SPFK - Slow Pitch For Kids Tournament Rules
2023 SPFK Softball Tournament Rules
All rules of play will follow SPN Official 2022 Rules, with the following specifics:
Only bats having the ASA 98 or USSSA 1.20 BPF stamps can be used.
This is a 6 male & 4 female tournament. If you are short female players, you will receive an auto out where the females should be. If you are short male players, female players may substitute.
Courtesy runners may be used (provided the batter has reached first base) a maximum of 3 times per game per team. A female must be used to run for a female and a male for a male and the same runner cannot be used twice. Exceptions for courtesy runners may be made for injuries, so long as BOTH teams are in agreement.
There will be NO STEALING, BUNTING or LEADOFFS. Base runners cannot leave the base until the batter has contacted the ball. First team offense is a warning, a second team offense and the base runner is OUT.
TIME LIMIT. A new inning cannot be started after 60 Minutes. All finals will be 7 full innings with A 90min time limit.
There is a 5 run limit per inning – 7th or last inning is open.
There is a 12 run mercy rule after a minimum of 5 complete innings have been played. Maximum of +/- 10 runs be will counted in the standings.
Sunday seeds are based on the Saturday Round Robin results. 2 points are awarded for a win and 1 point for a tie. Standings are determined by: (1) Points (2) Head-to-Head (3) Plus/Minus (4) coin toss.
A tie will stand during Round Robin Play.
A Walk – Male followed by a Female – If a male batter is walked with a female on deck he is awarded second base (regardless if there are any strikes).The female batter must take their at bat.
Foul Balls - any foul ball if you already have 2 strikes will be considered an out.
Line Ups – Teams may bat 10 players (6 guys & 4 girls) or 12 players (7 guys & 5 girls). If you bat 12 and a player gets hurt you must substitute in a new player or continue with 11 players and an auto out (you can’t go back to 10 if you start with 12).
Batting Order – no more than three males in a row in the batting order.
Substitutions – Standard SPN substitutions apply. Once a player is removed from the game he or she can only go back in for the same player (re-entry). Players who leave the game may go back in for injured or sick players. Up to opposing team discretion.
Commitment line at home – NO touching Home Plate / NO sliding at Home.
If Home team is winning after 6½ innings, they DO NOT take last bats.
A coin toss will determine home team for Saturday game. Home team on Sunday is the higher seed.
Substitute players for a game may be used when it can be demonstrated that the shortage of eligible players results from unexpected, non-preventable circumstances, and that a forfeit would otherwise result due to lack of eligible players. NO pickups are allowed if any rostered player (male or female) is sitting on the bench and able to play.