Mission Blast-Off
Tournament Rules

General Rules

  1. This tournament offers berths to the USA Northern Nationals, and MONSTA Nationals to the highest placing teams in each bracket (“Gold” and “Silver”) that are qualified. (Multiple berths will be given if awarded by the above entities)  These berths are unpaid by our association.  Teams have the option to accept or not.  

  2. CHECK IN - All teams MUST have their JO Softball rosters updated and approved online through MN Softball.  Tournament officials will be checking to make sure all are complete the week of the Blast Off Tournament.  You can check your team in Saturday at Chaska Community Park at the Concession area to make sure your roster is approved.  Mission Fastpitch provides all game balls.

  3. Tournament is pool play is Saturday and elimination on Sunday.  The top teams from each pool will be seeded into the “Gold” bracket and remaining teams in the pool will be seeded into the “Silver” bracket.  Pool standings will be determined by won-loss record.   First tie-breaker will be head-to-head competition; second tie-breaker will be run differential (runs scored versus runs allowed); third tie-breaker will be runs allowed; final tie-breaker will be coin toss.

  4. Pool play games may end in a tie.  Bracket games on Sunday will require a winner.  Games tied at the end of seven innings or tied at the end of the time limit will go into the international rule tie-breaker only in Bracket games.

  5. A coin flip at home plate determines home and visiting teams in all games.  Home team will keep official score book and is responsible for ensuring umpire has official score.

  6. Any team not on the field and ready to play within five minutes of their game start time will forfeit the game, unless there is a previous game delay or other tournament-related delays.  *This rule can be amended at tournament directors discretion due to extenuating circumstances.

  7. All protests will be settled on the field. A “head umpire” will be on site and can be requested, as a last resort, during a dispute.  The head umpires ruling is final.  If the head umpire is not available at the time of a dispute, the field umpires ruling is final.

  8. In the event of inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstance, the Tournament Director has the right to adjust the format of this event.  All parties will be notified via a group text message to all coaches or on our website: https://www.missionfastpitch.com/tournament

  9. We will be posting the bracket pairings for Sunday as soon as we get all of the scores in from the teams in your pool.  We will update the website as quickly as possible.

  10. Tournament Director John Weber will be available both days.  You can call/text him with immediate questions or concerns. John Weber – 612.834.3558

Tournament Rules

*Timed games explained below in both 10U and 12U means if there is still time left on the game clock, the moment the last out of the inning occurred, a new inning can start.

12U Rules      

1.         Games will be seven innings in length with time limits.  No new inning will start after 65 minutes during pool play and 70 minutes during bracket play, including championship games.  Bracket play - Tie-breaker rule (International Tie-Breaker) will be invoked if game is tied after regulation inning and time limit has been reached. Pool play games can end in a tie if time runs out (i.e. 65-minute rule).

2.         Run Rule: 15 runs after three innings; 10 runs after four innings; eight runs after five innings.

3.         12U division must bat all players, with open substitution, during pool play and bracket.

4.         12U pitching distance will be 40 feet.

10U Rules

1.         Games will be seven innings in length with time limits.  No new inning will start after 65 minutes during pool play and 70 minutes during bracket play, including championship games.  Tie-breaker rule will be invoked if game is tied after regulation inning and time limit has not been reached. Pool play games can end in a tie if time runs out (i.e. 65-minute rule).

2.         Run Rule: 11 runs after three innings; 6 runs after four innings and beyond. If a team is down by more than five runs and time expires, the game is over.

3.         Teams are limited to five runs per inning in both pool and bracket play, including championship games. 10U division must bat all players, with open substitution, during both pool and bracket play.

4.         10U will follow USA Softball rules (same as all other age levels).  Pitching distance is 35 feet and they will use an 11-inch ball. Runners can steal home.

5. 10U B/C division will NOT allow batters to take 1st base on a dropped 3rd strike. 10U A will allow the dropped third strike rule.

Additional Information

  • Concessions will be available at Chaska Community Park (CCP).  We will have a great selection of food and drink for purchase.  Tournament T-shirts will also be available on site

  • There are no parking or gate fees for the tournament.

  • Overflow parking is at the school right next to Chaska Community Park.  There are paved walkways from the overflow parking area into CCP

  • We will have live-scoring after completion of games to follow your pool and other tournament brackets online.

  • Please be respectful to the facilities. We ask that you not hit into the fences or host a picnic in the outfield.

  • Field Location: Chaska Community Park – 1151 Hundermark Rd, Chaska, MN 55318