- Tournament rules will be I.S.F.
- Team Rosters: The Canada Cup will be using an expanded roster of 25 players. This is an elite invitational tournament. We welcome the best female fastpitch players in the world. There is no residency or citizenship rule in effect. No roster changes may be made after the Technical Meeting on Saturday July 12, 2008. Players may play in more than one Canada Cup Tournament (i.e. Women’s & Futures tournament), subject to the age eligibility criteria. Any players playing in more than one Canada Cup Tournament must be registered on both rosters before the commencement of the tournament.
- Designated Player Rule will be used as follows:
- A "Designated Player" referred to as a "DP", may be used for any player, provided that it is made known prior to the start of the game and her name is indicated on the line-up sheet or score sheet as one of the nine hitters in the batting order. The starting "DP" may re-enter one time as long as she goes back into the position in the batting order that she occupied when she left the game.
- The starting player listed as the "DP" must remain in the same position in the batting order for the entire game. The "DP" and her substitute or replacement can never play offense at the same time.
- The "DP" may be substituted for at any time either by a pinch hitter, pinch runner or the defensive player being hit for. If the "DP" is replaced on offense by the person being hit for (No.10 in the batting order) or by a substitute, the "DP" is considered to have left the game and she may re-enter one time as long as she returns to her original position in the batting order.
- Pitching Regulations as per the I.S.F. Official Rule 6.
Rule 6: Sec 1E
Before commencing the delivery (pitch), the pitcher must, after taking the signal, bring his whole body to a full and complete stop with the ball held in both hands in front of the body. This position must be held for not less than two (2) seconds and not more than five (5) seconds before releasing the ball.
- Equipment as per the I.S.F. Official Rule 3.
Rule 3: Section 6A
MASKS. All catchers must wear masks, throat protector and helmet. Catchers (or members of the defensive team) are required to wear a mask, throat protector and helmet while receiving warm-up pitches from the pitching plate, or in the warm-up area.
- ISF Bat Standards will be used.
- The Worth Core 47 Red Dot Ball is the official ball of the Canada Cup and will be used during all tournament games.
- Five-minute infields will be allowed each game, time permitting. The Games Supervisor will notify teams if infields are discontinued.
- Run Ahead Rule: 10 runs ahead after 3 innings or 7 runs ahead after 5 innings constitutes a win.
- All protests will be handled prior to the next pitch. The protest committee shall consist of the Canada Cup Chairman, the Canada Cup Co-Chairman and the Canada Cup UIC or their assignees. All decisions are final.
- The ISF International Tie-Breaker rule will be used in all round robin games, but will not be used in the Championship Round.
Tie-Breaker Rule
Starting in the top of the eight inning and each 1/2 inning, thereafter, the offensive team shall begin its turn at bat, with the player who is scheduled to bat last in their respective half inning being placed on second base. The player who is running can be substituted in accordance to substitution rules.
- Five (5) warm-up pitches to start the game and each time a pitcher is relieved. All other times, only 3 warm-up pitches are permitted. On an injury to the pitcher where they leave the game the new pitcher may throw as many pitches as they wish.
- Uniform Conflicts: In the event of a conflict in colours of uniforms, the team that wins the coin toss will have the option. The games supervisor has the discretion to call for a uniform change if they feel the colours will be too difficult to differentiate for spectators, media or athletes. Both teams must have 2 sets of uniforms at the park for every game.
- Accreditation wristbands will be worn on the glove hand of all players.
