PO Box 745
Utopia, TX  78884

2024 WEST TEXAS ALL STAR TOURNAMENT RULES
GENERAL RULES FOR ALL AGE GROUPS
1.Rosters in each age group shall consist of a minimum of 25% (+/- 2%, left to the discretion of the local league board) of registered players in that age group.
2.The League, Organization or City name from which a team is entered must be prominently displayed on the player’s uniform during all games. No sponsor names or logos will be permitted on the uniform or helmet.
3.A current year USA Softball background check, SafeSport certification will be required for all coaches. A current ACE (Achieve, Certify, Educate) Coaching Certification will be required for at least one coach per team. Coaches will be required to have their USA Softball ID readily available if requested during tournament play. Additionally, all adult volunteers that will be interacting with the players, either on the field or in the dugout, will be required to complete the USA Softball background check and SafeSport certification. These volunteers are also required to have their USA Softball ID readily available if requested during tournament play.
4.Team rosters for 8U, 10U and 12U are required to have 12 players. Team Rosters for 14U, 16U and 18U must have a minimum of 11 players and a maximum of 12 players.
    a.Once tournament begins, rosters cannot be changed. Each team may select one alternate at the discretion of each organization. If an alternate is chosen, she may play in pool games only.
    b.If a league does not have the required number of players available to form a team, the league may go to a nearby town’s league and pick up the necessary number of players needed. These pick-up players must have participated in league play and be approved by both league presidents. Approval may be in the form of a text, email, or signing of the roster.
5.Roster players must be listed on the team roster first. This will be in the 1-12 slots for 8U-12U; or 1-11 slots for 14U-18U teams electing to participate with the minimum number of players. If an alternate replaces a roster player (1 of the first 12 listed; or 1 of the first 11 players listed for 14U-18U teams electing to participate with the minimum number of players) that roster player is ineligible for the rest of the tournament. If the roster player enters a game after being declared ineligible, that game shall be a forfeit.
6If a team does not have the required number of players (12 for 8U, 10U, 12U, and a minimum of 11/maximum of 12 for 14U, 16U, 18U), an out will be taken for each player not on the roster/lineup. There are NO exceptions to this rule.
7.No player will sit out more than one inning in a row unless ill or injured as agreed to by player’s parent or guardian.
8.Bat your entire roster the entire game. If a player is absent for any reason, an out will be given for each player not present at their ‘at bat’ time.
9.Home team will be decided by coin flip. EXCEPTION: In the Championship game only, the undefeated team will have the choice of being home or visitor.
10.International Tie Breaker will be used after time or innings expire.
11.Pool games will be 55-minute, dead stop time limit.
12.Bracket games will be one hour and twenty minutes including championship and if necessary games.
13.The tournament will supply each team with 2 balls to begin the tournament. Additional balls may be purchased as needed. All balls shall be USA Softball approved.
14.When pitching restrictions are in place, the following rules apply:
    a.Pitcher’s outs are per their team’s 2 game set.
    b.Pitcher outs are to be reviewed during the pre-game conference with the umpires. Pitcher outs can be verified at this time by reviewing the team’s official scorebook or by other means as required.
    c.If the game goes into extra innings, the pitcher pitching the last out of the last inning will not be credited with any outs pitched in extra innings. For 10U, an extra inning begins with inning #6. For 12U-18U, and extra inning begins with #8. Play after time has expired does not necessarily count as an extra inning. If a pitching change is made during the extra innings, the outs are charged to the new pitcher. This only applies to extra innings, not time.
    d.If the pitcher exceeds her outs allowed to pitch, the penalty is she may not pitch for the next two games and the Head Coach is ejected and is suspended for the next game. The last pitch she threw will be ruled an illegal pitch.
    e.There is no penalty for a pitcher exceeding her outs due to multiple out situations.
    f.If a team reaches the run limit without getting three outs, the pitcher in the circle when the last run scored is credited with the outs not actually earned.
15.Substitutions during an inning are not allowed except in the case of injury. The substitute may play any position including pitcher.
16.Pitcher’s outs are cleared for the championship games. Pitcher’s outs are carried over to the “if” game.
17.Run rules are as follows for all age groups:
    1.15 after 3
    2.10 after 4
    3.8 after 5
    4.Once time has expired and a team is behind by more runs than they can score in their half of that inning, the game will be over by run rule.
18.Protest fee will be $100 cash. If protest is lost, money stays with the tournament. Protests will be decided immediately. All protests must be made before the umpires have left the field at the end of the game.
19.Unless specified otherwise, the USA Softball rules are in effect.
20.If it becomes necessary to shorten or cancel games due to inclement weather consolation games will be altered or canceled first.
21.Tournament Format will be: 5 Game Guarantee consisting of 2 pool games and a Double Elimination Bracket with a Consolation Bracket with the following exceptions:
    •A division must have a minimum of three teams.
    •Divisions with only 3-4 teams will play 2 pool games and a double elimination bracket (4GG). The entry fee will be reduced.
    •Divisions with 5-6 teams will play 2 pool games and a triple elimination bracket (5GG).

8 & UNDER
1.Base path will be 60 ft.
2.Pitching will be coach-pitch under the following rules:
    a.The manager of the team at bat will appoint a member of his/her coaching staff to pitch to his/her batters. A team will not be allowed to change pitchers until the inning is over.
    b.The coach pitcher must always keep at least one foot on the pitching rubber (set at 35 feet) or a 35-foot line until the ball is released.
                            PENALTY: First offense is a warning. Second offense is removal of the coach pitcher.
    c.The coach pitcher is allowed to coach or talk to the batter but must not leave the circle before the pitch. Once the batter becomes a batter/runner the coach may continue to talk to the batter/runner as long as he/she is moving to foul territory and does not interfere with the play.
                           PENALTY: Removal of the coach pitcher.
    d.The coach pitcher will try to avoid interfering with the play after the ball has been hit by moving to foul territory away from the play. If in the judgement of the umpire the coach intentionally interferes with the play:
             1.The ball is dead
             2.The coach pitcher is given a warning
             3.The batting team is given an out
             4.No runners may advance
             5.The batter will return to the batter’s box and assume the count at the time of the infraction
             6.Unintentional Interference:
                    1.Dead ball
                    2.No out will be charged
                    3.Forced run may score
3.Each at bat will consist of six pitches. If the ball is not put in to play on the sixth pitch, the batter will be out. Three swinging strikes is an out. No walks will be allowed. Should the sixth pitch be hit in foul territory, a seventh pitch will be allowed. If the seventh pitch is hit in foul territory, the batter is out.
4.The defensive player/pitcher must stand in the back half of the pitching circle. She may not move from the back of the circle until the ball has been hit.
5.Play will be 10 players on defense. The 10th player (rover) must play in the outfield. All outfielders must start on the grass until the ball leaves the coach pitcher’s hand. No player except catcher may be positioned closer than 35 ft. from the batter at the time of the pitch.
6.NO stealing –NO bunting.
7.Run limit is 5 per inning. Fifth inning run limit is 7 runs.
8.Infield fly and dropped 3rd strike rules do not apply.
9.When the pitcher has control of the ball inside the circle, and she is not making a play on a runner, play is to be stopped by the umpire. Runners who have not crossed the halfway mark between bases must return to the base last touched.
10.Each runner may leave the base when the ball leaves the coach pitcher’s hand, but the ball is dead if not hit, and she must return to her base without liability to be put out.

10 & UNDER
1.Play with 10 players on defense. The 10th player (rover) must play in the outfield. All outfielders must start on the grass. Run limit is 5 runs per inning. Fifth inning run limit is 7 runs.
2.No dropped 3rd strike rule.
3.Infield fly rule is in effect.
4.Pitchers are limited to 15 outs per their team’s 2 game set.
5.Open bases in stealing.

12 & UNDER 14 & UNDER 18 & UNDER
1.Play with 9 players on defense.
2.Run limit is 7 runs per inning.
3.Dropped 3rd strike rule is in effect.
4.Pitchers are limited to 21 outs per their team’s 2 game set.
5.12 & UNDER ONLY: METAL CLEATS ARE NOT ALLOWED

Pitcher’s Outs Protest
1.Any team against whom the violation of the Pitcher’s Out Rule occurred, must protest the game within 10 minutes of that game’s completion to the Tournament Director or member of the Tournament Executive Committee only.
     a. If it is found that a violation did occur, the violating team will forfeit the game in which the violation occurred and the protesting team will be awarded a forfeit victory. The Head Coach of the offending team will be excluded from the field and/or dugout for the next 2 games and the pitcher in question will not be allowed to pitch the next 2 games. The pitcher will be allowed to play any/all other positions.
     b. There will be no further protests or punishments against the violating team for this game in question.
2.If a team has violated the Pitcher’s Out Rule, and that violation was NOT protested by the team against whom the violation occurred, the NEXT team whom the offending team plays may lodge a protest prior to the next game.
     a. This type of protest MUST be made to the Tournament Director or member of the Tournament Executive Committee PRIOR to the start of the game. This type of protest can ONLY be made by the Head Coach of the very NEXT game the violating team is playing. NO team may protest a violation that occurred in a game earlier in the brackets than immediately prior to their game, i.e., the violation occurred in game 2, only the team they face in game 3 may protest.
     b. If a violation is found to have occurred, the Head Coach of the violating team will not be allowed on the field and/or dugout for the next 2 games after the violation game. The pitcher in question will not be allowed to pitch in the next 2 games after the violation game. The pitcher will be allowed to play any/all other positions.
3.EMPHASIS
     a. Only 1 of these 2 types of protests may be lodged against a violating team, with Rule 1 carrying priority over Rule 2.
     b. Only the Head Coach may file a protest.
     c. All protests must be made to the Tournament Director or member of the Tournament Executive Committee.
     d. No protest will be heard that is not timely executed according to Rule 1 (within 10 minutes of the conclusion of the offending game) or Rule 2 (prior to the START of the next scheduled game after the offending game.

CODE OF CONDUCT
COACH BEHAVIOR:
1.No coach will charge out of the dugout when questioning an umpire’s decision. An act of this nature will result in immediate ejection from the game and the ballpark. Any action resulting in a warning or ejection from the game will result in a meeting with the appropriate All Star Tournament Official.
2.No team shall station a coach, player, or parent down the opposite baseline to give instructions to their players. This does not include the base coach.
3.Coaches will be responsible for the actions of their parents.
4.Unsportsmanlike conduct by any coach that is directed at the opposing players, coaches, or parents shall not be permitted. Same can be said for umpires and tournament officials.
5.Alcohol shall not be permitted at the ball fields in any form. This includes on the breath of any person while at the game.

PLAYER BEHAVIOR:
Players may chant or shout positive things to their teammates. Negative or unsportsmanlike comments directed to opposing players, coaches, or fellow teammates shall not be tolerated.

SPECTATOR BEHAVIOR:
Spectators should act in a sportsmanlike manner. Anyone attending the game is subject to the alcohol rules of the league and violation of this rule will be cause for immediate removal from the park area. Please promote a positive environment for the girls of this tournament. Any spectator in violation of this policy may be asked to leave the field area. Failure to do so could result in the game being stopped and a forfeit issued.pe your paragraph here.