Player's Guide to Softball Australia National Championships Under 14-18 2027

Players in age-grade events must be under the required age on 31 December 2027 (2027 Australian Championship Regulations, rule 7.1). The eligible years of birth are:

For example, a player born in 2011 is eligible for Under 16 and Under 18, but a player born in 2010 is eligible for Under 18 only.

From the 2027 Australian Championship Regulations (section 7):

• A state team seeking an exemption for an over-age player must apply in writing to Softball Australia's Events Coordinator (or acting). The team manager must have a copy of the approval at the event.
• States verify their players' ages after players complete the online registration form.
• The penalty for a non-approved over-age player taking part is forfeiting every game the player participates in, whether on the diamond or on the bench.

From the 2027 Australian Championship Regulations (section 6):

• All players, team officials, selectors, umpires and appointed statisticians must be registered in the National Database for the current season before the event (rule 6.2).
• All required integrity courses listed by Softball Australia must be completed by every player and team official to take part (rule 6.3).
• No player or official may take the diamond, play in any game or undertake any championship duties until their participant registration is fully complete and all mandatory integrity and accreditation course requirements are met. No exceptions are granted unless Softball Australia approves them in extraordinary circumstances (rule 6.4).
• States are strongly encouraged to check completion of the integrity courses during the trial process, for example by asking participants for screenshots or certificates, well before team selection and championship deadlines.

From the 2027 Australian Championship Regulations (section 4):

• A state team has no more than 24 people in total, and no more than 16 players. If fewer than 16 players are named, team officials may exceed eight.
• Changes to the official team list, including personnel or uniform numbers, must be made through the online registration portal before they are recognised. No additions are permitted after the Technical Meeting unless a Softball Australia staff member approves.
• States may enter more than one team in the Under 14 championships and the Over 35 championships. The state chooses the team names, provided they refer to the state, and chooses the team composition.
• Two states may combine to enter a team with Softball Australia's approval, as long as at least one of them has not already entered a team. A combined team must nominate the state that administers it and must meet the eligibility rules as if it were a state team.
• A team that is not representing a state, or is invitational, is not eligible to compete for a national championship title.

The 2027 Australian Championship Regulations (rule 19.2) set these pitching distances:

For comparison, open women pitch from 13.11 m (43 ft) and open men from 14.02 m (46 ft).

From the 2027 Australian Championship Regulations (rule 19.1.1):

• Under 18 and Under 16: each team may use the intentional base on balls rule only once per game.
• Under 14: the intentional base on balls rule is not used. The pitcher must pitch four balls to the catcher if required (rule 34.6).

The 2027 Australian Championship Regulations say:

• Under 14 nationals: metal cleats cannot be worn by players at the tournament (rule 34.19).
• Under 18 to open-grade tournaments: metal cleats can be worn (rule 31.1).

The regulations do not give a separate cleat rule for the Under 16 championships.

The WBSC Official Rules of Softball 2026-2029 (rule 2.4.2) also say that shoes must be fully enclosed, that hard plastic, nylon or polyurethane spikes similar to a metal sole and heel plate are not allowed in any division at any level of play, and that for youth and modified fast pitch only, metal cleats must not be worn in any division at any level of play.

From section 30 of the 2027 Australian Championship Regulations:

• Bring only certified bats. Teams should have their bats checked before the championship and bring only bats on the certified lists. Bats are checked against the WBSC-SD certified bat list and then, if required, the USA Softball certified list. Certified bats are stamped or labelled with the Softball Australia logo.
• Check at the technical meeting. Each team brings all its bats to the technical meeting, or they are checked before the team's first game. A bat that cannot be positively identified because the manufacturer's name, logo or model number is worn away or illegible is rejected. A bat that fails is held by the Tournament Chief Umpire until the tournament ends.
• Responsibility. Coaches are responsible for making sure all bats are checked and certified, and compliance rests with all participants, not just the umpires.
• Batted ball speed. The WBSC-SD standard is 161 km/h (100 mph) and the USA Softball standard is 157.7 km/h (98 mph). Where available, bats are checked with an approved bat compression tester.
• If a non-certified bat is used in a game (first time): if found before the batter completes their turn, the batter is out, the play is nullified if applicable and the batter is ejected. If found after their turn at bat, the batter-runner is out, runner advances are nullified, any out made on the play stays and the batter-runner is ejected.
• Second time by any player on the same team during the championship: the same applies and the head coach is also ejected.

Under the WBSC Official Rules of Softball 2026-2029, which Softball Australia uses:

• Batters, on-deck batters, batter-runners and runners: the helmet must have two ear flaps (one on each side) and safety features equal to or greater than a full plastic cap with padding inside. A liner covering only the ears does not qualify. A cracked, broken, dented or altered helmet is illegal and is removed from the game.
• Catchers: a mask, throat protector and helmet, plus a body protector and shin guards that protect the kneecap. A catcher's helmet may be the skull type without ear flaps. The same mask, throat protector and helmet are required when catching warm-up pitches.
• Any player: may wear an approved plastic face mask/guard, which must be removed if cracked, deformed or if the padding is missing or has deteriorated. A defensive player wearing one may choose whether to wear a cap. A catcher may not use it instead of the regular mask with a throat protector.
• Batters and batter-runners: may wear protective leg and arm guards.

At the national championships, umpires may check all bats and helmets before every game for certification labels, dents and cracks.

From section 34 of the 2027 Australian Championship Regulations (Under 14 rules):

• Ball: the official ball is the 12-inch hard core ball, the Easton 888.
• Field: the playing field is a minimum of 200 ft (60.98 m). Where a diamond is not fenced, a white line and collapsible dome markers mark the home run boundary, and a batted ball that goes through the boundary is a ground rule triple.
• Base distance: 60 ft (18.29 m).
• Pitching distance: 40 ft (12.19 m) for girls and 43 ft (13.11 m) for boys.
• Intentional walk: not used. The pitcher must pitch four balls to the catcher if required.
• Results: game results are decided under Softball Australia's (WBSC) Official Playing Rules except where the championship rules say otherwise.

From section 34 of the 2027 Australian Championship Regulations (Under 14 rules):

• Game length: games, including all finals except the Grand Final, are a regulation game or 90 minutes. When 80 minutes has elapsed at the last out of a completed inning, a new inning will not start, but an inning in progress is completed until a winner is decided.
• Round games: a tie after the designated time or completed inning is recorded as a draw. Round-robin points are 2 for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss.
• Finals: if scores are tied after the designated time, the inning in progress is completed and then the tiebreaker applies.
• Grand Final: a regulation game with no time limit. If it is tied after seven innings, the tiebreaker is played. If the Grand Final is drawn (for example by darkness or a storm), both teams are joint winners.
• Seven-run limit: an inning ends after 3 outs or once 7 runs are scored, unless a home run is ruled. A team cannot score more than 7 runs in one inning in continuous play.
• Suspended games: if weather halts a game, it resumes from where it stopped. If it cannot resume, a game played for one hour or five innings is a regulation game, or if the team second at bat leads after the bottom of the 4th.
• Heat: when Softball Australia's Hot Weather Guidelines heat policy is invoked, a 5-minute break is mandatory after 40 minutes of play, regardless of the innings timing. No extra time is added to timed games.
• Participation: teams are strongly encouraged to give every player on the team list about 50% playing time across the tournament.

From the 2027 Australian Championship Regulations:

• Time limit (section 18): for Under 16 to open-grade championships, Softball Australia may decide to apply a game time limit at some championships. If it does, a new inning will not start once 80 minutes has elapsed at the last out of a completed inning, but an inning in progress is completed until a winner is decided. If the scores are tied after that inning, the tiebreaker applies.
• Tiebreaker (17.5): starting with the top of the 8th and 9th innings, the player scheduled to bat ninth in that half-inning starts on second base. From the top of the 10th inning and every half-inning after, that player starts on third base. A substitute may run in accordance with the substitution rules.
• Forfeits (15.1 and 15.2): a forfeited game is scored 7-0 to the team not at fault. A forfeit for any reason other than injury or ejections brings a $500 fine and the loss of two competition points per forfeit.

The Players Code of Conduct in the 2027 Australian Championship Regulations (Appendix 5) says a player must:

• be a positive role model for softball at all times;
• play within the competition conditions and rules and in the spirit of fair play;
• accept victory and defeat with dignity;
• comply with umpires' decisions in a professional and respectful manner;
• respect the rights, dignity and worth of all people and refrain from discriminatory practices;
• not make derogatory, demeaning or discriminatory remarks about administrators, players, coaches or other players;
• show control, respect and professionalism to opponents, coaches, officials, umpires, statisticians, administrators, the media, parents and spectators;
• not engage in any form of sexual innuendo or harassment towards any player, coach or official;
• not initiate a relationship with their coach;
• not tolerate acts of aggression; and
• not breach Softball Australia's Protection Policy.