Mid America and Mid America West:

1. Shelled seeds- Shelled seeds are prohibited anywhere inside of Mid America Sports Complex. Shelled seeds are allowed at Mid America West Sports Complex for the time being.

2. No dogs allowed in the facilities, We do have many parks nearby where leashed dogs will be welcomed.

3. NO scooters, bikes or skateboards

4. Absolutely NO outside alcohol of any kind allowed on our premises including all parks, facilities, and parking lots

5. No tobacco of any kind, chewing, smoking or vaping allowed on premises.

6. Trash- Please clean up your dugout after the game and remove all team and player equipment quickly so that the next game’s teams can take the dugout.

7. Vendors- for safety purposes, vendors must be set up 60 minutes prior to games start and may not load up and leave until last game has started. Security will help escort them out of the facility safely.

Vendors may not block pathed walk ways or set up within 50’ of concessions buildings

1. At no time is a non-JCPRD concession staff member to walk into the concessions buildings, including to get ice

2. Golf Carts- Please keep all vehicles and carts on the pathway. No personal vehicles allowed in complex.

3. No overnight parking including RV’s. You’re welcome to park during the day, however we lock gates at night and do not allow overnight parking at any of our facilities

Top Gun Events believes that each athlete, parent and coach has the right to participate in a safe, healthy, and enjoyable environment, at our events. We refer to this as the right to “Enjoy the Journey”. We have implemented a code of conduct which establishes expectations for coaches, parents, and athletes. TGE has always used the Head Coach as a point of contact. The TGE Code of Conduct will continue with this established communications path. The following is the minimum expected coaches conduct:

COACHES EXPECTATIONS

Be the path of communications to Parents, Coaches, and Athletes of their respective teams Treat each Athlete, Official, Director, Coach, and Parent with Dignity and Respect Learn and Understand the Rules of the Game Respect and yield to the authority of the Game Officials and Tournament Directors that are present at scheduled games. Support Game Officials and Tournament Directors interpretations and decisions with respect TGE events Respect and uphold the purpose and integrity of youth sports Be responsible for the conduct of Asst Coaches, parents, team fans, and athletes during TGE Events Support the Athletes right to “Enjoy the Journey” PARENT/FAN EXPECTATIONS

Treat each Athlete, Official, Director, Coach, and Parent with Dignity and Respect Respect and yield to the authority of the Game Officials and Tournament Directors that are present at scheduled games. Support Game Officials and Tournament Directors interpretations and decisions with respect at TGE events Respect and uphold the purpose and integrity of youth sports Encourage the Athletes, Coaches, and Officials during TGE events Support the athletes right to “Enjoy the Journey” OFFICIALS AND TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR EXPECTATIONS

Be the path of communications to Coaches, and Athletes for their respective teams Treat each Athlete, Official, Director, Coach, and Parent with Dignity and Respect Learn and Understand the Rules of the Game Maintain an impartial competitive contest Support UIC Officials and Tournament Directors interpretations and decisions with respect TGE events Respect and uphold the purpose and integrity of youth sports Support the Athletes right to “Enjoy the Journey” The following conduct will not be tolerated at TGE events.

NON-TOLERATED CONDUCT (Applicable to Anyone in Attendance at TGE events)

Abusive or Offensive Language of any type with an Official, Tournament Director, Coach, Athlete, or Parent, including Abusive or Offensive language directed at your own Team, Athletes, or Parents Unsportsmanlike conduct of any type Unprofessional conduct of any type Physical Altercation with an Official, Tournament Director, Coach, Athlete, or Parent Any Abusive or Offensive actions of any type with an Official, Tournament Director, Coach, Athlete, or Parent RESULTS FOR NON-TOLERATED CONDUCT

In the opinion of the Game Official or Tournament Director, if the Coaches, Athletes, or Parents/Fans become Abusive, Offensive or Unsportsmanlike, (non-Physical Contact). The Official or Tournament Director may take appropriate actions they feel is necessary, including, but not limited to, the following: Approach the Head Coach and ask that he speak with his teams Parents/Fans and calm the situation. Restrict the coach to the dug-out for the rest of the game and eject the offending Parent/Fan(s). Eject the coach for the rest of the game and the following game. The offending Parent/Fan will be ejected for the rest of the game and the following game. Forfeiture of the game and the following game (if applicable) Remove the offending fan, coach, player or team from the tournament with no refunds. If a parent or fan is ejected from the game, then the head coach of the offending team may also be ejected in the discretion of the umpire or Tournament Director

2. If a Physical Altercation happens with the Officials, Tournament Directors, Coaches, Athletes, or Parent/Fan the team will forfeit the rest of the tournament and the matter will be turned over to local law officials for review. The coach will be banned from participating in TGE events for a period of 1 year.

TGE reserves the right to take any action it feels is necessary to promote the safety of its events, participants and officials, even if not listed above. We appreciate your help in creating a fun and positive environment for all attendees at TGE events

We would like to Thank You for your support and understanding. We feel this help keep TGE at the forefront of protecting the integrity of the game for our youth.

Unreported Substitute Rule

An unreported substitution is an appeal play:

If the coach in violation informs the plate umpire before the offended team appeals – no penalty and the unreported player is officially in the game. If reported to the umpire by the opposing team before a pitch is made – no penalty and the unreported player is officially in the game. If the offense has an unreported player and the defense appeals:

If the batter is still at bat and pitches have been thrown – she is called out; all other play while she was at bat is legal. If the batter has completed her at-bat but the next pitch has not been thrown – she is out; all other play as a result of her becoming a batter-runner is nullified. There are other rules if the unreported player is the tie-breaker runner or pinch runner, if appealed and she is still on any base – she is out; and if a pinch runner, she is declared officially in the game. If the unreported player is appealed by the offense before the defensive coach informs the umpire:

If the unreported player has made a play and the next pitch has not been thrown – she is declared officially in the game; the offense has the option of taking the result of the play or having the last batter return and assume the ball/strike count she had before the hit; each base runner must return to the base legally occupied at the time of the last pitch. If the unreported player has made a play and the next pitch has been thrown – she is declared officially in the game and all play will stand. If the unreported player has not made the last play – she is declared officially in the game and all play will stand.

PITCHING RULE:

Pitcher’s Stride Foot Positioning

The stride (non-pivot) foot may be on or behind the plate as far back as desired. Once the pitcher initially sets the toe of her stride foot, she may not step, drag or slide it back any farther. This will be following the NCAA rules for pitchers this season.

Actual rules as stated by the NCAA:

Pitcher Taking Signal

Pitcher must take the pitching signal only from the required pitching position (on the pitcher’s plate, hands apart). Hand signals/verbal may come from the dugout prior to the pitcher being on the pitcher’s plate However, armband information must be gathered by the pitcher while on the pitcher’s plate and in the pitching position. Pitching signals from the catcher may be given only when the pitcher is in the pitching position on the pitcher’s plate. NCAA emphasizes that illegal pitches be called for violations of this rule. All games will be played by NFHS (Federation) rules, with the following exceptions:

Home team will be the official scorekeeper in all tournament games. Pre-game conference and coin flip between manager and umpires will take place 5 minutes prior to the start of the game. No organized infield practice before the games. Teams may warm up beyond the baselines or in foul territory while infield is being prepared. No live batting practice is allowed on the field or in the complex at any time. Batting nets are allowed. Illegal Bats: Pool Play ONLY: If an Illegal Bat is brought into the batter’s box, the bat will need to be replaced and the team will be given 1 warning. Bracket Play: If an illegal bat is brought into the batter’s box the batter shall be declared out, and the batter & head coach ejected. Federation Rule Book on Bats: “Bats must bear either the 2000,2004 or the USA Softball All Certification mark and not appear on the USA Softball Bats with Certification not approve list” Time limit for all games is 90 minutes. Time begins after the pre-game conference. Time limit could change in case of tournament interruptions. All teams should be prepared to start their game up to 10 minutes early in case we are ahead of schedule. (This will help the tournament keep on time) Regulation games will be defined by the type of game that it is. There will be two types of games played in the different formats that Top Gun will be using: 1. Pool play: Games will be 7 innings or time limit. If the game is tied at the end of regulation (7 innings), it will be declared a tie even with time remaining. Note: Any inning that begins before time expires will be completed.

Bracket Play: Games will be 7 inning or time limit. Games that are tied at the end of regulation will use the ITB rule until a winner is declared. Blue Ghost bat is LEGAL. Yellow Ghost bat is ILLEGAL Run rules: 10 runs after 4 innings; 8 runs after 5 innings; 6 runs after 6 innings. Team manager may consult with the umpires; players, sponsors and other coaches are to keep out of discussions. No smoking or tobacco use on the field or in the dugouts. 10u divisions: 80-minute game time limit 1.Batting Restrictions

POOL PLAY: Teams may utilize any number of batters they prefer. Any player not listed in the batting lineup shall be listed as a substitute. The starting lineup may utilize free substitution. If a sub is entered into the game this shall be a substitution.Regardless of the number of players you have, you will need to announce your line-up format at the pre-game conference with the officials.

BRACKET PLAY: Roster batting is not allowed. Rulebook Batting Line-up: Only allows 1 option: TRADITIONAL lineup 9 batters with (or without)

DP/FLEX. ROSTER BATTING is not allowed.

Injury: Batter: If a batter cannot fulfill her time at bat due to injury or illness, that player will be eliminated from that entire game. Teams will be required to take an automatic out if no eligible substitute is available. Runner: If a runner cannot continue her time on the bases, that player will be substituted with the last batter not on base. She will not be allowed to participate in the remainder of the game.

Ejections: Her spot in the batting order WILL be an automatic out if no substitute is available. Teams are allowed just 1 automatic out per game. Any more than 1 will be a forfeit. This out will be assessed during the batters spot in the lineup.

Courtesy runner will be allowed for pitcher and catcher at any time. The courtesy runner will be designated by the following rules: BRACKET: Per rulebook designation. The same courtesy runner may not be used for both the pitcher & catcher at any point during the game. POOL PLAY ONLY: Eligible Sub Last Completed At Bat (LCAB) Teams may begin a game with 8 players. If the additional players arrive after the start of the game, they will be handled in the following manner: Teams may add a 9th player to the line-up. Any additional players will be designated as substitutes. The following procedure will be used to determine the seedings after pool play: i. If three or more teams are tied with the same record in a division, head-to-head may or may not be used to break ties.ii. Once a level of tie-breaker is used, we DO NOT revert back to any steps of the tie-breaking procedure. We will continue on down the list until all ties are broken.

1. Highest Winning Percentage (Number of wins divided by the number of games with a result. Ties eliminated from the formula)
2. Most Wins
3. Head-to-Head Games
4. Runs allowed per game
5. Runs differential (+/- of 8 runs per game)
6. Coin Flip
7. If a team is playing an extra pool game, the runs allowed and the Win/Loss in that game will not count towards your total. However, the result of the game (win/loss) will be used in head-to-head consideration if a tie in pool play occurs.
8. In case of a rain-shortened tournament, pool play games can be deemed official after 2 ½ innings of play (with home team winning) or 45 minutes of elapsed game time. This policy will only be used through pool play. In addition, if games are canceled due to weather, there may be an adjustment in application of the tie-breaking procedures.
9. A flip of a coin between the two teams shall determine the home team for each pool play game. The highest seeded team shall be the home team for bracket play games in single elimination brackets. In double elimination brackets, the highest seeded team shall be the home team until the championship game. In the championship game, the team in the winners bracket shall be the home team and a coin toss shall determine the home team for the “IF” game. If both teams are of equal seed (1st Place Pool A vs 1st Place Pool B) the home team will be decided by coin flip.