World Vintage Softball Fastpitch Carnival,  Honolulu Hawaii.
19th to 26th April, 2009

 The emphasis at each Carnival is on enjoyment (on and off the field) so although participants, whose ages will vary from 35 to 90, ‘compete’ to the best of their ability. The outcome is less important than the fun and enjoyment of the game. 

Teams come to play in a friendly environment where the outcome is enjoyed by all regardless of the result. Accordingly aggressive and unsportsmanlike behaviour on or off the field is not acceptable. Some of the rules of the game have been modified to ensure participants can have fun without causing unnecessary health risks or injury. 

 Prior to the commencement of the Carnival umpires will be briefed on the detailed rules and the spirit in which they are to be applied. In an effort to ensure consistent, fair, quality Fastpitch competition, Vintage Softball enforces the pitching regulations and homerun limits stringently. This provides a guarantee to all teams as to the level of competition they will face during Vintage Softball carnivals.

Vintage Softball rules for Fastpitch.
Team Categories
Teams will be graded according to age and their own assessment of their competitive ability.
The age categories will be 35 to 44, 45 to 54, 55 to 64 and 65 up.

Vintage Softball 10-man Fastpitch Softball is intended to be a team game, which takes a combination of good defense, pitching, and strategy.  Bunting and stealing, along with Base Burglar rules help to define what Vintage Fastpitch Softball stands for.

Vintage Softball largely follows ISA (international Softball Association) rules for our form of Fastpitch Softball. Copies of the rules are available from the International Softball Federation website - http://www.internationalsoftball.com/rules.html   . Should ISA rules conflict with the Vintage rules, the Carnival rules shall take precedence.  As opposed to regular Fastpitch Softball, where a pitcher can dominate a game, the Vintage game of Fastpitch is intended to put the game back into the hands of the team. The rules are designed to reduce the chance of pitcher domination – meaning more fun for all players.  

Classifications

The Vintage Softball Carnival will seek to match teams in terms of skills.  Each team will be required to nominate a classification within an age group.  The age group is determined by the age of the youngest player.  The organisers reserve the right to consolidate groups if required.

The Carnival format

There will be 8 games in a round robin per pool.  If there are less than 9 teams in a pool, teams will recycle. Recycling match ups will be decided by ballot.  If there are more than 9 teams in a pool, the round robin draw will be decided by ballot.

Teams will receive two points for a win, one for a tie, and zero for a loss.  The team with the most points in each pool will be declared the top team in that pool and so on. If teams are on the same points the standings will be decided on score differentials (i.e. the net of runs scored less runs scored against).  If teams are still even the rankings will be decided by the toss of a coin.

On the final day of play the last game will decide Carnival rankings as follows:

1 vs 2 to determine the winner

3 vs 4 to decide 3rd

5 vs 6 to decide 5th  etc.

Rules

1. Ground rules should be discussed between umpires and team captains before each game. 
2. All players participating in the game must appear in the batting order.  Unlimited substitutions are allowed on defense only. 
3. The home team will be determined by a coin toss prior to each game.  The team that wins the toss will have the choice of being home team or visitors. 
4. All games consist of 7 innings, however, no inning will start after 1 hour 45 minutes.  Please check the start time with the umpire. 
5. Games are to be played to their normal conclusion.  If the home team is leading after the top of the 7th inning, the umpire will call the game and the bottom of the 7th will not be played.  The winner will be decided, by the team ahead at the last completed innings.
6. In games shortened due to rain, darkness, or any other circumstance deemed proper by the umpire, a minimum of 5 completed innings will constitute a full game.  If less than 5 innings are completed, the game will be abandoned.  For ranking, other games’ scores will be averaged.
7. The Carnival Committee will do any necessary rescheduling, if this is feasible. 
8. The Base Burglar is a designated player that can be used strategically once per half inning, as a pinch runner. Whether to replace an injured player or to simply place speed on the bases at key times, the Base Burglar adds another player to a team’s line up and strategy to the offensive game.
   The Base Burglar must be designated in the line up prior to the start of the game (similarly to a DP or EH – see below). The Base Burglar shall be designated as “BB”. The Base Burglar may be changed with a position player, once, at any time during the game.
   The Base Burglar will take the position players place in the field and batting order. The position player will then become the Base Burglar. The Base Burglar can also be used as a replacement player. (e.g. if a player gets hurt, the Base Burglar can take that players place, and the Base Burglar is eliminated from the game. This can only happen if the Base Burglar has not already entered into the game as a position player).
   Use of the Base Burglar is at the Team’s discretion, but is allowed during all modified tournament play.
9. For the safety of players, once the batter squares to bunt, the batter may not pull the bat back and swing away.
10. Again, for the safety of players, steel cleats are not allowed in any Vintage Softball Carnival.
11. DP (Designated player) - EH (Extra hitter): A DP and an EH may both bat in the line-up. They, as well as a Base Burglar, must be designated prior to the start of the game. 
12. Home Run Limits:

13. Run Ahead Rule
    1. 12 runs after 4 innings.
    2. 8 runs after 5 innings.
    3. Captains can mutually decide however to continue the game to its time/innings conclusion however runs scored after the above will not count for rankings. 
14. Umpires rulings are final.  There is no dispute provision.  

Equipment

1. The Carnival committee will be responsible for providing bases and maintaining the fields. 
2. The Carnival committee will supply two game balls per game. 
3. Teams will be responsible for making sure there is an adequate supply of regulation equipment for their team (bats, batting helmets, and catcher’s equipment).
4. Each team will be responsible for providing their own scorekeeper.  Scorekeepers should verify the score often with the other team to ensure accuracy.  Exact scores are important due to run differential.

http://www.buysoftball360.com