1) Items Set by the State/Tournament Director (These Can Vary by Event)

Look for these labels throughout: (Director Option)

• Game Time Limits by age/division (Director Option)
  
  

• Start Times: games may begin up to 30 minutes early (Director Option)
  
  

• Field/Cleat Restrictions (e.g., turf/portable mound bans on metal) (Facility/Director Option)
  
  

• Bat Model Lists (if a consolidated list is published) (Director Option)
  
  

• Awards/Placement in Weather-Shortened Events (method + quantity) (Director Option)
  
  

• Bracket Size/Format and pool scheduling (Director Option)
  
  

Unless a Director posts otherwise, the defaults in this rulebook apply.

2) Rosters & Player Eligibility

• An Online Roster is required for every team.
  
  

• Birth Certificates: Each player must have one on hand.
  
  

• If requested and not produced by the end of that game, it’s a forfeit of that game only.
  
  

• Parent/Guardian Approval: Each listed player must be approved via the roster system.
  
  

• If players are visible to the Director in admin, they are treated as legal even if a parent lacks email access.
  
  

• Guest Players
  
  

• A player may guest only if her original team is not in the same event.
  
  

• A player may appear as a guest on up to 5 teams per season.
  
  

• A player may not play for two teams in any Grand Slam events on the same weekend/week (same or different age divisions, city, or event type).
  
  

• Illegal Player / Pitcher: after protest and verification → forfeit of that game only.
  
  

Examples

• Eligibility request mid-game: If the Director asks for a birth certificate in the 2nd inning, the team has until the end of the game to show it. No show → forfeit that game.
  
  

• Two-team weekend: A player cannot play 12U Saturday-only and 14U Sunday-only in different cities the same weekend.
  
  

3) Lineups & Batting

Teams may choose one per game  (declare on lineup card):

*See section 22 for more information about DP/FLEX rules for your division*

1. Bat 9 straight
   
   

2. Bat 9 with DH
   
   

3. Bat 10 / play 9 with EH
   
   

4. Play 10 or 11 with EH + DH
   
   

5. Continuous Order (bat entire roster; free defensive subs)
   
   

• Minimum to Start: 8 players.
  
  

• If starting with 8, the 9th spot is an automatic out until a legal player arrives (added at the bottom of the order).
  
  

• Lineup Collapse: only if a player is incapacitated and unavailable for the rest of the event.
  
  

• No Eligible Sub for a removed batter (injury/ejection/other): automatic out when her turn comes.
  
  

Examples

• Start with 8 all game: Team never gets a 9th → the 9th spot is an out for the entire game.
  
  

• Injury (continuous order): Player sustains a tournament-ending injury; coach notifies umpire; name removed for balance of event; lineup collapses without penalty as long as team stays ≥8.
  
  

4) Courtesy Runners

• For Pitcher & Catcher once they first reach base.
  
  

• Not allowed if a pitch has been thrown to the next batter.
  
  

• Must be a legal sub not currently in the game, including starters who re-enter later.
  
  

• Continuous batting: runner is last batted out.
  
  

• If only one sub exists or the last batted out is on base → use the last batter in the lineup.
  
  

5) Mercy Rule (All Divisions, incl. Championships)

• 12 after 3 innings
  
  

• 10 after 4 innings
  
  

• 8 after 5 innings
  
  

6) Sliding & Safety

• Head-First Slide (10U & under) is not allowed when the helmet includes a face guard, C-flap, or chin strap.
  
  

• Returning to a base: allowed.
  
  

• Penalty: first team infraction = team warning; subsequent = runner out (delayed dead ball).
  
  

7) Home Team & Game Personnel

• Home Team: plate-meeting coin flip for pool games.
  
  

• Elimination: higher seed is home. Double-Elim Championship: undefeated team is home.
  
  

• “IF” Game (Double-Elim): coin flip.
  
  

• Scorekeeping: Home provides official scorebook; Visitors provide scoreboard operator.
  
  

• No game starts without an official book & operator.
  
  

8) Protests

• Fee: $300 cash, lodged before the game ends.
  
  

• Protestable issues: rule interpretation or player eligibility only.
  
  

• Birth certificates are viewed privately by Director/head coach/parent only.
  
  

9) Uniforms

• Jerseys same color/style; duplicate numbers discouraged.
  
  

• Any uniform discrepancy must be raised at the plate meeting.
  
  

• Umpires may remove a player until compliant if the dress is unsafe or provides an unfair advantage.
  
  

10) Cleats & Footwear (Fully Specific)

• 8U–12U: Metal cleats prohibited. Molded/rubber only.
  
  

• 14U–18U: Metal cleats allowed, except:
  
  

• Turf fields or portable mounds/pitcher’s plates that ban metal (Facility/Director Option).
  
  

• Some complexes restrict batting cages to rubber only (Facility Option).
  
  

• Pitcher Toe: legal if part of a shoe; separate toe caps follow facility rules.
  
  

• Enforcement:
  
  

• First discovery → correct immediately (change shoes or remove player until compliant).
  
  

• Refusal/Repeat → player removed until compliant; coach may be subject to conduct penalties.
  
  

Examples

• 12U wearing metal: Umpire discovers in 2nd inning → player must change to rubber or sit; no retroactive outs.
  
  

• 14U turf complex: Metal allowed by age, but facility bans on turf. Director posts signage → rubber only for the event.
  
  

11) Bats (Certification & Legality)

• Bats must meet any of the recognized fastpitch standards (e.g., USA/ASA, USSSA, NSA, ISF) unless the Director publishes a narrower list (Director Option).

• *NFHS: must have ASA on bat, no bats with only the USSSA bats are legal* (Example- Easton Ghost Gold)
  
  

• Altered/illegal bat: immediate ejection of the bat; player/coach penalties per NFHS; subject to Director sanction.
  
  

12) Field Dimensions & Equipment

Note: Some facilities use fixed plates/circles; minor variance in circle paint is acceptable. (Facility Option)

13) Game Length & Time Limits

• Set by Director per age (Director Option). Common patterns:
  
  

• 8U–10U: 70–75 min finish the inning or batter (Director posts which).
  
  

• 11U–14U: 80–85 min finish the inning or batter (Director posts which).
  
  

• 16U–18U: 85–90 min finish the inning or batter (Director posts which).
  
  

• No game is played out beyond time limit in pool play.
  
  

• If time expires and the home team is batting and ahead, the game ends immediately; the inning is not completed.
  
  

• Directors may start games early when ahead of schedule.
  
  

Examples

• Time expires mid-inning (pool): 12U, 85-min game. Time buzzer during top-5th, Visitors just took a 6–5 lead; final score is the score at time expiration if Director policy is “finish the batter.” If policy is “finish the inning,” complete the inning unless the mercy rule ends it.
  
  

• Home ahead at expiration: 10U, 75-min. Home up 9–7, batting with 1 out when horn sounds → game over immediately, score 9–7.
  
  

14) Official Game, Stoppage, and Forfeits

• Official Game if:
  
  

• 3½ innings played and Home is leading, or
  
  

• 4 complete innings if Home is trailing at 3½.
  
  

• Stopped Game (cannot be reasonably continued: weather, field, safety, or time constraints):
  
  

• If stopped after the 4th, the winner is based on the last inning both teams completed equally.
  
  

• If stopped before official and cannot continue:
  
  

• Use last completed inning unless the Home team took the lead in the bottom of the partial inning; in that case, the Home keeps the lead.
  
  

Detailed Examples

1. After 4th, top-5th incomplete: Visitors score 3 in top-5th to lead 5–4; storm stops play before bottom-5th. At end of 4th, Home led 4–2 → Home wins 4–2 (last equal inning).
   
   

2. Early inning, Home takes lead in partial: End 1st: Visitors 3–2. Top-2nd: Visitors no runs. Bottom-2nd (partial): Home scores 2 to lead 4–3; lightning stops play before 3rd out. Final 4–3 Home (Home took lead in the partial inning).
   
   

3. Game not started/canceled: recorded as 0–0 tie.
   
   

• Forfeits
  
  

• Official website score commonly 6–0 or 7–0 (age dependent).
  
  

• Tiebreakers applied to forfeiting team: −7 run differential, 0 runs scored, 10 runs allowed (seeding can be overridden by Director for bracket placement).
  
  

15) Pool & Bracket Tie-Breakers

• Pool games may end in a tie.
  
  

• Elimination games must produce a winner → International Tie-Breaker (ITB): last batted out starts on 2nd base, no outs.
  
  

• Seeding Tie-Breakers (in order):
  
  

• Head-to-Head (only when exactly two teams are tied)
  
  

• Least Runs Allowed
  
  

• Run Differential (cap +7 per game)
  
  

• Most Runs Scored (cap +10 per game)
  
  

• Coin Toss
  
  

• 3+ Team Tie Method
  
  

• Determine the lowest seed using the order above; drop that team; restart the order with remaining teams until 2 remain; then apply Head-to-Head if they played.
  
  

Worked Example (5-team tie at 1–1)

1. Among the 5, the most runs allowed team becomes the lowest of the tied group.
   
   

2. With 4 left, again remove the most runs allowed team.
   
   

3. With 3 left, remove the most runs allowed team.
   
   

4. With 2 left, if they played, use Head-to-Head. If not, keep going to Run Differential, then Runs Scored, then Coin Toss.
   
   

16) No-Show Teams

• A no-show in pool results in automatic last seed in bracket play (e.g., 8-team bracket → #8), regardless of other metrics.
  
  

17) Conduct

• Coach or Player ejection: must miss next scheduled game.
  
  

• Parent/Spectator ejection: must leave the park immediately and not return for the event.
  
  

18) Team Insurance

• Teams are strongly encouraged to carry team insurance (medical & liability).
  
  

19) 10U — Grand Slam Specific Rules

• Infield Fly: Not in effect.
  
  

• Slash (show bunt/pull back/swing): Not allowed → batter out.
  
  

• Head-First Slide: Not allowed when wearing a face-mask/C-flap/chin-strap helmet (returning to a base is allowed).
  
  

• Guest Players:
  
  

• 3 per team per event max.
  
  

• 9U may add 2 players from 10U → cannot pitchor catch
  
  

• guest from a higher division → cannot pitch or catch
  
  

• DP/Flex: Allowed; see DP/Flex Overview below for age-appropriate application (USFA-style flexibility at 10U).
  
  

Examples

• Slash attempt: Batter squares, pulls back and swings → out; ball is dead; runners return.
  
  

• Guest pitcher issue: 9U adds a 10U player and uses her in the circle → illegal; upon protest, game is forfeited.
  
  

20) 8U — Coach Pitch (CP) — Grand Slam Specific Rules (Place this whole block at the bottom of your webpage if you prefer)

20.1 Team & Lineup

• Regulation team = 9. Must start with 9, may finish with 8.
  
  

• Lineup choices (declare on card):
  
  

1. Bat 9 straight
   
   

2. Bat 9 with DH
   
   

3. Bat 10 / play 9 with EH
   
   

4. Continuous (bat entire roster; free defensive subs)
   
   

• Lineups may collapse only if a player is incapacitated for the rest of the event.
  
  

• Automatic out if a player cannot bat and no eligible sub exists.
  
  

• All eligible subs must be listed; anyone not listed is ineligible for that game.
  
  

20.2 Defense

• 9 or 10 defenders.
  
  

• Must have one pitcher and one catcher.
  
  

• If using 10 defenders, four must be outfielders.
  
  

20.3 Minimum Players / Forfeit

• May start/finish with 8, but take an out for the 9th spot.
  
  

• If lineup drops below 8, game is forfeit at that moment.
  
  

• If the forfeiting team was winning, final becomes 6–0 for the opponent; otherwise the score at time of forfeit stands.
  
  

20.4 Coach Pitch Mechanics

• Pitching Plate: 35 ft from home.
  
  

• Coach may pitch from the plate or inside the 10’ circle (one foot inside when delivering).
  
  

• Coach-pitch circle geometry: 10’ radius centered on the rubber → front at 25 ft, rubber at 35 ft, back at 45 ft.
  
  

20.5 Player-Pitcher Safety Rule

• The defensive player at pitcher must remain in the circle until the ball is hit.
  
  

• If she leaves early:
  
  

1. Let the play continue.
   
   

2. After play, the offense may take the result or a no-pitch (erase the play).
   
   

• Same player second violation in that inning → removed from the pitching position for the rest of the inning.
  
  

• Any further violations by that player → removed from the mound for the rest of the game.
  
  

20.6 Batting — Pitches/Strikes & Scoring Limits

• Each batter gets 6 pitches or 3 strikes.
  
  

• Foul on the 6th → continue until ball in play or strike.
  
  

• Per-inning cap: 7 runs or 3 outs, whichever comes first.
  
  

20.7 Live/Dead Ball & Coach Contact

• A fair batted ball accidentally hitting the coach-pitcher = foul ball.
  
  

• If, in umpire's judgment, intentional contact → batter out, no runners advance.
  
  

20.8 Small-Ball & Base running

• Bunting: Not allowed.
  
  

• Slap hitting: Allowed.
  
  

• No intentional walks.
  
  

• No slash.
  
  

• Runners may not leave the base until the ball crosses the plate.
  
  

20.9 Ball Becomes Dead / When to Call Time

Umpire calls time and the ball is dead as soon as all three occur:

1. The lead runner has stopped trying to advance;
   
   

2. The ball is in possession of an infielder;
   
   

3. No defensive play is imminent.
   
   

20.10 Coaching Limits

• No coaches may coach down the outfield lines.
  
  

• Max 4 coaches allowed outside the dugout on offense or defense.
  
  

21) Awards in Weather-Shortened Events (Director Option)

If play cannot be completed, awards are given based on current bracket seeding relative to each side of the bracket at the time of cancellation, unless an in-progress game has reached official status under Section 14 (then that result stands).

22) DP/Flex — Age-Ordered Overview 

What it is: The Designated Player (DP) bats; the FLEX plays defense. How they interchange varies by age/rule-set.

22.1 8U–9U (USFA-style emphasis)

• 8U CP: DP/Flex rarely used (continuous batting common).
  
  

• 9U: Teams may use 1 DP + 1 FLEX.
  
  

• FLEX plays defense only unless entering the DP’s batting spot.
  
  

• Re-entry more lenient in youth; check posted Director policy.
  
  

Example: 9U starts 10 players (9 bat + FLEX at SS). Mid-game, SS (FLEX) bats in DP’s spot → DP temporarily leaves the batting order and may re-enter later in the same batting spot.

22.2 10U–12U (USFA-style flexibility)

• DP/Flex allowed; teams commonly list 10 starters (9 batters + FLEX).
  
  

• DP may play defense for any player without it being a substitution (USFA-style).
  
  

• FLEX enters the DP’s spot to hit if needed.
  
  

• Re-entry typically more flexible at 10U; Director may allow multiple re-entries (Director Option).
  
  

Example: 10U DP bats 5th and later plays RF while the listed RF sits on defense but still bats her spot; later the RF returns to defense without lineup penalty.

22.3 14U–18U (NFHS-strict)

• Exactly 1 DP + 1 FLEX.
  
  

• DP is an offensive position in the batting order (any spot).

  
  is a defensive player listed in the 10th slot on the card; does not bat unless entering the DP’s batting spot.
  

• 
  

  Re-entry: Any player, starter or substitute may be withdrawn from the game and re-entered once, provided such player occupies the same batting position whenever in the lineup. A starter and any substitute for that starter may not be in the game at the same time. A violation results in illegal substitution.

  • 
    The DP may play defense at any position. Should the DP play defense for a player other than the FLEX, that player will continue to bat but not play defense, and is not considered to have left the game. The DP may play defense for the FLEX and the FLEX is considered to have left the game, reducing the number of players from 10 to nine.

Example: 14U FLEX at SS enters the DP’s 6th batting spot. DP is now out of the batting order. Later, DP uses her one re-entry to reclaim the 6th spot; FLEX stays on defense or may be subbed out per NFHS.

Quick Comparison

Final Notes & Reminders

• Bring proof (birth certificates, insurance, roster approvals) to every game.
  
  

• Verify Director Options (time limits, cleats at facility, re-entry flexibility at youth ages, awards in weather).
  
  

• When in doubt, this rulebook + plate meeting + Director guidance control.