2026 Golden Bear Classic
Tournament Rules and Guidelines
2026 Golden Bear Classic
Tournament Rules & Guidelines
The USA Softball Adult Slow Pitch Rules of Play are in effect, with the following exceptions noted below.
Your registration is not complete until all rosters and ratings are received, and your spot is not reserved until payment is received.
The deadline to register a team is May 8, 2026, 11:59 PM. Entry fees are non-refundable unless a written cancellation is received before May 8, 2026, 11:59 PM
Code of Conduct
All Golden Bear Classic players are required to adhere to all International Pride Softball (iPride), SFGSL, SVGSL and SANCRA code of conduct.
● NO ALCOHOL, VAPING, or SMOKING are allowed in the dugouts or fields and all rules placed by Arcadia Ballpark must be followed.
● Any player suspected of being intoxicated or under the influence of any controlled substance is subject to ethics review by the tournament directors.
● Any and all violations are required to be reported to the governing bodies and Arcadia Ballpark.
● Penalties for violation can range from a verbal/written warning, suspension up to and including lifetime ban.
● NAGAAA/IPride Code of Conduct is as follows:
○ Diversity: We expect NAGAAA affiliates to honor all the diversity within the
organization, treating everyone with dignity and respect.
○ Integrity: We expect all NAGAAA affiliates to be straightforward, honest, and adhere to sportsmanship in all organizational dealings.
○ Objectivity: We expect all NAGAAA affiliates should not allow bias, conflict of interest or outside influence to override their judgment.
○ Honorable Behavior: We expect all NAGAAA affiliates to comply with relevant laws and regulations and avoid any action that could negatively impact the
reputation of our organization.
Team Ratings & Rosters
Ratings Forms will be sent out to all registered teams via a shared Google Document. All Ratings sheets will be locked May 15, 2026 at 11:59pm. Ratings and rosters must be completed by May 15, 2026. Changes to ratings or roster after May 9, 2026 must be made IN PERSON at registration by the Manager only.
Number of Teams
There is a maximum limit of 26 teams for 2026. Teams are taken on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration is not complete until all rosters and ratings have been received and the entry fee has been paid in full.
Roster
Team rosters should include coach, manager, and scorekeepers, and may not exceed 20 players. PIP requests must be sent with a Physician’s note to the Tournament Directors.
Ratings
● The 2025 iPride ratings system will be in force (as of current)
● Player ratings must be submitted for each player on the roster.
● A maximum of TWO (2) Non-iPride/ASANA registered players are allowed on your
roster, and will need to be verified by tournament directors.
Player Registration
● Players and managers are required to register with a photo I.D. before stepping onto the field.
● Registration is available Friday night at the Registration Event held at the host hotel or.
Saturday morning at the field(s).
● All Players must be registered prior to the start of double elimination
● Registration Friday evening is highly encouraged to avoid delays at the fields on
Saturday.
Divisions of Play
● Competition will be offered in Open C & D
● The 12” ball will be used for all divisions.
● Ratings are based on 2025 iPride Ratings (as of current)
○ All players and/or teams may be placed into the appropriate division at the discretion of the tournament director(s).
Games
● Game time is forfeit time - No grace period. If your team is not ready to play when called, your team may be forced to forfeit that game.
● Line up is required to be ready 20 minutes before game time.
● To start a game: A minimum of 9 players on a team is required. If you have fewer than 9 players, you will be required to forfeit the game.
● If an eligible 10th player becomes available during the game, that player must immediately be inserted into the vacant batter spot in the lineup.
● ALL batters will start with a 1-1 count. There is nocourtesy foul throughout the
tournament.
● Pool Play: The home team for all games will be determined by a coin toss. ● Double Elimination: The higher seeded team will be home.
● Championship game: The undefeated or higher seeded team has the choice of home or
away.
● The home team must act as the official scorekeeper for the game.
● Line-up cards for each game must be completed in triplicate and given to the home plate
umpire prior to the start of the game.
● Two (2) extra players (EP or EH) are allowed in the batting line-up.
Courtesy Runners
● ANY eligible player on the official line-up including available substitutes may be used as a Courtesy Runner (CR).
● A CR may be used only once per inning. A Courtesy Runner may also be used for the pitcher every time the pitcher reaches base. The CR for the pitcher can be anyone, including someone who has already been a CR in the inning.
● Use of the Courtesy Runner is not mandatory, but if requested, may have a CR at any time.
● If a Courtesy Runner is on base when due to bat, an out shall be called. The Courtesy Runner is removed from base, then takes their turn at bat.
PIP (ADA) Accommodations
● The approved PIP player must have an asterisk next to their name on the lineup, the manager must confirm the PIP player, and the PIP player must present their PIP card to the umpire at the start of each game.
● PIP players may have a Courtesy Runner more than once per inning and at any time when requested once reaching base.
● PIP Courtesy Runner(s) must be the last completed at bat.
● If it is the first inning, and no other at bat has been completed, the PIP CR will be the last batter in the submitted line up.
● Same penalties assessed to a “CR” apply if a PIP runner is on base when due to bat. USA Softball Run Rule (runs ahead) in effect:
● 20 runs after 3 innings
● 15 runs after 4 innings
● 10 runs after 5 innings
Additional scoring rules:
● Flip - Flop Rule: For ALL Divisions - The Flip Flop Rule will be in use in any game where there is a ten (10)-run differential in favor of the visiting team at the start of the “open inning” or last inning of play.
● If the VISITING team is ahead by 10 or more runs, the HOME team will remain at-bat after the 3rd out. All base runners must come off the field and the HOME team bats again. Should the HOME team tie or go ahead, then the VISITING team would take their turn at bat.
Home Run (over-the-fence) limits are as follows:
● C Division:
○ 1 OTF (over the fence) home run per team per game. Hit & Sit HR Rule in effect. Any additional (OTF) home runs will be considered an inning ending out.
● D Division:
○ No OTF (over the fence) home runs are allowed. Any (OTF) home run(s) will be considered an inning ending out.
Pitching
● Pitching height is 6’ - 12’ from ground, with a perceptible arc. The Pitcher can start up to 6 feet behind the pitching plate with at least one foot within the 24” pitching plate
The Pitcher shall face the batter and pause at least one (1) second before delivering the pitch.
● Warm-ups after the 1st inning are limited to one pitch only.
Uniforms
● All team players shall properly wear numbered uniforms. Cargo shorts are acceptable. ● Bandanas may be worn, but NOT around the neck.
● Metal cleats of any kind are not allowed.
● The USA jewelry rule will be in effect.
Pool Play
● All games are 50 minutes. No new inning can begin at 50 minutes.
● Each team will play two (2) games for seeding.
● Seeding will be by win-loss record, then by runs allowed
● All pool play games can end in a tie game.
Double Elimination Play
● Overall record, head-to-head record and runs allowed will determine each team's seeding.
● The higher seed will be home except for IF games
● The USA Tie Breaker Rule is in effect after 50 minutes or 7 innings of play.
● All championship games will be 60 minutes or 7 innings. The Runs Ahead Rule will still
be in effect.
Bats & Bases
● Any bat used during the tournament must be ASA/USA approved.
● All team bats must be checked prior to the start of the game and must have been
marked with a Golden Bear sticker.
● The ASA/USA SOFTBALL NON-APPROVED BAT LIST rules will be in effect. If use of a NON-APPROVED (OR ALTERED) bat is discovered in play, the player will be EJECTED from the tournament and the team will FORFEIT that game.
● Use of an illegal bat (damaged, cracked, loose grip tape, no Golden Bear sticker, etc.)
will result in the player being called out.
● If a bat previously removed from play is discovered in the game, the player will be out
and ejected.
● If there are two bases at first base, the USA Double Base rule will be in effect. ● No stealing is allowed.
Protests
There are 3 types of protests: Misinterpretation of a playing rule, an Illegal player, or an Ineligible player.
● Protests based solely on umpire judgment will NOT be allowed.
● Player Ratings concerns may be addressed at the discretion of the Tournament Committee and UIC.
● $100 will be required per question for Ratings Protest and must be paid to the Tournament Committee and UIC and the protest must be declared prior to the end of the game.
● No ratings protest will be allowed after the team’s first double elimination game.
Player Ejection
● If a player is ejected from a game:
They are not allowed to participate in their team’s next scheduled game and:
If ejection is for sportsmanship or behavior, must leave the tournament complex.
● If an ejected participant (player, coach, manager) is discovered in the game, the game shall be forfeited.