NFHS fastpitch softball rules govern unless an Impact Events rule or event-specific notice states otherwise. The Tournament Director has final authority over tournament policies, procedures and interpretations, and may adjust the number or length of games when weather, field conditions or scheduling issues require it. Umpires have final authority over judgment calls on the field. Coaches must raise questions or disputes respectfully with the Tournament Director.

Each team must submit its official roster, certificate of insurance and required waivers by the deadline provided in pre-event communication. A team may not begin play until its materials are complete and verified. Once verified for the tournament weekend, the roster is frozen. A player may appear on only one roster in the same tournament, regardless of age division. Matching uniforms are encouraged, but a properly rostered player is not penalized solely for wearing a different jersey or a number that differs from the roster. Roster personal information remains private and may be reviewed only by event staff.

Player eligibility follows the current age chart and division requirements posted for the event. The Head Coach must keep a copy of every player’s birth certificate available throughout the tournament and present it when requested. Only a Head Coach may formally challenge another player’s eligibility, and the challenge must be submitted to the Tournament Director at least one hour before that player’s next game, using any fee and procedure announced for the event. If proof of age cannot be produced before game time, the player is ineligible for that game. If a player is ruled over age, every game in which that player participated is forfeited 7–0 for tiebreaker purposes. Any challenge fee is returned when the challenge is upheld.

Teams must arrive at the venue at least 45 minutes before their scheduled start because games may begin early. A team may start and finish with eight uniformed, rostered players. When playing with eight, the ninth position in the batting order is an automatic out. If a ninth eligible player arrives, she may enter the ninth position and the automatic out ends. A team with seven or fewer eligible players at the start or at any point during the game forfeits. The recorded forfeit score is 7–0.

The home team in pool play is determined by a coin flip witnessed by an umpire or event staff member; the team that traveled the greater distance calls the flip. The higher team based on the original seed is home throughout bracket play. Dugouts are first come, first served regardless of home-team designation. A team playing consecutive games on the same field should remain in its dugout. Pregame infield practice is not allowed. Teams may play catch in the outfield when time permits, but may not hit balls into fences or step on foul lines.

Games for 8U through 12U are scheduled for six innings. Games for 14U and older are scheduled for seven innings. The standard time limit is 1 hour 15 minutes; championship games have a 1 hour 30 minute limit. The clock begins with the first warm-up pitch and is kept by an umpire. A current inning may be completed, but a new inning may not begin after time expires. If the home team is ahead, the game ends after the top half is completed or when time expires while the home team is ahead in the bottom half. The Tournament Director may modify time limits because of weather, field conditions or schedule delays.

Before each game, a team must choose one of three lineup options:• Continuous lineup: Every player in uniform, except an injured player, is listed in the batting order. A late-arriving player is added to the final position. Defensive substitutions are unrestricted.• Straight nine: Nine players bat, no designated hitter is used and all remaining players are substitutes under NFHS substitution and re-entry rules.• DP/Flex: Ten players are listed. The DP occupies a batting position, and the Flex player for whom the DP bats is listed in the tenth position.

The DP is an offensive position and may also play defense for any player other than the Flex without removing that player from the game. The Flex is primarily a defensive position and may enter the offense only in the DP’s original batting position. The DP and Flex may play defense at the same time, but may not both play offense at the same time. The starting DP and starting Flex each have one re-entry in their original position, just like other starters. Once a game begins with DP/Flex, those positions remain available for the entire game and may be filled by eligible substitutes even after the original starters have exhausted re-entry.

The game ends when a team leads by 15 runs after three innings, 10 runs after four innings or eight runs after five innings. In 10U and younger divisions, a half inning ends when the offensive team scores 10 runs. Mercy rules apply to every game, including championship games.

Event staff will make every reasonable effort to provide accurate base, pitching and fence dimensions. Minor differences do not stop play when the field remains safe, reasonable and identical for both teams. Event staff provides the starting game balls; teams must help retrieve foul balls and home runs and should keep tournament-quality used softballs available if the original balls are lost. Metal spikes are prohibited in 8U through 12U and are prohibited for all ages on synthetic turf. Players who may compete on turf must have turf shoes, molded or plastic cleats, or athletic shoes available.

Bats must carry a valid USA Softball/ASA or USSSA certification mark. A bat may not exceed 34 inches in length, 28 ounces in weight or 2.25 inches in barrel diameter. The Head Coach is responsible for ensuring every bat is legal. A batter violates the rule upon entering the batter’s box with an illegal bat. The defense must appeal before the first pitch to the next batter or before all defensive players leave fair territory. The batter is out, all outs recorded during the at-bat remain, and no runner may advance because of the batted ball. A second illegal-bat violation by the same team in one game results in the Head Coach’s ejection.

Both teams must report the final score to the Tournament Director or designated event staff immediately after each game and return any required scorecard within four hours or before the final game of the day, whichever comes first. If a team does not report on time, event staff may accept the score submitted by the opponent. Scores, standings, seeds and brackets shown in the event platform remain subject to correction for technical or entry errors. Teams are responsible for checking the official event platform regularly. During a serious outage, a team representative must contact tournament headquarters for updates.

When teams are tied for playoff qualification or seeding, apply these tiebreakers in order:1. Overall win-loss record2. Head-to-head result, only when exactly two teams are tied3. Fewest total runs allowed in the tournament4. Most total runs scored in the tournament5. Coin flip

When a game is tied after the time limit or scheduled innings, each half inning begins with the last batted out from the previous inning on second base, no outs and a 1–1 count on every batter. Pool games that remain tied after three extra innings are recorded as ties. A pool game also may be recorded as a tie when weather or darkness prevents completion. Elimination games continue under the same tiebreaker until a winner is determined unless the Tournament Director announces a different procedure before play.

A six-inning game is official after three complete innings, or 2½ innings when the home team is ahead. A seven-inning game is official after four complete innings, or 3½ innings when the home team is ahead. If weather, darkness or field conditions stop a game before it becomes official, the Tournament Director may suspend it and resume from the exact point of interruption, or cancel it so it does not count in the standings. If a championship game cannot be resumed and is not official, the team leading after the last fully completed inning is champion. If the score was tied after that inning, or the first inning was not completed, the higher seed is champion.

The official schedule will be posted before the event. Teams must be prepared to play in any listed time slot and should monitor the event page for revisions. Each team must provide one adult volunteer to operate the scoreboard when requested. Spectator admission and parking policies vary by event and are listed on the event page and in the Weekend Gate Fees section of the Impact Events Information page. All teams must follow venue rules and local ordinances. Alcohol and tobacco are prohibited inside tournament venues. The Head Coach is responsible for the conduct of players, assistant coaches and spectators.

The purpose of each Impact Events tournament is positive competition and a memorable experience for the athletes. Coaches, players, spectators and officials must protect the integrity of the game. Conduct that makes a travesty of the game may result in removal or disqualification. One-way electronic devices that transmit pitch or play calls from the dugout to a player on the field are permitted. Devices may not provide two-way communication or be used for any other prohibited purpose.

An ejected coach is suspended for the rest of that game and the team’s next game. An ejected player is suspended for the rest of the current game. If the team uses a continuous lineup and has no legal substitute, the ejected player remains in the batting order and an out is recorded whenever her position is due. If an umpire rules that a player is injured and unable to continue, her position is skipped without penalty; once removed for that injury, she may not return during that game. Any departure not caused by an umpire-confirmed injury is handled under the applicable lineup and substitution rules.

Entry fees, withdrawal terms, weather credits, spectator admission, parking fees, refunds and rain checks are governed by the current Impact Events policies on the Information page and the individual event listing. If an event-specific notice differs from the general policy, the event-specific notice controls. Teams should review those terms before registering.