2008-2009 Softball Information

GENERAL INFORMATION:

1. Fast Pitch softball is a state championship event organized on a Region basis in five classifications. Slow Pitch softball is a non-championship sport offering a State Invitational Tournament at the end of the season. Beginning and ending dates for practice and competition can be found on the Beginning and Ending Dates page of the GHSA web site.

2. All softball games will be played by the slow pitch or fast pitch rules as published by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

3. Notification of entry in slow pitch softball must be filed in writing with the GHSA Office no later than April 1, for the upcoming school year, so that teams may be placed into Areas for competition.
   
   1. Schools are allowed to field both a slow pitch and a fast pitch team, but participants may not play on the school's slow pitch team and the fast pitch team in the same season.
   2. The slow pitch season and the fast pitch season run concurrently.

4. The number of softball games allowed (not including region or state tournaments) shall be: 16 games plus one (1) tournament; OR 14 games plus two (2) tournaments; OR 12 games plus three (3) tournaments.
   
   1. Invitational tournaments shall be structured so that no school will play more than seven (7) games in that tournament.
   2. Schools may not enter any softball tournament other than the region tournament or state elimination series unless such tournament has been approved by the GHSA Executive Director.

5. All varsity softball games shall be played with officially-dressed umpires who are registered under the GHSA plan for the registration of officials.
   
   1. The assignment of officials for regular-season games, invitational tournaments, and sub-region and region tournaments will be made by the GHSA office.
      
      1. The GHSA will assign one or more associations to each school for their games.
      2. The school and the local association(s) will sign a contract for the games that are assigned.

6. In accordance with GHSA By-Laws, only one night before a school day per week may be used with competitions beginning at 6:00 p.m., or later.

7. The following rule “State Adoptions” have been approved for GHSA play in softball:
   
   1. In SLOW PITCH softball, the use of the “extra player” is allowed.
   2. In SLOW PITCH softball, the 11” softball will be used as well as all field adjustments that are mandatory with that ball.
      
      1. bases are set at 65’ apart
      2. the pitching plate is set at 50’ from home plate
   3. In FAST PITCH AND SLOW PITCH softball, the game will end when:
      
      1. a team has completed three turns at bat and is fifteen (15) runs behind.
      2. a team has completed four turns at bat and is twelve (12) runs behind.
      3. a team has completed five or more turns at bat and is eight (8) runs behind.
   4. In FAST PITCH softball, the courtesy runner rule has been adopted. NOTE: Participation as a courtesy runner does not constitute entry into the game, and does not count as a game played.
   5. In any softball game, the use of a double first base is allowed.
   6. In any softball game, the suspended game rule will be used.
      
      1. When a game is stopped before it becomes a legal game, it is considered to be “no contest” and any replay will begin from the first inning.
      2. When a game is stopped after it becomes a legal game and a winner can be determined, the game is completed.
      3. When a game is stopped after it becomes a legal game and a winner can not be determined, any replay will begin from the point of interruption.
   7. Termination of the game due to weather, unplayable conditions, or mechanical malfunctions:
      
      1. The umpires may halt play for up to two (2) hours when conditions do not allow play to continue.
         
         1. The two-hour interruption(s) is cumulative
         2. The game must be terminated when the two-hour time period has elapsed. If the first game of a doubleheader is terminated, the second game will be postponed.
         3. The two-hour period does not include time needed to prepare the field for the resumption of play.
      2. Umpires must wait for at least 30 minutes before terminating a game for unplayable field conditions.
   8. In any softball game, if a team does not show up within 30 minutes of the scheduled game time, a forfeit shall be declared unless the delay unavoidable and the visiting team notifies the home team. In emergency situations, the game may be started late, or may be rescheduled.
   9. In Fast Pitch Softball, the tie-breaker procedure for extra-inning games will be used. Procedure: At the beginning of the eighth inning (and all subsequent half-innings), the player who was the last batter in the previous inning is placed on second base and regular rules apply thereafter. The game continues until a winner is determined.

REGION / AREA TOURNAMENTS:

1. FAST PITCH: Each region will determine its teams advancing to the Sectional Tournament no later than October 11, 2008, with the top four teams advancing to the sectionals in each classification. Teams advancing to the sectionals must be submitted to the GHSA office no later than October 13, 2008.

2. The dates, times and sites for Region/Area tournaments will be determined by each Region/Area and must be submitted to the GHSA office no later than September 26, 2008.

STATE TOURNAMENTS:

1. Fast Pitch Sectional tournaments will be held on October 17-18. 2008. The state finals will be held on October 23-25, 2008, at the Columbus Sports Complex in Columbus, Georgia.
   
   1. All state tournaments will have a double-elimination format.
   2. Four (4) teams from each Fast Pitch Sectional Tournament will advance to the state finals.

2. The Slow Pitch Invitational tournament will be held on October 17-18, 2008 at Al Bishop Complex, Marietta.
   
   1. The tournament will have a double-elimination format.
   2. Four (4) teams from each slow pitch area will advance to the tournament, and those teams must be determined by October 11, 2008.
   3. Admission prices, team policies and procedures will be consistent with those utilized in the Fast Pitch finals.

3. Finances for the state tournaments are handled as follows:
   
   1. The admission price per day is $7.00 for adults, and $5.00 for student high school and under for pre-sale only if applicable.
   2. Each team is allowed free entrance for up to 20 players, managers and bench personnel. Schools desiring more than this number to be admitted, must pay the admission price. Only GHSA passes, GAOA membership cards and valid media passes will be honored.
   3. Teams are responsible for their own travel and housing expenses, but housing will be arranged by the Columbus Sports Council.
   4. The GHSA will receive 12% of the gross gate receipts at all state tournaments. The remainder of the gate receipts will be used to pay expenses, and then the schools involved will share any remaining receipts according to the number of games played in the tournaments.

4. All umpires and scorers will be provided by the GHSA.

5. Times posted with the brackets are approximate. Teams should be ready to take the field for play at the time indicated for each game.
   
   1. The top team in each bracket uses the first base dugout unless a team is playing consecutive games on the same field.
   2. The home team will be determined for each game with a coin toss.
   3. Lineups should be submitted to the official scorer at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to the scheduled starting time.
   4. Teams may not use game fields for batting practice.

6. Fences will be set at uniform distances in all state tournaments.
   
   1. In SLOW PITCH, outfield fences will be set at 250’ from home plate.
   2. In FAST PITCH, outfield fences will be set at 200’ from home plate.