Ark Complex – General Rules 2026

The Ark Complex is a privately-owned complex and reserves the right to remove or ban anyone or any team that violates the rules below. VIOLATION OF RULES ARE SUBJECT TO A FINE AND REMOVAL FROM THE ARK COMPLEX.

• No negative sportsmanship, behavior, vulgar language, or physical abuse towards players, coaches, fans, umpires, or park officials will be tolerated. 
• No vandalism/trespassing on property. Any player/team involved in such will be subject to that team forfeiting the remainder of the tournament without a refund. 
• NO animals – except under the ADA rules that state a service animal that has been trained to perform disability-related tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting, and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with a mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. Violators will be asked to leave The Ark Complex.  
• No alcohol, no smoking, no dip/chew, or any form of tobacco/vapor/electronic – subject to a fine of $100. 
• No gum/seeds/shelled snacks allowed inside the park – subject to a fine of $100.  
• No steel spikes (turf cleats or tennis shoes only.) Molded cleats permitted on Field 3 Only. Molded cleats are permitted on other astro turf fields during rainy and wet conditions ONLY. The Ark Complex reserves the right to amend this rule at any time. NO molded cleats permitted on all grass fields (2, 5, 6) at any time. 
• Items/service intended for business and or sale/trade may not be brought onto Ark Complex property including parking lots without the approval and lease agreement for The Ark Complex. 
• Dugouts- each team is responsible for their own hydration & cleaning up – only team members and coaching staff allowed in dugouts.  
• Coolers/Bags/Carts– SUBJECT TO INSPECTION- visitors are allowed small personal size coolers – No alcohol permitted.  
• Tents – Only permitted around outfield fences and foul lines beyond the dugouts. The Ark Complex reserves the right to ask anyone to move who sets up a tent in any other area of the park.  
• No cowbells/noisemakers, concrete chalk, Play-Doh, or markers. 
• No hanging of video recorders or any device on the protective nets around the fields. 
• No skateboards, scooters, hoverboards or bicycles. 
• No climbing on dugouts/chairs, retaining walls, sitting on padding, jumping over guardrails, or throwing/moving rocks.  
• No speeding or unsafe driving in the parking lot or cooking in the parking lot.  
• Music – The Ark Complex will control all music from the press box. No outside music or other devices are permitted. 
• No hitting, throwing, or kicking any balls into the fences, padding, or in walkways.  
• No grills or open flame heaters permitted, including propane tanks.  
• Press Box – OFF Limits. Only Ark Complex Personnel allowed in the press box. 
• Bus/RV Parking – MUST park in designated parking area as directed.  

Ark Complex Tournament Rules

Coaches: Be sure you are aware of all rules and rule changes. The Ark Complex reserves the right to amend these rules at any time for specific tournament play. National High School Federation Baseball Rules will be enforced with the following exceptions. 

Important Rules and Information: 

• Please acquire the needed team insurance.  
• Teams MUST be ready to play 30 minutes prior to scheduled game time. 
• Teams need to provide two quality baseballs per game (Ark Complex is a homerun friendly park.) 

Teams shall pay umpires the following at home plate prior to the start of each game (prices are subject to change): 

8U: $40

9U-12U: $65

13U-15U: $75

Tournament Formats:

• 1 Day Events: 2 game guarantee; 2 pool play games, and top seeded teams advance to a championship game.
• 2 Day Events: 3 game guarantee; 2 pool play games on Saturday, teams are then seeded for Sunday single elimination.
• Official Game Status: If rain occurs after official game status has been reached (4 complete innings of a game or 3.5 innings if the home team is winning), and the game cannot continue due to rain and field conditions, the game will be called and become a complete official game. The tournament director will make that decision only.  

No games will begin at The Ark Complex on Sundays prior to 11:30am. The park will open at 10:30am.

Ark Complex Fastpitch Softball Tournament Rules

NOTE: The NFHS rule book will be followed, with the below exceptions taking precedent. 

Age Requirements:

• Girls 8 & under cannot turn 9 years old before January 1, 2026. 
• Girls 10 & under cannot turn 11 years old before January 1, 2026. 
• Girls 12 & under cannot turn 13 years old before January 1, 2026. 
• Girls 14 & under cannot turn 15 years old before January 1, 2026. 
• Girls 16 & under cannot turn 17 years old before January 1, 2026. 
• HS division cannot turn 19 years old before January 1, 2026. 

Age Groups, Base Path, and Pitching Distance:

• 8U: 60 feet base, 35 feet pitching distance, play 6 innings. 
• 10U: 60 feet base, 35 feet pitching distance, play 6 innings. 
• 12U: 60 feet base, 40 feet pitching distance, play 7 innings. 
• 14U: 60 feet base, 43 feet pitching distance, play 7 innings. 
• 16U: 60 feet base, 43 feet pitching distance, play 7 innings. 
• 18U: 60 feet base, 43 feet pitching distance, play 7 innings. 

Bat & Ball:

• Use the High School Federation rule on bats and balls. 
• Girls 8U & 10U: 11” ball. - Girls 12U & up: 12” ball.

Batting:

• Slapping is allowed for ages 10-HS.
• For 8U, slapping is illegal. The first penalty will result in a dead ball, a strike for the batter and the head coach and team are warned. For the second offense the batter will be declared out, and the third offense the batter is ejected from the game.

Base Running:

• The Ark Complex will enforce the look-back rule for ages 10-HS. The lookback rule will not be enforced for 8U. 

Runners For The Pitcher & Catcher:

• Each team may use a runner for the pitcher or catcher if desired. 
• Runner must be an eligible substitute and if no substitutes are available, you may use the athlete who made the last out.  
• If it is identified that it is not an eligible substitute or the player that made the last out was put in to run, and is caught prior to the next pitch being thrown, then the substitute would be called out. 
• The pitcher and catcher may not run for each other.  

Coin Flipping/Higher Seeds:

• Umpires will flip at home plate prior to the start of each pool game to determine home and visitor.  
• In all bracket games, the team with the higher seed will have the choice of home or visitor. 

Mercy Rule:

• The Ark Complex will use the 15, 10, and 8 mercy rule in all tournament play. 

Intentional Walk: 

• Pitcher does not have to pitch to the batter. The batter can be put on first base just by the coach of the opposing team telling the umpire to do so. 

Batting Line Ups-*We do NOT allow the flex player*

• Teams have the option of batting 9 players up to their entire roster if desired. The rule to bat more than 9 is not mandatory and is left up to each individual team.  
• In the event of injury or sickness of a player in the batting lineup, the batter will be skipped over to the next batter in the lineup without it being considered an out.  For any other reason not mentioned above, the batter will be considered an out before proceeding to the next batter. 
• You may use the last recorded out made as the courtesy runner if you are batting the entire lineup. 
• If you are not batting the entire line up then a sub or burnt sub must be used as the courtesy runner. In case of an ejection and no eligible subs are available, that position will be an out each time at bat.  

DH Rule: 

• The Ark Complex will allow the DH rule. 

Ejections:  

• In case of an ejection and no eligible subs are available, that position will be an out at each bat.  

Trips To The Mound: 

• Teams get 3 trips to the mound per game. Teams will not be charged with a trip if the pitcher is removed.  

Tie Breaker Rule/Ark Complex Extra Innings:

• All playoff and championship games (quarterfinals, semifinals, etc.) must have a winner. If after 6 innings(8u-12u) or 7 innings(14u+) or time limit, the two teams are still tied, “Ark Complex Extra Innings” will begin. The last three hitters from the previous inning will load the bases. NO courtesy runner is allowed in “Ark Complex Extra Innings.” *See Ark Complex 

Extra Innings details below.*

• The base runners will be placed as follows:  
• The last hitter from the previous inning placed on 1st base. 
• The hitter before him in the lineup placed on 2nd base.  ● The hitter before that in the lineup placed on 3rd base.
• Extra innings starts with 1 out. If there is a winner in extra innings, (no matter the score) the winning team will only be credited for one run in the final score. Example: After regulation, the score is 3-3. No matter how many runs the winning team scores, the final score will be 4-3. Play continues until one team is ahead at the end of an inning. 

Mouth Pieces:

• The Ark Complex requires all athletes in ages 8, 10, 12, and 14U who play on the infield with the exception of the catcher to wear a mouthpiece or face protective gear during play. 16U and HS are excluded from this rule.  
• Penalty for not wearing the mouthpiece will result in a warning. If a player does not act on the warning immediately, it will result in the player being ejected from the game.  

Open Rosters: 

• All players must be listed on the online roster to be eligible to participate with a team.  
• Players may only play on one team per weekend.  

Pool Games: 

• All pool games will have a 1 hour finish the inning time limit. 
• Pool games can end in a tie. 
• If the home team goes ahead after the 1 hour time limit has expired, the ball game is over.  

Bracket Games 8U:

• Time limit will be 1 hour finish the inning and must have a winner, no ties. Once the time limit expires, and the inning is completed, if teams are tied then use the international tie breaker until winner is determined.  

Bracket Games 10U-HS:

• Time limit will be 1 hour finish the inning and must have a winner, no ties. Once the time limit expires, and the inning is completed, if teams are tied then use the international tie breaker until winner is determined.  

Championship Games 8U:

• Time limit is 1 hour 15 minutes. 

Championship Games 10U-HS:

• Time limit is 1 hour 30 minutes. 

Ark Complex 8U Specific Softball Rules/Clarifications

Coaches: Be sure you are aware of all rules and rules changes. All other Ark Complex Fastpitch Tournament Rules will be enforced in 8U tournament play with the following exceptions. 

Batting:

• Each batter will receive 5 pitches or 3 strikes (whichever is reached first.)
• If 5^th pitch of the at-bat is fouled off, the batter can continue batting until one of the following occurs;
• The batter puts the ball in play.
• The batter swings and misses.
• The batter does not swing at all.
• Bunting is not allowed and will result in the batter being out.
• Slapping is illegal. The first penalty will result in a dead ball, a strike for the batter and the head coach and team are warned. For the second offense the batter will be declared out, and the third offense the batter is ejected from the game.
• If the coach that is pitching gets hit with a live batted ball, the play will result in a dead-ball and no-pitch. The batter will continue their at-bat without that pitch counting towards their at-bat. All runners will go back to the base they started at.
• Infield-fly-rule will not be enforced.

Scoring:

• Each inning will flip after 5 runs are scored or 3 outs are made.
• A maximum of 10 runs can be scored per team in the last inning of regulation play.

Base Running:

• Stealing is not allowed. The penalty for stealing will result in the runner being out.
• Leading-off is not allowed. The runner may take a “secondary” lead after the ball crosses the plate but is not allowed to steal or advance to the next base unless the ball is put in play or the batter is walked. Leading off or stealing will result in the runner being out.
• The look-back rule is not in play and will not be enforced.