College Tournament Handbook

TOP GUN EVENTS

2027 COLLEGE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT HANDBOOK

Important: This handbook incorporates 2027 Top Gun Events College Tournaments and specific procedures, including an eighth-inning International Tiebreaker, no halted games, required double first base, team-supplied game balls, BCT testing, no video replay, classification-specific umpire crews, and the eight-mile lightning standard.

1. Purpose and Scope

These procedures establish the operating standards for Top Gun Events college softball tournaments during the 2027 season. They are intended to provide participating institutions, coaches, student-athletes, game management personnel and umpires with a clear and consistent tournament framework.

2. Governing Rules and Competition Standards

Applicable rule book. Teams will compete under the rules applicable to 2026-2027 NCAA Rule Book,

Top Gun Events may establish event procedures that apply uniformly to the tournament, including timing, weather, equipment, officiating, testing, replay and travel-management procedures.

• Double first base. A double first base will be used for every 2027 Top Gun Events college tournament game.

Extra innings / International Tiebreaker. Games tied after seven completed innings will begin the International Tiebreaker procedure starting with the eighth inning. The International Tiebreaker will remain in effect for each additional extra inning until the game is decided.

• Tournament management may establish operational drop-dead times when required to protect facility schedules, weather windows or Sunday team travel.

3. Tournament Entry and Team Information

Participating institutions are responsible for submitting all required tournament information by the deadlines established by Top Gun Events.

Required information may include team roster, coaching staff, classification, contact information, projected travel plans, Sunday departure restrictions, facility requirements, and other information requested by tournament management.

• Travel restrictions. Any team that has a required Sunday departure time, transportation restriction, class obligation, flight, bus commitment or other travel limitation must disclose that restriction before the tournament. This information must be provided early enough for tournament management to evaluate potential scheduling and drop-dead requirements.

Failure to disclose a known Sunday travel restriction before the tournament may limit Top Gun Events’ ability to accommodate that restriction. Tournament management will make reasonable efforts to work with teams, but schedule accommodations are not guaranteed when restrictions are submitted late.

Final schedules and game times are controlled by Top Gun Events and may be adjusted when necessary for weather, field conditions, facility limitations, competitive requirements or travel considerations.

4. Tournament Administration

Top Gun Events will designate a Tournament Director and may designate an Umpire-in-Chief or other tournament officials to administer the event.

The Tournament Director has final administrative authority over scheduling, field assignments, weather-related schedule adjustments, tournament format and other event-management matters.

All participating teams are expected to maintain professional conduct, sportsmanship and cooperation with tournament staff, opposing teams, umpires and facility personnel.

5. Game Ball Policy

Each participating team must provide two game balls for every scheduled game in which it participates.

Game balls must be legal for the applicable level of competition and in suitable condition for play. 

Umpires may replace a game ball when the ball becomes wet, damaged, excessively worn or otherwise unsuitable for play.

Teams are responsible for having their required two game balls available at the field before the pregame meeting. Failure to provide required balls may result in the team being responsible for obtaining suitable replacement balls before the game can proceed.

6. Bat Testing / BCT Requirements

Barrel Compression Testing (BCT) is required for all bats that will be used in Top Gun Events college tournament competition per the NCAA Ruling.

• Testing deadline. BCT testing must be completed the day before a team’s first scheduled game of the tournament.

Teams are strongly encouraged to bring their own approved BCT machine and qualified testing personnel. Bringing a machine can significantly speed up the testing process and reduce delays for the team and tournament staff.

Teams should arrive prepared to present all bats intended for competition at the designated testing location and time communicated by Top Gun Events.

Only bats that satisfy the applicable governing association’s requirements and pass the tournament testing process may be used in competition.

If a bat fails testing, it will not be permitted for use. The BCT Testing Manager will submit the NCAA Softball Non-Compliant/Inappropriate Bat Report. All failed bats will be tagged and in the possession of Top Gun Events until the last game played of the offending team. 

Top Gun Events will establish a testing sticker, mark, log or other identification process so that approved bats can be readily identified by game personnel.

Testing results and any bat-related questions should be directed to the designated tournament testing administrator before the team’s first game.

7. Officiating Assignments

• Division II: All NCAA Division II games will use a three-umpire crew on the field.
• NAIA: All NAIA games will use a two-umpire crew on the field.
• NJCAA:  All NJCAA games will use a two-umpire crew on the field.

Top Gun Events may designate an Umpire-in-Chief, Umpire Coordinator or other supervisor for the tournament. Crew assignments may be adjusted because of weather, schedule changes, illness, travel or other operational circumstances.

Umpires are expected to arrive 90 minutes before game time to review field conditions, and game-management requirements.

8. Pregame Procedures

Teams should report to the field in accordance with the tournament schedule and facility instructions.

The official pregame meeting will include the umpiring crew 10 minutes before each game. Lineups should be submitted to the official scorer or designated game-management representative before the pregame. Note: No Lineups or National Anthem will be announced. 

Both teams will receive equitable opportunities for pregame preparation when facility conditions and the schedule permit.

Home/visitor designation, dugout assignment and field-access procedures will be communicated in the tournament schedule.

Teams must have their approved bats, required game balls and final lineup information ready before the pregame meeting.

9. Extra Innings and No-Halted-Game Policy

• International Tiebreaker. If the game is tied after seven completed innings, the International Tiebreaker begins in the eighth inning. Each additional extra inning will use the same procedure until a winner is determined.
• No halted games. Top Gun Events will not carry a halted game from one day to another as a standing tournament procedure. If weather, darkness, field conditions or another emergency interrupts a game, tournament management and the umpiring crew will determine whether the game can be resumed during the available competition window.

If an interrupted game cannot be completed within the tournament’s available window, the Tournament Director will determine the appropriate game status, schedule impact and tournament-format adjustment in accordance with the applicable governing rules and the circumstances of the event.

Teams should be prepared for schedule changes following weather interruptions. A team may not assume that a game will be moved to a later date or that a new game time will automatically be created.

10. Run Rule and Game Termination

Run Rule: 8 after 5 innings

An umpire may terminate a game when required by the applicable rules, unsafe playing conditions, lightning protocol or another recognized game-management circumstance.

Once the game begins, on-field authority for game safety and playing conditions rests with the umpiring crew, subject to the tournament’s overall administrative authority.

11. Weather-Related Procedures

• Rain and Snow: Weather involving rain or snow will be evaluated before the game by the Tournament Director and/or designated tournament management in consultation with the facility and, when appropriate, the umpiring crew.
• Weather During a Game:. Once a game has started, decisions concerning whether conditions permit continued play will be handled by the umpires. The safety of participants and officials is the priority.
• Cold Weather: Games shall not be played if the “Real Feel” temperature at the facility location is less than 28 degrees. If a game has started and then the temperature drops below 28 degrees or the weather and field conditions change, the game will continue until called by the home plate umpire and or tournament staff. Please Note: Games can be played below this temperature if both teams agree to play prior to starting. 

Field conditions. Wet, frozen, snow-covered, unsafe or otherwise unplayable surfaces may require a delay, cancellation, field move or schedule adjustment.

Communication. When a weather decision is made, Top Gun Events will communicate the decision to affected teams, umpires and facility personnel as quickly as practical.

Teams should not independently leave the facility or assume a cancellation until the tournament has communicated the official status of the game or event.

12. Lightning Safety Protocol

Top Gun Events will use an eight-mile lightning-radius standard.

Play must be suspended when lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius of the playing site.

Play may resume only after 30 minutes have elapsed from the most recent lightning strike within the eight-mile radius, consistent with the tournament’s lightning-monitoring procedure.

The tournament’s designated lightning detection source or onsite monitoring system will be used to determine the lightning status.

Teams, coaches, student-athletes, umpires and facility personnel must immediately follow the instructions of tournament management when a lightning suspension is announced.

Lightning safety decisions are not subject to coach-to-coach agreement. The established safety standard must be followed.

13. Sunday Travel and Drop-Dead Times

Because college teams may have mandatory Sunday travel commitments, all teams must communicate known Sunday travel restrictions before the tournament.

Top Gun Events may establish a drop-dead time for a Sunday game or tournament block when necessary to allow a team to depart by its disclosed travel deadline.

A drop-dead time is an operational deadline established to protect travel requirements; it is not a game time limit unless specifically announced as such.

When a drop-dead time applies, tournament management will communicate it to the affected teams and umpires before the game or tournament block.

Teams are responsible for providing accurate travel information. Top Gun Events will make reasonable scheduling efforts based on information received before the tournament.

14. Video Replay / Challenges

No video replay will be used in Top Gun Events college tournaments.

15. Equipment and Field Standards

Every tournament field must be configured for the applicable level of competition and tournament requirements.

• Double first base. A compliant double first base must be installed and available for every game.

Game balls. Each team supplies two balls per game as outlined in Section 5 of the tournament handbook.

Bat testing. BCT must be completed by the required deadline before a team’s first game.

Facility-specific requirements may be published in the tournament information packet and will be considered part of these procedures.

16. Game Management and Statistics

The host facility or designated tournament staff will maintain the official scorebook or approved scoring system.

Teams should verify lineup information before the game and promptly communicate corrections through the official scorer or tournament staff.

Game results may be posted through the tournament’s designated scoring platform or communication system.

Top Gun Events may require teams to provide statistical or roster information necessary for tournament administration, reporting, awards or championship documentation.

17. Protests 

All protests will be handled on field and no game will resume until the protest is resolved. 

18. Tournament Scheduling and Changes

Top Gun Events reserves the right to modify game times, field assignments, brackets or tournament procedures when necessary because of weather, field conditions, travel, facility restrictions, competition requirements or other unforeseen circumstances.

Schedule changes will be communicated through the tournament’s designated communication method.

Teams must remain flexible and available for reasonable schedule changes throughout the event.

Teams should not make independent arrangements that conflict with the official tournament schedule without approval from tournament management.

19. Officials and Team Responsibilities

Teams are responsible for being prepared and on time for every scheduled game.

Teams must provide two game balls for each game, complete BCT testing the day before the first game, disclose Sunday travel restrictions before the tournament, and comply with all equipment and facility requirements.

Umpires are responsible for administering the game on the field, including rule enforcement, safety decisions during active play, equipment legality when applicable and game termination under the governing rules of the NCAA.

Top Gun Events tournament management is responsible for the overall administration of the event, including scheduling, field assignments, weather coordination, testing coordination, communication and tournament format.