​​Thank you for choosing Play It Forward Sportz and USSSA.  Below you will find a series of information that will assist you in preparing for your upcoming tournament.  There is a significant amount of information but please read through it to answer all your questions about your tournament.  We pride ourselves on communication and hope that you find everything you need in this document.  If, after reading through the information, you still have questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

PAYMENT:
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Only teams who are registered and paid will show as approved. If your team is in a pending status, you are not guaranteed a spot.  Once the event is full, the deadline for payment will be moved up.

Accepted forms of payment are listed below:
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1. Pay online via manager page on USSSA website
2. Check – must be received 1 week prior to the event.

Make Payable to: Play It Forward Sportz
Mail to: 587 Pebble Brook Lane, Shiloh, IL 62221

WHAT INFO TO EXPECT AND WHAT INFO YOU NEED TO SUBMIT:
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This document contains a list of general information rules for each USSSA Play it Forward Sportz tournament hosted by Lori Strode. This information will apply to most of the tournaments and should be a guide for preparing for the event.  A copy of tournament rules and information, Pool Schedule, Bracket, and maps of the complex, for your specific tournament, are available on the tournament site. Schedules will be posted NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY before your tournament.  Please look them over and share with your parents and spectators. Once schedules are posted, they are final unless there is an error.
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COACHES NEED TO SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING NO LATER THAN THE TOURNAMENT DEADLINE OR RISK BEING REMOVED FROM THE TOURNAMENT!!!!  The tournament deadline is the date listed under “Last day to enter” on the tournament page.
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1. PAYMENT OF TOURNAMENT FEES – your spot is not secure until your entry fee is received! Gate fee can be paid the day of the event but must be paid in cash the day of the event.  No checks will be excepted.
2. EMAIL/TEXT A COPY OF YOUR INSURANCE (only required for NON USSSA insurance holders)
3. ENTER ROSTER ONLINE

• USSSA rules will apply. Copies of birth certificates must be available for inspection, in the event a player on your team is protested.
• Team managers or representatives are to check in at least thirty minutes prior to the start of their first game.
• Divisions and/or classes may be combined if there are not enough teams to fill up a division.  Example 9U and 10U or 12A and 12B

GAME TIMES:

• Typically pool games will be 7 innings or 70 minutes – Finish the Inning and can end in a tie. Bracket Play will be 75 minutes – Finish the Inning – International Tie Breaker (ITB). If ITB goes to a second inning, there will be runners on 2nd and 3rd, no outs. This will continue until there is a winner.​

• Bracket Play will be seeded by pool games.

• The umpires will be instructed to keep the games moving, please do not delay or get upset with them.  If you have an issue, please bring it to the Tournament/Site Director or UIC.

All Teams must be warmed up and ready to play 20 minutes prior to game time. Failure to do so can result in a forfeit.​

​RULES:

• USSSA rules will apply.  If you do not have a hard copy of the USSSA rule book, please ask one of our staff to assist you and provide you one.  There is a digital copy on the USSSA website:  USSSA Online Rule Book

• Teams can bat their roster in pool play or bracket play. It is the coach’s responsibility to submit a lineup card to the home plate umpire prior to each game. Lineup cards MUST have first name, last name, uniform number, and position.

• If a team chooses to bat their roster and a player is injured, they will be required to take an out every time the injured player’s spot comes up in the batting order.

• Courtesy Runners:
  • Courtesy Runners can be used at every at bat for the Pitcher and Catcher.
  • Courtesy Runners are not tied to a player (pitcher or catcher)
  • Courtesy Runners must be a substitute first. If the team doesn’t have a substitute, then the courtesy runner will be the last completed at bat. In order to determine who the last completed at bat is: “Climb the ladder from the batter.” Go up the lineup from the batter (pitcher or catcher) until you find a player who is not a pitcher or catcher, not on base, or has not already been a courtesy in the half inning you are currently playing in.
  • For example: If your pitcher gets on base and she is batting 7th then ask yourself where is number 6? If she is on base, then where is number 5? Number 5 is the catcher. Where is number 4? Number 4 is in the dugout. That is your courtesy runner, number 4 in the batting order.
  • The same Courtesy Runner cannot be used for both the pitcher and the catcher in the same half inning.
  • If an incorrect courtesy runner is discovered the ineligible or incorrect courtesy runner
    is liable for discovery once they physically replace the pitcher/catcher on
    the occupied base, and the ball becomes live.

• Teams must use the official USSSA softball. Play It Forward Sportz will supply all softballs for your event.

• Teams must have the USSSA “thumbprint” on all bats.  The Blue Ghost bat and the Suncoast Backlash are illegal.  If the batter enters the batter’s box with either of these bats or any other illegal bat, the player will be ejected from the game.  In addition, the Head Coach will be ejected for the remainder of that game and the next game.
• Protest fee is $100 and is refundable only if the protest is upheld by the Tournament Director.

• Please reference our ZERO TOLERACE POLICY and share with your fans.  Be advised, the umpires are in charge of controlling the game, coaches are in charge of controlling themselves, their players and their fans.  Coaches can receive a warning, a bench restriction and even an ejection if their fans are disrespectful, disruptive or display unsportsmanlike conduct.​​

ROSTERS:

• Please understand that we do not require (OR ACCEPT) hard copy rosters,
• Your roster must be online.
• If at any time during the tournament a player on your team, is called into question, and the player is not on your online roster, your team will be ejected from the tournament. That game will be scored 7-0 in favor of your opponent.
• Other teams can see if your roster is online and which players are online, this is intentional for the purpose of transparency for all teams.  For this reason, there is no negotiating this rule.  I will not make exceptions for any team.
• When you are looking at a team’s roster, make sure you are looking at their roster for the tournament you are playing in.  When you look at a team roster online, you are more than likely looking at their permanent roster.  In order to see guest players, you must click the drop-down menu at the top of the roster and select the tournament you are playing in to see their official roster for the event. Guest players will appear at the bottom of the roster.

GUEST PLAYERS:

Please see the attached link for guest player info.  All guest players must be entered no later than 4 hours prior to the start of the tournament (the first game of the event, NOT YOUR FIRST GAME).  I cannot fix, override, or adjust your roster or this process after that time, so please make sure the deadline is met.  Guest Player Rules.

• Some things to keep in mind:
  • Players can only be on one USSSA PERMANENT ROSTER
  • There is no limit to the number of times a player can be used as a GUEST PLAYER.
  • To add a player as a Guest Player, they must be on a USSSA roster.
  • If you are using a Guest Player from a team who is playing in a USSSA tournament the same weekend you are using their player, they must deactivate the player from their roster in order for the other team to pick her up.
    • For Example: Sally is on Heat’s permanent roster but is being used as a guest player for Fire.  Heat is playing in a USSSA event in Springfield and Fire is playing in a USSSA event in O’Fallon.  Heat must deactivate Sally for the weekend so Fire can add her as a guest player for the weekend. This does not mean delete from your roster, simply deactivate!
  • Please look at the chart on the above link to clarify any eligibility questions.

WEATHER:

1. In the event of a weather delay the Tournament Director will post updates ON THE USSSA APP!  Please download the App to stay informed during the event.  The App will be used as the main form of communication during the event, not just for weather. Ultimately it is the responsibility of the Head Coach to stay in contact with the Tournament Director during a delay.
2. Lightning delays will be 30 minutes from the last known/seen strike and updates will be provided via the USSSA App.  Please exit the complex to your vehicles or find appropriate shelter under a pavilion.  Players are not allowed to remain in dugouts or batting cages during a lightning delay.​

TIES:

If teams are tied going into bracket play teams will be seeded in the bracket or awarded placement by the following: (Once past a tie breaker do not return to previous tie breaker)
1. Winning Percentage – Descending
2. Tied Teams (vs. each other) Winning Pct – Descending (Not valid if all teams have not played each other)
3. Average Runs Allowed – Ascending
4. Average Run Differential with a maximum of 8 – Descending
5. Ranking Points – Descending
6. Date Team Entered USSSA Database
Ties in bracket games will be decided by using the international tie breaker (after time limit or in the eighth inning). See “Game Times” above.

REFUNDS:

REFUND POLICY: No refunds will be issued within 21 days of the tournament start date or after the tournament schedule is published (whichever comes first). If a tournament is cancelled prior to the start date (not due to weather), by Play it Forward Sportz, a full refund will be issued.

• In the event of a weather cancelled game, games will be deemed complete based on the USSSA Rulebook (Rule 4, Sect 6, C, 1 &2).  Basically, games can be deemed official after 2 1/2 innings of play (with home team winning) or 45 minutes of elapsed game time.
• Teams will receive a prorated refund based on the number of games played less than the game guarantee.
• Refunds will be credited back in the manner in which they were paid (credit card, Venmo, check).
• Gate fees will not be reimbursed​​

GENERAL TOURNAMENT INFORMATION:

1. Our events are NOT Stay to Play (with the exception of the National Championship)
2. Hotel information can be found on the Play It Forward Sportz website under the event details tab of each tournament
3. Addresses to the parks can be found in the Venue tab on the tournament page.  If, you are entered in an event with multiple complexes, this page will typically identify where each division is playing.  If divisions are not specifically annotated, it is because the registration is not complete and venues have not been determined.  Check back periodically, venues will be decided no later than 30 days prior to an event to provide time to make hotel reservations.
4. Please reference the Park’s website for their policy on overnight parking for RV’s
5. Please reference the Park’s website for their policy on pets on the property.
   • Edwardsville and O’Fallon do not allow pets.
   • Cape Girardeau, Freeburg, Mascoutah, Perryville and Sesser are pet friendly.
6. Most complexes allow drink coolers.
7. Cape Girardeau and Freeburg strictly prohibit outside food and drink, including coolers.
8. I will do my best to accommodate your requests, please understand if you enter an event scheduled for Friday-Sunday, you can expect to play on Friday.  If you are unable to play on Friday you may be required to forfeit a pool game.​​

T-SHIRTS:

1. Pre-order t-shirts to receive a discount: https://www.playitforwardsportz.com/shop
2. $1 of every t-shirt purchase will be donated to the charity associated to the tournament. We sponsor a charity at every event we host.
3. After t-shirts are purchased, refunds will only be granted if your team’s division doesn’t make.  All other sales are final. If the tournament is rained out prior to the start date, shirts will be mailed to your head coach for distribution.  All T-shirts will be picked up at the event.  Any t-shirt not picked up can be mailed to the customer; however, shipping cost will be at the expense of the customer.

If you still have questions, please email us at [email protected]