Fastpitch Guidelines

Event Flexibility

  • Directors reserve the right to change formats, field assignments, locations, and other event factors to help ensure completion of the event.
  • Adjustments may be made because of weather, player or fan safety, or facility issues.

Background Check Requirements

  • Only adults who have completed a current-season background check, in their own NCS account, through the NCS Risk Management System are allowed in the dugout or on the field at an NCS event.
  • Using a cell phone to perform your background check has a couple of liabilities, including incorrect birthdate data, that may result in your background check being denied thus requiring a new background check.  

Lightning and Weather Protocol

  • If a facility has its own lightning or weather-delay procedures, NCS will follow the park’s established rules.
  • If the facility does not have its own system, NCS will apply the following standards:
    • Lightning detected within a 10-mile radius requires the field and dugouts to be cleared immediately for a minimum of 30 minutes.
    • Each additional lightning strike restarts a new 30-minute delay.
    • Play may resume only after 30 full minutes have passed since the most recent lightning strike.

Team Eligibility and Rosters

  • All teams MUST have players listed on the online roster before the first pitch of the event.
  • Teams must have a copy of each player’s birth certificate available at the event in case of a protest.
  • If a birth certificate cannot be produced, the player will be deemed illegal or ineligible and all NCS rules apply.

Insurance Requirements

  • All teams MUST upload approved team insurance with NCS named as additional insured before the event.
  • If the certificate does not include NCS as additional insured, teams should contact their insurance agency to issue a certificate listing: NCS / 2011 E. Lamar, #120 / Arlington, TX 76006.

Bracket Seeding Criteria

  • Record
  • Head-to-head result (when only two teams are tied)
  • Runs allowed
  • Runs scored
  • Run differential (10-run maximum per game)
  • NCS points ranking
  • Automated coin flip