EVENT DETAILS

Rules and Schedules

Welcome to USSSA Fastpitch and 55 years of nationwide SANCTIONED events.

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This is a SANCTIONED event, there are three sanctioning bodies in Utah, Idaho and Nevada. They are NFHS (aka High School Federation), USA/ASA, and USSSA (aka UTrip),

The event this weekend is a Winner Take All Championship Bracket NO IF GAME.

The main contacts are Shaun Dustin and Jerry.  The head UIC is also Shaun Dustin and will be your main contact on Saturday, as I will only ne there Friday.

There are 3 fields at the Galena complex. 

Awards for First and Second place.

We are proud to offer you quality products as a sanctioning body. We have our own Rule Book, manage as a public governed board, have an independent national Office, and provide full liability insurance for Teams, Umpires, Facilities and Tournaments. All three Sanctioning Bodies will protect your event payments from financial collapses and ensure your event will run and your money is protected.

They provide compliance to the Safe Sport Act federal law, provide their own Umpire governing body for registration, Liability insurance, and background checks.

All three provide liability protection against Sexual Abuse and Molestation and general 3rd party liabilities and lawsuits. Do not accept liability when playing in a tournament, you risk your personal assets. Every sanctioned Director will carry 2-3 Million dollars of ADDITIONAL insurance coverage to protect all teams, fans, umpires and the facility.

We do NOT ask for copies of your rosters or insurance policies. This is private information and is available inside your online acct. Did you know that Child ID theft is #1 reason for stolen identities. Protect your players’ names and birth certification information.

Please read to the end of this letter for rules and schedule links. We are excited to be part of your Sports Family. This weekend is a WINNER TAKE ALL Single Elimination Bracket.

FACILITY RULES

• Note: No Pets, No Alcohol, No Seeds, No Scooters/Skateboards, Smoking/Vaping past the entrance gates

Please show the city we appreciate their hospitality and pick up trash after EVERY game in dugouts, bleachers and along the fence lines. Trash maintenance has become a BIG issue and fees will now become applicable for not cleaning up!!  

• Your team will be charged $30/game IF trash is left in dugouts, on or under the bleachers, and along foul lines after end of game. Some cities have started charging for staff and contractors to clean up due to lack of city employees. I do NOT want to add more costs into events, so PLEASE instruct players and parents to pick up after every game to avoid trash surcharge fee, thank you!!
• Note: No Pets, No Alcohol, No Seeds, No Scooters/Skateboards, No Smking/Vaping.  
• Violation of the NO alcohol policy will be justification for removal from the complex, forfeit and possible ban or suspension. Recently, we had an Umpire threatened to be beat up for managing alcohol policies. Please do not go down this path, serious consequences will occur. 
• DO NOT set up Canopies or Umbrellas directly behind ANY backstop, they can be used on the side backstops or down the foul lines or the HR grass area or over the side bleachers. 
  
  
  

CODE OF CONDUCT POLICIES

Emotional outbursts from COACHES and FANS have become a VERY serious issue and must and will STOP. 

• BALLS AND STRIKES CANNOT BE ARGUED OR PROTESTED. The behavior of adults has caused great harm to the game and is now creating Umpire shortages across the country and State, fortunately Utah USSSA has not suffered like other programs, but we have been impacted. I lose 7 out of 10 NEW umpires every year due to mistreatment. We had a new Umpire in tears in the training games, ugh!!  We lose another 2-3 umpires per year for medical conditions, age or work requirements. As such, we cannot expand to more locations or provide a quality product without enough Umpires.
• Here is a fact! Utah/Idaho/Nevada have great economies, so most adults do not need a side GIG like umpiring anymore. UMPIRES are in HIGH demand at work and on the field. They get paid overtime to stay at their regular work, which is FAR MORE than they get to call games or take a day off to come help Umpire games.
  
  Umpire compensation is rising at 10-25% a year for Umpires for the last 4 years!  Your teams will get impacted by approx $50-150+ per tournament more as game fees increase. The REAL problem will be a shortage of Umpires to call games or to have only 1 umpire on a diamond. PLEASE help me to keep the Umpires in the game.
  
  The High School programs are already running some games with only 1 umpire or cancelling games all together. My counterparts are running one Umpire coverage in some events or cancelling age divisions.  This is a SERIOUS negative trend we MUST work together to reverse the trend.

• Effective immediately, here are the following rules and actions required to come back to the ballpark.
• If a Coach, parent or fan gets ejected, it will result in the coach/parent/fan NOT being allowed in any dugout, field or stands for at least 1 full game and the following actions may take place. Remember an ejection will result in that game and plus one more game and possibly the day and tournament.
  1.) Coach, Parent or fan may be required to shadow an umpire on the bases in a real game.
  2.) A meeting or phone call with the State Director or State UIC or Assistant UIC's and City Managers.
  3.) In severe cases, the player may have to leave the game with the parent in an ejection situation.
  4.) Please set an example for these young ladies on behavior and reactions. Their eyes and ears see and hear everything. 
• Please approach an umpire with a QUESTION, not yell at, run at or attack their call.   Asking the Umpire to get help is NOT a question, A question sounds like "Blue, I think the players foot was not in contact with the base" will yield you a great interaction and review of the call.
• Arguing BALLS and STRIKES is NOT allowed and will be grounds for restriction or ejection. 
• Please treat them how you would like someone to treat you or your family member if they were on a field calling a game. It is sad I must talk about this subject. In the past season, we have had Umpires physically contacted, verbally attacked, they have been chased by fans, followed to the parking lotor building.
• We have had female coaches harassed. mocked or jeered at by male coaches. We have had parents scream at concession workers, even food thrown back at them. Even I have been called some interesting words or been threatened physically. This will NOT be tolerated and will result in an ejection.
• Such behaviors can and will result in bans or temporary suspension from the ball fields, games or permanent suspension for USSSA or other associations.  This can include a team being removed if an issue is serious enough. We are happy to listen to address any issue, except Umpire judgement calls.

GENERAL RULES and INFORMATION

• ZERO tolerance will be in effect the entire event for any disruptive behavior by fans, coaches or players. Derogatory comments, foul language, poor behavior, negative verbal communications towards any USSSA staff or complex staff will be reason to be removed from the tournament. Players may be ejected for parent ejections and parents may be required to shadow Umpire a future game before being cleared to return. No refunds or credits will be applicable and 911 will be called.
• BATS without the USSSA thumb 1.20bpf print are ILLEGAL and will cause Player and Coach to be ejected from the game. THIS IS THE COACHES RESPONSIBILITY, NOT THE UMPIRES OR EVENT DIRECTORS!
• Umpires have official score unless the home team keeps a book. This is to be done every half inning with both teams as a verification. The winning coach MUST umpire sign score card or game results will stand as written.
• Warmups between innings is 1 minute or MAX 2 pitches, please teach your players to HUSTLE in and out and be prepared. MAXIMUM of 2 pitches (5 for new pitchers). The 2 pitch MAX is the Catcher’s responsibility. We want more at bats and field experience.
• START TIMES: Games may start early as much as 15 minutes. Please be prepared, once an umpire is on the field and calls for the coaches’ meeting. Coaches are REQUIRED to meet at home plate within 1 minute. All warmups MUST stop on the infield for the safety of umpires.
• Mercy Run rule applies in pool and bracket play at 8 runs after 60 minutes. The game is also over once the home team has gone ahead by 8 runs and the time clock has expired. The batter will finish the at bat and then the game will be called. A Flip-Flop can be utilized to allow a team to bat their roster and then the game is called. But runs do NOT count!

• POOL play is 6 runs max / inning (not applicable in 16u/18u/Women’s divisions). 14/15u only use 6 runs max in the 1st inning only. Continuation runs after the 6th run DO NOT count unless it is an OVER the fence home run.  Example: Bases loaded over the fence HR will yield 9 runs to be recorded.  NOTE The C/REC ALL STAR divisions max 6 runs per inning in POOL play only for 8u,10u and 12u. 14u will follow the 1st inning max 6 runs.

•  Time limits: Pool is no new innings after 65 minutes. Bracket is no new after 75 minute depending on age. Umpires will notify you at the plate.  IF games when applicable = No new inning after XX minutes. All times may be increased or decreased by the Event Director at any time as needed due to weather, timing, city ordinances and health of players and Umpires.  FINAL TIMES will be announced again at the plate meeting.
• Flips at home plate for pool play. In bracket play the HIGHER seed is Home. If the same seeds, then a coin flip will occur. The IF game is a coin flip.
• Tie breakers: NO International Tie Breakers (ITB) will be played in POOL PLAY. Tied games will be recorded as ties in POOL PLAY.  In BRACKET PLAY the winning team must be determined. In bracket play, a PROGRESSIVE ITB occurs by placing a runner on 2nd and 3rd after one standard ITB inning. Play until a winner is determined.
• Substitutions – A team may bat as many players as they want in pool AND bracket play. Teams do not have to bat the entire roster to utilize the open defensive substitution rule. The Open Defensive substitution rule states ANY rostered player can play in the field without being reported except for pitcher and catcher for courtesy runner purposes. However, the batting line up must be accurate!
• Courtesy runners for the pitcher or catcher can be ANY player, but if that player comes up to bat and they are on base then an out will be declared at the plate. We strongly encourage you to use your substitute players to run. The same courtesy runner cannot be used in the same inning. 
• All Guest Players MUST be added into the GP system 24hrs before the start of tournament. If you fail to add them before day 1, then they are ineligible play and forfeits will be yielded and possible Coach suspension. They have no insurance coverage. It takes less than 2 minutes to add a player.
• The ONLY way to get them in the event on Day 1 is to send $20 PER player via Venmo @JerryCordovaOng, in the comment section it MUST list Full Player Name, DOB and team she is currently rostered on under USSSA.  NO EXCEPTIONS, do not email me asking to add players, send $20 per player and I will have the documentation needed for the tourney roster. We are TOO busy on tournament day to stop and add players. 

• A new emergency (Hardship) add-on player may be rostered if a team falls below 9 players during the tournament. If they cannot get another player, they may continue with 8 players WITHOUT penalty. However, if you start any game with less than 9 then an auto out will be declared for missing 9th player. A hardship of falling below 9 players must be requested and be reviewed by USSSA staff.
• Protests require $100 check payable to Primary Children’s Hospital. Checks will be returned for a valid protest.
• Tournament Director, State Director and/or UIC rulings are final. The Director may review a rule for special circumstances to ensure equity. A USSSA rules book will be used for other interpretations and decisions.

• If an umpire makes a mistake and gives incorrect run rules or time limit, etc information at the plate meeting and both coaches do not say anything, then that is the agreement and that is what the game will be played under. We will not override umpires in this situation.

• At the end of Championship games BOTH teams and fans are to CLEAN UP their dugouts, on and under bleachers and along foul lines area. After cleaning up, proceed to the awards presentation area. The location will be announced at home plate or close to the end of the game.

• Home run ball award is as follows. Umpire will issue a HR ball and possibly a picture will be taken to promote their successes.  Home run means OVER the fence. The ONLY exception is in C/REC we will award a player 1 ball for the event weekend for an infield homerun.

CANCELLATIONS. WEATHER AND DROP POLICY

There are penalties for dropping or team withdrawal at certain phases and dates. Rain outs and weather cancellations follow our public policy. Please don’t ask what I am going to do about your fees paid. Read the policy link below to understand the next step for applicable credits.

https://www.utahusssa.com/classification-guidelines

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES

Download the USSSA Free App or click this link below. 

http://www.usssa.com/fastpitch/event_gameCenter/?eventID=381722