NFHS Softball rules, plus CFT rules will apply.

Age Cutoff: December 31st, 2023 (this will be included in the email when teams are notified of the published schedule)

Roster: rosters must include first name, last name, & date of birth. A roster must be turned in before playing in the first game of the qualifier. If a roster is not turned in, all players will be deemed illegal players & the proper penalty will apply if a protest occurs. Rosters may be done online through Triple Crown & will not be required to be turned in physically at the event if completed this way. We will also accept physical rosters which must include first name, last name, & date of birth. Do not use nicknames. The physical rosters can be turned into gate personnel during coaches sign-in.

PENALTY: If any player is caught playing in an ineligible age group, the penalty will be forfeiture of the current game, but will be allowed to play in future games of that tournament if they are not eliminated by the forfeit. Teams will be given a reasonable amount of time to provide proof of age for a player. The game will be played under protest & upon providing proof the result of the game may be modified or left the same. 

Insurance: proof of insurance will be required & it must be turned in to the gate personnel at coaches check-in. CFT accepts all valid forms of team insurance.

TIME LIMITS:
– Alliance Qualifiers: all games will be played with a 1 hour & 40-minute time limit including championship & if games. 

RUN RULE:

– 10 after 3 innings 

TIE GAMES:

–   All games must have a winner. If at the end of 7 innings, or time limit expires, the next inning starts with a runner (the batter scheduled to bat last in the respective half inning) at second base on Sunday.

GAME TIME:

– Game time is forfeit time unless the delay is created by CFT.

HOME TEAM:

–  Coin Flip for all games.

COURTESY RUNNER:

• A courtesy runner maybe used for pitcher and catcher only with a player who has not participated in the game.

DUGOUTS:

– Team listed on the top half of the bracket will occupy the third-base dugout.

– If a team is already occupying a dugout from a previously played game, they will remain in that same dugout.

PROTESTS:

– Protests will be a 100-dollar deposit. The protest must be provided in cash to the UIC. If the coach is correct in the ruling, the full 100 dollars will be refunded. If incorrect, the 100 dollars will not be refunded. Protests must be made before the umpires leave the playing field. No protests will occur after official completion of the game.

ROSTERS:

– All players must be on team’s roster prior to the start of the tournament. First name, last name, & date of birth must be included on the roster for each player. 

– Teams must provide proof of insurance at the beginning of the tournament. 

– Roster will be turned in to tournament director.

– College players are not allowed to be on a team’s roster and may not participate in any CFT event. If any player listed on a college’s roster is caught playing in the event, the team will be disqualified from the tournament as this poses a safety risk. 

PITCHING RULE MODIFICATIONS:

– While the pitcher takes the signal, her stride foot may be on or behind the pitcher’s plate as far back as desired.

– Once the pitcher initially sets the toe of her stride foot, she CANNOT move it to increase the distance behind the pitcher’s plate.

– In addition, the pitcher shall take (or simulate taking) a signal from the catcher.

–– Pitchers will be allowed to have their pivot foot become airborne during delivery, but re-planting will not be allowed.This was commonly referred to as leaping before. 

INTENTIONAL WALKS:

– A request made to the umpire by the defensive coach, catcher, or pitcher, for the purpose of awarding the batter first base. The request may be made prior to or during the at-bat. For the purposes of an appeal: an intentional walk is considered an at-bat, therefore, an appeal of the previous play cannot be made following the intentional walk. When an intentional walk is awarded by the umpire, it is considered the same as throwing a pitch. 

GAME BALLS:

– CFT will provide the game balls.

METAL CLEATS:

–  10U & 12U players may not wear metal cleats.

– 14U, 16U and 18U can wear metal cleats unless notified in advance due to facility rules.

EJECTIONS:

– Any coach, player and/or spectator ejected from a game may be required to not participate in their next scheduled game. This will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the UIC of the event. 

DECISIONS:

– The UIC shall have final decision on all rule & behavior questions. Any questions regarding teams, playing times, or special requests will be addressed by the tournament director.

LINEUP OPTIONS – DP / FLEX and EP Rules:

–  OPTION 1 – Straight nine: Those nine players can play any position on defense.

– OPTION 2 – DP/Flex: 10 players are listed on the line-up, but only 9 bats. The DP can bat for any player that you designate prior to the start of the game. That player is designated as the Flex and must be listed at the bottom of the lineup. The flex must be the last player in the lineup at all times. If the flex is not playing defense, that must be reported as you will be dropping the flex & the flex will be charged a substitution for leaving the game. The flex may come back into the lineup in the DP or Flex position. The player who leaves the lineup will be charged the substitution when dropping the flex or bringing the flex in on offense for the DP. 

– OPTION 3 – EP: This gives you the option to bat 10 players and any 9 can play defense. This player can be placed anywhere in the lineup.

–  OPTION 4 – DP/Flex and the EP: This allows you to have 11 players listed in the lineup. Only 10 will bat any of these players can play defensively. The Flex must be listed on the bottom spot of the lineup card. The last slot will be the flex.  If the flex is not playing defense, that must be reported as you will be dropping the flex & the flex will be charged a substitution for leaving the game. The flex may come back into the lineup in the DP or Flex position. The player who leaves the lineup will be charged the substitution when dropping the flex or bringing the flex in on offense for the DP. 

10 AND UNDER SPECIALTY RULES:

1. 35′ pitching distance
2. 11″ ball

12 AND UNDER SPECIALTY RULES:

1. 40′ pitching distance
2. 12″ ball

14U, 16U and 18U SPECIALTY RULES:

1. 43′ pitching distance
2. METAL CLEATS ARE ALLOWED

Park rules 

– No Pets inside the parks, no outside food or drinks, teams can bring in one water cooler with drinks only. These are rules supplied by the city of each park we have no control over these rules.

– California Fastpitch Tourneys, Tournament Directors and Officials, City of Stockton, City of Lodi, City of Manteca, San Joaquin County, McNair High School or Arnaiz Stadium shall assume no responsibilities for the injuries, losses, or damages as a result of these tournaments.

– Admission, 8 dollars person, 6 dollars for senior & military, kids under 6 are free

Championship Games: If both teams are in the final game and qualified for nationals in a national qualifier through CFT. We will not be offering an if-game for this circumstance. The championship game will be played with a time limit & one game will determine the champion & runner-up. 

RAIN OUT POLICY & REFUND POLICY:

– If you enter a tournament and the entire tournament is cancelled due to rain or some other unforeseen event, we will apply your paid entry fee  to another CFT Tournament. Minus 50 % of tournament entry fees due to incurred cost.

– If you withdraw from the tournament for any reason when we start the schedule typically 7 days prior to, or after the schedule has been posted on the California Fastpitch Tourneys web site, your fees will be nonrefundable.

– 50% of your paid entry may be credited or refunded in the case of a rain out or stoppage.The other half of will be non-refundable due to expenses inquired for this event if the event has started & is rained out. The non-refundable amount may increase at the tournament directors discretion depending on the amount of costs incurred for that event. 

– If games have been played & the tournament must be stopped, you will be credited for the games that you did play based off of the original 50% refund. The remaining refund will be refunded by check. 

– If you enter and paid but we cannot fit your team into the tournament you will receive a refund in full, you may apply the total amount to another tournament within that calendar year.

Thank You

Shannon Dubois (209-639-2079)

California Fastpitch Tourneys tourneys@CaliforniaFastpitchTourneys.org