Southern Showcase Sports

Beta Testing — Limited Use

VIDEO REPLAY
CHALLENGE RULES

Southern Showcase Sports is testing video replay technology at select tournaments to help correct clear umpire-call errors. These rules govern how challenges work, what plays can be reviewed, and how rulings are made.

Beta Status — Rules May Change

This is a beta test.

Video replay is a limited-use tool and may be modified, suspended, or removed at any time by the tournament director. If equipment, camera angle, internet, power, or staffing problems prevent a fair review, the on-field call will stand. Replay is not automatically available at every field, every game, or every age group — it applies only when a tournament specifically announces that video replay is available.

At a Glance

COACHES MEETING QUICK REFERENCE

1 Challenge Per Game

A successful challenge is retained. An unsuccessful challenge is lost. No team may have more than 2 total challenges in one game.

Challenge Immediately

Must be made before the next pitch, before infielders leave fair territory to end an inning, or before umpires leave the field.

Clear Evidence Required

The call is overturned only when video clearly shows the umpire was wrong. Inconclusive video means the call stands.

Head Coach Only

Only the head coach may request a challenge. Assistant coaches, players, parents, and fans may not request or argue for a challenge.

Who May Challenge

  • Only the head coach may request a replay challenge.
  • Assistant coaches, players, parents, and fans may not request or argue for a challenge directly with the umpire crew.
  • A head coach must be in the dugout or coaching area at the time of the play to request a challenge.

Number of Challenges

  • Each team receives 1 challenge per game.
  • If the challenge is successful and the call is overturned, that team keeps its challenge.
  • If the challenge is unsuccessful, the team loses its challenge.
  • No team may have more than 2 total challenges in one game, even if both are successful.
  • Championship games may be assigned an additional replay review at tournament director discretion.

Time Limit to Challenge

  • A challenge must be made immediately after the play.
  • The head coach must clearly say, "We want to challenge the call," to the plate umpire or crew chief.
  • The challenge must be made before the next pitch, before all infielders have clearly left fair territory to end an inning, or before umpires leave the field at the end of a game.
  • Once play resumes, the previous play may not be challenged.

Reviewable Plays

  • Safe/out calls on force plays and tag plays at any base.
  • Fair/foul calls on batted balls beyond the infield.
  • Catch/no-catch decisions on fly balls outside the infield.
  • Whether a ball left the playing field for a home run, ground-rule double, or dead-ball award.
  • Hit-by-pitch versus foul ball, when the video clearly shows the contact.
  • Missed base appeals, if the appeal is properly made on the field first.
  • Runner leaving a base early in softball, only if the tournament announces that this category is active for that event.

Non-Reviewable Plays

  • Balls and strikes.
  • Check swings.
  • Ordinary obstruction or interference judgment unless the question is only whether contact occurred on a clearly visible play.
  • Infield fly decisions.
  • Intent, unsportsmanlike conduct, ejections, or disciplinary rulings.
  • Lineup issues, batting order, substitutions, courtesy runners, or other administrative matters.
  • Timing-based decisions that cannot be clearly resolved on available video.
  • Any play with no usable video angle.

Video Source Rules

  • The tournament may use livestream cameras, fixed cameras, approved field cameras, or an official event device.
  • Personal cell phone video from coaches, parents, or spectators may be used only if the tournament director has announced that spectator video is allowed for that event.
  • No one may enter the field or delay the game to gather video.
  • Video must be immediately available. If the video cannot be shown quickly, the challenge ends and the call stands.

Review Standard

  • The call on the field will be overturned only when there is clear and obvious video evidence that the original call was wrong.
  • If the video is incomplete, blocked, blurry, too distant, or inconclusive, the call stands.
  • Replay is used to correct obvious errors, not to re-umpire every close play.

Review Process

  1. 1The head coach requests the challenge within the time limit.
  2. 2The plate umpire or crew chief confirms whether the play is reviewable.
  3. 3If the play is reviewable, the game is paused and the umpire crew and designated replay official review the video.
  4. 4Game time is stopped during the replay review process.
  5. 5Review time should normally last no more than 2 minutes.
  6. 6After review, the crew chief announces one of three rulings (see rulings panel).
  7. 7Play resumes immediately after the ruling, with any runner placement or game adjustment required by the final ruling.

Coach & Fan Conduct

  • Coaches may request a challenge, but they may not surround, intimidate, or continue arguing with umpires during or after review.
  • Parents and fans may not participate in the replay process.
  • Any abusive behavior, profanity, or refusal to follow directions may lead to restriction, ejection, or removal from the facility.
  • Misuse of replay to delay the game may result in a warning and loss of challenge rights for the remainder of the game.

Equipment Failure & Special Cases

  • If the replay system fails during a game, replay may be suspended for the rest of that game or the rest of the event.
  • If the end of a game involves a reviewable play and replay is available, the umpire crew may initiate a review on its own.
  • Tournament directors may issue event-specific replay instructions for a particular venue, age group, or streamed field.

Possible Rulings

Confirmed

The video clearly supports the original call. The call stands as made.

Stands

The video is inconclusive. The original call remains in effect.

Overturned

The video clearly shows the original call was incorrect. The call is reversed.

Replay Officials

  • Replay may be handled by the umpire crew, a designated site director, or a designated replay official assigned by the tournament.
  • The tournament director may assist with the logistics of the review but should not overrule judgment unless serving as the designated replay official.
  • The final replay decision is not protestable.

Runner Placement

  • If a call is overturned, the umpire crew will place runners where they believe they would have ended up if the correct call had been made.
  • Runner placement after an overturned call is final.
  • The umpire crew may consult briefly before announcing placements.

Practical Notes

  • Replay should be used only on meaningful, close plays.
  • Tournament staff should favor pace of play and common sense.
  • Coaches should understand that "close" does not automatically mean "overturned."
  • A short, consistent replay process is better than a long and complicated one.

Team Membership

GUARANTEED REPLAY ACCESS

SSS Team Members are guaranteed video replay access on every game at equipped events — no waiting, no uncertainty. Membership starts at $400/year per team.

LEARN MORE

QUESTIONS ABOUT VIDEO REPLAY?

We're still in the testing phase and we appreciate your patience. Reach out if you have questions about how replay will work at a specific event.

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