WSL rules will apply and any other tournament rules listed below.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

5 Game Guarantee (weather pending): 1 Pool seeding game leading into a seeded Double Elimination bracket. Single Elimination Doghouse and Single Elimination Last Chance Bracket for any teams that did not play 5 games.

APPROVED BATS:

USSSA 240 bats are approved in the Smasherz Superdraft.
If there is a Senior division, Senior bats will be allowed for the Senior division and not allowed for any other division. If there is no Senior division, Senior Bats are allowed for female players that are 35 years and older and male players that are 45 years or older. Wristbands will be available for the list of players registered in these age groups.

Teams will be required to put their bats along the fence prior to the start of the game. The Umpire will perform a quick inspection and help teams determine if they have a legal bat or not. We will spot test bats for compression throughout the weekend.

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 and a warning will be issued to the team. If it happens again that game, the play will once again be ruled a Dead Ball out and the player will be ejected from the remainder of the game resulting in an automatic out each time that spots comes up in the lineup.

BALLS

Men MUST hit the official 12 inch Super Duper multi layer Worth ball. Women will have the option to hit the 12 inch ball or the 11 inch Super Duper multi layer Worth ball.

Teams will hit their own balls, specified above.

6 12 inch balls will be supplied to each team before the tournament starts. 2 11 inch balls will be supplied by tournament and kept on the fields. If you lose all your softballs, or wish to have more, they will be available for purchase at the fields for $6 each.

HOME RUN LIMIT

Five (5) Home Runs/Game. All Home Runs over the limit will be considered a Dead Ball Out. Female Home Runs DO NOT COUNT towards the team total each game. Hit and Sit, no need to run them out or touch 1st base.

LINEUP

~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. However, only 10 players will take the field on 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.

PITCHING

6-10 feet from ground with no faking or juking. Start 1-1 count and one courtesy foul. 

Pitcher must toe the rubber. Pitcher must start facing the batter and must present the ball. Arm motion must be straight back and then straight forward without a pause or any pump fakes.

All pitchers MUST wear a mask or helmet - NO EXCEPTIONS! 

Pitching screen is optional, pitcher must still wear a mask or helmet. If you chose to use a pitching screen, the pitcher may not be the first player to touch the batted ball. If the pitcher is the first to touch the batted ball, it will be a dead ball and each runner will advance one base.

Strike zone is above front knee and under back shoulder. Plate is a dead ball in younger mixed division. In senior division, plate is live and/or may use a mat.

No live ball stealing.

No arguing about balls and strikes. Arguing an umpire’s call could be grounds for a player ejection.

COURTESY RUNNERS

A courtesy runner may be used at the request of the original base runner. A base runner may not be forced or coerced to utilize a courtesy runner if they do not want one. Two courtesy runners per inning may be used; these courtesy runners may be used for any two players, gender does not matter. The courtesy runner(s) can be any player in the lineup. Once the courtesy runner occupies the base, the selected courtesy runner may not be exchanged for any other desired courtesy runner. If the courtesy runner is still on base at the time his turn at bat comes up, that spot in the batting order will be an out. Pitchers are not guaranteed a runner; a courtesy runner used for the pitcher will be included in the two courtesy runner limit.
If a batter-runner is using a courtesy runner, their courtesy runner may take the base and the batter-runner may go directly to the dugout with no need to touch any bases.

ADA RUNNER 

An ADA runner may be used if a permanent or semi-permanent injury prevents a player from being able to safely run to first base. The player must still be able to play the required amount of defensive innings. An ADA runner shall count against the courtesy runner total once they have made it safely to first base. The ADA runner shall start approximately 5’ to the outside of the first base line or some other predetermined position that balances the advantage of a runner that does not have to complete a swing before running. The runner may start running as soon as contact is made from the bat with the ball. The batter shall not make any effort to run; any effort to run shall be determined as an ability to run, proof that an ADA runner is not needed, and shall result in an out for the batter and negation of any further use of an ADA runner during the event.

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.

If the 2 teams have the same number of female players, the number of females playing defense does not have to match.

EXAMPLE: The Visiting Team has 12 players in which 4 are Women and the Home Team has 12 players in which 3 are Women. The Visiting Team would have 3 women playing the field and 1 on the bench as an AH. The Home team would now be required to play ALL 3 of their women in the field and sit 2 men.

FEMALE DIFFERENTIAL RATIO- LINEUP 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 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. The team that is short females must add enough "Dummy Spots" to their lineup to be within 1 female differential of the opposing team.

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.

RUN RULES

20 runs After 3 innings

15 runs after 4 innings

10 runs after 5 or 6 innings

1 run after 7 innings

Run rules are in effect EVERY GAME…pool play and bracket play.

SEEDING

Coin toss in pool seeding games to determine home team.

Home team is the highest seed for all games in the bracket...main bracket, doghouse bracket, and last chance bracket.

*if there is an IF GAME, then we will have a coin toss to determine the home team in the final championship game...regardless of either team's seed.

TIME LIMIT rules:

Due to the lack of extra fields, all games will be scheduled for an abbreviated gametime. All Games (unless noted below) will be scheduled every 60 minutes.

45 minute time limit in all games with finishing the inning at the 45 minute mark and playing one more complete inning only.

Championship games (Championship and IF game) in the main bracket will be a 60 minute time limit with finishing the inning at the 60 minute mark and playing one more complete inning only.

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!

Oncoming teams need to be ready to go as the previous game comes to completion. Coaches should meet at home plate for the pre-game meeting while the previous game’s competitors are shaking hands.

MIXED PLAYER RULES:

Females can play anywhere on the field. 

No outfield co-ed line will be used.

If a male batter is walked and a female is on deck, the male gets 2nd base (does not need to touch first base). The female must hit with less than 2 outs, but has the option to hit or take a free walk ONLY when there are 2 outs.

Female on deck batters must CLEARLY be the next player up to bat, and in the on-deck area. If a female batter is on deck and is not visible and the male batter in front of her is walked, the male batter will only be awarded 1st base, and the female batter must hit.

Females or Males who are up to bat CANNOT be thrown out at 1st base from an outfield position (or an assist from an OF position). OF positions are LF, LC, CF, RC, RF, or rover.

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 WOMAN is up to bat, an infielder may not play (starting position) beyond the infield cut line (where the dirt meets the grass/ infield meets the outfield) to be considered an infielder. If a MAN is up to bat, an infielder may play (starting position) beyond the infield cut line and still be considered an infielder. Infielders "starting position" will be determined by where they are standing at release of pitch. Umpires’ discretion in determining when an infielder crosses the threshold of becoming an outfield position.

Defensive/Infield positioning is ONLY used to determine if a Hitter can be thrown out at 1B. 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 1B. This is ACCEPTABLE 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 1B. 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 hitter WILL BE OUT, as starting position doesn't matter regarding a ball that is caught in the air.

ROSTER ADDITIONS

Absolutely NO additions/pickups will be made to any roster unless a Smasherz Tournament Director adds them. In the event a player drops leading up to within 10 days of the event, the tournament director will make the best attempt to fill the empty roster spot with someone who is on the official waiting list. However, if unsuccessful, that team will play less than 1 player.

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 10, the Tournament Director will make best effort to assign a "House Sub" (someone who has not played on a team yet or is out of the tournament and has the same or lesser player score number) if available.

AWARDS/PRIZES: 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 or prize you may have qualified for.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In addition, 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.

The tournament director reserves all rights.

NO SHOWS/LATE TO GAME

Players must be in the LINEUP IN EVERY GAME!

If a player doesn't show up to a PLAY IN game, the team can vote on if 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.

If a player doesn't show up to a BRACKET game, that player will be immediately removed from the roster and no longer eligible to play any further games or win any prizes.

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 added to the lineup, and the player misses his/her 1st AB, the team will take a recorded out for that player. If the player misses his/her 2nd AB, the team will have the option to remove player from the lineup, and player will be immediately disqualified from the rest of the tournament (and NO out will be taken for this AB or any future AB's during this game) OR remain in the lineup and continue to take an out for every at bat to keep player eligible for the remainder of tournament. This option will remain for missing players future AB's as well (if kept in game).

No players can be added to the lineup once the lineup has hit through.

ILLEGAL PLAYER/ROSTER CHECK

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. Tournament Director will have the master roster sheets for all teams at the fields. 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.