All World Sports Nevada
Fastpitch Rules and Guidelines

To download the rules Click Here

Team Manager is responsible to bring a legal team to all AWS tournaments.

All rosters must be posted online at allworldsports.info

Rosters will not be frozen unless particualr team accepts world berth

All teams must have insurance, Must be registered with AWS and must have
updated online roster

Poor Sportsmanship will not be allowed.

Managers are responsible for players, coaches and team spectators at all times,
on field at the park or hotel etc.
A) Profanity of any kind will not be tolerated.
B) Throwing the bat or equipment is strictly forbidden
C) No Taunting
D) If disputes or problems arise, only managers can talk to umpires or director.
Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated!

Teams, coaching staff, and spectators may not engage in verbal or physical dispute
w/ other team at anytime.

Cheer on and encourage your own team and don’t direct negative language
towards another team. 

Noisemakers are not allowed (ie: cowbells, air horns, boomboxes,etc.)

No chewing tobacco, smokeless tobacco products, or smoking of any kind allowed around AWS events.

No alcohol of any kind allowed around AWS events.


Entry/Pull-Out Fees

• 1st to pay = 1st to play. Always send entry sheet when mailing in payment.

• $50 Late-Pullout Fee (less than 6 days before the event)

• Teams pulling out of a tournament after the brackets are completed, or when the event
  entered is sold out, are responsible for the entire entry fee. If we can replace your team after
  brackets have been completed, your team will only be subject to the late $50 pullout fee.


"No-Show" Fee

• Teams that do not show up for any game (thereby shorting another team there game
  guarantee) will be charged a No Show fee. No show fee depends on cost of event and
  game guarantee. That fee will be given to the opposing team.

• No show team may also be subject to suspension.

• $50 for all bounced check fee.


Rain-Out Policy

• 0 games played: Full Future Credit or 85% refund.

• 1 or 2 games played: Divided the entry fee by minimum # of games played.

• Credit amount is the games remaining. For example, for a $400 4GG tournament where only
  one game is played,the team would be entitled to a $300 future credit. Each tournament is
  different depending on cost of event!!

• If the game guarantee is met: No credit or refund.

• Once a game starts it is considered to be a game played.

• Credit is only good for tournaments run by the same director group.

• Awards will be given to all teams that have earned a place in the championship games only.
  If the championship game was not played, the higher seed will be awarded 1st place and the
  lower seed will be awarded 2nd place.

• All World Sports reserves the right to modify game times, tournament location and or
  structure due to ield conditions, time constraints,Safety issues, park rental issues,
  or inclement weather


Pitching Distance
8 & Under / 30'   10 & Under / 35'   12 & Under / 40'   14/16/18 & Under / 43'



Pitching Rules
Before the pitcher pitches the ball, she must do the following:
1. Have possession of the ball in either the pitching hand or the glove hand.
2. Have both hands separated as she steps onto the rubber.
3. Have both feet in contact with the rubber.
4. Pitcher must take or simulate taking signs while on the rubber from the catcher only.
5. The pitch begins when the hands are no longer separated. The pitch delivery can be aborted by pitcher stepping off the rubber in a backward step with her plant foot. The delivery must start no less than one second and no more than 10 seconds after the hands are in contact with each other.


Pitcher’s Delivery
1. Windmill or Slingshot style is acceptable.
2. Arm movement must be an underhand motion.
3. Pitcher may use backward movement of the pitching arm at the start of delivery, however, a backward step is not permitted.
4. If the underhanded arm movement is more than 12” away from the parallel of the body, the pitch will be considered a sidearm pitch.
5. A “Leap” or a “Crow Hop” is not permitted during the pitching delivery, the plant foot cannot replant. There is no replanting of the foot allowed. The replanting of the foot is considered a “Crow Hop”.
Pitcher cannot stop her motion before the ball leaves her hand. If the pitcher stops her wind up (unless the umpire calls time for some reason) without releasing the ball, an illegal pitch will be called and a ball will be awarded to the batter and base runners will advance one base.
Pitcher cannot have anything distracting on her pitching arm, hand, or wrist. Any sweatband must be flesh in color on pitching wrist or arm.
Pitcher can ask the umpire for a different ball at any given time before the start of her pitch. During wet conditions, a coach can towel dry the balls for the pitcher.


Batting and Base Running
All World Fastpitch will use the following basic rules for batting and base running:
1.The girl is considered the batter when she takes her place in the batter’s box.
2. The batter can call time by lifting her hand and stepping one foot out of the box. The umpire can grant the batter time out if the pitcher has not started her pitch. If time is not granted, she will take the called pitch.
3. Batting out of order can be appealed to the umpire by the defense:
4. Infraction appealed during illegal batter: the correct batter takes over and assumes the pitch count.
5. Infraction appealed after illegal batter has batted but before next pitch: the girl that should have batted is out and any base advances will return to their position prior to the illegal batter’s bat. The correct spot in the lineup will be the batter that follows the girl called out. Example: (Batter #5 is the girl called out. The correct spot in the lineup would now be Batter #6.)
6. Infraction appealed after illegal batter has batted and after next pitch: the play stands. All base runners remain where they are.
7. Batter positions on the lineup sheet are determined by the player’s name and not the jersey number. Improperly recorded position numbers and player numbers are correctable errors.

The batter is out when the following happens:
1. Batter steps on the plate when hitting the ball in fair or foul territory.
2. Batter steps out of the batter’s box when hitting ball in fair territory.
3. Batter fouls off third strike while trying to bunt.
4. Catcher catches third strike foul tip.

The batter can advance to first base when the following happens:
1. Batter is pitched 4 balls.
2. Batter is hit by pitch (unless the ball is in the strike zone or swung at).
3. Catcher drops third strike with one or less outs with no base runner occupying first base or with two outs regardless of occupation of first base.
Exception to dropped 3rd strike: If the batter enters the dead ball area, she will be called out. This takes away a lot of judging by the umpire if the girl was walking to the dugout or not.
4. When the catcher interferes with the batter’s bat while batter is swinging at the pitched ball, or anytime during a pitch. If the ball is put in play during the interference, the offensive
coach has the option to take the result of the play or the interference.

The base runner must run the bases in order when advancing or retreating. When a base runner misses a bag, the play is appealable to the umpire by the defensive coach or any player on the field. Appeal must be made before the next pitch (except coach pitch) is delivered. If a base runner attempts to advance to the next base while the pitcher has possession of the ball in the pitcher’s circle, she must continue to the next base. Any attempt to retreat back to the previous base (without pitcher attempting to make a play on the base runner) will result in the base runner being called out. This is called “hesitation” or “look back” rule. (The base runner can turn the corner and immediately look for the ball. This is not an attempt to advance to the next base.) Base runners may attempt to steal only after the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand during her delivery of the pitch. Base runner cannot run out of the base path to avoid a tag. This will result in base runner being called out. Base Path: The path between the bases. 3ft on both sides of the bag that run parallel from the base pad and centerline. Base runner’s position also establishes base path.

Base runner should avoid contact with the defensive player at any base if there is a defensive play being made. (This is for the safety of the girls). Any aggressive act will result in base runner being called out. Neither the catcher nor any other defensive player may block a base or home plate without having possession of the ball. Base runner cannot interfere with a defensive player making a play on the ball. This results in the runner being called out and all base runners returning to previous bag before the interference occurred (unless forced to advance). The batter/runner is deemed safe at first base. If a batted ball hits a base runner prior to passing or being touched by a defensive player (non-pitcher), the base runner is called out. In addition, if the runner interferes with an attempt by the defense to field the ball, the base runner will be called out. Base runner cannot leave her base during a caught fly ball until the ball is touched by defensive player’s glove or body.
 

Lineup of Players and Substitutes
Team must start with nine defensive players. Another option is using “extra players”. Using nine regular players and up to three “extra players”. There would be 10, 11 or 12 total players on the lineup sheet. Any nine can be used in the field with 10, 11 or 12 batters. (This lineup is designed to get more players in the game). Three of the players would have EP as their position. Any of the 10, 11 or 12 players can be used for defense, but the batting order must remain the same. The coach can
change the defensive players at any time using the 10, 11 or 12 players from the lineup sheet.  If the EP(s) is used, the EP must be used the entire game. If a player gets injured and there are no substitutes on the bench, the injured player’s name is scratched through the lineup. There is no out penalty as long as there are at least 9 players left on the lineup. DEFO Position: In addition to the 3 EPs allowed under All World Fastpitch rules, teams may also add a “defense only” player to their lineups. Rule Clarification: ALL World Fastpitch rules allow for up to 13 players in the lineup, (12 of which may bat) by using nine regular players, up to three “extra players” (EPs) and a “defense only player” (DEFO). There may be 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13 total players on the lineup sheet. Any nine can be used on defense, with 9, 10, 11, or 12 batters. For purposes of simplicity, if a coach chooses to use a DEFO and only 9 batters, one of the 9 batters will be considered an EP.
Exception: If the DEFO is used, that player must remain on defense throughout the game, unless inserted into the lineup “once” for any of the three EPs, or replaced on defense, in which case the DEFO position would be eliminated for the remainder of the game. Substitute players shall be listed on the lineup sheet. They can be used at any given time during the game. The original player can re-enter the game at any given time. The substitute may also re-enter once.
Courtesy runners are allowed for pitchers and catchers. The courtesy runner must be used prior to the next pitch being delivered. Courtesy runner will be a substitute
player. If there are no substitute players, the courtesy runner will be the last completed at bat. If the last completed at bat is a pitcher or catcher, the courtesy runner will revert to the batter immediately preceding her in the batting order.

NOTE: For purposes of defining a courtesy runner, a substitute is defined as any member of the team written on the lineup sheet who is not currently in the batting order, regardless if the player was previously in the batting order or not. All lineup sheets will be turned in at the start of the game.

One copy will be given to the plate umpire and one copy will be given to the opposing team. If a player is lost to injury or illness, that space in the lineup will be scratched through unless there are less than 9 players on the lineup sheet. In that case, the affected spot will be an out when that spot comes up in the order (unless there is a substitute player available to go in that spot). Any player ejected from the game will result in an out when that spot in the lineup comes up, unless there is a substitute player available to go in that spot. Minimum requirements for fielding a team are still active. A team must have a minimum of 9 players on the lineup card, but can finish with a minimum of 8 players. The missing player in the batting order would be an out. Less than 8 fieldable players on the team will result in forfeit for that team. A player’s age on December 31st of the previous calendar year determines the age classification in which the player is eligible to participate.
 
The game will be seven innings, unless a run rule comes into effect or the game has been established in advance with a time limit.

The run rule:
Is 12 runs after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4 innings, and 8 runs after 5 innings.
Tie game after 7 innings or expired game time limit:
1. Tournaments will use International Tiebreaker. (The last completed at bat in the previous
    inning becomes a base runner at second base. Play until a winner is determined).
2. Some tournament formats will leave games in a tie due to scheduling restraints and
    maintaining a daily tournament schedule.
3. Pool Play Tie Breakers:For the purpose of tiebreakers in pool play, all wins are worth 2 pts,
    all ties are worth 1 pt, and losses are 0 pts.

Determining home team:
Tournaments will use coin toss before the start of the game.
It is customary to let the team that has come the farthest
distance call the coin toss.

When the ball is “dead”:
1. When “no pitch” is called by the umpire.
2. When a fly ball in foul territory is not caught.
3. Offensive interference.
4. When the batter or base runner is hit by the batted ball before
the ball is touched by a fielder.
5. When the umpire calls “time”.

When the ball is “live”:
1. Any batted fair ball.
2. Any fair ball that is in the playable field of play.
3. Any and all times before an umpire calls “time”.
4. When an umpire is hit by a thrown ball or batted ball.
5. When a base coach is accidentally hit by a thrown ball.

Equipment
Safety equipment must be used and properly marked as certified. All bats must be unaltered official softball bats. The umpire may check all bats prior to the game. Any illegal bats will be removed from the dugout prior to the game. All bats must be stamped with BPF 1.20 or less. The governing body of softball maintains a list of illegal bats and All World Fastpitch will enforce this. Use of illegal bat will result in an automatic out and ejection of player using the bat. Non-compliance will lead to offending player and coach being ejected from the game.

PLAYER SAFETY IS THE MAIN CONCERN

Shoes and socks must be worn and plastic cleats are recommended. (Metal cleats are allowed for 16-U, 18-U, 18 and over and High School divisions). Hats and visors are permissible. They are optional between each individual player. All jewelry is prohibited. The only exception being medical alert bracelets, which must be worn on the glove hand. Non-compliance will lead to offending player and coach being ejected from the game. Numbers must be worn on uniforms, with no 2 players on a team having the same number. All Helmets must have NOCSAE approved face guards, they must also have chin straps.
 
Definitions:
Altered bat: When the physical structure of a legal softball bat has been changed.

Appeal: a play in which the umpire cannot make a call on until a player or head coach
             asks the umpire first.

Base path: the path between the bases. Three feet on both sides of the bag that run
                  parallel from the base pad and centerline. Base runners position also
                  establishes base path.

Base runner: an offensive batter that has just put the ball in play becomes a base runner.

Bunt: when a batter taps the pitched ball and attempts to put the ball in play.

Conference: Anytime a head coach gets permission to suspend play to talk to the players.
                    Only 1 offensive or defensive conference allowed per ½ inning without penalty.
                    On the second defensive conference a pitcher must be replaced. Replaced
                    pitcher must pitch to at least one batter.

Stalling: Umpire has a right to end a conference early if the umpire determines a coach is
              trying to stall a game. This call will not be questioned or appealed by a coach.
              Any conference or time out within the last 5 minutes of a timed game will result
              in the game clock being suspended until play resumes.

Leap, Crowhop or Replant: When the pitcher’s pivot foot leaves the ground or is planted
                                            more than once during the delivery of a pitch. The foot can
                                            drag but cannot be “replanted”. Medical officials have deemed
                                            replanting hazardous to the pitcher’s knees.

Dead ball: When the ball is not in play. Umpire will declare, “Dead ball”.

Fake tag: When a defensive player makes the motion of tagging a base runner when
                there is no actual play being made. Penalty could be ejection of the
                offending player.

Foul tip: When the batted ball is glanced off the bat and into the catcher’s glove.

Obstruction: The act of a defensive team member who hinders or impedes a batter or runner.

Hit by pitch: When the pitched ball hits the batter and the batter is not swinging at
                    the ball or a strike is not called. Dead ball results with the batter advancing
                    to first base.

Illegal bats: A bat that does not meet the requirements of an official bat.
                    Dictated by governing body.

Infield fly rule: A batted pop fly in the infield with 1 or less outs when a base runner
                         occupies at least 1st and 2nd base. When umpire calls infield fly,
                         the batter is out.

Interference: Any time an offensive player deliberately affects the outcome
                      of a play in a physical manner.

Live ball: Any and all times that the ball is in play or until the umpire calls “time” or “dead ball”.