TGE Rules

Unreported Substitute Rule 

An unreported substitution is an appeal play: 

• If the coach in violation informs the plate umpire before the offended team appeals – no penalty and the unreported player is officially in the game. 
• If reported to the umpire by the opposing team before a pitch is made – no penalty and the unreported player is officially in the game. 

If the offense has an unreported player and the defense appeals: 

• If the batter is still at bat and pitches have been thrown – she is called out; all other play while she was at bat is legal. 
• If the batter has completed her at-bat but the next pitch has not been thrown – she is out; all other play as a result of her becoming a batter-runner is nullified. 
• There are other rules if the unreported player is the tie-breaker runner or pinch runner, if appealed and she is still on any base – she is out; and if a pinch runner, she is declared officially in the game. 

If the unreported player is appealed by the offense before the defensive coach informs the umpire: 

• If the unreported player has made a play and the next pitch has not been thrown – she is declared officially in the game; the offense has the option of taking the result of the play or having the last batter return and assume the ball/strike count she had before the hit; each base runner must return to the base legally occupied at the time of the last pitch. 
• If the unreported player has made a play and the next pitch has been thrown – she is declared officially in the game and all play will stand. 

If the unreported player has not made the last play – she is declared officially in the game and all play will stand. 

PITCHING RULE: 

Pitcher’s Stride Foot Positioning 

The stride (non-pivot) foot may be on or behind the plate as far back as desired. Once the pitcher initially sets the toe of her stride foot, she may not step, drag or slide it back any farther. This will be following the NCAA rules for pitchers this season.

Actual rules as stated by the NCAA: 

Pitcher Taking Signal 

• Pitcher must take the pitching signal only from the required pitching position (on the pitcher’s plate, hands apart).
• Hand signals/verbal may come from the dugout prior to the pitcher being on the pitcher’s plate
• However, armband information must be gathered by the pitcher while on the pitcher’s plate and in the pitching position.
• Pitching signals from the catcher may be given only when the pitcher is in the pitching position on the pitcher’s plate.
• NCAA emphasizes that illegal pitches be called for violations of this rule.

All games will be played by NFHS (Federation) rules, with the following exceptions: 

1. Home team will be the official scorekeeper in all tournament games. 
2. Pre-game conference and coin flip between manager and umpires will take place 5 minutes prior to the start of the game. 
3. No organized infield practice before the games. Teams may warm up beyond the baselines or in foul territory while infield is being prepared. No live batting practice is allowed on the field or in the complex at any time. Batting nets are allowed. 
4. Illegal Bats: Pool Play ONLY: If an Illegal Bat is brought into the batter’s box, the bat will need to be replaced and the team will be given 1 warning. Bracket Play: If an illegal bat is brought into the batter’s box the batter shall be declared out, and the batter & head coach ejected. 

• Federation Rule Book on Bats: “Bats must bear either the 2000,2004 or the USA Softball All Certification mark and not appear on the USA Softball Bats with Certification not approve list” 

5. Time limit for all games is 90 minutes. Time begins after the pre-game conference. Time limit could change in case of tournament interruptions. All teams should be prepared to start their game up to 10 minutes early in case we are ahead of schedule. (This will help the tournament keep on time) 
6. Regulation games will be defined by the type of game that it is. There will be two types of games played in the different formats that Top Gun will be using: 1. Pool play: Games will be 7 innings or time limit. If the game is tied at the end of regulation (7 innings), it will be declared a tie even with time remaining. 

Note: Any inning that begins before time expires will be completed. 

2. Bracket Play: Games will be 7 inning or time limit. Games that are tied at the end of regulation will use the ITB rule until a winner is declared. 
3. Blue Ghost bat is LEGAL. Yellow Ghost bat is ILLEGAL
4. Run rules: 10 runs after 4 innings; 8 runs after 5 innings; 6 runs after 6 innings.
5. Team manager may consult with the umpires; players, sponsors and other coaches are to keep out of discussions. 
6. No smoking or tobacco use on the field or in the dugouts. 
7. Batting 

1.Batting Restrictions 

POOL PLAY: Teams may utilize any number of batters they prefer. Any player not listed in the batting lineup shall be listed as a substitute. The starting lineup may utilize free substitution. If a sub is entered into the game this shall be a substitution.Regardless of the number of players you have, you will need to announce your line-up format at the pre-game conference with the officials. 

BRACKET PLAY: Roster batting is not allowed. Rulebook Batting Line-up: Only allows 1 option: TRADITIONAL lineup 9 batters with (or without) 

DP/FLEX. ROSTER BATTING is not allowed. 

2. Injury: 

• Batter: If a batter cannot fulfill her time at bat due to injury or illness, that player will be eliminated from that entire game. Teams will be required to take an automatic out if no eligible substitute is available. 
• Runner: If a runner cannot continue her time on the bases, that player will be substituted with the last batter not on base. She will not be allowed to 

participate in the remainder of the game. 

2. Ejections: Her spot in the batting order WILL be an automatic out if no substitute is available. 
3. Teams are allowed just 1 automatic out per game. Any more than 1 will be a forfeit. This out will be assessed during the batters spot in the 

lineup. 

12. Courtesy runner will be allowed for pitcher and catcher at any time. The courtesy runner will be designated by the following rules: 
13. BRACKET: Per rulebook designation. The same courtesy runner may not be used for both the pitcher & catcher at any point during the game.
14. POOL PLAY ONLY: 
15. Eligible Sub
16. Last Completed At Bat (LCAB)
17. Teams may begin a game with 8 players. If the additional players arrive after the start of the game, they will be handled in the following manner: 
18. Teams may add a 9th player to the line-up. Any additional players will be designated as substitutes. 
19. The following procedure will be used to determine the seedings after pool play: i. If three

or more teams are tied with the same record in a division, head-to-head may or may not be used to break ties.ii. Once a level of tie-breaker is used, we DO NOT revert back to any steps of the tie-breaking procedure. We will continue on down the list until all ties are broken. 

1. Highest Winning Percentage (number of wins divided by number of games with a result (ties eliminated form formula) 
2. Most Wins 
3. Head-to-Head Games 
4. Runs allowed per game 
5. Runs differential (+/- of 8 runs per game) 
6. Coin Flip 
7. If a team is playing an extra pool game, the runs allowed and the Win/Loss in that game will not count towards your total. However, the result of the game (win/loss) will be used in head-to-head consideration if a tie in pool play occurs. 
8. In case of a rain-shortened tournament, pool play games can be deemed official after 2 ½ innings of play (with home team winning) or 45 minutes of elapsed game time. This policy will only be used through pool play. In addition, if games are canceled 

due to weather, there may be an adjustment in application of the tie-breaking procedures. 

17. A flip of a coin between the two teams shall determine the home team for each pool play game. The highest seeded team shall be the home team for bracket play games in single elimination brackets. In double elimination brackets, the highest seeded team shall be the home team until the championship game. In the championship game, the team in the winners bracket shall be the home team and a coin toss shall determine the home team for the “IF” game. If both teams are of equal seed (1st Place Pool A vs 1st Place Pool B) the home team will be decided by coin flip.