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Softball Rules and Procedures for 2009-2010

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. The number of softball games allowed (not including region or state tournaments) shall be: 16 games plus one (1) tournament; OR 14 games plus one (2) tournament; OR 12 games plus two (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.

  4. All varsity softball games shall be played with officially-dressed umpires who are registered under the GHSA plan for the registration of officials. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. The following rule “State Adoptions” have been approved for GHSA play in softball:
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. The use of a double first base is allowed.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. 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 is unavoidable and the visiting team notifies the home team. In emergency situations, the game may be started late, or may be rescheduled.
    7. 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. The dates, times and sites for Region/Area tournaments will be determined by each Region and must be submitted to the GHSA office no later than September 25, 2009.
  2. Each region will determine its teams advancing to the First Round no later than October 10, 2009, with the top four teams advancing to the First Round in each classification. Teams advancing to the First Round must be submitted to the GHSA office no later than October 12, 2009.

STATE TOURNAMENTS:

  1. For the First and Second Rounds, teams will play a best-of-three series at the site of the higher seed.
    1. There will be a doubleheader on the first day and an "if" game on the second day.
    2. The host team will be the "home" team for the first game of the series and the visiting team wille be "home" team for the second game. A coin flip will be used to determine the "home" team for the third game, if necessary.
    3. Teams that win the Second Round series will advance to the State Tournament.
  2. The State Tournament will be a double-elimination tournament held in Columbus, Georgia on October 22-24, 2009.
  3. Finances for all state playoffs are handled as follows:
    1. The admission price for softball playoffs shall be $5.00 per day for First and Second Rounds, and $7.00 per day for the State Tournament.
    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 for free admission.
    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 playoff games. 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.
  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. The outfield fence will be set at 200' from home plate for the State Tournament in Columbus.