2025 Golden Bear Classic

Tournament Rules and Guidelines

The USA Softball Adult Slow Pitch Rules of Play are in effect, with the following exceptions noted below.

Your registration is not complete until all rosters and ratings are received, and your spot is not reserved until payment is received.

The deadline to register a team is May 3, 2025, 11:59 PM. Entry fees are non-refundable unless a written cancellation is received before May 3, 2025, 11:59 PM

Code of Conduct

All SVGSL players are required to adhere to all NAGAAA/IPS, SVGSL and SANCRA code of conduct.  

  • NO ALCOHOL, VAPING, or SMOKING are allowed in the dugouts or fields and all rules placed by Arcadia Ballpark must be followed. 

  • Any player suspected of being intoxicated or under the influence of any controlled substance is subject to ethics review by the tournament directors.

  • Any and all violations are required to be reported to the governing bodies and Arcadia Ballpark. 

  • Penalties for violation can range from a verbal/written warning, suspension up to and including lifetime ban.  

  • NAGAAA/IPS Code of Conduct is as follows:  

    • Diversity: We expect NAGAAA affiliates to honor all the diversity within the organization, treating everyone with dignity and respect.  

    • Integrity: We expect all NAGAAA affiliates to be straightforward, honest, and adhere to sportsmanship in all organizational dealings.  

    • Objectivity: We expect all NAGAAA affiliates should not allow bias, conflict of interest or outside influence to override their judgment.  

    • Honorable Behavior: We expect all NAGAAA affiliates to comply with relevant laws and regulations and avoid any action that could negatively impact the reputation of our organization. 

Team Ratings & Rosters

Ratings Forms will be sent out to all registered teams via a shared Google Document. All Ratings sheets will be locked May 10, 2025 at 11:59pm. Ratings and rosters must be completed by May 10, 2025. Changes to ratings or roster after May 10, 2025 must be made IN PERSON at registration by the Manager only. 

Number of Teams

There is a maximum limit of 30 teams for 2025. Teams are taken on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration is not complete until all rosters and ratings have been received and the entry fee has been paid in full.

Roster

Team rosters should include coach, manager, and scorekeepers, and may not exceed 20 players. PIP requests must be sent with a Physician’s note to the Tournament Directors.

Ratings

  • The 2024 NAGAAA ratings system will be in force. 

  • Player ratings must be submitted for each player on the roster. 

  • A maximum of TWO (2) Non-IPS/NAGAAA/ASANA registered players are allowed on your roster.

Player Registration

  • Players and managers are required to register with a photo I.D. before stepping onto the field. 

  • Registration is available Friday night at the Registration Event (TBD) or Saturday morning at the field(s). 

  • All Players must be registered prior to the start of double elimination. 

  • Registration Friday evening is highly encouraged to avoid delays at the fields on Saturday.

Divisions of Play

  • Competition will be offered in Open C, D & E Division.

  • The 12” ball will be used for all divisions.

  • Ratings are based on 2024 NAGAAA ratings,

    • All players and/or teams may be placed into the appropriate division at the discretion of the tournament director(s).

Games

  • Game time is forfeit time - No grace period. If your team is not ready to play when called, your team may be forced to forfeit that game.

  • Teams need to arrive at their field 30 minutes prior to game time.

  • To start a game: A minimum of 9 players on a team is required. If you have fewer than 9 players, you will be required to forfeit the game.

  • If an eligible 10th player becomes available during the game, that player must immediately be inserted into the vacant batter spot in the lineup.

  • ALL batters will start with a 1-1 count

  • There is no courtesy foul throughout the tournament

  • Round Robin: The home team for all games will be determined by a coin toss.

  • Double Elimination: The higher seeded team will be home. 

  • Championship game: The undefeated or higher seeded team has the choice of home or away.

  • The home team must act as the official scorekeeper for the game.

  • Line-up cards for each game must be completed in triplicate and given to the home plate umpire prior to the start of the game.

  • Two (2) extra players (EP or EH) are allowed in the batting line-up.

Courtesy Runners

  • ANY eligible player on the official line-up including available substitutes may be used as a Courtesy Runner (CR). 

  • A CR may be used only once per inning. 

  • Use of the Courtesy Runner is not mandatory, but if requested, may have a CR at any time.

  • If a Courtesy Runner is on base when due to bat, an out shall be called. The Courtesy Runner is removed from base, then takes their turn at bat.

  • Approved PIP players may have a Courtesy Runner more than once per inning and at any time when requested once reaching base. 

  • Approved PIP runners must be the last completed at bat.

  • Same penalty applies if a PIP CR is on base when due to bat.

USA Softball Run Rule (runs ahead) in effect:

  • 20 runs after 3 innings

  • 15 runs after 4 innings

  • 10 runs after 5 innings

Additional scoring rules:

  • E Divisions will have a 7 runs per inning cap, 1st - 3rd innings.

  • The 4th inning begins open scoring, no cap.

  • Flip - Flop Rule: For ALL Divisions - The Flip Flop Rule will be in use in any game where there is a ten (10)-run differential in favor of the visiting team at the start of the “open inning” or last inning of play.

  • If the VISITING team is ahead by 10 or more runs, the HOME team will remain at-bat after the 3rd out. All base runners must come off the field and the HOME team bats again. Should the HOME team tie or go ahead, then the VISITING team would take their turn at bat.

Home Run (over-the-fence) limits are as follows:

  • C Division: 1 OTF (over the fence) home run per team per game. Any additional (OTF) home runs will be considered an inning ending out.

  • D and E Division: No OTF (over the fence) home runs are allowed. Any (OTF) home run(s) will be considered an inning ending out.

Pitching

  • Pitching height is 6’ - 12’ from ground, with a perceptible arc.

  • Warm-ups after the 1st inning are limited to one pitch only.

Uniforms

  • All team players shall properly wear numbered uniforms. Cargo shorts are acceptable.

  • Bandanas may be worn, but NOT around the neck. 

  • Metal cleats of any kind are not allowed.

  • The USA jewelry rule will be in effect.

Round Robin Pool Play

  • All games are 50 minutes long, no new inning can start at 50 minutes.

  • Each team will play two (2) games for seeding.

  • Seeding will be by win-loss record, then by run differential.

  • All RR games can end in a tie game.

Double Elimination Play

  • Overall record, head-to-head record and run differentials will determine each team's seeding.

  • The higher seed will be home except for IF games 

  • The USA Tie Breaker Rule is in effect after 50 minutes or 7 innings of play.

  • All championship games will be 60 minutes or 7 innings. The Runs Ahead Rule will still be in effect.

Bats & Bases

  • Any bat used during the tournament must be ASA/USA approved.

  • All team bats will be checked prior to the game and must be made available to the umpire in front of the dugout.

  • The ASA/USA SOFTBALL NON-APPROVED BAT LIST rules will be in effect. If use of a NON-APPROVED (OR ALTERED) bat is discovered in play, the player will be EJECTED from the tournament and the team will FORFEIT that game.

  • Use of an illegal bat (damaged, cracked, loose grip tape, etc.) shall result in the player being called out. 

  • If a bat previously removed from play is discovered in the game, the player will be out and ejected.

  • If there are two bases at first base, the USA Double Base rule will be in effect.

  • No stealing is allowed.

Protests

There are 3 types of protests: Misinterpretation of a playing rule, an Illegal player, or an Ineligible player.

  • Protests based solely on umpire judgment will NOT be allowed.

  • Player Ratings concerns may be addressed at the discretion of the Tournament Director(s) and UIC.

  • $100 will be paid per question for Ratings Protest, which must be declared prior to the end of the game.

  • There will be no ratings protest allowed at the semi-final stage of the tournament.

Player Ejection

  • If a player is ejected from a game, they are ineligible to participate in their team’s next game.

  • If an ejected participant (player, coach, manager) is discovered in the game, the game shall be forfeited.