TGE Rules

2025 Top Gun Events Rules

REVISED 09/22/2024 

All games will be played by NFHS (Federation) rules, with the following exceptions:

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.

If the unreported player has not made the last play – she is declared officially in the game and all play will stand

PITCHING RULE:

NOTE: ALL PITCHING WILL FALL UNDER THE NCAA GUIDELINE OF NCAA RULE 10: PITCHING

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.

Pitchers Step/Stride

To allow pitchers to disengage from the playing surface during the delivery. The pitcher’s pivot foot could become airborne with one push from the pitcher’s plate. However, pitchers would not be allowed to replant their pivot foot resulting in pushing off from a second point and the pitcher being farther away from the pitcher’s plate.

Taking the Signal

• The pitcher is permitted to look at their signal arm band or one-way communication device prior to being positioned on the pitcher’s plate without penalty. Once in legal position on the pitcher’s plate, pitchers must follow NCAA Rule 10.2.2 and NCAA Rule 10.2.3 in taking a signal. 
• Once in the legal position on the pitcher’s plate, the pitcher must give, take or appear to take a signal as stated in NCAA Rule 10.2.2 and NCAA Rule 10.2.3. The pitcher may not simply step into the pitching position, put their hands together and start the pitching motion.
• As always, once the pitcher contacts the pitcher’s plate, if the pitcher takes a signal while in an illegal position (e.g., pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate and entire stride foot outside the 24-inch length of the pitcher’s plate), it is an illegal pitch. Once the pitcher contacts the pitcher’s plate, the only signal that is to be given or taken is from the legal pitching position outlined in NCAA Rule 10.1.1 and 10.2.1. NCAA Rule 10.2.2 and 10.2.3 for how the signal is given, taken or appeared to be taken also must be followed.
  •  NOTE: The 2024 and 2025 NCAA Softball Case Book have been updated to reflect this updated interpretation.

Electronic Equipment

• • Team personnel, including players, are prohibited from carrying or wearing any device capable of transmitting information while on the field (e.g., cell phone, smart watch). Use of a cell phone camera in a team area is prohibited from the start of the pregame meeting with the umpires until the game’s conclusion.Exception: 

• Exception: An exclusively one-way electronic communication device may be used by the defense to relay the pitch or play call from the dugout to the field. 

• Only allowed to be used by defensive players to call a pitch or a play. 

• Digital signal devices (e.g., wristband) may be used by any defensive player. 

• In-ear/hat/helmet audio devices may only be used by the catcher.

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 provide a line-up to the officials and announce your line-up format at the pre-game conference with the officials. 
• BRACKET PLAY: Rulebook Batting Line-up: Only allows 1 option: TRADITIONAL lineup 9 batters with (or without) DP/FLEX.

NOTE: ROSTER BATTING IS NOT ALLOWED DURING BRACKET PLAY 

Injured Player

• 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 during pool play. During bracket play you must use a legal substitute to replace the injured runner. In either scenario once the runner is removed from the game she will not be allowed to participate in the remainder of the game. 

Ejections: 

• Whether a warning is issued or not, umpires have the authority to remove a player and/or other team personnel from further participation in a game for rule violations, unsporting acts, or behavioral or verbal misconduct. 
• Player ejected in the batting order WILL be an automatic out if no substitute is available.
• Ejected non-playing personnel must leave the playing field, dugout and other team areas and be out of sight and sound until the umpires’ jurisdiction ends. Out of sight and sound means unable to view the remainder of the contest and the umpires cannot hear any additional comments. They shall not communicate (visually, electronically or verbally) further with the teams or umpires. Exception: An ejected coach may participate in a limited capacity during a game only to attend to an injured or ill player or to ensure the safety of players when their safety is in question. 
• 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: Must follow the following order: 1. Eligible Sub 2. Last Completed At Bat (LCAB)

Note: 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. 

Age Eligibility:

The playing age accepted by Top Gun Events will align with the age set by any recognized sanctioning bodies. If it is legal for any sanctioning body, it will be accepted for Top Gun Events. This includes, but is not limited to, sanctioning bodies such as PGF, USA, USSSA, or Alliance. NOTE: A player shall not compete in any sanctioned tournament of the association with more than one team during the same tournament. 

TIME LIMIT/ RUN RULE/ EQUIPMENT

• • Home team will be the official scorekeeper in all tournament games. 
  • Pre-game conference and coin flip between manager and umpires will take place 15 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 15 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 innings 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: 12 runs after 3 innings; 10 runs after 4 innings; 8 runs after 5 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

TOURNAMENT SEEDING/TIEBREAKER:

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 number of games with a result. 
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.