TOURNAMENT RULES

Atlantic Coast Softball Tournaments Hotel/Registration/AC Policies

Revised 9-5-25

Registration

Teams must submit a roster, proof of insurance listing ACS as additional insured, and complete Coach’s Checklist 5 weeks prior to the event start date.

Forfeit Policy

Game time is forfeit time. Teams forfeiting cannot advance or receive refunds. Score is 5-0. Games can start with 7 players (1 outfielder required).

Hotels

Teams traveling more than 75 miles must stay in AC-approved hotels booked through T1 Housing 5 weeks prior to the event start date.

Entry Refunds

Within 90 days of the start date of an event: There will be no entry refunds for withdrawal from a tournament within 90 days of the start of that particular event.

Outside 90 days of the start date of an event: If a team registers, pays, and then drops out prior to the 90 days, they can either transfer their entry, or receive a refund less a $150 administrative fee. If you withdraw (outside 90 days) from an Age Division that is FULL you will not receive a refund until/if your spot is replaced by another team! ($150 Admin Fee still applies).

Please Note: If you withdraw from an Age Division that is FULL you will not receive a refund until/if your spot is replaced by another team! ($150 Admin Fee still applies).

If a tournament cannot be completed, credits will be determined by the number of games played (see below):

0 games played: Entry fee minus a $150 administrative fee refund or 100% credit to a future event.
1 game played: 50% credit to a future event.
2 games played: No refund or credit.

Credits given prior to June 1 of that season must be used by August 1.

Credits given after June 1 of that season must be used by November 1.

All credits will be given in the form of a coupon code.

Any registrations received after April 1st of 2020, if an event is canceled due to an act of God (or by a government agency) teams will receive a credit for a future event.

Metal Cleats/Sunflower Seeds/Gum/Candy/Tobacco Policy

Any team found in violation of this rule by an AC Representative, Umpire, or Field Official will automatically forfeit all games, and fined $300, payable to the AC Sports Representative. No exceptions, if not paid team will NOT take the field

No metal spikes allowed at ANY TURF FIELD

There is a Strict NO SUNFLOWER SEEDS/GUM/CANDY Policy on ANY park or field that has TURF.
Atlantic Coast tournaments have a strict NO TOBACCO policy for any: Player, Coach, Parent, Official, or Tournament Manager!

Molded Cleats, Turf Shoes, or Running Shoes are acceptable for any playing surface. For a complete Field List, including information on our fields of play, please Click Here.

Alcohol & Tobacco Policy

No alcohol, tobacco, or smoking at any venue. Violators subject to ejection and law enforcement involvement.

Many of our tournaments are hosted on College & High School Campuses, & Community Parks. These locations do NOT permit their players, parents, or fans to consume ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, CHEW TOBACCO, or SMOKE on the premises and we will enforce those policies at our events as well. Please remind your fans and players to respect these policies, as improper conduct will be dealt with as needed. ACS has a Zero Tolerance and will result in team ejection from the Atlantic Coast event.

Special Start Requests

No scheduling requests honored. Games may start as early as 8am.

Eligibility

1 coach must carry copies of state-issued birth certificates for all players, including guest players.
Guest players must be insured. No double rostering within the same age division. Using ineligible players results in forfeits.

Age and Division Rules (September 1st Cutoff)

8 & Under Division. A player whose 9th birthday is Sept. 1, 2025 or later, is ELIGIBLE for 8U

9 & Under Division. A player whose 10th birthday is Sept. 1, 2025 or later, is ELIGIBLE for 9U.

10 & Under Division. A player whose 11th birthday is Sept. 1, 2025 or later, is ELIGIBLE for 10U.

11 & Under Division. A player whose 12th birthday is Sept. 1, 2025 or later, is ELIGIBLE for 11U.

12 & Under Division. A player whose 13th birthday is Sept. 1, 2025 or later, is ELIGIBLE for 12U.

13 & Under Division. A player whose 14th birthday is Sept. 1, 2025 or later, is ELIGIBLE for 13U.

14 & Under Division. A player whose 15th birthday is Sept. 1, 2025 or later, is ELIGIBLE for 14U.

15 & Under Division. A player whose 16th birthday is Sept. 1, 2025 or later, is ELIGIBLE for 15U.

16 & Under Division. A player whose 17th birthday is Sept. 1, 2025 or later, is ELIGIBLE for 16U.

18 & Under Division. A player whose 18th birthday is Sept. 1, 2025 or later, is ELIGIBLE for 18U.

18 & Under Division. A player whose 19th birthday is Sept. 1, 2025 or later, is ELIGIBLE for 18U.

Atlantic Coast Softball Tournaments Game Rules

ACS follows USA Rules for all Tournaments unless otherwise specified below.

Revised 9-5-25.

Pre-Game

Games may start early (30 minutes). No infield/outfield practice. One minute between innings. No hitting into fences or within fence lines; all hitting must be off the playing field (tee hitting, soft toss, front toss, etc.)

Plate Meeting

Coin flip determines home/away in pool play. Higher seed chooses in bracket play.

Scorekeeping

Teams must exchange lineup cards with full names/numbers. Both teams must keep score. Umpire signs completed scorecard.

Each team manager is to have at least 1 copy of a written lineup card. The lineup card must have full first and last names as well as player numbers listed. With free defensive substitution, only Pitcher and Catcher positions will need to be labeled for the courtesy runner. Both teams are required to keep score and to be checked upon throughout the game. A completed scorecard will be signed by the umpire and either the scorebook keeper or the head coach.

Eligibility Check

Handled during registration; teams must be ready for inspection if requested.

Time Limit

75 minutes finish the inning. Pool play can end in a tie. Playoff ties after time limit use International Tie Breaker. Championship games have no time limit.

Official Game

Games official after 3 innings (2.5 if home team ahead). Suspended games may be resumed. If a game should be called due to darkness, weather, etc. and it is the middle of an inning, then the game will revert back to the score from the previous inning if the 3rd inning has been completed (2 1/2 if the Home Team is winning). If there are ample game slots left, the game may be re-scheduled to resume.

Re-entry

Unlimited defensive substitutions. Offensive lineup can be full roster, 9 players, or in between, but must remain the same after the start of the game.

Courtesy Runners

Courtesy Runners for Pitcher and Catcher AT ANY TIME. Must be a Player off the Bench/Player not in the Batting Order. If you are batting your entire lineup, then you may use the LAST BATTED OUT. Please remember the purpose is to SPEED UP THE GAME! If the Courtesy Runner is not ready with her helmet and at the entrance to the field at the time the Batter reaches the base, the Umpire reserves the right to refuse the Courtesy Runner option if it slows the speed of the game.

Offensive: You may bat nine players, your entire lineup (Roster Batting), or anywhere in between. After the start of the game you cannot change the number of batters you have, it must remain the same for the whole game. If you bat your entire lineup and a player should get thrown out, or injured, and no substitute (a player not in the batting order) remains that is the risk you take and then you must take an out in that spot. Essentially the Batting Order is made up of all EH’s (Extra Hitter’s since there is Free Defensive Substitution)

If you are NOT Roster Batting, regular batting substitution rules apply. Games can start with 6 Players. Players can be added to the batting order in the order they arrive. Batting Spots 7-9 will be outs until enough players arrive.

Intentional Walk

Coach informs umpire; batter awarded 1st base. The purpose of this is to speed up the game due to time limits

Seeding Playoffs/Tie Breakers

Head-to-head (if 2 teams). 2. Fewest runs allowed. 3. Run differential (capped at +/-8). 4. Runs scored. 5. Coin flip. No reseeding.

Protests

ANY PROTEST MUST HAPPEN AT THAT POINT IN THE GAME! THE PROTESTING COACH MUST TELL THE UMPIRE, THE OPPOSING TEAM MANAGER, AND A TOURNAMENT OFFICIAL, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PROTEST. THE PROTEST MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY $100 CASH AT THAT POINT IN TIME!

Judgement calls by the umpire cannot be protested, rules only. (I.e. player’s age. Rostered players, substitutes, etc.)
A protest is only “official” if accompanied by the $100 cash protest fee and is done before the next pitch. Once the game continues play you cannot protest previous “events”.

If the protest is upheld, then the $100 will be refunded and the game will be replayed from the point of protest.

Format Alterations

Tournament reserves right to alter rules/format due to weather or scheduling needs. This includes, but not limited to, shortening times limits in order to maintain the game schedule and to ensure all games are played.

Dugouts

Max 3 coaches and 1 scorekeeper. Head coach only may speak with umpire.

Umpires

2 umpires per game (may be 1 for 8U-12U). Act as site reps if no ACS rep present.

Softballs

ACS supplies 3 per game. Teams chase foul balls.

Wearable Technology

Permitted for in-game use.

Ejections

NO WARNINGS will be given to Coaches, Players, or Fans for unsportsmanlike or unruly behavior.
Upon ejection, the Coach, Player, or Fan must completely leave the premises including the parking lot. Failure to comply will result in a team forfeit.
Any Player ejected from more than one game will not be permitted on the premises for the rest of the tournament.
Banned bat ejection: A team caught using a banned bat will result in the following: The bat must be removed from the tournament premises, the player caught using the illegal bat will be called out, ejected from that game, and the head coach will be ejected from that game. Both the coach and player may return to the next game. However, if that team is caught using an illegal bat a 2nd time the entire team will be removed from the remainder of the tournament and all played games will be marked a forfeit.
COACHES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR FANS. IF A FAN IS EJECTED FROM ANY GAME, THE HEAD COACH WILL BE EJECTED FOR THAT GAME ONLY

Should a Coach, OR FAN, be ejected from a game, he/she will not be permitted to participate in the rest of the Tournament as a Coach, or a Fan, and will not be permitted on any Tournament Game Site for the duration of the Tournament. The Tournament Director reserves the right to excuse the ejected Coach after the first incident.

Division Rules

10U	12U	14U & Up
60′ bases	60′ bases	60′ bases
35′ mound	40′ mound	43′ mound
7 inning game	7 inning game	7 inning game
75 Minutes Finish the Inning	75 Minutes Finish the Inning	75 Minutes Finish the Inning
Mercy Rule
20 after 1	20 after 1	20 after 1
15 after 2	15 after 2	15 after 2
12 after 3	12 after 3	12 after 3
10 after 4	10 after 4	10 after 4
8 after 5	8 after 5	8 after 5
Run Rules apply to all games. *Championship Games – No 8 Run Rule*. Must be 20, 15, 12, or 10.