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Tournament Information Packet

Tournament Director Ben Gallay : (720) 323-6545

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Tournament Information

Thank you for participating in the 3rd annual Zimmerman Thunder Classic Tournament!

All teams MUST check in with their completed USA Softball rosters (10U, 12U, and 14U) and 2 balls at least 60 minutes prior to your first game time. There will be a check-in table near the concession stand/bracket board at the high school fields.

8U

1 day

Level of play B/C

3 games guarantee

Medals for all teams

Weather dependent

10U

1 day

Level of play: B/C

8 teams

4 games guarantee

Pool play to bracket play

Northern ASA / NAFA Nationals berth will be awarded to 1st & 2nd place in Gold and Silver brackets.

Trophies to 1st place and medals to 2nd place.

1 day

Level of play: B/C

8 teams

4 games guarantee

Pool play to bracket play

Northern ASA / NAFA Nationals berth will be awarded to 1st & 2nd place in Gold brackets.

Trophies to 1st place and medals to 2nd place.

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Field Locations

Randy Johnson Field 1 & 2 (RJ1 & RJ2)

3200 Main Street Zimmerman, Minnesota 55398

Zimmerman Elementary Field 2 (ZE2)

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Zimmerman High School Fields (ZHS3, ZHS4, & ZHS5)

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ZIMMERMAN CLASSIC TOURNAMENT 8U RULES OF PLAY

1. 3 outs per inning 2. 5 run limit per inning 3. Game time = 5 innings or 65 minutes. No new inning starts after 60 minutes. If tied at 60 minutes:

International Tie-Breaker inning (see #20 below) should be played. If still tied after 1 inning of International, Pool Play game ends in a tie. Bracket Play continues with another International Tie-Breaker inning until game ends.

4. Players: 9 players on the field (3 outfielders) but all players bat. Playing with less than 9 players due to missing or injured players is allowed. In the even there is not a full roster in attendance and capable of playing, the batting team will not be penalized with an out. If a player leaves the game due to an injury, their batting spot can be skipped without recording an out, but the player will not be allowed to re-enter the game once they have been skipped in the batting order. Minimum players (6). Reasoning: If possible, we do not want anyone forfeiting in the tournament due to a lack of players. The girls who are there should play.

5. No stealing any base. Runner is to remain on base until ball and bat make contact. 6. Leading off is NOT allowed. They must wait for contact of the bat before leaving the base. 7. The ball in the infield stops runners from going beyond the base en-route [not possession of the

ball]. Reason: At this age, 75% of all hits could potentially be a home run by errors. We also want the defense to learn to throw the ball into the infield and not just run it in, even if the person they are throwing it to misses the ball (similar to the over-throw rule)

Example - ground ball hit through to right field. Player is on the way to second base when the outfielder throws it to the infield or runs into the infield herself. The runner has to stop at 2nd. Doubles, triples, homeruns allowed as long as the ball has not made it to the infield in time to stop the next base. …Let them run on a good hit!

8. No advancing on an overthrow. We want them to attempt to make the play but we don't want to penalize them for trying. So in the example above, if the infielder tries to throw the runner out who is going to second but the shortstop misses it and it goes out to left field or out of play or anywhere, the runner cannot advance.

9. No called balls. (5) Pitches per at bat, unless pitch #5 is fouled. (see #11 below) 10. No walks - unless hit by machine pitch– but this is a choice. She can choose to continue batting and

that pitch does NOT count as one of the 5 pitches. 11. At bat: Consists of either a hit ball in play or 3 strikes (out) or reaching the pitch limit (out). Foul balls

with 2 strikes gets another pitch regardless of the pitch count…just like all ages. 12. Bunting: Not Allowed. 13. Sliding: Is Allowed 14. Drop third strike rule is NOT in effect at 8U. Player is out on a dropped third strike 15. Coaches: 2 coaches in addition to the coach running the pitching machine may be in the field to help

– this level is about learning. 16. Umpires: Except for the games with professional umpires:

Home team must provide an umpire. Away team has the option of providing a 2nd umpire.

If 2 umpires: the home team umpire is the crew chief (final say) and stands behind home plate. The away team umpire stands in the field/at the grass between 1st & 2nd or 2nd & 3rd (not obstructing the players) depending on the location of the lead runner.

Exception: if the Home team does not have an ump familiar with the rules and the coaches agree that the Away team will provide the crew chief ump

Home team is selected via ball roll from home plate by a player from each team. Closest to the machine is home.

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17. On deck batter is behind the batter. Right-handed: on deck batter located by 3rd base dugout. Left-handed batter: on deck batter is located by 1st base dugout. This is a safety issue and consistent with the other age groups.

18. Outfielders: Outfielders should start in the grass for each pitch. Creeping of a few steps once the ball is pitched is acceptable, but having a wall of 8-9 players around the infield is not acceptable. If playing on one of the fields that has a large infield, the coaches can agree (prior to the game) how many steps in from the grass the outfielders should be.

19. Equipment: a. Softballs are 11” regulation (not softies). b. Batters / base runners must wear helmet with chin strap and facemask

20. Tie Games: If the game is tied at the end of 60 minutes, international tie-breaker innings will be played (last out starts on 2nd with no outs). Pool Play – only 1 inning of tie-breaker (game can end in a tie if tournament is Pool Play to Bracket Play format).

21. Non Force-Out Situation: If a base runner is in a non-force-out situation (Example: runner on second, runner on third, or runner on second & third) and the ball is hit to the infield, that runner(s) may advance at their own risk to the next base immediately when/if the fielder throws the ball to a teammate in an attempt to get an out. If the base runner(s) waits to run until the throw becomes an apparent overthrow, then the runner must remain at that base.

22. Pitching Games will be machine pitch only using Louisville Slugger Blue pitching machine setting to approximately 30 mph at 30-35 feet from home plate. No switching settings (except the micro-adjustment) between players or teams. Both coaches should test them out prior to the game and agree that it is working adequately.

a. Batting team coach runs the machine. b. 3 strikes or 5 pitch limit (unless keep fouling last pitch), whichever comes first - no coach

pitch c. Examples:

i. Batter watches first 3 pitches. She has 2 left and essentially now has one strike. If she watches pitch 4, she has 1 left and essentially has 2 strikes. On pitch 5 she fouls it away. Just like a foul with 2 strikes, she gets another pitch. This continues until she either 1) watches a pitch (out), 2) swings and misses (out), or 3) puts the ball in play.

ii. Batter fouls off pitch 1 and 2. She has 2 strikes. She swings and misses at the 3rd pitch. Batter is out and does not get any remaining pitches.

Player and Spectator Rules

Heckling of the umpires will not be allowed. The Coach of the team whose fans violate this rule will be warned once. If the heckling continues, fans will be asked to leave the facilities. Fans not complying within two minutes will cause the forfeiture of the game to the opposing team. Coaches – please make sure your fans know of this rule prior to the tournament. Remove all trash from bench areas after each game.

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Zimmerman Fastpitch Tournament Rules

1. All teams MUST check in with completed ASA rosters at least 60 minutes prior to your first game time. There will be a check-in table near the concession stand/bracket board at the complex.

2. This B/C tournament offers an unpaid berth to NAFA Northern Nationals to the 1st and 2nd placing teams in each bracket of 10U and 12U age groups. Teams have the option to accept or not. NAFA membership is not a requirement for participation in this tournament, however, NAFA membership prior to the beginning of tournament play is a requirement if you wish to compete for the NAFA national tournament berths.

3. (8) team max. - (1) day tournament - Pool play to single elimination bracket.

4. Except where modified by these rules, NAFA rules govern play. 5. Protests on the interpretation of game rules shall be decided on the playing field and must be made

before the next pitch is thrown. The decision of the umpire is final. 6. Home team shall be determined by ball roll in pool play. In bracket play the higher seed will be the

home team. 7. Batting of the entire roster and unlimited substitution is mandatory. A courtesy runner is optional

for the pitcher and catcher or injured player. The runner shall be the player that made the last out. 8. Games will be (7) innings or until time has expired, whichever comes first.

Pool and non-championship bracket games are limited to 65 minutes with no new inning to start after the time limit has run. Only the current inning is to be completed after the time limit expires.

9. Championship games will have a 70 minutes rule with no new inning to start after the time limit has expired.

10. Ties will be broken using the international rule after time expires in Bracket play. Pool play games may end in a tie.

11. There will be a 15-run rule after 3 innings, 12-run rule after 4 innings, and 8 run rule after 5 innings. In all 10U and 12U divisions, teams may score a maximum of 5 runs per ½ inning. Run rules are NOT waived for championship games. Run rules remain in effect for 8U, 10U, and 12U.

12. The criteria for placement of teams into the championship brackets play in order of priority are: Win/Loss Record, Head to Head Competition, Runs Allowed, Runs Scored, and Coin Toss.

13. The drop third strike rule is in effect at all divisions.

15. There are no restrictions to the number of innings a pitcher can pitch. 16. Teams must field a team with a minimum of 8 players. There will be no penalty for playing with 8. 17. A team not ready to play within 10 minutes of the scheduled start time of their game will forfeit that

game unless you are coming from a previous game that has not finished as scheduled, or weather delay.

18. On deck batters will be placed to the back of the batter for safety purposes. Other Information

In the event of inclement weather, the Tournament Director reserves the right to adjust the number of games, game length, and schedule to meet conditions. We will post changes to the website: www.zimmgys.org

NAFA rules require that chin straps and face masks be worn by all players at all age levels.

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Bracket Boards at the fields and Live Website brackets are considered official. Coaches are required to check the boards in the event of changes. It is the responsibility of the winning coach to collect the blue score card from the umpire and deliver it to the concession stand or check-in table so the Bracket Boards may be updated.

No soft-toss batting against the fence is allowed at Zimmerman fields.

Player and Spectator Rules

Heckling of the umpires will not be allowed. The Coach of the team whose fans violate this rule will be warned once. If the heckling continues, fans will be asked to leave the facilities. Fans not complying within two minutes will cause the forfeiture of the game to the opposing team. Coaches – please make sure your fans know of this rule prior to the tournament. Remove all trash from bench areas after each game.

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Zimmerman Classic Tournament

Refund policy & Weather Procedures

Refund Policy:

• Refunds will be given only if written cancellation is received before May 16, 2018. All entry fees

will be nonrefundable after May 16, 2018.

• In the event that the tournament is unplayable (no games played), teams will be refunded as

follows:

Play 0 games: Refund of all but $50 for administration fee

Play 1 game: Refund 50% of entry fee less $50 for administration fee

Play 2 games: If 2 official games by rule are played, or are available for play, no reimbursement will

be offered.

Note: Any game that has started is considered to be a full and complete game for refund purposes.

Weather procedure:

• Umpires will suspend games at the first sign of danger including high wind and rain downpours.

• Umpire game decisions are final.

• In case of lightning, play will not resume for 30 minutes following the last lightning strike.

• Teams are to take cover away from all metal structures. Please stay in the proximity of the softball

complex and not assume the game has been postponed or canceled until a call has been made by the

Tournament Director. Games will begin as soon as possible based on weather and field conditions. A

five minute warm-up period is allowed.

• The tournament director and UIC will make final decisions on whether or not the tournament games

will be postponed, shortened and/or canceled in the event of persistent weather and/or field

deterioration.

• Tournament Director reserves the right to change the format and structure of the tournament in

order to complete the tournament. We will do everything we can to assure that all games are played,

including and not limited to: 1) shortening length of games or pool contests; and/or 2) eliminating

consolation games.

• Notifications will be posted on the Zimmerman website: www.zimmgys.org

If weather does not allow for the completion of play:

• Depending on length of game played and/or score at the time of the delay/cancellation, games may

be ruled FINAL by the Tournament Director. Cases in which the game may be ruled final:

A) One team leads another team by an amount that cannot be overcome using a 5 run/inning

standard (assuming an inning every 15 minutes). Example: If the game is halted after 2

complete innings and there are 30 minutes of play left (2 innings) and a team is down by

more than 10 then the game may be ruled final. Even if your age/bracket does not have

the 5 run rule, it can be used as a standard when making this determination based on a

delay/cancellation due to weather.

B) The home team has batted and an inning is complete with less than 15 minutes of game

time remaining.

C) Forfeit

All decisions from the Tournament Director are final.