Page 192 - 2019-20 NJCAA Handbook - May, 2020

Section 6. Rules and Procedures
A. All postseason tournament play shall follow the NCAA Rules with the following exceptions:
1. The halted game rule will be in effect for all national tournament play.
2. The international tie-breaker will not be used in national tournament play.
3. The eight-run rule will not be in effect for the national championship game.
B. The tournament shall be conducted as a double elimination Softball Tournament.
C. All Region/District Hosts will use and be furnished the official tournament ball in all postseason play with the exception of regions
within a district, which will receive balls only for a District Tournament.
D. The official tournament ball is the Dudley Thunder Heat 4N-143.47 compression ball.
E. Home team will be the higher seeded team in the first round. The home team for all other rounds will be determined by a flip of the
coin 30 minutes prior to the game. The home team will occupy the third base dugout.
F. Weather/Suspended Game(s): When a game is underway and it starts to rain/snow, only the umpire can suspend the game.
Suspended games are continued from the point of when the play was suspended. The official scorebook should have the point of
suspension, outs, etc. recorded.
The official NCAA Rules will be followed regarding weather conditions and suspended play.
G. In the event of unavoidable delays due to either weather or unforeseen causes, the Tournament Director and the NJCAA
Representative reserves the right to re-schedule game times or make other arrangements as necessary as long as there is no
extension to the length of the tournament dates.
Section 7. Officials
The NJCAA Committee on Softball recommends that the Tournament Host secure qualified college rated officials.
Section 8. Awards
A. Awards shall be given to the first and second place teams.
B. Each individual player on the first-place team shall receive an NJCAA gold medal. There shall be 30 medals.
C. Each individual player on the second-place team shall receive an NJCAA silver medal. There shall be 30 medals.
D. An Outstanding Coach Award shall be presented.
E. A Most Valuable Player Award shall be presented.
F. Selection of a Softball All-Tournament Team of 12 players (4 battery, 4 infielders, 3 outfielders and 1 DP) shall be
made and presented medals.
Section 9. Finances
A. All tournament expenses shall be paid by the Tournament Host.
B. Each college shall pay its own expenses.
Section 10. National Poll Procedure
A. In order for teams to be considered for weekly national rankings, all scores from the previous week must be entered into the NJCAA
PrestoSports Stats System by 11:59 PM ET on Sunday of each week.
a. All statistics from the previous week must be entered into the NJCAA PrestoSports Stats System by 2:00 PM ET on Monday
of each week.
B. The preseason rankings will be conducted at the discretion of the NJCAA Division III Softball Committee. Poll will be released the third
Tuesday of January. The first regular season poll will be voted on the second Monday in February. The last poll will be voted on during
the second Monday in May.
C. The NJCAA Division III Softball Poll will be released Monday of each week unless the Monday is a national holiday where the poll will
be released on Tuesday.
D. Each team’s performance from the previous week will be compiled in a report through the NJCAA PrestoSports Stats System and
disseminated to the NJCAA Division III Softball Committee to be voted on individually by each voter.
a. The voters will consist of the five members of the NJCAA Division III Softball Committee.
b. A first-place vote receives 10 points and 10th-place vote receives 1 point.
E. Poll voting criteria:
a. Overall record
b. Record since last poll
c. Last 10 games
d. Record vs. District opponents
e. Record vs. DI, DII, DIII opponents
F. The poll voters will submit their top-10 rankings to the NJCAA National Office online system by 1:00 PM ET on Mondays, unless the
Monday prior is a national holiday where votes will be due on Tuesday. The National Office will compile the votes for each team and
release the final rankings Monday afternoon.
G. Poll Dates: Jan. 21^, April 6, 13, 20, 27, May 4, 11
^Preseason poll