Tournament Rules

Thousand Islands Challenge Tournament Rules (2024)

1. 
   All rules will follow the 2023 USA official softball rules only less; they are addressed here.

2. 
   There will be three games of pool play then the format will finish as single elimination.

3. 
   All pool play games are 1 hour and thirty-minute time limit and finish the inning. No new inning will start after one hour and twenty minutes. A new inning starts at the final out of the previous inning. The time limit starts at the break of the plate meeting.

4. 
   Sunday's single-elimination tournament will have a 1 hour and 40-minute time limit, finish the inning. There must be a winner for these games. The semi-finals and championship game will play without a time limit.

5. 
   Teams may bat their entire roster. However, the team will receive an out only on Sunday if an entire roster is batted and a player is injured and can't bat. Friday and Saturday, the lineup will continue without an out.

6. 
   A coin flip at the plate meeting will determine the home team for pool play. During elimination games on Sunday, the home team is determined by a higher seed.

7. 
   CT Sports Officials are fully insured. Teams are also responsible for providing their own insurance.

8. 
   A courtesy runner will be allowed for the pitcher and catcher. A courtesy runner must be someone who hasn't entered the game. If everyone is batting, the person who was before the pitcher or catcher who batted prior to the pitcher and the catcher and is not on base.

9. 
   Warm-up for pitchers is five pitches in the first inning and three pitches for the rest of the innings. Teams are allowed one minute to complete these warm-up pitches.

10. 
    Teams should be prepared to start games 15 minutes before the assigned game time.

11. 
    The mercy rule is in effect for all games. Fifteen runs after three innings, twelve runs after four innings, and eight runs after five innings.

12. 
    Special rules for 10U: no dropped third strike, and no infield fly.

13. 
    All ejections will result in at least one game suspension. Fighting will result in suspension from the tournament.

14. 
    During the single-elimination playoffs, an international tie-breaker rule will start in the 8th inning.

15. 
    There are no protests. The officials' decisions are final.

16. 
    Sportsmanship and professionalism at all times.

17. 
    There will be no refunds after two games.