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GUIDELINES FOR GAME DIRECTORS AND TEAMS ENTERING THE DIVISION I REGIONAL SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

1. Regional softball semi-finals will be May 13 and finals May 15. The sectional games will be Friday, May 17. Schools may mutually agree to play regional semi-finals, regional finals, or sectional earlier than scheduled date. The sectional winners shall advance to the central tournament site, May 21-24, at the Murfreesboro Sports Complex and McKnight Fields, in Murfreesboro, TN.
   
   Teams participating in the state tournament will be able to pick up their teams packets starting at 12:00 PM CT Monday, May 20, at the BlueCross SpringFling Headquarters. The BlueCross SpringFling Headquarters will be located at the SportsCom. NOTE: The team packets will NOT be available at the gate as in years past. Teams MUST pick up their team packet at the BlueCross SpringFling Headquarters located at the SportsCom. The team packets contain credentials for players, managers, coaches, and the team party which allow them into all events at the BlueCross SpringFling.



2. Please refer to the "Tournament Softball Regulations" in your 2012-13 TSSAA Official Handbook. A copy of the regional bracket can be found here. The bracket shows which teams will be the host team and which teams will travel.



3. Please click here for a list of schools participating in softball. If your team qualifies to host a regional tournament game, contact the assigning officer listed next to your district. Complete addresses and phone numbers can be found here. Give date, site, time, and directions.
   
   In the sectional games and in the championship series, the umpires shall be assigned by the state office.



4. In the regional semi-finals, regional finals and the sectional, it shall be the responsibility of the host school to set the time of the game. It is the responsibility of the host school to notify the visiting team of the game time and game site.
   
   NOTE: When the established starting time of a playoff contest between two schools conflicts with the previously scheduled Commencement Exercises of one of the schools, and that school has Senior roster player(s), then at the request of the affected school, the contest will be rescheduled for a mutually agreed upon time and site that falls within the playoff timeline established by TSSAA. In the event the two schools do not agree on a rescheduled time and site, the TSSAA Office will designate a starting time and site.



5. Tournament squads are limited to a maximum of 18 people. Players in uniform, coaches, and bat girls are admitted free.



6. In regional semi-finals, finals, and the sectional, the host team shall also be the home team.



7. Coaches should have line-up written out and given to scorer and to the umpire when going over ground rules.



8. TSSAA must now receive 18% of the gross gate receipts in the district and region softball tournaments. This must be submitted to the TSSAA office immediately following the tournaments. After TSSAA's 18%, game expenses, and team mileage have been paid in both regional semi-final and championship game, the net receipts shall be divided between the two participating teams. Teams within the county where the game is being played shall receive no expense allowance. Teams traveling from outside the county to game site shall receive 40 cents per mile round trip.
   
   All checks for district, regional, and sectional tournaments and playoffs must be distributed within 10 business days of the completion of the tournament or game. Failure to do so will result in a $100 late fee to be paid to TSSAA and is to be used in the A.F. Bridges sportsmanship program. Failure to distribute funds within 20 business days will result in an additional $200 late fee (total $300). Failure to distribute funds within 40 business days will result in an additional late $200 late fee (total $500). The school may not host any tournament of playoff until the principal or athletic director appears before the Board of Control to explain their reasons for not distributing checks within the required time frame. The Board would then determine whether the school can host tournament or playoffs in the future.



9. The Region Championship Plaque will be shipped to the proper school the week of the BlueCross SpringFling.



10. Video taping or filming is permitted as long as the taping or filming is for private use or use by the two schools involved and not for public or commercial use. Video taping or filming must be done from the individual's seat. Individuals will not be allowed to use tripods. A school taping or filming its own game may use a tripod. A school will not be allowed to tape or film a game unless its team is involved in the game. All taping or filming by the school may be approved by the local Game Director, and the Game Director shall assign space, when available, from which to tape or film.
    
    Any media entity or school wishing to videostream or tape delay any part of the region tournament must get permission from the tournament director. If such permission is granted, a minimum fee of $250 (tape delay) or $500 (live telecast/videostream) is required. The fee will be paid to the game director and shall be included as part of the gate receipts.



11. Games throughout the tournament series are scheduled to be completed by certain dates. It is imperative that we keep the tournaments on schedule. With a more compact schedule this spring, this responsibility is even greater.
    
    Suspended games during the tournament are to be picked up from the point of suspension, at the next earliest opportunity to play. Tournament games do not have to go the full 7 innings. Coaches, plus the umpire-in-chief, can mutually agree to terminate a game early and a winner declared. Coaches must also mutually agree to the 10 run rule after 4 ½ innings (with home team leading) or 5 innings.



12. The principal of the host school shall be the Game Director. If additional facilities are secured other than those of the host team, the Game Director must be approved by the TSSAA state office. It shall be the duty of the Game Director to handle all financial arrangements for the game and to make financial reports to the state office and participating team.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

It is important that the coach of the team winning the regional tournament game contact the TSSAA Office immediately following the game to report the score and winner of the game using one of the following options:

Voice Mail: (877) 395-5091 (Please be sure to select Softball when reporting your information and include your Class, Region, Game Winner & Score.)
Text Message: (707) 200-4073 (Please be sure to include Softball along with your Class, Region, Game Winner & Score in your text message. Example: SB A 6 Winner Score.)
Fax: (615) 889-0544
E-mail: tssaa@tssaa.org