Levels of Play
B. The first consideration in scheduling league play shall be level of play, followed by geography.
C. Inside the divisions, play shall be in at Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3
Tier 1 is the most competitive, Tier 2 teams play at an novice level, Tier 3 teams are at a beginning level. All teams will have the opportunity to advance to state tournaments. Seeding will be determined by Tiers. Tier 1, then Tier 2, then Tier 3 1 Point for game, 1 Point for win, ½ Point for tie. Tie breaker will be win percentage followed by coin toss. Teams will have open nights, no points for open nights. 18U league will determine Seeding by won/loss percentage. Tie breaker will be games won, followed by coin toss.
Note: The 18 and Under teams shall not use any tier play. The 16 Under teams shall compete in Tier 1 and Tier 2 only. The 10 and Under teams shall compete in Tier 1 and Tier 2 only.
D. Associations may enter teams into any tier which they wish to compete. The TriCounty Fastpitch League will not limit teams entries at any age group. However a maximum of 48 teams will advance to Double Elimination playoffs at each age group. Teams seeded at 48 and above at any age group will play in a single elimination playoff to gain the 48th seed.
E. Entry into Class A, Class B, Class C or Class D ASA state Tournaments shall be on the basis of league tournament play. Teams will be seeded into the league tournament (1-48) as outline in C above based on play prior to the established league seeding date. Should weather discontinue the tournaments, the entry into the state tournaments shall be based on the Tri County Fastpitch League seeding (1-48).
F. Tier 1 Teams compete in the Tri County League Tournament to place in A State only except for the bottom 20%, Tier 2 teams compete in the Tri County League Tournament to place in A or B State. Tier 3 teams compete in the Tri County League Tournament to place in A,B or C State. Teams are eliminated by Tier placement, and do not advance to C and D or Rec level State Tournaments. This will also allow for more lower level teams to advance as they will not be eliminated from the lower tournaments by the superior teams that do not compete well at the League Tournament
G. The Age level coordinator will be selected before the season, and report directly to the Executive Board and concerns or questions that come up during the season for all tier teams inside each age group. The age level coordinator will be provided by the Association selected to host the League Tournament. He or she will keep results of age league games, insure all tasks are complete to make the league tournament a success.
Player Eligibility
A. Teams will roster their players in accordance with their local rules and National guidelines.
Tri County Team Roster Rules
Additional Roster Rules for league and qualifier play**
| Teams are limited to 3 out of Association players except with League approval. |
| All teams 16U and below made up of more than 3 out of Association players must play 16U A League |
| No Player may be rostered or play on more than one team without approval of both teams. Starting with the League Qualifier a player may only be |
| on one team at all age groups. |
| A player is rostered to a team through the entire summer season with the end of the summer season being when the team is done pursuing a league, |
| state or national tournament (“Championship Play”). |
| After a team is no longer in Championship Play all players on that team are immediately eligible to join or be picked-up by another team. |
| Starting with the League Qualifier, rosters are final or frozen for teams advancing to the state tournament. |
| * Teams may submit incomplete rosters and add additional players later. |
| ** Teams must also follow ASA, AFA or other national association rules for advancement to their national tournaments. |
| Courtesy Rule |
| Coaches and teams shall respect other teams that are still competing in Championship Play by not contacting a player on another team regarding |
| softball, including joining a current team as a regular player or pick-up player for Championship Play or for the fall or next season's team, |
| without first discussing the purpose of the contact with the player’s current coach. This rule is in effect between March 1st and when the player’s |
| team is no longer pursuing Championship Play including AFA, ASA, USSSA, “A”, “B” or regional tournaments. We do this as a Courtesy to other |
| coaches and teams, if a player notifies her team about being approached by another coach, that coach may be suspended from coaching in future league play |
B. Team Rosters
1. Teams may roster an unlimited number of players in league play.
2. In accordance with National guidelines teams must limit their tournament roster to 18 players.
3. Rosters shall be filled in with all relevant team data.
4. Rosters shall be submitted to the League Director by June 1 each year or before if required.
Competition
A. Scheduled Games
1. The TriCounty Fastpitch League will schedule 18 and Under, 14 and Under and 10 and Under games on Tuesday and Thursdays. These games may be rescheduled by mutual agreement of the respective coaches.
2. The TriCounty Fastpitch League will schedule 16 and Under, and 12 and Under games on Monday and Wednesdays. These games may be rescheduled by mutual agreement of the respective coaches.
3. Double header games (all levels) will begin at 6:00PM unless another starting time has been agreed on by both teams. Double header games shall be five (5) innings. No new inning shall begin after 65 minutes of play following the first pitch. Single games shall be (5) innings, no new inning shall begin after 90 minutes of play. All games must be a minimum of 3 innings, or 2 ½ innings if the home team is ahead.
4. Games tied after 5 innings shall be played with the “international tie-breaker Last Batter on second” rule. When the time limit is applied to the game, the inning shall be completed. If the game is tied at the completion of the inning, the game shall end in a tie. No new inning shall be begin after the time limit has been reached.
5. Any team not in attendance fifteen minutes after the established game time will forfeit the game. Teams not in attendance within an additional 15 minutes will forfeit the second game.
6. During a league contest, any team ahead by ten (10) runs after the third full inning of play shall be declared the winner and the game is complete.
7. Coaches may negotiate a different run limit rules prior to competition. Such as inning run limit or game run limit. The umpire will be informed prior to start of play.
8. In 10 and Under play, the five run rule shall apply. A team is limited to scoring (5) runs per inning. In such innings when play is stopped due to the five run rule, the last player to bat shall be considered the third out.
9. 10 and Under will start season playing one night per week on Thursday, and after the school year play games on Tuesday and Thursday.
B. Postponed Games
1. Teams needing a postponement shall notify the opponent at least 24 hours prior to the game. Umpires shall be notified by the host team.
2. The home team shall notify the opponent and the umpires as soon as possible if field conditions warrant a postponement. A fee may be charged if the call does not reach the umpire prior to the game start.
3. Until game time the home team coach may postpone the game for unplayable conditions. After game time the umpire shall decide if the field is playable.
4. Postponed games shall be made up within a reasonable time. If an impasse develops, the League Director shall have the authority to set a game date and time. If either team cannot play, the team in attendance at the rescheduled place and time shall be declared a forfeit winner.
1. Associations are required to provide sanctioned umpires for teams involved in Tier 1 at 18U, 16U Tier 1 and Tier 2, and 14 and Under Tier 1 Leagues. The Host Association shall obtain trained umpires for all other games. The TriCounty League does not require the use of a specific umpire organization.
2. If not sanctioned, the umpire shall not be the husband or wife of a coach.
3. If not sanctioned, the umpire shall not be under 16 years of age for games in the 14U Tier 2 and 3 age groups.
4. Umpires are expected to enforce all playing rules. This includes the administration of the casual profanity rule, the “No Taunting” rule and the “Blood Rule.”
D Equipment
1. All equipment shall meet the specification as described in the ASA Fastpitch Guidelines.
2. The home team will supply on “new” and “very good” ball for their home game. (During doubleheaders each team is responsible for game balls when they are playing as home team.
3. The Host team will be the home team during the first game of doubleheaders, the opponent will be the home team for the second game.
3. ASA approved Yellow optic balls will be used for all games.
League Tournament
A. All Tournaments will be conducted as double elimination tournaments. Age levels with more than 32 teams shall have a consolation tournament for teams that are winless (0-2) in their first two games. Age levels with more than 48 teams will have a single elimination brackets to determine 48 seeded teams.
B. Umpires and game balls will be furnished by the Tri County Fastpitch league.
C. Tournament Seeding
1. Point standings for all teams will be used to seed the teams using the cutoff dates listed on appendix 1.
2. Representative will bring a record of their game results to a seeding meeting on the dates listed on Appendix 1.
3. Teams will report scores to the Age Level Coordinator bi-weekly. At the seed meeting the teams will report their season results and participate in creating the 1-48 pool for tournament competition. Teams will leave the meeting knowing their opponent and the time and location of their first Tournament game.
4. Points will be awarded as follows:
All teams are required to play at least 12 games in Tier play, and are seeded for league tournament play by 1 point for a game, 1 point for a win, ½ point for a tie, and a tie breaker of win/loss percentage. All tier one teams are seeded first, followed by tier 2, then tier 3. All teams will have the opportunity to advance to state tournaments
5. Ties will be broken by the flip of a coin (incoming seeding procedure only).
6. Once seeded, the draw will be done according to a standard tournament bracket.
E. In the event of delays due to inclement weather or extenuating circumstances:
1. The tournament director is empowered to shorten game times to no less than 45 minutes.
2. Games suspended after 5 complete innings or 4 ½ innings if the home team is ahead, which are not tied, may be declared complete games by the tournament director.
3. Every effort must be made to complete the tournament however if playing conditions are untenable, the tournament director is empowered to cancel the tournament. (see Article X for state seeding rules in this eventuality).
F. Full ASA rules apply, NO ROSTER BATTING. Exception: when roster batting will not affect any team’s state tournament seeding outcome.
G. Run rule applies. 15 runs after 3 innings and 8 runs after 5 innings.
F. Home team shall be determined by coin toss.
State Tournament Berths
A State Tournament berths are based on the number of entries granted the Tri County Fastpitch League by the State Tournament Organizers.
B Assignment to the State tournament will be made following the Tri County Tournament. State tournament packets will be distributed at the Tri County Tournament if available
C. Teams will be awarded state entries based on their finish in the Tri County Tournament. Multiple teams finishing the tournament in the same round will be awarded state tournament berths in order of incoming seed number
D. In the event of TriCounty Tournament cancellation the state tournament seeding procedure shall be:
1. If no tournament games could be completed, state tournament berths shall be awarded in order of incoming seed number.
2. If some games are complete, state tournament berths shall be awarded in order of:
a. Teams still in the winners bracket in order of their incoming seed number. For incomplete games, both teams are considered to still be in the winners bracket.
b. Teams still in the losers bracket in order of their incoming seed number. For incomplete games, both teams are considered to still be in the losers bracket.
c. Teams with 2 losses and at least 1 win in order of what round their second loss occurred followed by incoming seed number.
d. Teams still in the consolation bracket in order of their incoming seed number. For incomplete games, both teams are considered to still be in the consolation bracket.
e. Teams with 3 losses and no wins in order of their incoming seed number.
Awards
A. Tier League team champions shall be awarded individual medals. The awards will be presented at the TriCounty tournament.
B. Tournament individual medals shall be awarded to first, second, third and fourth place teams at 10U, 12U and 14U age levels. Consolation medals for winner and second place shall be awarded at 10U, 12U and 14U tournaments with 32 or more teams. 16U and 18U first and second place team shall be awarded individual medals.
Exclusion/Inclusion
A. TriCounty Fastpitch League rules will take priority over local recreation and association rules.
B. With the exception of current TriCounty Fastpitch League rules, the TriCounty League will be governed by current ASA rules.