NEWSLINE STORY
published November-December 2015
Rules Q & A: Forfeits and Tournament Requirements
by Dan Sanders, 1st Vice President and Bylaws/Rules/Grievance Director
As I receive a fair number of questions about game forfeits, and about tournament requirements, here are several that I’ve received, mostly by email. These answers may be helpful to you and others as you make choices about the tournaments you enter. Tournament directors should also be aware of these rules.
Q: Is it okay to leave the courts during a game for an emergency restroom break, and then return and finish the game? Or is that game forfeited?
A: Yes, this should be considered a legitimate reason for leaving the courts. But, you must let your opponent and/or the scorekeeper know why you have to leave, and should be back in a reasonable period of time.
Q: I recently had to drop out of a game due to a dizzy spell. I know that I forfeited that game, but what about the shoes that I had pitched? Are they still counted in my 'stats' for that tournament?
A: The answer is . . . (see also below) "… this player will receive a loss for that game and any accumulated statistics (shoes, points, ringers) for that game will be deleted from their records."
Q: After my fourth game in an eight-person class, I was just too tired to pitch my next game. If I forfeit that fifth game, am I allowed to return and try to finish my remaining games, or do I have to forfeit all of my remaining games?
After forfeiting (sitting out a game), you are allowed to return and finish any/all of your remaining games, so long as the reason for sitting out is legitimate. If necessary, you can choose to sit out for more than one game. You should also explain this to your next opponent and to the tournament director, who may choose to put in a pacer for that game.
Q: At my age, I no longer have the stamina to complete all games of an eight-person round-robin schedule. What are some things that I can do to ensure that I can more likely complete a tournament and receive NatStats credit for it?
There are a couple of things I can recommend. When you send in your entry, include a note to let the tournament director know that you may not be able to finish all games of an eight-person round-robin, and that you would prefer being placed in a six- or seven-person class. If a seven-man class, ask the tournament director if he/she will adjust your player number so that you have your bye after the third or fourth game. Also, for any game(s) you cannot complete or start, you can forfeit those games and return for the remaining game(s).
Q: I remember that to receive NatStats credit for a tournament, you had to complete at least half of the games for that round-robin schedule; three of five games in a six-person, or four of seven games in an eight-person schedule. Someone said that this is no longer the rule?
The “at least half of the games” requirement is no longer in effect. The current Rule reads: "For singles and doubles events, a contestant must have pitched a minimum of 100 shoes to receive NatStats credit."
Also, please note that this 100-shoe requirement could be met in just a couple of games, depending on the pitching format (i.e. 50-shoe games). However, also remember that if you have to drop out of a game, those shoes pitched cannot count toward the 100-shoe minimum. (RGS – Requirement 2 – Section E – Tournament Credit)
Playing Rule 11, Section G regarding forfeits also says: If, for any reason, a pitcher must forfeit a game prior to its completion, this player will receive a loss for that game and any accumulated statistics (shoes, points, ringers) for that game will be deleted from their records. His/her opponent will receive a win for that game and any accumulated statistics (shoes, points, ringers) will remain in his/her records. A contestant may forfeit any number of games, due to illness, injury, or other legitimate reasons approved by the tournament/league officials, and still be permitted to return to the competition. Any contestant who forfeits such games will finish wherever their win-loss record puts them in the standings.
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