Rally in the Valley
2025

Rules & Information

General:

1. This tournament is MN Softball sanctioned.

2. Teams must check-in with the Tournament Coordinator one hour before their first game starts. The registration table is near the concession stand at every location. Please turn in a paper roster if your roster is not in MN Softball.

3. Online MN Softball Rosters will be accepted if every player is listed with a jersey number and all players have been marked “compliant.” If any player is not compliant, please upload their birth certificate prior to checking in for the tournament.

4. For all teams turning in a paper roster, it must include all players AND their jersey number. Each player must have a copy of their birth certificate in case any age eligible issues arise.

5. Umpire decisions are final. No appeals to the Tournament Director will be allowed.

6. The Tournament Director reserves the right to shorten or cancel games in the event of bad weather or other tournament delays.

7. The Tournament Director reserves the right to modify any of these rules and/or conditions as necessary to ensure the success of the tournament and the safety of its participants and spectators.

8. Heckling of the umpires or opposing teams 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 premises. Fans not complying within two minutes will cause their team to forfeit the game. Coaches, please discuss this with your fans prior to coming to the tournament to avoid any misunderstandings.

9. Concessions will be available. No outside food allowed near the fields. Concessions are one of Apple Valley Fusion’s fundraisers.

10. Smoking is allowed in parking lots only.

11. Pets are allowed if they are not disruptive, and owners pick up after them.

12. For any security concerns, please go to the concession stand and ask to speak with a member of the tournament committee.

13. Game schedules, Brackets and Scores will be posted on the MN Softball Tournament Site. QR Codes are provided to coaches and will be posted at various locations around each facility.

14. Tournament information will be posted on:
    Apple Valley Fusion Website
    MN Softball - Rally In The Valley

Pool Play & Bracket Play:

1. All games except the gold championship games will have one umpire. Every effort will be made to have two umpires for the gold championship games.

2. A team not ready to play within 15 minutes of their scheduled start time will forfeit that game. The exception being a team that is finishing up a previous game.

3. In the event of a forfeit:

a.  During Pool Play, the winning team will be awarded a score of 8-0.

b.  During Bracket Play, winning team will advance to next round.

4. A coin toss at the beginning of each game will determine the home team during Pool Play.
   The better seeded team will be the home team throughout Bracket Play. All levels except 8U A will have a unique seed to use for the entirety of Bracket Play.

a.  For 8U A - if the Bracket Play matchup is 1st vs 1st, 2nd vs 2nd, etc. a coin toss at the beginning of the game will determine the home team.

The following run rules will apply:

1. The game will end if one team is ahead by 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 runs after 4 innings or 8 runs after 5 innings.

2. Teams in the 8U-A, 8U-B/C, 10U-A/B, 10U-B/C, 10U-C, & 12U-C Divisions may score a maximum of 5 runs per half inning, including championship games.

3. Teams in the 12U-B/C Division may score a maximum of 5 runs per half inning in Pool Play.
   For this 12U-B/C Division there is no per-inning run limit during Bracket Play.

4. There is no per-inning run limit during Pool Play or Bracket Play at the 12U-A/B Division.

Games:

1. Games will end after the time limit is completed, 7 innings, or run rule, whichever comes first.

2. For Pool Play, no new inning may start after 65 minutes. Innings in progress at the 65-minute mark will be completed as long as it is finished by the hard stop at 75 minutes. When there is a hard stop the score will revert to what it was at the previous full inning.

For games with the 5-run rule: If the 65 minute mark has passed (the game is in its final inning) and the away team scores enough in the top of the final inning so that the home team cannot mathematically win because of the 5-run rule, the game is called final and the score is reverted to the full score in the previous inning. Note, if they can still mathematically win or tie, they should still play until the game is finished, or the 75-minute hard stop is reached. Rationale: Because runs allowed is the first tie-breaker, it is unfair to the home team to have to accrue the runs allowed in the top of the final inning without having a chance to add to the runs allowed of the opposing team in the bottom of that same inning. Example: 4th inning is about to start and the away team is winning 7 to 5 at the 60th minute mark, after the away at bats, we’re now at the 70th minute mark and the away team has just scored 4 runs, so this game is mathematically over at 11-5). Per the rules, this game is now final, and the official final score is 7-5 for the away team. This should minimize the distinct advantage to select being the away team that has existed for many years.

3. Pool play games may end in a tie.

4. In the event two or more teams are tied because of pool play games, the following tie-breakers (in order) will be used to seed teams into brackets: 

a.   Record 

b.   Head-to-Head (used if all tied teams have played) 

c.   Average Per Game Points Allowed (An average is used if teams have not played an equal number of games) 

d.   Average Per Game Points Differential (An average is used if teams have not played an equal number of games) 

e.   Random Computer Coin Flip (A system random number generator breaks ties at this stage) 

If the system cannot break ties at a particular tiebreaking stage, the system will move to the next tiebreaker and not return or revert back to a previous tiebreaker.

5. For Bracket Play, no new inning may start after 70 minutes. Innings in progress at the 70-minute mark will be completed. 

6. In a Bracket Play game, if there is a tie after time has expired or the inning limit is reached, international tie-breaker rules will be followed with each inning starting with the last batter up in the previous inning, starting on second base. 

a.  For 10U and younger games, extra innings follow international tie-breaker rules and start each half-inning with 2 outs 

b.  For 12U games, extra innings follow international tie-breaker rules and start each half-inning with 0 outs

7. 10B/C Pool Play & 10B/C Silver & Bronze Bracket Play: Dropped 3rd Strike results in the batter being out and they cannot advance to 1st base regardless if it is occupied or not. Runners already on base can advance at their own risk.

8. There are no restrictions on the number of innings a pitcher can pitch.

9. For safety purposes, on-deck batters must warm up behind the batter, regardless of their team’s dugout.

10. All teams must bat their roster.

11. There is unlimited substitution of players on defense.

12. Courtesy runners may be used for pitchers and catchers of record.

8U Pool & Bracket Play:

1. Pitching Machine will be provided by Apple Valley Fusion, will be set up at 35’ and set to 30-34 mph. Please only adjust the pitching machine to account for inside/outside and high/low pitches. Do not adjust the speed that is set.

2. Novice umpires will be used, their calls are final and shall not be disputed. Any concerns should be brought to the Tournament Director.

3. All game balls and pitching machines will be provided by Apple Valley Fusion Fastpitch. Please leave all game balls at the pitching machine at the conclusion of the game. Game balls will be replaced as needed.

4. Each batter gets 3 swings or 5 pitches unless the last pitch is a foul ball. The at bat will continue on a foul ball just as with all other age groups.

5. Bunting is not allowed.

6. The Infield Fly Rule will not be applied.

7. Runners will not be allowed to advance after a dropped 3rd strike.

8. Leading off is not allowed. Runners may not leave their base until ball contact with the bat.

9. The pitcher must stay in the pitcher’s circle and behind or on the side of the coach until the ball contacts the bat. Pitchers may line up on either side of the pitching machine. No movement can be made by the pitcher which places them in front of the pitching and/or the coach prior to the pitch.

10. Prior to pitch, the pitching coach must verbalize and check that the defense is in the ready position and ready for play to begin.

11. Outfielders must start the play standing on the grass at the edge of the infield and cannot move until the ball has made contact with the bat.

12. Players on base will stop when:

a. Infield Hit that never leaves infield. If no infielder has control of the ball, the runner may continue to advance. However, when the fielder has control of the ball the runner should stop at the next base. Runners can be thrown out on their advance.

b. Outfield Hit. If no outfielder has control of the ball, runners may continue to advance. Once the outfielder gains control of the ball and throws it towards the infield, runners will stop at the next base. Even if the ball does not make it to the infield on the throw attempt, the runners must stop at the next base. Runners can be thrown out on their advance.
Exception: if the outfielder carries the ball to the infield to make an out, the runners can keep advancing.

Note that all of our youth umpires have been instructed to raise their hand high when runners are no longer allowed to advance. Base coaches, do not send your player to the next base if you see the umpire’s hand is up. Umpires can call back players once the play is completed if they see a girl leave a base to the next one after their arm is up.

13. Teams will bat the roster.

14. Coaches need to operate the game with the highest amount of integrity and always keep the player’s best interest in mind.

15. The defense will be allowed (3) coaches. (2) coaches can assist on the field. (1) will assist the catcher with returning balls to the pitching coach.

16. The offense will be allowed (3) coaches. (2) base coaches (1st & 3rd Base), (1) will run the pitching machine.

17. Coaches are on the field to move the game along quickly.

18. Coaches are part of the field of play but need to make every effort to stay out of the play.

19. The coach at the pitching machine must keep (2) softballs in their possession, not laying on the ground around the machine.

20. Pool Play Games can end in a tie.

21. Bracket Play: If the game is tied after time has expired, there will be extra innings. Each extra inning will start with the last batter up from the previous inning on 2nd base and 2 outs. After (3) extra innings, the following, in order, will be considered for the tie breaker.

a. Higher number of outs recorded during regular inning play.

b. Ball roll. Each team selects a player to roll the ball from front of the pitching circle to home plate. Closest ball to Home Plate is the winning team.