USFA Playing Rules will govern all NAU Softball Events with the

USFA Playing Rules will govern all NAU Softball Events with the following modifications. In order to keep the USFA Rulebook streamlined as possible, we will Run Rule: refer back to the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) rulebook. 12 runs after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4 innings and 8 runs after 5 innings.
Pool games are DROP DEAD 1 hour time limit. Round Robin and Bracket play games are as stated in
Time Limits: tournament info without Drop Dead unless home team is WINNING and BATTING when time expires.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES are: 8U (1 hour), 10U (1:15.), 12u-18U (1:30).
Offense & Defense Bat 9, bat 9 with extra hitter(s) or bat entire roster. IF a player gets hurt, sick, has to leave, etc., and there are no
substitutes on the bench, that player’s name is scratched from the lineup. There is no out penalty as long as there
Courtesy Runners: are at least 9 players left in the lineup. Free substitution on defense between innings. Once inning starts, you
must sub to change a position in the field.
Courtesy runners for the Pitcher AND Catcher regardless of the amount of outs! The courtesy runner MUST
BE A SUB if a team is NOT batting their entire roster. IF a team IS batting the entire roster, the courtesy
runner MUST BE THE LAST COMPLETED AT BAT! The courtesy runner must be inserted before the next
PITCH! Once a player is used as a courtesy runner, that player cannot be used as a courtesy runner again in the
same half inning.
Balls: Protest
: Conduct: Each team will supply 1 ball for each game. Balls must be optic yellow with red stitches (375
compression 47 cor or below).
There will be a $100 CASH protest fee. Rule interpretations ONLY are accepted as a protest. Judgment calls
cannot be protested. Any protest MUST be submitted at the time of the call and the game will not continue until
a ruling is made. Protests cannot be made once play continues. Protests are decided by the UIC and are final
Team coaches & managers are responsible for the conduct of parents, players and other team spectators. Use
of profanity will not be tolerated. Managers & coaches are expected to conduct themselves with decorum. If
the umpire throws any manager or head coach out of any game, that manager WILL NOT be eligible to
coach/manage in his/her team’s next scheduled game. NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ALLOWED!
Home Team: Home Team and Visiting Team will be determined by coin toss. In Championship Games, the highest seeded
team will have the choice of being home or visitor. The home team will furnish the official scorekeeper.
Tie Breakers & The Final score is the score at the end of the time limit! This is a time saving rule! The tiebreaker rule will be
“IF” Games utilized in elimination games once the game goes into extra innings or the time limit has expired. All
Championship “If” games will be played by International Tie Breaker.
Other: *Birth Certificates should be in coach’s possession if requested. *Metal cleats are allowed in 14u, 16u, 18u and High
School Divisions. *In case of rain, the schedule is subject to change to ensure completion of the tournament. We will
provide information to you through our Text Messaging system. *To get more innings in, a defensive team will have
approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds to take the field and get ready before the offensive player is called to the
plate. *A player can only play for one team in a event. Players cannot be “picked up” from eliminated teams
regardless of the age group. *1 coach will be allowed to call pitches from a bucket outside of the dugout. 10U games
will be played with 3 outfielders and third dropped strike rule(s).