The Amateur Softball Association is one of the primary softball organizations in the U.S. It conducts a series of tournaments throughout the country that allow high-level amateur teams to play under a uniform set of rules that encourage fair play and competitiveness. Those rules include suggested formats for conducting tournaments and pitching regulations.
Mercy Rule
In an ASA tournament, all games are scheduled to go seven innings. If one team is ahead by eight runs or more in a fast-pitch tournament, the game will be declared over at the five-inning mark. This is designed to keep one team from running up the score and to keep a tournament running on schedule.
Tournament Format
In all ASA tournaments, the format shall be single elimination. In this format, teams will be grouped together to form a 16-team format. If there are two or four groups of 16, the winners of each mini-tournament will come together to play a best-of-three championship. In many cases, the first game of a championship will be played on one day and the final two games (if needed) are played on the next day.
Pitching Regulations
Pitchers cannot make any deceptive movements with their arms or bodies when pitching. When the pitcher goes into her windup, she can bring the ball around her body once before delivering it towards home plate. The pitcher may step directly toward home plate and may not step to either side once she steps on the pitching rubber.
Forfeit
In any ASA-sponsored tournament, all games must begin within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time. If a team is not present with at least eight members ready to take the field, the game is declared a forfeit and the opposing team wins the game and advances in the tournament. Teams that forfeit may lose an opportunity to play in the tournament the next year.
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