2024 Refund & Tournament Completion Policy
Note: If a tournament director, park district, or complex has a different policy then that refund and completion policy will apply. If none has been listed, then the events will follow the 2024 Ohio USSSA Refund and Tournament Completion Policy below.
TOURNAMENT SITE RESPONSIBILITIES:
Tournament staff will make every attempt to start and finish the tournament including use of diamond dry along with schedule and site revisions if necessary.
Tournament Director has the right to adjust the schedule at any time including day, place, format, and length of game including a blind redraw if necessary.
Communications before tournament start will be handled by a rain out line or the USSSA system which consists of e-mail to the coach/players along with option for text messaging. It is the coach/manager’s responsibility to maintain their information on their online USSSA profile.
Please let us know if the cell phone number on the on-line team sanctioning is different than that one of the actual manager.
TEAM COACH RESPONSIBILITIES:
Team Coach is responsible for knowing USSSA rostering, tournament rules, and format and communicating that information to players and parents. Non-knowledge of rostering, rules, or format is not a reason for not following the refund policy.
Team coach is responsible for personally checking the main parings board/online standings after every game and if the diamonds are ready to play and then if the tournament is delayed for rain.
Any team cancellations during the tournament must be communicated directly to the main tournament/site director (No Messages).
PENALTY: Potential team suspension from Ohio USSSA.
ENTRY FEE – REFUND/CREDIT POLICY:
(NOTE – Game constitutes a minimum of one pitch thrown)
USSSA Team Registration Fee:
- No Refund or Credit.
Tournament Cancellation by Ohio USSSA or its directors:
- Not enough teams entered = 100% refund.
Tournament Complete Rain Out/Cancellation by Ohio USSSA or its directors:
- $50 minimum deduction (based on facility setup and administration costs).
Tournament Format Adjusted – Three-game Minimum Advertised:
- Rain Out – One game played = 25%. Team has the option to take a refund or have a credit issued. Credit would be issued towards another Ohio USSSA softball tournament during season or following season – Credit follows the organization to next season/age group. *^
- Rain Out – Two games played = No Refund – No Credit.
Tournament Format Adjusted – Four-game or more Minimum Advertised:
- Rain Out – One game played = 50%. Team has the option to take a refund or have a credit issued. Credit would be issued towards another Ohio USSSA softball tournament during season or following season – Credit follows the organization to next season/age group. *^
- Rain Out – Two games played = 25%. Team has the option to take a refund or have a credit issued. Credit would be issued towards another Ohio USSSA softball tournament during season or following season – Credit follows the organization to next season/age group. *^
- Rain Out – Three games played = No Refund – No Credit.
* Credit towards another Ohio USSSA/Double Eagle Sports softball event.
^ If coach declines to use credit in current or following season, then credit will be forfeited.
Team Cancellation – 30 days before tournament = $100 Deduction
Team Cancellation – 21 days before tournament = No Refund – No Credit
Team Cancellation – during tournament for any reason = No Refund – No Credit
Team Forfeiture and/or ejection from tournament = No Refund – No Credit
The Ohio USSSA policy on shortened tournaments and the awarding of berths and trophies follows the official USSSA rule book policy for completion of Postseason events (State/National/NIT). The below scenarios are Ohio USSSA policy for regular season qualifying events with games still pending.
Inclement weather/darkness scenario with final game pending:
TD has the right to shorten game time to one hour if darkness/inclement weather is approaching. If TD and coaches mutually agree that there is not one hour of playable conditions left, then co-champions will be declared. Co-Champions mean both teams officially have won the event, and both are eligible for postseason World Series/National Championship berths. TD will use tiebreakers to determine fair distribution of awards with option to replace runner-up awards with champion’s plates. If championship game has started and does not get 3 completed innings or 2 ½ innings if the home team is ahead (per USSSA rule book definition of a completed game), we will revert to the co-champions scenario listed above.
If a tournament is not completed due to weather/darkness and we are in Bracket Play:
- Any single undefeated team will be declared the winner of the tournament.
- If there is more than one undefeated team in the winner’s bracket, those teams will be declared co-champions. Any remaining ties will be broken using the following criteria:
1. Head to head competition if teams have played in bracket play. Pool play has no bearing here.
2. Average of the least number of runs allowed in bracket play.
3. Average Run Differential in bracket play with a maximum of + or – 8 per game max.
4. In Double-Elimination bracket play, if there is only one undefeated team in the Winner’s bracket, that team will be declared Champs. Then order of finish will be by placing in the Loser’s bracket: Last team to fall into the loser’s bracket will be runner-up, and on down the line.
NOTE: If there still is a tie in the tournament from the result of the above criteria, then and only then can a tournament director use a coin flip to determine the final standings in the tournament. Also note that if we start bracket play and do not complete the round (meaning every team plays at least one bracket game), then we revert to pool play finish to award. This will be determined by taking the pool winners and using the USSSA tie-break procedure first with those teams to break the ties for placing. If there are additional awards remaining, it will then go to next best record among the 2nd place finishers in their respective pools also using USSSA tie-break procedure if there is a tie amongst those teams. USSSA tie-break procedure for pool standings is here: USSSA Pool Play Tie-breakers
If a tournament is not completed due to weather/darkness and we have completed Pool Play:
This will be determined by taking the pool winners and using the USSSA tie-break procedure first with those teams to break the ties for placing. If there are additional awards remaining, it will then go to next best record among the 2nd place finishers in their respective pools also using USSSA tie-break procedure if there is a tie amongst those teams. USSSA tie-break procedure for pool standings is here: USSSA Pool Play Tie-breakers
If there is a single undefeated team after pool play amongst the pool winners, then they will be declared the winner of the tournament. If more than one undefeated team amongst the pool winners, then #2 and then #3 below will be used to break the tie. Teams that do not win their pool can not leap ahead of other pool winners in the standings or for award purposes.
The following criteria will be used to determine order of finish if no undefeated teams or teams are tied in the standings (less than two pools):
1. Head-to-head competition.
2. Least number of runs allowed in pool play.
3. Average Run Differential with a maximum of (8) – Descending.
NOTE: If there still is a tie in the tournament from the result of the above criteria, then and only then can a tournament director use a coin flip to determine the final standings in the tournament. Also if we do not complete pool play, then no standings can be set and no points can be awarded. The games played will still stand on the system for overall records.
If berths and trophies for finishing position are awarded, it will be at the tournament director’s discretion as to whether credit/refunds will be awarded.
Thank You
Mike Craig-Ohio USSSA Fast-Pitch State Director
Double Eagle Sports Events
614.895.2253 | [email protected] | http://ohfastpitch.usssa.com
