Ark Complex – General Rules 2024

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, physical abuse towards players, coaches, fans,  umpires, or park officials. 

• No vandalism/trespassing on property. Any player/team involved 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.) 

• 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 Ark Complex.  

• Dugouts - teams are responsible for their own hydration & cleaning up – only teams allowed in  dugouts.  

• Coolers/Bags/Carts – SUBJECT to inspection - visitors are allowed small personal size coolers – No  alcohol.  

• Tents – Only permitted around outfield fences and foul lines beyond the dugouts. We reserve 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 out 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 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-Fastpitch Exception Rules

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

precedent.

AGE REQUIREMENTS

GIRLS 8 & UNDER CANNOT TURN 9 BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2024

GIRLS 10 & UNDER CANNOT TURN 11 BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2024

GIRLS 12 & UNDER CANNOT TURN 13 BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2024

GIRLS 14 & UNDER CANNOT TURN 15 BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2024

GIRLS 16 & UNDER CANNOT TURN 17 BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2024

HS DIVISION CANNOT TURN 19 BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2024

AGE GROUPS, BASE PATH, &; PITCHING DISTANCE

GIRLS 8 & UNDER 60 FEET BASE, 35 FEET PITCHING PLAY 6 INNINGS

GIRLS 10 & UNDER 60 FEET BASE, 35 FEET PITCHING PLAY 6 INNINGS

GIRLS 12 & UNDER 60 FEET BASE, 40 FEET PITCHING PLAY 7 INNINGS

GIRLS 14 & UNDER 60 FEET BASE, 43 FEET PITCHING PLAY 7 INNINGS

GIRLS 16 & UNDER 60 FEET BASE, 43 FEET PITCHING PLAY 7 INNINGS

GIRLS 18 & UNDER 60 FEET BASE, 43 FEET PITCHING PLAY 7 INNINGS

BAT & BALL

USE THE HIGH SCHOOL FEDERATION RULE ON BATS AND BALLS 8 & 10 UNDER

USE AN 11” BALL 12U &; UP USE A 12” BALL

RUNNERS FOR THE PITCHER AND CATCHER

EACH TEAM MAY USE A RUNNER FOR THE PITCHER OR CATCHER IF SO

DESIRED. THE 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 PUT IN TO RUN AND IS CAUGHT PRIOR

Ark Complex-Fastpitch Exception Rules

TO THE NEXT PITCH BEING THROWN THEN THE SUBSTITUE WOULD BE CALLED

OUT. PITCHER AND CATCHER MAY NOT RUN FOR EACH OTHER.

COIN FLIPPING / HIGHER SEEDS

UMPIRES WILL FLIP AT HOME PLATE PRIOR TO START OF EACH POOL GAME TO

DETERMINE HOME AND VISITOR. ALL BRACKET GAMESTHE TEAM WITH THE

HIGHER SEED WILL HAVE THE CHOICE OF HOME OR VISITOR. EXCEPTION:

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME--IF THERE IS AN UNDEFEATED TEAM IN THE

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME THAT TEAM WILL HAVE CHOICE OF HOME OR VISITOR

REGARDLESS OF SEEDING.

RUN RULE

THE ARK COMPLEX WILL USE THE 15, 12, AND 8 RUN RULE IN ALL

TOURNAMENT PLAY.

INTENTIONAL WALK

PITCHER DOES NOT HAVE TO PITCH TO THE BATTER. BATTER CAN BE PUT ON

1ST 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. IF ALL ROSTERED PLAYERS BAT,

THERE WILL BE NO SUBS AND AN INJURY OR SICKNESS IS AN OUT WHEN THAT

POSITION COMES UP TO BAT. TEAMS WILL RECEIVE ONLY 1 OUT FOR THE SICK

OR INJURED PLAYER, HOWEVER THE INJURED OR SICK PLAYER MAY NOT

RETURN TO THE GAME. 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

Ark Complex-Fastpitch Exception Rules

ELIGIBLE SUBS ARE AVAILABLE, THAT POSITION WILL BE AN OUT EACH TIME AT

BAT. DH RULE: TOP GUN WILL ALLOW THE DH RULE. IF A TEAM ELECTS TO USE

A DH, ONLY 9 PLAYERS MAY BAT. TEAMS MAY CHOOSE THEIR OWN WAY TO

PLAY REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE OTHER TEAM DECIDES TO DO. EJECTIONS:

IN CASE OF AN EJECTION AND NO ELIGIBLE SUBS ARE AVAILABLE THAT

POSITION WILL BE OUT AT EACH AT BAT. HIGH SCHOOL FEDERATION-DH RULE:

TOP GUN WILL ALLOW THE DH RULE. TEAMS THAT CHOOSE TO USE A DH,

THEY MUST FOLLOW NFHS RULE, AND ONLY BAT 9 PLAYERS.

TRIPS TO THE MOUND

TEAMS GET 3 TRIPS PER GAME. TEAMS WILL NOT BE CHARGED WITH A TRIP IF

THE PITCHER IS REMOVED.

INTERNATIONAL TIE BREAKER RULE

TO START EACH EXTRA INNING OF A TIED BALL GAME, THE FOLLOWING

PROCEDURE MAY BE USED, WITH ALL OTHER GAME RULES APPLYING.

1. TO START THE EXTRA INNING THE VISITING TEAM WILL PLACE THE LAST

OUT RECORDED DURING THE PREVIOUS INNING, AS A RUNNER AT 2ND BASE.

2. TO COMPLETE THE EXTRA INNING THE HOME TEAM WILL PLACE THE LAST

OUT RECORDED DURING THE PREVIOUS INNINGAS A RUNNER AT 2ND BASE.

3. PLAY EACH EXTRA INNING UNTIL THREE OUTS ARE RECORDED.

4. CONTINUE WITH THIS PROCEDURE UNTIL A WINNER IS DECIDED.

MOUTH PIECES

THE ARK COMPLEX REQUIRES ALL ATHLETES IN AGES 8,10,12 & 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 PLAYER DOES NOT ACT ON WARNING

IMMEDIATELY, IT WILL RESULT TO THE PLAYER BEING EJECTED FROM GAME.

OPEN ROSTERS

Ark Complex-Fastpitch Exception Rules

ALL ROSTERS ARE NOW OPEN. THERE IS NO LONGER A PLAYER PICK-UP

RULE. THE TEAM MAY PICK-UP PLAYERS TO FILL THEIR ROSTER AT ANY TIME,

PROVIDED THAT THE PLAYER THEY PICK UP IS NOT ON A ROSTER OF A TEAM

THAT IS SCHEDULED TO PLAY IN  ARK COMPLEX EVENT THE SAME WEEKEND.

ALL ROSTERS ARE NOW OPEN. THERE IS NO PLAYER PICK-UP RULE. 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. ANYTIME THE HOME TEAM GOES AHEAD AFTER THE

1 HOUR TIME LIMIT HAS EXPIRED BALL GAME IS OVER.

BRACKET GAMES:8U

TIME LIMIT WILL BE 1 HOUR FINISH THE INNING AND MUST HAVE A WINNER. NO

TIES. ONCE TIME LIMIT EXPIRES AND INNING IS COMPLETED IF TEAMS ARE

TIED THEN YOU WOULD USE THE INTERNATIONAL TIE BREAKER UNTIL A

WINNER IS DETERMINED.

BRACKET GAMES: 10U THROUGH HS

TIME LIMIT WILL BE 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES FINISH THE INNING AND MUST HAVE A

WINNER. NO TIES. ONCE TIME LIMIT EXPIRES AND INNING IS COMPLETED IF

TEAMS ARE TIED THEN YOUWOULD USE THE INTERNATIONAL TIE BREAKER

UNTIL A WINNER IS DETERMINED.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES: 8U TIME LIMIT IS 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES. 10U THROUGH

HS IS 1 HOUR 30 MINUTES.

OFFICIAL GAME STATUS

IF RAIN OCCURS AFTER OFFICIAL GAME STATUS HAS BEEN REACHED, AND

THE GAMES CAN NOT BE CONTINUED DUE TO RAIN AND FIELD CONDITIONS,

THAT GAME WILL BE CALLED, AND BECOME A COMPLETE OFFICIAL GAME. THE

TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS WILL MAKE THAT DECISION ONLY. OFFICIAL GAME

STATUS IS 2.5 COMPLETE INNINGS OF A BALLGAME.