LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL HOUSE LEAGUE TOURNAMENT RULES
We will be following the little league rule book and regular season house league rules unless the rule is mentioned in this document.
1. Every team is guaranteed 3 games
2. Games are up to 4 innings if time permits. No new inning can be started after 1hr 20, hard cap at 1 hr 40. If the inning has not finished at that time, score will revert back to the last complete inning unless the home team is at bat and has tied or gone ahead during the inning. Round robin games can end in ties. If the score is tied in a playoff or finals game, the extra inning will begin with the last out on second base (international tie breaker rules). If rain forces an early end to a game, 3 complete innings will be considered a complete game.
3. If in the bottom half or the last inning of a game, the home team is winning, then the home team will not take their last at bat.
4. Mercy rule is in effect. 5 run max per inning for all games. If after 3 complete innings in round robin a team is up by 10 runs or more, mercy rule will be applied, and the game will end. In the semi final and final games, the last inning will be unlimited.
5. Pitching:
a. Maximum 2 innings per game per player.
b. One pitch in an inning counts as an inning pitched.
c. Once a pitcher has been removed from a game they cannot be re-inserted as a pitcher in the same game.
d. Only one mound visit by coach per player per inning, unless to pull the pitcher or to attend to an injured pitcher.
e. A pitcher must be removed from the game if he/she hits 3 batters in an inning or 4 batters in a game.
- All players present at the game are to be listed in the batting order and must bat in turn (continuous batting order). Late arriving players must be added to the bottom of the order. Players may only play on one team in the tournament.
- The last recorded out can be used as a pinch runner for the catcher if they are on base or reaches base safely with 2 outs.
- A team may field with a minimum of 8 players. We will play with 10 players in the field. Less than 8 players result in a game forfeiture. If during the game, an injury or ejection causes a team to field less than 8 players, this will result in forfeiture regardless of the score or point in the game. Forfeit games will be recorded as a 10-0 loss.
- Unlimited defensive re-entry and substitution is permitted except for the pitcher.
- Two adult base coaches are permitted or a registered team player wearing a helmet.
- The umpire’s decision is final. Abuse of umpires will not be tolerated and will result with removal from the park. Any belligerent parent or fan will be warned then on the second offence the coach of the team involved will be ejected from the game. A third offence will result in forfeiture of the game.
- If there are two umpires under the age of 18 doing the game, the home team must appoint a game coordinator to oversee the game.
- The tournament director or league president will handle tournament decisions and decisions are final.
- Home team for round robin will be determined by a coin toss. Semi finals and finals are determined by standings from round robin play.
15. On deck batters are not permitted, except for the first batter between innings and the start of the game.
16. Coaches will not smoke during the game. Proper attire will be worn including closed toed shoes.
17. Balls will be provided by the tournament.
18. Standings in each division will be decided as follows: 1) 3 points for a win. 2) 1 point for a tie. 3) 0 points for a loss.
19. Pool play:
a. For major A and B and Junior B, top seeded team at the end of round robin will advance to finals. 2nd and 3rd place will play each other in semi finals.
b. For Junior A: at the end of round robin, 1st place will play 4th place and 2nd place will play 3rd place to determine finalist
20. Ties in the standings will be broken as follows:
Head-to-Head (unless a 3-way tie - in which case go to #2)
Least total runs against
Ratio - total runs for / (total runs for + total runs against)
Coin toss
SCORES FROM EACH GAME MUST BE TEXTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE GAME BY BOTH COACHES FOR VERIFICATION. TEXT GAME SCORES TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR.