2025 NAFA TOURNAMENT RULES

(as of 04/14/25)

For rainout info: Call 888-852-1115 at 10pm Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night, 6:30 am Saturday morning or 2 hours prior to your first game. For inclement weather, time limits may be shortened at the Director’s discretion.

All games will be played using NAFA rulebook with the following exceptions:
1A) Game Run Rule: (12 run rule after 3 innings, 10 run after 4 innings, 7 RUN RULE after 5 or 6 innings for all games and all ages including the championship games. 
1B) 10U & 12B & 12C & 14C AGE ONLY 5 RUN RULE PER INNING.
1C) Flip-Flop rule. When the last inning is declared, if the visitors are  ahead by 5 runs or more , home and visitors will flip-flop with the home team batting at the top of the inning and visitors at the bottom of the inning. FOR ALL AGES – the flip flop will be used in any inning where the visiting team is ahead by the run rule.

2) There is a 80-minute time limit. No new inning can start after 80 minutes. TIED GAMES REMAIN TIED in POOL PLAY. Tie breaker rules – for pool play – 1) record, 2) head-to-head, 3) least runs allowed, 4) run differential, 5) runs scored In BRACKET PLAY if tiebreaker is needed runners will be placed on both 2nd and 3rd bases.
There is a 1:45 time limit on all championship games if there is no game following. There is NO Drop Dead.

3) Lag for home/visitor. The team that has traveled furthest shall take the 3rd base dugout unless the team is staying for back-to-back games then they may stay.

4) Pitching rule. NAFA rule. 3 warm-up pitches are allowed prior to each inning or one minute, whichever comes first. The penalty for an illegal pitch is a ball on the batter and no forced advancement of baserunners. The coach has the option to take the result of the play or the penalty. Prior to starting the delivery, the pivot foot must be in contact with the pitching plate and the non-pivot foot must be in contact with or behind the plate.

5) Courtesy Runners. The team at bat may use a courtesy runner for both the pitcher and/or the catcher any time after they reach base, however the courtesy runner will be a player not in the game (if not batting the roster) or the player furthest away in the batting order (which is usually the last out but not always) if batting the roster or if all subs have been used up. The same runner may not be used for both positions.

6) Batting options:

7) Minimum Players to Start or finish. A team may start with 7 or 8 without taking outs. A team may continue a game with less players than it started for any reason, taking outs in the batting order each time they come up. Exception: if a team is batting all their players, regardless of the number, and a player is injured and in the umpire’s judgment that player is unable to continue, then no out is taken and that spot in the order is skipped for the remainder of the game. The player who has left the game cannot return to the lineup unless she left due to the blood rule. There is no minimum to finish a game.

8) Unannounced Substitute. There is no penalty for an unannounced legal substitute. Upon notification by either team, the umpire shall announce the legal substitute and make the appropriate lineup card changes. All play prior to the unannounced legal substitute being brought to the umpire’s attention shall stand.

9) Metals cleats are allowed for only 14U, 16U & 18U Divisions only on dirt fields

10) Artificial Turf Fields – No metal cleats, no sunflower seeds, no sugary drinks.

11) Tie breaker rules – for pool play – 1) record, 2) head-to-head, 3) least runs allowed, 4) run differential, 5) runs scored

12) Ejection – If a coach, player, or spectator is ejected from a game or takes inappropriate actions toward an official at any point after a game they sit out the next game. If it was flagrant, the Tournament Staff may determine a longer suspension. A second ejection will result in removal from the rest of the tournament. The additional suspension may be appealed.