Babe Ruth Softball Invitational Tournaments
State of New Hampshire
Rules & Procedures To Host

Purpose:
Expand the opportunity for local Babe Ruth Softball programs to participate in tournament play.

Scope:

Open invitations to any qualified team
1. No state or regional boundary limitation (i.e. teams from states other than New Hampshire or other than the New England Region may participate)

2. Where so designated, qualified participants will have opportunity to advance to Babe Ruth National Invitationals; criteria to be set by the International Babe Ruth Headquarters.

3. Age groups: 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U

Divisions:
At the discretion of the event host, the tournament may offer either or both Babe Ruth Division and/or Open Division.

Babe Ruth Division will be reserved for all qualified Babe Ruth team entries.

Open Division will refer to any team, regardless of affiliation, which meets participation requirements.

Where event includes an Open Division, a Babe Ruth Only Division is required to determine final standing of Babe Ruth entries. This is necessary to insure status in the event the tournament becomes a "qualifying event" for higher level Babe Ruth Invitational Tournaments.

Divisions are necessary for final standings only. Competition between divisions is not prohibited, and in fact is encouraged. A Babe Ruth team could win or place in both divisions, however, a non-Babe Ruth team cannot win or place in a Babe Ruth Division.

Approvals:
Tournaments require the approval of the NH State Softball Commissioner.

Tournaments will be awarded on the following basis:

1. Tournaments may be scheduled any time after May 15, 

2. Any given age grouping, (10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U), providing all qualifications are met, will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

3. Tournaments will not be awarded during the week of an age group's official Babe Ruth Tournament Trail District Tournament.

4. Chartered Babe Ruth Leagues will not be awarded invitational tournaments in the month of July until all Babe Ruth Official Tournament Trail venues have been set. The State Commissioner reserves the right to award Invitational Tournaments to leagues which have already committed to host one or more Official Tournament Trail Events.

5. A host may run two or more age group tournaments simultaneously.

6. Prospective hosts need to contact the New Hampshire Babe Ruth Softball Commissioner with a proposed tournament outline. They must also meet the insurance qualifications. (See Insurance)

Qualifications:
Babe Ruth Division teams must meet the tournament qualifications as established by Babe Ruth Softball Rules and Regulations. The one exception would be the elimination of the minimum league game play, providing those players are officially rostered Babe Ruth players. Players may "play up" within their league charter, as long as they are rostered Babe Ruth players, but will not necessarily have played their regular season within the higher age group league. Players may not "play down". (e.g., a league age 10 could participate in a 12U event, but a league age 13 may NOT play in a 12U event.)

Explanation:
Babe Ruth League charters are for 12U and 16U. Babe Ruth insurance covers players in their rostered leagues. Therefore, a 12U player would not be covered if she participated on a 14U invitational tournament team if she did not play her league season in the 14U league.

Babe Ruth teams may add or delete from their invitational roster without requiring prior approvals, providing any additions still meet the qualifications for play as outlined above.

Non-Babe Ruth teams must meet the approved Babe Ruth age cut-off date, provide proof of age for each player, and proof of Accident and Liability insurance. Liability insurance limit must be no less than $1,000,000.

Insurance:

1. Babe Ruth Leagues and Teams that have purchased Babe Ruth insurance will be automatically covered provided the league president has approved the team's participation in the invitational tournament. This applies to Babe Ruth Teams as well as Babe Ruth League hosts.

2. Non-Babe Ruth teams will need to present to the tournament host, evidence of current accident insurance, and liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000, prior to the start of the tournament.

3. Non-Babe Ruth Hosts will need to show evidence of liability insurance and supply an additional insured certificate of insurance indemnifying Babe Ruth Leagues, Inc. and all Babe Ruth affiliates. Such a form is available upon request from your insurance carrier. It is usually faxed to you overnight upon request. There may be a nominal charge, usually $25 or less.

4. Hosts will need to provide necessary evidence of insurance with their tournament application.

5. This section subject to change pending final determination from Babe Ruth Leagues, Inc.

Entry Fees:
Tournament entry fee will be set by the host and requires prior approval of the State Commissioner.

NO FEES are required at this time, to be paid to Babe Ruth Leagues, Inc. or any Babe Ruth affiliate. The Host will retain fees to offset tournament costs and any surpluses via fees or ancillary sales (concessions, etc.).

Advance entry fees received shall be returned to Babe Ruth teams who must withdraw from an invitational tournament because they have advanced through the Official Babe Ruth Tournament trail. The State Commissioner will verify that a Babe Ruth team in fact has advanced.

Format:
Must be either:
Pool play leading to elimination round or,
Round Robin or,
Double Elimination,
Determined at the discretion of the Host

Officials:
Babe Ruth Softball National Umpire Association members in good standing are required unless it is shown that none are available.

The New Hampshire Babe Ruth State Softball UIC may upon request, manage the assigning of tournament umpires. The UIC at his discretion, may charge an assigning fee not to exceed $3 per game.

Utilized Babe Ruth Softball NUA umpires shall be paid not less than $30 per game. This requirement may be waived for Babe Ruth Softball NUA umpires who volunteer their services at no charge or a reduced fee.

Promotion:
Once approved, each tournament will be announced and promoted via E-mail to all Babe Ruth Leagues in New Hampshire and all other contacts in New England. Tournaments will be posted on the New England list of events as well as the New Hampshire Babe Ruth Softball website.

Logo Use:
Any use of logos registered by Babe Ruth Leagues, Inc., must first have permission for use in writing from International Headquarters. Such requests must be submitted to Babe Ruth League, Inc. Executive Vice-President/CFO in writing and copied to the NH State Softball Commissioner. Said Commissioner will confirm to Headquarters that the requested use is related to an authorized invitational tournament.