skipped each AB thereafter with no penalty. The player may NOT return at any time and is ruled out.
If a team or injured player wishes to have the injured player continue playing later that game or later games of the tournament, the player must remain in the lineup and take an out for each AB they miss.
If a team drops to LESS than 10players, the Tournament Director will make best effort to assign a "House Sub" (someone who has not played on a team yet) if available.
If a player who has been injured on the field and is bleeding, to continue to play they will need to have stopped the bleeding or be bandaged. Player needs to ensure blood does not transfer to any other players during game play.
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PLAYER EJECTIONS
If a player is ejected from a game, that spot in the lineup will incur an out for each time it comes to bat in the lineup for that game. Players are allowed to return to the next game. However, all ejections will be reported to tournament director(s) and tournament director(s) will have final say if any other action/penalty shall be had.
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NO SHOWS/LATE TO GAME
PLAYERS MUST BE IN THE BATTING LINEUP OF EVERY GAME, TO REMAIN ELIGIBLE FOR PLAY/PRIZES/POINTS!
“NO-SHOW” SCENARIOS
PLAY-IN GAMES
If a player doesn't show up to 1st play-in game, the team can play the game WITHOUT that player in the lineup. Furthermore, the team may vote on whether they want to have that player remain on the team or immediately removed from the roster/tournament and no longer eligible to win any prizes.
(This option will only remain for the 1st play-in game.)
In the event teams get 2 play-in games, if a player doesn’t show for the 2nd play-in game, the team will be forced to either DROP the player from their team’s roster (player is no longer allowed to return) or the player be added to the lineup and take an auto OUT every at bat, to remain eligible to play in the next game. Player’s that are DROPPED are no longer eligible to play any further games or win any prizes/points.
BRACKET GAMES
If a player doesn't show up to a bracket game, the team will be forced to either DROP the player from their team’s roster (player is no longer allowed to return) or the player be added to the lineup and take an auto OUT every at bat, to remain eligible to play in the next game. Player’s that are DROPPED are no longer eligible to play any further games or win any prizes/points.
“RUNNING LATE” SCENARIOS
If a player is "running late" to a game, the player must be added to the end of the lineup. If you're "running late", you need to clearly communicate with your team prior to game time, as the team will have the final call on adding you to the lineup. If the player is added to the lineup, and the player misses his/her 1st at bat, the team will take a recorded out for that player.
If the “running late” player’s spot comes up again for his/her 2nd at bat, the team will have the option to remove player from the lineup with no further penalty, and player will be immediately disqualified from the rest of the tournament. Or, the player remains in the lineup and an out is taken for every at bat to keep the player eligible for the remainder of the tournament. This option will remain for missing player’s future at bats as well, if kept in game.
“Running Late” must be added to the lineup before 1st pitch. No players can be added to the lineup once the 1st pitch of the game has been thrown.
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PITCHER’S FEET POSITION
Pitchers are required to have a foot on the pitching plate upon release.
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PITCHER’S DELIVERY
Pitchers must present the ball prior to starting their motions for delivery of the pitch.
Jukes/faking are allowed.
4'-10' height limit from the ground. Slow speed and with a hump.
If a pitched ball hits the ground prior to the batter initiating the momentum of their swing, it will be called a dead ball and count as a ball for the batter.
But, if the batter has initiated the momentum of their swing prior to the pitched ball hitting the ground before reaching home plate, it will be ruled as a strike for the batter. As long as the bat and ball make contact.
It will be the umpire’s discretion if they feel the pitcher is wasting the clock with bad pitches. The umpire may rule the pitch as a dead ball, if time is being wasted by the pitcher.
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PITCHER’S PROTECTIVE GEAR
All pitchers MUST wear a mask or helmet - NO EXCEPTIONS!
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DEFENSE COED SPECIFIC RULES
10 players take defensive positions.
Must have 8 players to start the game.
Females can play anywhere on the field.
No outfield co-ed line will be used.
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SITTING OUT FROM DEFENSE
No (2) players of the minority sex may sit out of playing defense at the same time.
No player may sit out from playing a defensive position more than 7 innings for every 14 innings played unless the player should so verbally choose to. We ask each team to monitor this carefully. Please be respectful and fair to your teammates that also came to play.
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FEMALE DIFFERENTIAL RATIO- DEFENSE ADJUSTMENT
Teams must disclose the number of female roster players at coin toss.
In the event 2 opposing teams have an unequal number of female players, the team with lesser number must MATCH the number of females the opposing team has playing on defense until all bench options have been exhausted.
EXAMPLE: The visiting team has 12 players in which 4 are female and the home team has 12 players in which 3 are female. The visiting team may choose to have 3 females playing the field and 1 on the bench as an AH. The home team would now be required to play ALL 3 of their females in the field and sit 2 male players.
If the 2 teams have the same number of female players, the number of females playing defense does not have to match.
If there is a female auto out in the lineup, with the team who has lesser females, the auto out would not be playing a defensive position. The team will need to exhaust all their female bench options.
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FEMALE BATTERS - NO THROW RULE, 1st BASE
Females who are up to bat CANNOT be thrown out at 1st base from an outfield position (or an assist from an OF position).
DEFENSIVE STARTING POSITION
Defense may align on the field in a 4-man, or 5-man if they wish, at any time vs any batter.
However, if a female is up to bat, an infielder may not play (starting position) beyond the infield cut line, to be considered an infielder.
The cut line is where the dirt meets the grass/ infield meets the outfield. Umpire’s discretion on fields with no cut line.
Infielders "starting position" will be determined by where they are standing at release of pitch.
INFIELD POSITIONING
Defensive/Infield positioning is ONLY used to determine if a female hitter can be thrown out at 1st base. All other defensive plays (force out at 2nd, play at 3rd, fly balls etc.) are allowed no matter where any infielder starts.
EXAMPLE Part 1: If Shortstop is standing in front of the infield cut line at time of pitch release with a female hitter...... Then, the infielder immediately sprints back into the outfield, and the ball is hit in their direction. The ball lands, he/she picks it up, and throws a missile across the field for the force out at 1st base. This is ACCEPTABLE (since he/she STARTED in the infield) and the hitter will be called OUT. The shortstop may also catch the ball in the air in this scenario, and the female hitter WILL BE OUT.
EXAMPLE Part 2: If Shortstop is standing behind the infield cut line at time of pitch release with a female hitter...... Then, the infielder immediately sprints back into the outfield, and the ball is hit in their direction. The ball lands, he/she picks it up, and throws a missile across the field for the force out at 1st base. The hitter will be called SAFE as the shortstop STARTED beyond the cutline and is now considered an OF position. The shortstop may also catch the ball in the air in this scenario, and the female hitter WILL BE OUT, as starting position doesn't matter regarding a ball that is caught in the air.
Umpires’ discretion in determining when an infielder crosses the threshold of becoming an outfield position.
If a ball is thrown in from the outfield on a girl batter, the ball will remain LIVE until the play has finished and time is called by the umpire.
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BATTING
All counts start at 1-1, no courtesy fouls.
No arguing about balls and strikes. Arguing an umpire’s call could be grounds for a player ejection!
Batter must drop their bat before touching 1st base.
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BATTERS BOX/BATTER ALIGNMENT
The batter must take an INITIAL position (at pitch release) with his/her back foot no further forward than a line defining the front edge of home plate. The batter will be called out only if he/she hits the ball with a foot touching or completely in front of home plate.
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BAT TOSS/FLIPS
No excessive bat tossing, or bat flipping will be allowed. Any bat toss/flip that clears the batter’s head or is thrown/tossed in an excessive/violent manner in any direction will result in the play being called an automatic dead ball out.
If a batter happens to bat flip after hitting a homerun, and the umpire calls the bat flip an out. The play will be ruled a Dead Ball Out. Homerun hitter is out and homerun does not count. Any runners on base will stay in place.
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BATTER LINE-UP
Each team must present their lineup to the other team, at coin toss, before 1st pitch.
Each team is supplied with 1 scorebook. Please take a clean book, and make sure that runs are scored accurately by the umpire during each game.
Each team MUST bat all of their rostered players.
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FEMALE DIFFERENTIAL RATIO- LINEUP ADJUSTMENT:
Teams must disclose the number of female roster players at coin toss.
Lineup can be arranged in any order team chooses.
In the event 2 opposing teams have an unequal number of female players by 1, no lineup adjustments are required.
If the female differential from the opposing team is greater than 1, the team with the LESS females will need to add a "dummy spot" to their lineup and take an automatic out each time that spot comes to bat during the entire game.
EXAMPLE: The Visiting Team has 4 Women, and the Home Team has 2. The Home Team would have to add a "dummy spot" to their lineup and take an out every time that spot comes to bat throughout the game.
In the event where a team has 4 females and the other has 1 female, the team that is short females must add enough "Dummy Spots" to their lineup to be within 1 female differential of the opposing team.
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PITCHING - INTENTIONAL WALK
A batter must have BOTH feet in the batter’s box and then the pitcher can signal to the umpire they would like to intentionally walk the batter.
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FOUL TIP
Foul tips must clear the batter’s head to be caught for an out.
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BATTER SURRENDER
A batter has the option to surrender their at bat, ONLY when there are 2 outs. The batter must have ONE foot in the box and express to the umpire they would like to surrender their at bat and end the inning.
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BASE RUNNING
No retouch.
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MALE BATTER/FEMALE ON DECK
If a male batter is walked and a female is on deck, if there are 2 outs the male batter gets 2nd base and the female has the option to walk to 1st or hit. If only 1 out, the male batter gets 2nd base and the female batter must hit.
If there is an auto out for a female batter, and the male batter ahead of her is walked, the male batter will get 2nd base.
When walked, the batter must run it out and touch 1st base before proceeding to 2nd base. If the batter doesn’t touch 1st base before touching 2nd base, the batter will be out.
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FEMALE ON DECK BATTER POSITION
Female on deck batters must CLEARLY be the next player up to bat, and in the on-deck area. Or, a verbal signal that is clearly and effectively communicated with the umpire on the defensive team, that the on deck batter is a female.
If a female batter is on deck and is NOT visible or given verbal communication, in the event the male in front of her is walked, he will only be awarded 1st base, and the female batter must hit.
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PINCH RUNNERS
1 per inning, per sex, per team. Runner has to be of the same sex and can be anyone on the team (however, if that runner comes up to bat in the lineup before he/she scores or gets out, that runner’s spot in the lineup will be an automatic out and NO OFFENSIVE EJECTION).
SIDENOTE: A pinch runner may be used twice in the same inning if the person needing the runner gets on again (the pinch runner must also be the same runner used earlier that inning).
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DUGOUT RULES
Players must always stay in the dugout when not playing defense. The exceptions are base coaches, on-deck and in-the-hole batters on offense. Non-rostered players will NOT be allowed on the field during game play. This means no base coaches that aren’t on your team’s roster. If you have someone keeping a book for your team and they are not a rostered player on your team, they MUST stay in the dugout or in the spectator’s section. Please keep all equipment and bags inside designated dugout areas.
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ILLEGAL PLAYER/ROSTER CHECK
All LIVE rosters can be viewed at any time by going to this Mega Draft Tournament website and clicking LIVE ROSTER. If you are playing a team you feel has an illegal player in their lineup and would like to appeal the roster: call time out (before the last out of the game), announce to the umpire that you would like to appeal a player on the other team’s roster, present the umpire $100 CASH, and the umpire will stop the clock and contact a tournament director.
The tournament director will check IDs of the player(s) in question and review the scorebook if needed. If a player is determined to be illegal, the appealing team will get their $100 back and the violating team (all players) will be immediately removed from the tournament. If player(s) are determined legal, the clock will restart and the $100 will be given to the umpire for wasting his time.
All players must remain on the field until an official tournament director can come to the field. If at any time the player(s) in question leave the field of play while waiting for the tournament director, they will be determined to be illegal, and the team will be removed.
No appeals can be made after the last out of the game.
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FIGHTING
We have a zero-tolerance policy regarding fighting. Any players involved in any physical altercation will be immediately Ejected from the game and disqualified from the tournament.
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IMPROPER CONDUCT
There will be no profanity or swearing on the field. This includes arguing calls with the umpire. Improper conduct by players on the field is grounds for a game ejection. Unruly fans may also result in a park ejection. Please, as players and/or fans, attend the games with respect and sportsmanship.
No excessive noise making devices will be allowed by fans or players (i.e. Whistles, Horns, etc.). Umpire and/or tournament director(s) reserve all rights to ask noise to stop or result in game/park ejection.
Players must obey all state and local laws.
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AWARDS/PRIZES/POINTS
If you or your team wins an award/prize, you must be on the current active roster to claim. If you no-showed at any point, you'll be removed from the roster and forfeit any award/prize. If you leave the tournament early or are injured and cannot finish the tournament you risk losing any award/prize/points you may have qualified for.
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WEATHER
Tournament director reserves all rights to modify any game to a 1-pitch, shorten game times, eliminate games and/or brackets in the event of time constraints due to weather to help assure a champion.
In the event of bad weather or acts of god that are out of our hands that force a tournament cancellation, no refunds will be given as each player will have received a uniform package per the terms and conditions you agreed to at registration.
In addition, per the terms and conditions, if tournament cancellation is announced between the tournament start and just before the finish of play-in games, we will host a drawing which will include all players in the tournament and randomly choose names to distribute all prize packages. Once play-in games are completed, the tournament director reserves all rights to decide prize distribution in the event of tournament cancellation.
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OFFICIAL SPIDERZ MEGADRAFT INDOOR SOFTBALL RULES ADDENDUM (to Original Rules Below)
BALLS SUPPLIED -
.52/300 12" Men’s Balls and .44/375 11" Women’s Balls will be supplied by Spiderz and will be with Umpires at each field. Please make sure all balls stay at the field of play.
EVERYONE MUST PLAY -
- Each team MUST bat all their active roster players in the lineup. However, only 9 (nine) players will take the field for defense.
- A player CANNOT sit out from playing a defensive position for more than 7 innings, for every 14 innings played, unless a player chooses to.
- 2 of the “minority sex” players CANNOT sit the bench at the same time.
- A player CANNOT be an EH for back-to-back games unless that player should so choose to.
We ask each team to monitor this carefully. Please be respectful and fair to your teammates that also came to play.
INDOOR GAME PLAY GENERAL RULES -
- Balls hit off the ceiling are LIVE and can be caught for an out.
- Balls hit off the side nets, will be considered a dead ball foul.
- Balls hit off the back wall, including Home Runs, may be caught for an out.
- Balls that are hit off the ceiling: Fair or Foul is determined by where the ball LANDS, not where the ball strikes the ceiling.
- Furthermore, a ball may land fair, and roll foul if in front of 1st & 3rd base.
- Because of close quarters, a Suicide Line between 3rd and Home will be enforced. Once a runner has passed this line, a force at home plate will be in effect. Runner will get the PLATE and defensive player will get the DEFENSIVE plate taped to the turf approx. 24" in front of home plate. Sliding IS permitted by the runner however there will be NO TAGGING FOR AN OUT at Home Plate. Only Force Out will be in effect at Home Plate.
- Women cannot be thrown out from 1st Base from any outfield position (or an assist from an OF position)
- Defense may align on the field ANY WAY they wish. However, if a WOMAN is up to bat, an infielder may not play (starting position) any further than 15ft from the direct baseline (a straight line between each base) to be considered an infielder (umpires’ discretion). Furthermore, infielders starting position will be determined by where they are standing at release of pitch.
- REMINDER- If an infielder starts beyond the 15ft mark for a woman, they may still catch the ball for an out or attempt any other out EXCEPT the force out at 1B.
HOME RUNS & HOME RUN LIMIT -
- Home Runs will be any ball hit OVER the second lateral beam from the floor. Ball may hit the ceiling and carry over the beam for a Home Run.
- Home Runs MAY BE ROBBED if the defensive player can catch the ball before it hits the ground.
- Hit & Sit
- Unlimited Home Runs
- FIELD EXCEPTIONS: Field #1: Right field netting. Any ball that appears to be hit over the Navy-Blue wall paint (umpire discretion) will be considered a Home Run (yet still robbable). Centerfield (area over Court Corral), if ball crosses above HR Line, the play will be ruled GROUND RULE SINGLE, as no attempt can be made to rob the ball. FIELD 2: Left Field - any ball hit OVER the suspended batting cage and hits the back wall and falls, will be considered a Home Run (yet still robbable). IF the ball gets stuck in the net, the ball will be considered a Ground Rule SINGLE
OTHER OBSTACLES (lol) -
- FIELD 1: any ball that lands inside or stuck behind the Court Corral in CF, will be considered a Ground Rule Single. However, a ball may bounce off of contents inside Corral and land back into fair territory and still be playable (however, it cannot be caught for an out)
- FIELD 3: Batting Cages suspended above Home Plate and 1st base line. Any ball hit off the far cage, is live and the ball will be played where it lands. Any ball hit off the 1st cage, closest to home plate, will be considered a dead ball foul (if strike 3, it will be a COURTESY FOUL and batter will get another attempt)
- Any balls stuck in random obstacles/equipment/on the field will be considered a dead Ball Ground Rule Single (no doubles)
DUGOUT RULES -
Players must always stay in the dugout when not playing defense. Or, if they are the on-deck or in-the-hole batters on offense. Non-rostered players will NOT be allowed on the field during game play. This means no base coaches that aren’t on your team’s roster. If you have someone keeping book for your team and they are not a rostered player on your team, please keep them in the dugout or in the spectator’s section. Please keep all equipment and bags inside designated dugout areas.
INJURED PLAYERS -
In the event a player is injured during the game and cannot continue, that spot in the lineup will be an automatic out the 1st time that spot returns to an AB, then skipped each AB thereafter. If an injured player cannot play the next game, the team must play with 1 less player. If a team drops to less than 9, the Tournament Director will make best attempt to assign a "House Sub" (someone who has not played on a team yet) if available. If a player sits out an entire game due to injury, that player is NO LONGER eligible to play in any other games this tournament.
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