🥎 2026 Hawai’i USSSA/GSL Rules & Guidelines

Applies to Men’s, Women’s, & Mixed E, D & C Divisions

🕒 Game Time Limits

• Qualifiers: 55-minute time limit

• USSSA State, GSL State, Super Regional NIT:
  ➤ 7 innings or 60 minutes, whichever comes first

💣 Home Run Rules

USSSA Events:

• E Division: 1 HR per team → Excess = IEO (Inning Ending Out)

• D Division: 3 HR per team → Excess = IEO

• C Division: 5 HR per team → Excess = DBO (Dead Ball Out)

GSL Events:

• E Division: 1 HR + 1 DHH → Excess = IEO

• D Division: 3 HR + 1 DHH → Excess = IEO

• C Division: 5 HR + 1 DHH → Excess = DBO

🏃‍♂️ Courtesy Runners

• 1 courtesy runner allowed per inning, per team

• 1 courtesy runner allowed per inning, per gender, per team

🥎 Bat & Ball Rules

Bat Rule

• Only 240-stamp bats allowed

• All bats will be tested prior to the start of tournament (20 bats total → first 15 bats to pass)

• ❌ Unstamped bat = player out + ejected

• ❌ Altered bat = player ejected from entire tournament

• Failed bats → players will now have to sign an acknowledgement notice for failed bats.
• Failed bat will be held until team is eliminated.

Ball Rule

• 3 Game Balls provided per team, per tournament

• Approved Balls:

  • Classic M/W (with USSSA/GSL stamp)

  • Pro M/W (with USSSA/GSL stamp)

  • Hard-Core (with USSSA/GSL stamp)

• ❌ NO Onyx balls or anything rated above 44-375

👥 Roster/Game Rules

10-Player Rule

• Teams may start with 9 players
  ➤ Must take an out in the 10th spot
  ➤ 10th player may be added at any time

Game Start

• No grace period — games may start up to 30 mins early

• Lineups must be submitted and teams must be ready 30 mins before game time

• ⚠️ If not ready = FORFEIT

• First game of the day starts on time (not early)

🚫 Disciplinary Rules

• Fighting/Physical Contact = 30-day to 1-year suspension

• All incidents reviewed by:

  • Tournament Director

  • State UIC

  • Umpire involved

  • State Director

🪪 Player Cards Required

• ❌ Any player caught playing without a 2026 USSSA Player Card
  ➤ Will be suspended until card is purchased and activated

📖 Official Rules

• All events follow USSSA/GSL Rules unless specifically modified by Hawai’i State By-Laws

⚖️ Equalizer Runs (When Needed)

🔺 Division Placement for Non-State Events

Men’s Division 

• C/D Division → Uppers

• E Division → Lowers

Mixed and Women’s Division

• Open Division 

Combined Brackets

• If Uppers and Lowers play together:
  ➤ Lower team gets home team + 6 runs (2 per inning for 3 innings)