• All Teams will need to be prepared to play at 8:30 AM each day (unless notified otherwise by SPA Tournament Officials)
• All SPA Rules will apply
• All teams must be registered with SPA, have a Team Sanction number SPA Team sanction fee for the 2026 season is $40
• All Team Rosters must be submitted "On-line" prior to date shown above
• Players are required to be registered with the SPA. Players properly entered and shown on the printed roster provided by the tournament Director at the tournament, must present a current Drivers License prior to any participation. (ECARDS and EDrivers License are acceptable).  Players added or handwritten on the roster will be required to present BOTH their valid SPA Player's Card AND a current Drivers License prior to any participation.
• All awards are based upon a minimum of 8 teams per division

Tournament Rules

Rules:  SPA Official Rulebook
Balls:   All Softballs will be Provided
Bats:   All bats used in SPA play must have a factory/manufactured stamp with either
          “Senior Softball NTS Approved,” OR BPF of 1.21 or less.
          Bats will be checked prior to each game.
          Illegal bats will be confiscated and held until the end of the tournament or longer.

Player ID Card Check-in: All players must bring their SPA Player Registration Card AND Drivers License to the softball complex for player check-in.  All approved players Must Sign Roster at the tournament.

Time Limits: Pool Play - One (1) hour, finish that inning plus one more inning
                     Bracket Play - 75 minutes, finish that inning plus one more inning

Run Rule:  20 Runs after 4 Innings, 15 Runs after 5 Innings, 10 Runs after 6 Innings

Pool Play Games will be played with the 5 Run Limit Rule. When classifications are not combined and all teams are of the same classification, Bracket Play rules (see Sec 20) will apply to all pool play games. ALL ADDITIONAL HOME RUNS OVER THE LIMIT ARE OUTS UNTIL BOTH TEAMS REACH THEIR LIMIT THEN ONE UP RULE APPLIES. When Classifications are combined, the upper classification bracket play will apply (except with 5 run per inning limit).

Seeding Process: The Tournament Director has the authorization to place the teams based on the overall strength and skill of the team, using the following information as a guideline.

• Win - loss Record
• Head to head results (applies only when all tied teams play one another)
• Runs allowed
• Run differential
• Total runs scored
• Flip of a coin

Tournament Format Policy:  SPA tournament format guidelines are as follows:
                                                  (Except with special exception for specific tournaments)

SPA reserves the right to combine teams with other age groups or classifications as deemed necessary.  When ages or classifications are combined in the same finals bracket, only 1 set of awards will be presented for that bracket.

• When only two teams are entered and cannot be combined with another age group or classification - tournament will be played as a "best of 5" competition.
• When less than 4 teams are entered and cannot be combined with another age group - tournament will be played as a Double Round Robin followed by a Single Elimination Bracket and individual awards will not be given.
• When 4 or more teams are entered - tournament will be played as a two-game pool followed by a Double Elimination bracket.