2025 MLK JR. FELLOWSHIP
TOURNAMENT RULES AND GUIDELINES
In addition to the following rules, MHSAA and NFHS softball rules will be used:
Teams can start and finish games with 8 uniformed and rostered players. If a team plays with 8 players, the 9th spot in the batting order will be an out. A team with 7 or fewer players will forfeit to the score of 7-0.

All teams must be ready to play 15 minutes prior to their scheduled game time, and 10 minutes before the first game of the day.

Home and away teams will be decided by a coin flip in pool play. Home team in bracket play will be the higher seed.

Eligibility: No team will be allowed to play unless the team roster is entered into Tourney Machine, and the team insurance and liability waiver have been received. All high school division players must be enrolled in high school or middle school- no college players ALLOWED. Players cannot play on multiple teams regardless of age and division. .

Schedules & Game Results: Please make sure that all coaches and parents/guardians have the Tourney Machine app on their phone. All schedules and game results will be there. There will not be any type of posted board showing schedules and results.

Entrance Fee: Please consult the Tournament Program Guide. Legacy Center collects an entrance fee for all events at the complex. $5 per day cash or Venmo.

Coach/Spectator Expectations: We expect all coaches and spectators to remember that no one comes to listen to them. Everyone is there to watch and encourage the young ladies as they play the game. Coaches, you are responsible for the behavior on your bench and sidelines. No one on a coaching staff is to question balls and strikes. If the head coach would like to ask for a review on a call made in the field of play, he or she is to ask for timeout and go speak with the umpire that made the call. A coach, player or spectator ejected during a game will not be allowed to participate in the next game if the ejection does not happen during the team’s last game.
There will be a zero tolerance policy regarding the use of profanity by everyone at the complex, and also zero tolerance regarding the over-consumption of alcohol. Smoking and vaping are not allowed on the Legacy Center property.
Parents are required to keep their children with them at all times and not allow them to roam the buildings and complex unattended.
Spectator Seating: For fieldhouse games, all spectators must enter the bleachers and mezzanine via the elevator or stairs, both of which are near the 1st floor concessions stand. The turf area is strictly for coaches and players. Coaches are asked to please not allow parents and siblings onto the turf area with their team. Spectators are welcome to use their own chair in the bleacher/mezzanine area or sit in the bleachers. They are also welcome to stand and watch from the mezzanine.
For dome games, the spectator seating for the Dome South field is directly behind the left field wall with their own chairs. For the North field, it is the same except when the north is divided into two fields. Please follow the sandwich board signage showing the seating areas.
Batting order options: This is a non-sanctioned tournament so you may bat your entire roster or bat only 9. You may also use DP/Flex.
Courtesy Runner for Pitcher/Catcher: Subs are the courtesy runners if you aren’t batting your entire roster. If batting everyone, the last batted out will be the courtesy runner.
Format: All Age Divisions- Each team will play pool games to meet minimum guaranteed games and a bracket to finish tournament for top teams in each pool. Reminder this is a 3 game guarantee. All bracket seedings are determined in accordance with the tournament Tie Breakers below.
Game times, lengths, format and locations are subject to change if deemed necessary by the Tournament Director.
Tie Breakers (in order): Head to head; runs allowed; run differential; runs scored; coin toss
Time Limit: 70 minutes (DROP DEAD) for pool games. Every game will begin and end at the same time. Time will be kept on the field house and dome scoreboards, not by the umpires. When the buzzer sounds to end the game, the at-bat is over. The score reverts back to the previous end of the inning score if the home team is unable to bat before time expires. The home team wins if they are up to bat and leading when time expires. Pool games may end in a tie.
Time between games will be 10 minutes so please have your lineup cards prepared in advance if you have back-to-back games.
70 minutes (FINISH INNING) for bracket games. In bracket games, the horn will sound at 65 minutes. If the game is between innings and the first pitch of the new inning hasn’t been thrown, the game will immediately go into International Tie-Breaker. If the horn sounds during an inning and the score is tied at the end of the inning, the following inning will go into International Tie-Breaker.
70 minutes (DROP DEAD) for Monday games. When the buzzer sounds to end the game, the at-bat is over.
Pitchers will be given five (5) warmup pitches for the 1st inning and one warmup pitch every inning after that. Relief pitchers may have five (5) warmup pitches when they first enter the game.
Calling Time Out (defensive and offensive) is NOT ALLOWED with 5 minutes or less left in the game, or if a bracket game is in International Tie. A pitching change will be allowed with the head coach quickly notifying the umpire of the change but not walking out to the mound. The new pitcher will receive one (1) warmup pitch.
No team huddles (defensive and offensive) are allowed between innings. Please hustle on and off the field and have team discussions in your dugout.
Ball Hits Ceiling/Roof: The umpire will call a foul ball when a batted ball hits the roof, rafter, ceiling fan or roof light fixture. Infield: Will be called foul at all times. Outfield: The umpire may use his/her discretion and award a home run on a batted ball that does not touch any of the above-mentioned items until the outfield, if the umpire feels that the trajectory of the ball was going to clearly make it a home run under normal circumstances.
Run-Cap: The maximum run differential per game is 7 runs. A final score of 14-0 will be recorded as 7-0.
Mercy Rule: 12-run lead after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4 innings, 8 runs after 5 innings
Champion & Runner-Up Awards: Individual gold medals and a team banner for the champion; Individual silver medals for the runner-up teams
10U Specific Rules Start:
10U will not use the infield fly rule.
The maximum allowed runs per inning will be six.
Stealing home on a passed ball and delayed stealing home are not permitted.
If a catcher or pitcher makes an attempt to pick off a runner at 3rd base leading off, the runner is allowed to steal home. If a catcher overthrows the pitcher, the runner is allowed to steal home.
10U is allowed to steal and delay steal 2nd and 3rd base.
9 players will play on the field at all times-only 3 outfielders.
10U Specific Rules End
Tournament T-Shirt & Hoodie Store (must order by January 13th): https://mydoapparel.tuosystems.com/stores/legacy-fellowship-tourney-2025