|
CLASSIFICATION RUN RULE
NOTE: This rule
is copyrighted by the World’s Largest Softball Tournament, Inc.
and cannot be used without its written permission.
The classification of
slow pitch teams is the best and worst thing that ever happened to
softball. It allows more teams to be competitive; however, every
incentive is for teams to play down so they can win more games and
participate in more tournaments. As a result, many teams are
discouraged from playing in tournaments where they are often
destroyed by teams playing below the proper classification.
While home run rules
offer some relief, games are won or lost as a result of runs scored.
It appears that guidelines need to be imposed to impact and
discourage teams which play in classifications below where they
should. Therefore, in tournaments run by the World’s Largest
Softball Tournament, a team is allowed to score runs only up to the
maximum shown below for each respective inning:
| Class |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
EI |
| Class A |
Unlimited Runs Allowed |
| Class B |
10 |
15 |
17 |
19 |
21 |
23 |
25 |
4 |
| Class C |
5 |
10 |
12 |
14 |
16 |
18 |
20 |
3 |
| Class D |
5 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
2 |
| Class E |
5 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
2 |
Once a team reaches the
maximum number of runs allowed for any given inning, it then ends its
turn at bat and plays defense. If a team fails to reach the
maximum in any given inning, it may score runs in future innings
until it reaches the maximum number shown for the inning being
played. If both teams reach the maximum number of runs allowed
in a game, an extra inning(s) will be played with each team allowed
to score the number of runs shown above for extra (EI) innings until
the tie is broken. In extra innings the runs allowed are
cumulative. For example in a Class E game that ends in an 14-14
tie, each team may score two runs in the first extra inning. If each
scores only one run, then each team may score as many as three in the
second extra inning as the total allowed is four (two times the two
extra innings).
The classification run
rule gives meaning to classification of slow pitch teams, and it
gives ALL teams an honest chance to be competitive. While there are
some who complain about this rule, it levels the playing field and
gives teams a sense of direction as to what their classification
should be. It also discourages teams from sandbagging and winning
all of the time.
ASA/2008
RRR Manager Rules Letter
|
