Rules

Registration
All teams registered for any 5 Star Fastpitch Tournament must submit a completed roster form and provide verification of proof of insurance by signing the Hold Harmless Agreement of 5 Star Fastpitch. Those forms will be emailed to coaches and can also be found on the website.

***Forfeit Note: Forfeit Time is Scheduled Game Time. Any Team that forfeits CAN NOT advance to the Championship Rounds and are not eligible for any type of refund. Teams may start with 7 players. If a team forfeits a game during the tournament they are not permitted to move to on to any Championship Round games - they will be allowed to play Consolation Round Games if approved by the Tournament Director. The Tournament Director also has the authority to remove the team from the event. All forfeits will be recorded as 2-0 unless the forfeit occurs during the game. In that instance the score will be recorded where the forfeit occurred provided the forfeiting is losing – otherwise it will be recorded 2-0.

Eligibility
Players cannot be double rostered in the same age division. Each team is responsible to keep a copy of the official state-issued birth certificate for each player on the Coach at all times. (printed or digital PDF is accepted). If any player does not have a copy of her birth certificate, she cannot participate in the Tournament.

We are using the traditional Calendar year cutoff for 2024. Eligibility is also based on grade. We have a grad grade exception rule based on one age up. For example, a 15-year-old student can play in the 14U - age division—but not a 16-year-old. Age is always first – 15u is 15u – but if you are an 8th grader and 15 yrs old you are eligible to play 14u which would be your grad class.

Age Chart (traditional calendar year cutoff)

Season	2024	2025	2026	2027
Birth Year	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	08U
2018	–	–	08U	08U
2017	–	08U	08U	10U
2016	08U	08U	10U	10U
2015	08U	10U	10U	12U
2014	10U	10U	12U	12U
2013	10U	12U	12U	14U
2012	12U	12U	14U	14U
2011	12U	14U	14U	16U
2010	14U	14U	16U	16U
2009	14U	16U	16U	18U
2008	16U	16U	18U	18U
2007	16U	18U	18U	–
2006	18U	18U	–	–
2005	18U	–	–	–
2004	–	–	–	–

Time Limit
All tournament games in pool play and playoffs will have a time limit. Championship games will not. The time limit is as follows:

75 minutes, finish the inning (clock starts at the end of the pre-game meeting) with a 90-minute drop dead clock.

If both teams are tied at the end of regulation, and the Time Limit has not expired, proceed to extra innings. If the home team is winning after the top half of the inning, the game is over. Pool-Play games can end in a Tie!

If a game is tied after the Time Limit expires in Playoff Games (Championship Bracket) we will use the California Tie Breaker. Each Team will start the inning with their last batted out on 2nd base and the batters will have a 0-0 count. Each Inning will proceed this way until the tie is broken. No Tie-Breakers or Time Limit in Championship Games.

***TIME LIMITS MAY CHANGE DUE TO WEATHER AND/OR TOURNAMENT FORMAT***

Playoffs/Tie Breakers
Seeding will be posted after the completion of all pool play games.
In the event that teams are tied after pool play, the following process will be followed:

Head-to-Head (only if 2 teams are tied or all of teams tied have played each other, otherwise at 3 or more, go to next tie breaker)
Fewest Runs Allowed (may be averaged if there is an uneven number of games played)
Run Differential (capped at +8/-8)
Runs Scored (may be averaged if there is an uneven number of games played)
Coin Flip

***There will be no re-seeding in the playoff brackets***

Re-entry
Defensive: Each team will be allowed unlimited substitutions in the field. A player does not have to be in the batting order to play the field.

Offensive: You may bat nine players, your entire lineup (Roster Batting), or anywhere in between. After the start of the game, you cannot change the number of batters you have, it must remain the same for the whole game. If you bat your entire lineup and a player should get thrown out, that spot in the line-up will be an out. If the player is injured, that spot will not be an out. Essentially the Batting Order is made up of all EH’s (Extra Hitter’s since there is Free Defensive Substitution)

If you are NOT Roster Batting, regular batting substitution rules apply. Games can start with 7 Players. Players can be added to the batting order in the order they arrive. Batting Spots 7-9 will be outs until enough players arrive.

Home Team
In pool play, the Home Team will be determined by a coin flip. Whoever wins the Coin Flip, has the choice to be Home or Away. In Playoffs and the Championship, the better seed will have their choice to be home or away.

Scorekeeping

Each team’s manager must prepare 1 written copy of his lineup listing the first and last names and numbers of all players and substitutes prior to each game. Lineups then must be provided to the opposing team’s manager.
A copy of the teams lineup card must be kept and be available for the umpire upon request.
The Official Scorebook is to be kept by the home team. Both teams are to confer after each inning to confirm the score.
The score must be reported to the Site Director by the Winning Team. Do not leave the park until you have reported your score. Score discrepancies will fall to the Home Teams Scorebook.

Metal Cleats/Sunflower Seeds/Gum/Candy/Tobacco Policy

Forfeit Rule: Any team found in violation of this rule by an Tournament Representative, Umpire, or Field Official will automatically forfeit all games, and fined $250, payable to the Field Owner. No exceptions!

No metal spikes allowed at ANY TURF FIELD. Metal spikes are allowed at 13u and up if on a non turf field.
There is a Strict NO SUNFLOWER SEEDS/GUM/CANDY Policy on ANY park or field that has TURF.
5 Star Fastpitch has a strict NO TOBACCO policy for any: Player, Coach, Parent, Official, or Tournament Manager!

Molded Plastic or Rubber Cleats, Turf Shoes, or Running Shoes are acceptable for any playing surface.

Protests

ANY PROTEST MUST HAPPEN AT THAT POINT IN THE GAME! THE PROTESTING COACH MUST TELL THE UMPIRE, THE OPPOSING TEAM MANAGER, AND A TOURNAMENT OFFICIAL, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PROTEST. THE PROTEST MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY $100 CASH AT THAT POINT IN TIME!

Judgement calls by the umpire cannot be protested, rules only. (I.e. player’s age. Rostered players, substitutes, etc.)
A protest is only “official” if accompanied by the $100 cash protest fee and is done before the next pitch. Once the game continues to play you cannot protest previous “events”.
Burden of proof lies with the protester.
If the protest is upheld, then the $100 will be refunded and the game will be replayed from the point of protest.

Entry Refunds

Within 60 days of the start date of an event: There will be no entry
refunds for withdrawal from a tournament within 60 days of the start of that particular event until a replacement team can be secured provided the event is full.

Outside 60 days of the start date of an event: If a team registers, pays, and then drops out prior to the 60 days, they can either transfer their entry, or receive a full refund. If a tournament is not able to be completed, refunds will be calculated by the number of games played. If payment was made with a Credit Card, the payment will be refunded minus the Processing Fee.

Weather related refunds will go as follows:

5-7 GG:

0 games played: Entry fee minus a $100 administrative fee
1 game played: 75% Refund
2 games played: 50% Refund
3 games played: $100 Credit
4 games played: No Refund

4 GG:

0 games played: Entry fee minus a $100 administrative fee
1 game played: 50% Refund.
2 games played: No Refund

Dugouts
Please help keep the tournament fields and common areas clean. Please be sure to pick up all your team’s trash after the game. ONLY 3 COACHES AND A SCOREKEEPER, OR 4 TOTAL COACHES, ARE ALLOWED IN THE DUGOUT AT ANY TIME. THE HEAD COACH IS ONLY ONE ALLOWED TO DISCUSS ISSUES WITH THE UMPIRE.

Ejections

NO WARNINGS will be given to Coaches, Players, or Fans for unsportsmanlike or unruly behavior.
Upon ejection, the Coach, Player, or Fan must completely leave the premises including the parking lot. Failure to comply will result in a team forfeit.
Any Player ejected from more than one game will not be permitted on the premises for the rest of the tournament.
Banned bat ejection: A team caught using a banned bat will result in the following: The bat must be removed from the tournament premises, the player caught using the illegal bat will be called out, ejected from that game, and the head coach will be ejected from that game. Both the coach and player may return to the next game. However, if that team is caught using an illegal bat a 2nd time the entire team will be removed from the remainder of the tournament and all played games will be marked a forfeit.
COACHES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR FANS. IF A FAN IS EJECTED FROM ANY GAME, THE HEAD COACH WILL BE GIVEN A WARNING AND ANY FURTHER EJECTIONS WILL RESULT IN THE REMOVAL OF THE HEAD COACH FOR THAT GAME.

Should a Coach, OR FAN, be ejected from 2 games, he/she will not be permitted to participate in the rest of the Tournament as a Coach, or a Fan, and will not be permitted on any Tournament Game Site for the duration of the Tournament. The Tournament Director reserves the right to excuse the ejected Coach after the first incident.

Official Game
All games are official after the completion of the 3rd Inning (2 1/2 if the Home Team is winning) **unless Mercy Rule comes into effect**. If a game should be called due to darkness, weather, etc. and it is the middle of an inning, then the game will revert back to the score from the previous inning if the 3rd inning has been completed (2 1/2 if the Home Team is winning). If there are ample game slots left, the game may be re-scheduled to resume!!!

Format Alterations
5 Star Fastpitch reserves the right to alter, change, or abbreviate Tournament Formats and Rules, when necessary. This includes, but is not limited to, shortening times limits in order to maintain the game schedule and to ensure all games are played.

Intentional Walk
Coach must notify the home plate umpire and the hitter will be granted 1st base. No pitches are thrown.

Courtesy Runners
Courtesy Runners for Pitcher and Catcher AT ANY TIME. Must be a Player off the Bench/Player not in the Batting Order. If you are batting your entire lineup, then you may use the LAST BATTED OUT. Please remember the purpose is to SPEED UP THE GAME! If the Courtesy Runner is not ready with her helmet and at the entrance to the field at the time the Batter reaches the base, the Umpire reserves the right to refuse the Courtesy Runner option if it slows the speed of the game.

Umpires
If there is not a Tournament Representative on site, the Umpires will serve as the on-site Tournament Representatives. There will be 2 umpires in every age group. Younger age divisions (8U-12U) may have one umpire.

Pre-Game

Games may start early! Please be prepared to play 30 minutes prior to scheduled start time!

There will be no infield/outfield practice prior to tournament games on the field unless you are the first game of the day at a turf field. There will be 1 minute in between innings.
Hitting whiffle balls, or any type of ball, into nets, FENCES, etc. is not allowed on any part of any field!!! Please hit outside the FENCES!!

Special Start Requests
Before entering a tournament, make sure your team has no other conflicts on the listed Tournament Dates. 5 Star Fastpitch will attempt to accommodate some time requests if submitted well in advance of scheduling, but these do get out of control. Games can begin as early as 8:00 am each day of the event.

Alcohol & Tobacco Policy
Many of our tournaments are hosted on College & High School Campuses, & Community Parks. These locations do NOT permit their players, parents, or fans to consume ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, CHEW TOBACCO, or SMOKE on the premises and we will enforce those policies at our events as well. Please remind your fans and players to respect these policies, as improper conduct will be dealt with as needed. ACS has a Zero Tolerance and Law Enforcement Officials will be called. Ejection may take place for the remainder of the game or tournament at the Tournament Director’s discretion.

Wearable Technology
Wearable technology is permitted for use in game play.

Division Rules

10U	12U	14U & Up
60′ bases	60′ bases	60′ bases
35′ mound	40′ mound	43′ mound
7 inning game	7 inning game	7 inning game
75 Minutes Finish the Inning / 90 Min drop dead	75 Minutes Finish the Inning/ 90 min drop dead	75 Minutes Finish the Inning/ 90 min drop dead

MERCY RULES
15 after 2	15 after 2	15 after 2
12 after 3	12 after 3	12 after 3
10 after 4	10 after 4	10 after 4
8 after 5	8 after 5	8 after 5
Run Rules apply to all games. *Championship Games – No 8 Run Rule*.