What are the game length, scoring and heat break rules at the Under 14 nationals?
Rule- Australia
- Softball Australia
- National Championships
- Under 14-Under 18
- 2027
- Players
- Fast pitch
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.
Added 24 Oct 2026