Tri County Coach IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Tri County League is managed through the Minnesota Softball league/tournament site: https://mnsoftball.com/pages/dashboard

Follow the steps to create your team. Directions are found on the Tri County home page.  https://www.mnsoftball.com/pages/cms/tri-county

• Step 1: Create a user account. (https://mnsoftball.com/pages/dashboard)
• Step 2: From your dashboard, create your team. Check with your association director first so there are not duplicate teams created.
• Step 3: Join/Select a league team- (don't pay again for being in the league). Tournament teams are not an option. It was created for teams that have no league option.
• Step 4: From your dashboard, Invite players to join your team (build your roster)

The league directors voted to allow on-line rosters for the league and for any tournament you are participating in. Including weekend invitational tournaments, Tri County, Qualifier’s, Minnesota Softball State and USA Nationals. Players found in violation of not being properly rostered will be ejected.

The following compliance items must be completed prior to league play and uploaded to your dashboard under the compliance tab.

• Proof of ACE certification
• Proof of background check
• SafeSport training
• Concussion certificate

All coaches should have standard practices for playing in any tournaments: Have a completed online roster which is your liability waiver with electronic parent signatures. The following compliance items can be simply uploaded on your dashboard under compliance tab.

League schedules will be posted on your team page typically 2 weeks prior to league play starting.

Only coaches/team manager assigned to your team and the opposing coach can see your contact information. This is NOT public information. This information is found on your teams home page. Just click on the hamburger icon.

Once the schedules are posted they are final. However, if a game conflict arises there is a simple process to change. Once both coaches have agreed to a change simply click on "game change request" select the game you are making the request on and enter the new date and submit. All the information I need will be in the request. This includes score changes/updates. Please only submit one time. Requests are NOT automatic, I do review them first.

Tri County plays by the USA Rules. However, there may be some weekend invitational tournaments that you will have to follow their rules. Rule books were given to all coaches at the start of the season.

Tri County specific rules are found on the Tri County web site, on the league page and in the Scorebook provided at the start of the season.

In the event of a rain out or any cancellation, notify YOUR associations umpire coordinator (or designated contact person) ASAP to cancel the umpire. ((in this situation please contact Melissa Kohoutek ASAP!!!))

A state law in 2011, all coaches and officials must be trained in concussion awareness. On the Tri County home page there is link. This is mandatory.

What to bring to the Tri County Qualifier:

• Approved Minnesota Roster online and does not need to be printed off. The liability waiver language is required for insurance purposes and is now done through electronic signatures. This is for ALL ages, no exception. Players found in violation of not being properly rostered on-line will be ejected.

• Copies of birth certificates are not required unless players are not verified. Players being "verified" means a birth certificate was submitted to the state office and the state office "verifies" the birth certificate and checks off next to that players name which appears as a green check mark.  If this was not done, coaches should have a copy of each player’s birth certificate and have them available if an issue comes up and an umpire requests to see one.  Do not turn in.

What to bring if your team advances to the Minnesota State Tournament:

• A $100.00 gate fee made payable to the host association. (This is provided by FLAFA once a team qualifies and is organized through out board treasurer when the time comes) Your state fee is covered in your league fees. NO paperwork OR payment is necessary. Same roster and birth certificate procedure applies as the State Qualifiers.

• PLEASE NOTE: Once a player has played in the state qualifier they are no longer eligible to play on another team. No exceptions.  

• Teams advancing to any National Championship play can add up to three additional players to their roster.

TRI COUNTY RULES 

1. 6:00 Doubleheaders. Games are 7 innings or 65 minutes in length. 

2. The host team is responsible for providing USA registered umpires. 

3. All games must be a minimum of 3 innings, 2 ½ if the home team is ahead. 1 or 2 inning games will not count toward seeding. If a game is called for any reason, please resolve on the field with umpire if necessary. 

4. Home team is considered the local team for the first game / second game is the traveling team. Each team is required to provide one new and one used game ball per doubleheader. 

5. Host team coach/manager is responsible for entering their scores to the Tri County web site hosted on Minnesota Softball tournament page within 24 hours of completing the game. 

6. Tie Breaker Rule: The offensive team shall begin its turn at bat with the player who is scheduled to bat last in that respective half inning being placed on second base (e.g., if the number five batter is the leadoff batter, the number four batter in the batting order will be placed on second base. A substitute may be inserted for the runner). 

7. League games can end with a tie. These are doubleheader games, and it is the responsibility of the umpire to keep the games going in order to complete both games. 

8. 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 runs after 4 and 8 runs after 5 innings. 

9. Teams are required to make up games before the on-line seed meeting. 

10. On deck batters’ will be placed to the back of the batter for safety purposes.

11. Steel cleats to be allowed at 14U 

12. Jewelry, see USA Softball rule book, Rule 3, Section 6, Article F, page 40 for exceptions. 

13. Make as an option, 5 run rule at 12U C, if proposed before the game and mutually agreed upon by the coaches. This will be for league play only. 

14. Three coaches/adults will be allowed on the bench. At least one coach must be ACE educated. All bench 

coaches/adults must have a background check and be SafeSport trained. 

Batting 

1. In League play all teams bat the roster. 

2. At State Qualifier’s and State for 10U/12U you are required to bat all your players in attendance. If you reduce a player there isno penalty until you reduce below nine (9) batters. If you reduce to eight (8), the spot is an out. If you reduce to seven (7), the game is over. 

3. At State Qualifier’s and State for 14U/16U/18U– you have the option to bat as many players as you want or use straight 9 or DP/Flex. If you reduce a player there is no penalty until you reduce below nine (9) batters. If you reduce to eight (8), the spot is an out. If you reduce to seven (7), the game is over. You must declare how many players you are using before the game to the umpire and opposing coach. 

10U Specific 

1. 10U A&B follow the same rules as the older age groups with the following exceptions: 

2. 10U C will follow the dropped 3rd strike rule. Batter will be out on a dropped 3rd strike. On-base runners may advance at their own risk. 

3. ALL 10u Teams are limited to 5 runs per half inning. The last batter to bat, if they were not out or were not a part of the 5th run, i.e. got a hit or walked then they will be first up to bat the following inning. 

4. Use an 11” ball. 

5. The Goal is that All 10U will play one doubleheader, 65-minute games on Thursday night until school is out. Tuesday and Thursday night doubleheaders will begin after the school year has ended. Sometimes scheduling will not allow for this and you may play two nights a week before school is out. This depends on field availability in both associations.

Pitching Distance 

• 10U 35’ 

• 12U 40’ 

• 14U 43’ 

No Shows: 

A team must contact their opponent by 4:00 PM on game day if they are not able to play. Failure to do so results in a "Forfeit due to no show." This will be recorded as a 7-0 win. Any team forfeiting three league night games will be ineligible to play in the league qualifier tournament. 

• The home team for each game will be determined before the game at the pregame meeting with the umpire.
• Typically game times are either 12 and 1:30pm or 3 and 4:30pm. Odd pools may overlap those times.
• Balls are supplied by the teams playing for weeks 1-4. Teams will provide one (1) new and one (1) used game ball each week.
• Because of fall weather conditions, all games are rain or shine. The decision to play is made at the fields by the two (2) coaches and umpires, (please do not email or call). If there is lightning, there will be a 30-minute delay. Games that are cancelled due to weather (rain, snow, fog, heat) are not made up at a later date. If you chose to make them up on a week night, you will be responsible for umpire fees as we are paying them for cancelled games already.
• All games will be scheduled for 70 minutes, allowing for the last inning to be completed. Tie breakers will only be used IF there is time left on the 70 minute clock. Games can end in a tie if time has expired and the inning being played in is completed
• Games must be a minimum of three (3) innings, or 2.5 innings if home team is ahead.
• The run ahead rule: 15 runs ahead after three (3) innings, 12 runs ahead after four (4) innings, eight (8) runs ahead after five (5) innings.
• Five (5) runs per inning for 12U for weeks 1-4. At State we will use the normal run rule posted above.
• Five (5) runs per inning for 10U for entire season including state.
• DROPPED THIRD STRIKE:  For C vs C teams only. 
• (10-UNDER C ONLY) If a third strike is caught, missed, or dropped, the batter shall be out. On-base runners may advance at their own risk. 
• Free substitution and round-robin batting is mandatory.
• Teams will not be penalized for having eight (8) players weeks 1-4.