Event will take place January 21-26, 2020

• Military/Civil Service January 21-22
• Seniors January 22-23
• Men’s Major, B, C, D, E & Women’s Major, C, D January 24-26
  • Men’s Tournaments will begin at 8AM Friday Morning
  • Women’s Tournaments will begin at 4PM Friday Evening

 

Entry Fee: $315

• Must register as a USSSA Challenge Cup team
• Must pay online at usssa.com

 You can only play one level per event.

For example:  Men’s Major, C, D, and E or Women’s Major, C, and D

 

New for 2020 all teams must place rosters online.

 

All games will take place at the USSSA Space Coast Complex.

 

LODGING

ALL Teams must stay in Brevard County.  USSSA does have a list of great host hotels, condos etc. and that list is included for your convenience.

 

Please do not make your travel plans until you have been confirmed as paid and entered in to the event.

 

UPON ENTERING OUR TOURNAMENT:

YOU AS THE MANAGER AGREE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT OUR RULES, POLICIES, DETAILS AND GUIDELINES AND AGREE TO MAKE SURE TO FORWARD INFORMATION TO YOUR TEAM.

 

 

PRE-CHALLENGE CUP TOURNAMENT GUIDELINES

 

TEAM REGISTRATION

• Teams must register here at this link: https://www.usssa.com/slowpitch/how-to-create#!#team.Once you are registered, you as the manager can create your team/teams. USSSA has paid your registration fee for this event.

 

• Teams must add an online roster 72 hours prior to the event. If you do not add your roster, you will not be allowed to compete. We will request you email us your roster with player’s legal names and DOB’s to your State Director for approval.

 

PAYMENTS

• The USSSA Challenge Cup does require payment in full in advance.
• The payment is non-refundable unless we cancel your division.
• Please make sure to pay your entry fee prior to purchasing hotels, cars, and airfare.

 

TEAM GUIDELINES

Men & Women players MUST be the PRV of the previous calendar year to participate. 

 

Example: PRV of D in 2019, can only play D or above.  PRV C on a D team in 2019, cannot play on a D team for the Challenge Cup.  USSSA Challenge Cup teams are not allowed to have “Drop Downs” and/or “Chips” on their respective rosters.

 

Please email your State Director if you feel you may be in violation of playing in a division.

 

• MAJOR DIVISIONS – No player restrictions
• B DIVISIONS – PRV of B Elite or Lower
• C DIVISIONS – PRV of C Elite or Lower
• D DIVISIONS – PRV of D Elite or Lower
• E DIVISIONS – PRV of E Elite or Lower

 

• SENIOR DIVISIONS – Contact National Directors Vic.Rivera@usssa.com or Jeff.Hall@usssa.com

 

• MILITARY DIVISIONS – Contact National Directors Dustin.Roberts@usssa.com or Jeff.Brown@usssa.com

 

TEAM AND PLAYER RANKINGS AND ELIGIBILITY

We will be using the USSSA Player Ranking Value

 

If there is a player NOT listed on a USSSA roster for this season, we will revert to the previous year/year’s rankings.

 

All Players must be able to show a legal photo ID at all times (must be 18 years of age.

 

You must have your photo ID on yourself, in your bat bag, or on the park/complex’s property.

 

HOW TO CHECK PLAYER RANKINGS

• The Athlete can go to their player locker on the www.usssa.com page to confirm their PRV.

 

TOURNAMENT WITHDRAWAL PROCEDURES

• Should your team withdraw for any reason from this tournament once the team has been entered, the cancellation/withdrawal must occur prior to the tournament being “SOLD OUT” or prior to the posted deadline.
• Should your team cancel after the specifications listed above, your team is still responsible for the entire entry fee.
• Unpaid entry fees will result in the team and each individual players being placed on our Suspended Lists until payment is made in full.

 

ALL TEAMS MUST BE PREPARED TO PLAY AT THE SCHEDULED BEGINNING OF THE EVENT.  WE CAN NOT TAKE SPECIAL REQUESTS.

 

 

STANDARD GAME TIMES / START OF PLAY

• No Time Limits – Unless weather causes the tournament to be delayed or shortened.
• We will play 5 Inning Games IF we have weather issues.
• All teams must be prepared to play 30 minutes prior to their scheduled game time.
• Lineups must be turned in 45 minutes prior to your scheduled game time to the Scorekeeper Tower.
• The Tournament Director reserves the right to modify game times, playing locations, or tournament structure due to: field conditions, time constraints, safety issues, team count, or inclement weather

 

 

COIN FLIP

• There will always be a double coin flip to determine home team throughout the tournament until the championship game.
• Championship Game: The undefeated team has the choice of home or visitor.

 

 

TEAM JUMPING

• There will be no team jumping at the same tournament
• Athletes can only play on one (1) team (Major, C, D or E), one (1) Military and (1) Senior team.
• Men can’t play in the women’s divisions.
• Women can’t play in the men’s divisions. 

 

PLAYING RULES

http://usssa.com/docs/2019/2019USSSARulebook.pdf

 

HOMERUNS PER GAME

• Major Men – 16, excess is a DBO
• Men’s B – 8, excess is a DBO
• Men’s C – 5, excess is a DBO
• Men’s D – 3, excess is a IEO
• Men’s E – 1, excess is a IEO

 

• Major Women – Unlimited
• Women’s C – 3, excess is a DBO
• Women’s D – 1, excess is a IEO

 

Military – See National Rules

Seniors – See National Rules

 

RUN RULE

• Men’s Major, B, & C
  • 25 After 3
  • 20 After 4
  • 15 After 5

 

• Men’s D & E, Women’s Major, C, & D
  • 20 After 3
  • 15 After 4
  • 10 After 5

 

 

SCORE KEEPING

• The Score Keeper Booth will be the official score.
• Line-ups – including starters and bench players must be on the line-up.

 

SHORTHANDED RULES

• All teams must have 9 players to start the game
• The 10th Spot is an out in the line-up each time that position comes to bat

 

EXTRA HITTER(s) (E.H.)

• Teams can bat up to 12 player and finish the game with same amount.
• You will take an out for any player in the line-up that you drop or is injured and can’t continue.
• Teams must announce how many they are batting at the coaches meeting.

 

COURTESY RUNNERS

• MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TEAMS –In the spirit of the USSSA Challenge Cup, the Men’s & Women’s Major division will use the CUSSSA Courtesy Runner Rule.  All other divisions will use the USSSA Courtesy Runner Rule.

 

PITCHING RULES

• The pitcher must toe the rubber in ALL divisions of play AND the pitcher must establish contact with the rubber for 1 second prior to the pitch.
• Pitchers have 5 seconds to release the ball after presenting
• 3 Ball – 2 Strike Count with NO COURTESY FOUL.
• USSSA Pitching Rules
• A caught foul ball on the 3rd strike is a live ball. The play is not dead, and runners can try and advance.
• At the start of a game or when a pitcher relieves another pitcher, not more than one minute may be used to deliver not more than (3) practice pitches to the catcher or some other teammate.

BASES

• Base distances of 75 feet are standard for Stadium Fields.
• Base distances of 70 feet are standard for fields 325′ or smaller.

DUGOUT RULES

• All players must stay in dugout or in an out of play area. We allow (2) on deck hitters to be out of the dugout.
• No alcohol and/or smoking/vaping of any kind is allowed at the complex.

POOR SPORTSMANSHIP WILL NOT BE TOLERATED

• NO “F” bombs
• NO throwing the bat
• NO taunting
• NO loud or vulgar music inside the parks

(any violations to these rules could result in immediate ejection from the game and/or the tournament)

FORFEITS

• POOL PLAY– Forfeits during pool play games will be scored as a 10-0 game in all games.

 

• BRACKET PLAY– Any forfeit in bracket play will be scored as a 7-0 game in all divisions

DISPUTES OR PROBLEMS

• Only managers can talk to the umpire or the director regarding issues during a game. If a manager is unsure on a ruling from the on-field umpire, please ask the umpire for the tournament director or UIC immediately. Don’t wait until the game ends because it will be too late to possibly fix the situation. (TD’S Decision is Final)

INJURED PLAYERS COMING OUT OF THE GAME

• If a player gets injured and needs to come out of the game, all of their subsequent at bats will be considered outs if the team does not have a substitute.

EJECTED PLAYERS COMING OUT OF THE GAME

• When a player is ejected from the game, all of their subsequent at bats will be considered outs if the team does not have a substitute.

RE-ENTRY

• There is no penalty for unannounced re-entry or substitutions.

EQUIPMENT RULES

WE WILL BE USING THE OFFICIAL USSSA DUDLEY BALL

• USSSA WILL SUPPLY ALL SOFTBALLS
• ANYONE CAUGHT STEALING OR PLACING TOURNAMENT BALLS IN BAG WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE TOURNAMENT.

THE SECOND OFFENSE OF THIS ACTION TO THE SAME TEAM WILL RESULT IN THE TEAM BEING EJECTED FROM THE TOURNAMENT.

 

BAT GUIDELINES

• All bats must have USSSA THUMBPRINT
• All bats will be compression tested.
• USSSA Umpires or Directors reserve the right to remove any bat we feel is altered, damaged, or made to enhance ball/bat performance. We will take the bat for that game and return it upon the end of the game with the mutual understanding it will not be used for the remainder of the tournament. If the bat is caught being used a second time, the player using the bat at that time will be ejected from the tournament and will be asked to leave the park/complex. If a player refuses to give up the bat for the remainder of the game, he/she will be removed from the tournament and park/complex as well.

FOOTWEAR

• Metal spikes of any kind are prohibited in USSSA play.

PARK RULES

• http://usssaspacecoast.com/a-z-complex-policies/

UPON ENTERING THE TOURNAMENT

YOU, AS THE MANAGER, AGREE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND OUR ABOVE RULES, POLICIES, DETAILS, AND GUIDELINES AND THAT YOU AGREE TO MAKE SURE TO FORWARD ALL THIS SAME INFORMATION TO YOUR TEAM SO THEY ARE AWARE AS WELL

• The Tournament Director reserves the right to modify game times, playing locations, or tournament structure due to: field conditions, time constraints, safety issues, team count, or inclement weather