Rally in the Valley
2024

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 championship games will have one umpire. Every effort will be made to have two umpires for the 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 during Bracket Play.

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 & 10U Divisions may score a maximum of 5 runs per half inning, including championship games.

3. During the POOL PLAY games ONLY, 12U level can score a maximum of 5 runs per half inning. There is no per-inning run limit during bracket play at the 12U level.

Games:

1. Games will end after 65 minutes, 7 innings, or run rule, whichever comes first.

2. No new inning may start after 65 minutes. Innings in progress at the 65-minute mark will be completed. However, there will be a hard stop at 75 minutes for pool play only and the score will revert to pervious full inning.

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. 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.

6. 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.

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

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

9. All teams must bat their roster.

10. There is unlimited substitution of players on defense.

11. 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. The defensive play of throwing the ball towards the infield is the correct play and thus 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.

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 1 out. After (2) extra innings, the following, in order, will be considered for the tie breaker.

a. Higher number of outs recorded on defense during the extra innings

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

c. 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.