EVENT DETAILS

PLEASE READ ALL INFORMATION BELOW for your upcoming USSSA tournament. If I have not answered your questions after reading, please feel free to contact me, but please read all the information first! This information is general information about our events. Specific information regarding your event will be sent to each team prior to the event. Our goal is to bring you a well-organized, enjoyable, safe event. We all know that games get delayed for various reasons but please stress the following to your teams: 1. Be at the field, ready to play 20 minutes prior to game time to avoid forfeit. The first game of the day will begin when both teams are ready but no earlier than 5 minutes prior to game time if teams aren’t ready before. 2. When you leave the field/dugout after a game, do so quickly. 3. Complete most of your warmup in between games. This includes pitchers who are not in the game (if you are playing back-to-back). Please warm them up during the game when able. 4. The umpires will be instructed to keep the games moving, please do not delay or get upset with them. If you have an issue, please bring it to the Tournament/Site Director or UIC. 5. Edwardsville and O’Fallon fields are TURF. Molded cleats, turf shoes, or tennis shoes only. NO METAL CLEATS, sunflower seeds or gum on the fields!  If you need to add a guest player for the weekend, do so via your team manager page. Guest players must be added 4 hours prior to the start of the tournament, not your first game but the first game of the event.  You should have received a computer-generated email from USSSA with the pool schedule and brackets. This email is generated and sent to everyone in the tournament with an email address (players and coaches).  Download the USSSA App to see schedules, rosters, teams. The app will be used to communicate event information such as weather updates, delays, etc… This is how teams, parents and spectators will be informed, please ensure everyone is aware of the USSSA App and downloads it to their mobile device.  Pool games will be seven innings or 70-minute finish the inning. Pool games can end in a tie. Bracket games will be seven innings or 75 minute finish the inning. If tied at the end of 7 innings or time expires, International Tie Breaker will be used to determine a winner. During bracket play, higher seed is home. Run rules are in effect throughout the event (pool, bracket international tie breaker).  This is a variation from the USSSA Rule Book: If an International Tie Breaker is required: 1st inning, Runner on second, no outs. 2nd inning, until a winner is determined, runners on second and third, no outs.  Bracket Play will be seeded by pool play. The format of most events is 3 pool, single elimination. One day events will be 2 pool, single elimination, 7 in the Spring will be a round robin with bracket depending on the number of teams in a division. Meaning, if there are 8 teams in the division, we will play a full round robin and the top two teams will play for the Championship. If there are 7 teams in the division we will play a full round robin into a single elimination bracket, etc… State tournaments will be a straight 3GG Bracket, National Championship will be 2 pool into a 3GG bracket.  Courtesy runner: For the courtesy runner, if you are not batting your roster, the courtesy runner must be an unused substitute first! An unused substitute is a sub who has not entered the game in any capacity other than a courtesy runner. Once a sub enters the game, she cannot be used as a courtesy runner. If you do not have an unused substitute then you use the last completed at bat, as in the example below. • Go up the lineup until you find a player who is not a pitcher, not a catcher, not a player who has already run in the half inning for the opposite position, or not a player who is on base. THAT’S your courtesy runner. See example: The courtesy runner for your catcher, Storm, is Sadie. Go up the lineup from the player you want to use a Courtesy Runner for, in this case, Storm. "Climb the ladder from the Batter!" Skylar is on base, Sandy is your pitcher, and Sierra has already run in that half inning for the Pitcher. If the wrong Courtesy Runner is put on base and discovered by the defense, while the ball is live, the penalty is an out! Please make sure you look at your lineup before using a Courtesy Runner. And please turn in your lineups with First name, last name, number, and position. • Sally • Suzy • Samantha • Sara • Shelby • Sadie • Sierra (has already run for the pitcher) • Sandy (Pitcher) • Skylar (on base) • Storm (Catcher) Note: A player of the opposite position means a Courtesy runner cannot run for the pitcher and catcher in the same half inning. Therefore, if you were using a Courtesy Runner for the catcher, you would skip a player who has already been used as a Courtesy Runner for the pitcher. • No buckets on the field • Team Coolers are allowed for drinks and Frog Togs. No outside food and drink are allowed in Cape Girardeau or Caseyville. • No warming up from the opposite on-deck batting circle • BLUE GHOST AND SUNCOAST BACKLASH bats are not allowed. If a player steps in the batter’s box with either of these bats, she will be ejected, and the head coach will be ejected for the remainder of that game and the next. • All players must be on a permanent roster or listed as a guest player. If during the tournament, a player on your team is protested and they are not on your roster, your team will be ejected from the tournament, as per the rule book. • Umpires are responsible for managing the game, coaches are responsible for managing their players, themselves, and their fans. If a fan is warned, a coach is warned. If a fan is ejected, a coach is given a bench restriction. • Any coach who is ejected from a game will be ejected from the next game as well, NO EXCEPTIONS • Please reference our Zero Tolerance Policy, located on the event page, and share with parents and spectators. Any bashing, berating, or belittling of an official, a player, a coach, tournament staff or other fans will result in the offender being removed from the complex. Blatant unsportsmanlike conduct from coaches, spectators, or players is cause for immediate ejection. This includes a pattern of unsportsmanlike conduct over the course of a tournament. Meaning, you may receive a warning and a bench restriction in one game but if the behavior continues in subsequent games, you will be ejected without a warning or a restriction. Offenses of blatant unsportsmanlike conduct include, but are not limited to kicking a bucket, throwing a bat, a helmet, or a chair, grabbing a player, taunting/mocking players, or the use of threating language to a player, coach, umpire, staff member or fan. This is a game, these are young athletes! Please be understanding, patient and most of all KIND! • No refunds will be issued unless games are cancelled due to weather or other unforeseen events. o In the event of a weather cancelled game, games will be deemed complete based on the USSSA Rulebook (Rule 4, Sect 6, C, 1 &2). o Teams will receive a prorated refund based on the number of games played less than the game guarantee. o Refunds will be issued for entry fee only. Gate fees (typically $210 or the cost of the event) will not be refunded.  Play it Forward Sportz will furnish the softballs for this event.  Dogs are NOT allowed inside the quads in O’Fallon, Edwardsville or Caseyville. Dogs are allowed in Cape Girardeau and Perryville.  Pre-ordered T-shirts can be picked up at the sales tent, near the concession stand at most events. If this is not the case, the pick up location will be communicated to you. If you forget to pick up your T-shirt, there will be a $7 charge to mail it to you.  The address to your complex can be found under the venue tab on the tournament website or on the app  There is a map of the complexes on the tournament page under the “Event Info” tab. If you have any questions, please contact me at 217-840-7929 or by email at [email protected]. Good luck to you and your team! Thank you, Lori

Tournament Information

Thank you for choosing Play It Forward Sportz and USSSA.  Below you will find a series of information that will assist you in preparing for your upcoming tournament.  There is a significant amount of information but please read through it to answer all your questions about your tournament.  We pride ourselves on communication and hope that you find everything you need in this document.  If, after reading through the information, you still have questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

This document contains a list of general information rules for each USSSA Play it Forward Sportz tournament hosted by Lori Strode.  This information will apply to most of the tournaments and should be a guide for preparing for the event.  A copy of tournament rules and information, Pool Schedule, Bracket, for your specific tournament, will be emailed to your coach and players and be posted the USSSA tournament site NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY before your tournament.  Please look them over and share with your parents and spectators.

Please reference the Event Info tab for complex maps & our Zero Tolerance Policy

PAYMENT:

Only teams who are registered and paid will show as approved. If your team is in a pending status, you are not guaranteed a spot.

Payment deadline is the “last day to enter” date on the public website.

If a team on the waiting list pays before a team in the actual event, the team on the waiting list will be moved into the actual event.  The last, unpaid, team to enter the event will be moved to the waiting list.

Accepted forms of payment are listed below:

1. Pay online via manager page on USSSA website

2. VENMO - @Lori-Strode24 – Indicate team name and event you are paying for

3. PayPal – [email protected] – Indicate team name and event you are paying for

4. Check – must be received 1 week prior to the event. – Indicate team name and event you are paying for

Make Payable to: Play It Forward Sportz

Mail to: 587 Pebble Brook Lane, Shiloh, IL 62221

WHAT INFO TO EXPECT AND WHAT INFO YOU NEED TO SUBMIT:

COACHES NEED TO SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING

PAYMENT OF TOURNAMENT FEES – your spot is not secure until payment is received!

EMAIL A COPY OF YOUR INSURANCE (only required for NON USSSA insurance holders)

ENTER ROSTER ONLINE

USSSA rules will apply. Copies of birth certificates must be available for inspection, in the event a player on your team is protested.

Teams must be ready to play 20 minutes prior to their scheduled game time.  The first game of the day will not begin more than 5 minutes prior to game time but can begin when both coaches are ready.

Divisions and/or classes may be combined if there are not enough teams to fill up a division.  Example 9U and 10U or 12A and 12B may be combined.

Pool games will be 7 innings or 70 minutes -Finish the Inning and can end in a tie. Bracket Play will be 75 minutes – Finish the Inning – International Tie Breaker (ITB). If ITB goes to a second inning, there will be runners on 2nd and 3rd, no outs.  This will continue until there is a winner.

Bracket Play will be seeded by pool games.  Unless otherwise stated on the event page, events are 3 pool, Single Elimination.

The umpires will be instructed to keep the games moving, please do not delay or get upset with them.  If you have an issue, please bring it to the Tournament/Site Director or UIC.

All Teams must be warmed up and ready to play 20 minutes prior to game time. Failure to do so can result in a forfeit.

RULES:

USSSA rules will apply.  If you do not have a hard copy of the USSSA rule book, please ask one of our staff to assist you and provide you with one.  There is a digital copy on the USSSA website. The rule book is only printed every two years, the online version is the most up-to-date version.

Teams can bat their roster in pool play or bracket play. It is the coach’s responsibility to submit a lineup card to the home plate umpire prior to each game. Lineup cards MUST have first name, last name, uniform number, and position.

If a team chooses to bat their roster and a player is injured, they will be required to take an out every time the injured player’s spot comes up in the batting order.

Courtesy Runners can be used at every at bat for the Pitcher and Catcher.

Courtesy Runners are not tied to a player (pitcher or catcher)

Courtesy Runners must be a substitute first. If the team doesn't have a substitute, then the runner will be the last completed at bat.

To determine the last completed at bat, go up the line up until you find a player who is not a pitcher, not a catcher, not on base and has not already been used in the half inning for the opposite position you are courtesy running for.

For example: If your pitcher gets on base and she is batting 7th then ask yourself where is number 6? If number 6 is on base, then where is number 5? Number 5 is the catcher. Where is number 4? Number 4 is in the dugout. Number 4 in the batting order is your courtesy runner.

“Climb the ladder, from the batter!”

The same Courtesy Runner cannot be used for both the pitcher and the catcher in the same half inning.

If an incorrect courtesy runner is discovered on base, while the ball is live, the runner will be out and the Head coach will be issued a warning.

Teams must use the official USSSA softball. Play It Forward Sportz will supply all softballs for your event.

Teams must have the USSSA “thumbprint” on all bats.  BLUE GHOST  AND SUNCOAST BACKLASH bats are not allowed in USSSA If the batter enters the batter’s box with either of these bats or any other illegal bat, the player will be ejected from the game.  In addition, the Head coach will be ejected for the remainder of that game and the next game.

Protest fee is $100 cash and is refundable only if the protest is upheld by the Tournament Director. All protests must be communicated to the Homeplate Umpire by the Head Coach.

Please reference our ZERO TOLERACE POLICY in the Event Info Tab on the tournament website and share with your fans.  Be advised, the umpires are in charge of controlling the game, coaches are in charge of controlling themselves, their players and their fans.  Coaches can receive a warning, a bench restriction and even an ejection if their fans are disrespectful, disruptive or display unsportsmanlike conduct.

TIES: If teams are tied going into bracket play teams will be seeded in the bracket or awarded placement by the following: (Once past a tie breaker do not return to previous tie breaker)

1. Winning Percentage – Descending

2. Tied Teams (vs. each other) Winning Pct - Descending (Not valid if all tied teams have not played each other)

3. Average Runs Allowed - Ascending

4. Average Run Differential with a maximum of 8 - Descending

5. Ranking Points - Descending

6. Date Team Entered USSSA Database

Ties in bracket games will be decided by using the international tie breaker (after time limit or in the eighth inning). See “Game Times” above.

ROSTERS:

Please understand that we do not require (OR ACCEPT) hard copy rosters

Your roster must be online, and that roster is your official roster!

If at any time during the tournament a player on your team is called into question and the player is not on your online roster, your team will be ejected from the tournament.  

Other teams can see if your roster is online and which players are online, this is intentional for the purpose of transparency for all teams.  For this reason, there is no negotiating this policy.  I will not make exceptions for any team.  If your roster is not posted online, your team will be forced to forfeit the game they are playing and will be ejected from the tournament.

When you are looking at a team’s roster, make sure you are looking at their roster for the tournament you are playing in.  When you look at a team roster online, you are more than likely looking at their permanent roster.  To see guest players, you must click the drop-down menu at the top of the roster and select the tournament you are playing in to see their official roster for the event. Guest players will appear at the bottom of the roster.

GUEST PLAYERS:

All guest players must be entered no later than 4 hours prior to the start of the tournament (the first game of the event, NOT YOUR FIRST GAME).  I cannot fix, override, or adjust your roster or this process after that time, so please make sure the deadline is met. 

Some things to keep in mind:

Players can only be on one USSSA PERMANENT ROSTER

There is no limit to the number of times a player can be used as a GUEST PLAYER.

To add a player as a Guest Player, they must be on a USSSA roster.

If you are using a Guest Player from a team who is playing in a USSSA tournament the same weekend you are using their player, they must deactivate the player from their roster for the other team to pick her up.

For Example: Sally is on Heat’s permanent roster but is being used as a guest player for Fire.  Heat is playing in a USSSA event in Springfield and Fire is playing in a USSSA event in O’Fallon.  Heat must deactivate Sally for the weekend so Fire can add her as a guest player for the weekend. After the weekend is over, Sally will be available.

WEATHER:

In the event of a weather delay the Tournament Director will post updates to all users subscribed to the USSSA App. I strongly encourage coaches, parents, players, and fans to DOWNLOAD THE USSSA APP! Ultimately it is the responsibility of the Head Coach to stay in contact with the Tournament Director during a delay.

Lightning delays will be 30 minutes from the last known/seen strike and updates will be provided via the USSSA App.  Please exit the complex to your vehicles or find appropriate shelter under a pavilion.  Players are not allowed to remain on the field, in dugouts or in batting cages during a lightning delay.

REFUNDS:

REFUND POLICY: No refunds will be issued after the tournament deadline. Any team who drops after the tournament deadline or after the schedule is published (whichever comes first) will not receive a refund for their registration fee. The payment deadline, when looking at the tournament website, is the same day as “last day to enter.”  

There may be occasions when deadlines are moved up (if the event is full).  This information will be communicated to the team representative via email. If a tournament is cancelled prior to the start date (not due to weather), by Play it Forward Sportz:

•  In the event of a weather cancelled game, games will be deemed complete based on the USSSA Rulebook (Rule 4, Sect 6, C, 1 &2).  Basically, games can be deemed official after 2 1/2 innings of play (with home team winning) or 45 minutes of elapsed game time.
• Teams will receive a prorated refund based on the number of games played less than the game guarantee. 
• Refunds will be issued for entry fee only. Gate fees (typically $210 or the cost of the event) will not be refunded.
• The only exception to this is 7 in the Spring.  There will be a $75 administrative fee held

There are events (7 in the Spring and Battle for the Bling) that, due to the size of the event, have much earlier deadlines established.

GENERAL TOURNAMENT INFORMATION:

Our events ARE NOT Stay to Play Events

Addresses to the parks can be found in the Venue tab on the tournament page.  If you are entered in an event with multiple complexes, this page will typically identify where each division is playing.  If divisions are not specifically annotated, it is because the registration is not complete, and venues have not been determined.  Check back periodically, but the venues will be decided no later than 30 days prior to an event to provide time to make hotel reservations.

Edwardsville and O’Fallon complexes are TURF – No METAL cleats.  Molded cleats, turf or tennis shoes are allowed

Please reference the Park’s website for their policy on overnight parking for RV’s

Please reference the Park’s website for their policy on pets on the property.

Edwardsville and O’Fallon, do not allow pets.

Cape Girardeau, Perryville, Mascoutah, Murphysboro, and Sesser are very pet friendly.

Most complexes allow one team drink cooler.

Cape Girardeau strictly prohibits outside food.

I will do my best to accommodate your requests, please understand if you enter an event scheduled for Friday-Sunday, you can expect to play on Friday.  If you are unable to play on Friday you may be required to forfeit a pool game.

T-SHIRTS:

Pre-order t-shirts to receive a discount: https://www.playitforwardsportz.com/shop

$1 of every T-shirt purchase will be donated to the charity associated to the tournament.

After T-shirts are purchased, refunds will only be granted if your team's division doesn't make.  All other sales are final. If the tournament is rained out prior to the start date, shirts will be mailed to your head coach for distribution.  All T-shirts will be picked up at the event.  Any T-shirt not picked up can be mailed to the customer; however, shipping cost will be at the expense of the customer.

Thank you for playing USSSA!