Tournament Rules
TC Nationals Event Specific Tournament Rules:
General Triple Crown Fastpitch Tournament Rules*:
Effective January 1, 2020 Triple Crown will be using National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Softball rules with a few modifications that are listed below.
All rule questions will be interpreted by the Triple Crown tournament director and the spirit or intent of the rule as written by the governing body.
PITCHING MODIFICATION:
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 must take or appear to take a signal while in the pitching and signal-taking positions.
ONE-WAY COMMUNICATION:
All defensive players may have digital one-way communication from the dugout using wristbands showing pitch, shift etc, the use of a smart watch is illegal and subject to the penalty listed below. Audio one way communication can go from the dugout to the catcher ONLY. The communication device cannot be used for two-way communication and will carry the same penalty.
PENALTY: The umpire shall issue a team warning to the coach of the team involved and the next offender(s) of that team will be ejected along with the head coach.
ALL COMMUNICATION IS FOR DEFENSE ONLY AND CANNOT BE USED ON OFFENSE.
INTENTIONAL WALKS: All pitches including a pitchout must be legally pitched to the catcher and ball is live.
COURTESY RUNNER: We will be using the written NFHS courtesy runner rule, which states the courtesy runner must be an eligible sub that has not been in the game at any capacity.
Softballs: The tournament will provide balls.
Protests: Any roster protests must be accompanied by a $100 fee, be made at the plate by the opposing team’s manager only and presented before the final out has been recorded. Triple Crown will provide due diligence in regards to the player’s eligibility and return the fee in the event of a successful protest.
Forfeit Time: Game time is forfeit time unless a team is held up by a late running game. The the team will have 10 minutes to change fields.
Ejections/Illegal Players/Unsportsmanlike Behaviors:
Line Ups: Triple Crown allows the use of an EP/EH and the DP/Flex in the same lineup, if your team chooses to use this option. Click here for a sample of lineups you can use during a game, if applicable.
Participation: You participate in or attend this event at your own risk and will not hold Triple Crown Sports, city parks, the umpires or anyone else responsible for injury. All Teams have indicated they have insurance for these situations and have signed a release of liability.
(*Please note each tournament/event may have its own set of rules, exceptions, and variations. Please see specific tournament details and rules below.)
- Time limit
- Pool Play - 1 hr 45 minute, no new inning
- All Bracket Games - full 7 innings, no time limit
- Run Rule:
- 18u and 16u Divisions: 8 runs after 5 innings
- 14u: 10 runs after 3 innings, 8 runs after 4 innings, 6 runs after 5 innings
- Coin flip will determine home/away for every game.
- Line up rules must be used for every game (straight 9, DP/Flex, EP, or EP + DP/Flex).
- Pool play games can end in a tie.
- International Tie Breaker will be: 8th Inning - last scheduled batter starts on 2nd base, 9th inning - last 2 scheduled batters on 2nd and 3rd, 10th inning - last 3 scheduled batters on 3rd, 2nd & 1st.
- Every team must have a completed roster on the Triple Crown website with digital signatures from all parents/guardians.
- Every team must have current and updated team insurance on their Triple Crown profile.
- BLD facilities have a gate fee:
- Free: all players in uniform and up to 2 coaches per team
- $8 - 13 years and older
- Game balls provided by Triple Crown. Teams are responsible for shagging foul balls to keep the games moving along.
- Illegal Bat - if a player is caught with an illegal bat, the player is automatically out and a warning is issued to the head coach.
General Triple Crown Fastpitch Tournament Rules*:
Effective January 1, 2020 Triple Crown will be using National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Softball rules with a few modifications that are listed below.
All rule questions will be interpreted by the Triple Crown tournament director and the spirit or intent of the rule as written by the governing body.
PITCHING MODIFICATION:
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 must take or appear to take a signal while in the pitching and signal-taking positions.
ONE-WAY COMMUNICATION:
All defensive players may have digital one-way communication from the dugout using wristbands showing pitch, shift etc, the use of a smart watch is illegal and subject to the penalty listed below. Audio one way communication can go from the dugout to the catcher ONLY. The communication device cannot be used for two-way communication and will carry the same penalty.
PENALTY: The umpire shall issue a team warning to the coach of the team involved and the next offender(s) of that team will be ejected along with the head coach.
ALL COMMUNICATION IS FOR DEFENSE ONLY AND CANNOT BE USED ON OFFENSE.
INTENTIONAL WALKS: All pitches including a pitchout must be legally pitched to the catcher and ball is live.
COURTESY RUNNER: We will be using the written NFHS courtesy runner rule, which states the courtesy runner must be an eligible sub that has not been in the game at any capacity.
Softballs: The tournament will provide balls.
Protests: Any roster protests must be accompanied by a $100 fee, be made at the plate by the opposing team’s manager only and presented before the final out has been recorded. Triple Crown will provide due diligence in regards to the player’s eligibility and return the fee in the event of a successful protest.
Forfeit Time: Game time is forfeit time unless a team is held up by a late running game. The the team will have 10 minutes to change fields.
Ejections/Illegal Players/Unsportsmanlike Behaviors:
- Any coach or player ejected from a game will sit out a minimum of the following game and up to one year at Triple Crown Sports discretion.
- The Triple Crown Sportsmanship Committee will be the final arbiter on all ejections and suspensions.
- Ineligible players will be removed at the time of discovery and suspended for the remainder of the tournament. The head coach will be removed from the game, suspended a minimum of one additional game and up to one year at the discretion of Triple Crown Sports.
- Rosters are frozen once play begins. Players may only play on one roster during the event. Violation of this rule we result in immediate removal of the player and/or team from the event.
- Any player who has played on a college roster (JUCO, NAIA, NCAA) or who has completed college coursework after high school, is NOT eligible to play in this event. High school seniors who are taking summer coursework before their college freshman year, can still play in TCS events.
Line Ups: Triple Crown allows the use of an EP/EH and the DP/Flex in the same lineup, if your team chooses to use this option. Click here for a sample of lineups you can use during a game, if applicable.
Participation: You participate in or attend this event at your own risk and will not hold Triple Crown Sports, city parks, the umpires or anyone else responsible for injury. All Teams have indicated they have insurance for these situations and have signed a release of liability.
(*Please note each tournament/event may have its own set of rules, exceptions, and variations. Please see specific tournament details and rules below.)
