See official rule book for a complete list of playoff rules. Game rules are as follows.
1) All fees are to be split evenly by both teams. (Umpires and or Scorekeepers)
Updated to match the rule book (5/28/26)
2) Home Team - The Home team will be the highest ranked seed for all playoff games in both the "Winners Bracket" and the "Loser's Bracket." The home team shall occupy the third-base dugout. The better seed is always the home team in both the winner and loser bracket. In the championship game, the team from the winner's bracket is the home team when playing the loser bracket winner. If there is an if necessary game, a coin flip will determine the home team.
3) Except for the following, all rules are the same during the playoffs as they were for the regular season. All Games must be completed at the time it is scheduled. No ties.
4) Any and all protest must be filed at the time of the violation, before the next pitch. All protest must be handled at the time of the game with the parties involved, plus any board member/DOD who are on site.
Time Limit: No new inning after 1 Hour 45 Minutes, unless the game is tied, then play until there is a winner. Complete the inning. There is no reverting back. The Championship game must play 6 innings for lower & 7 innings for upper divisions. Mercy rules apply. a) A complete game means: 1) For National Divisions: Must play to complete game status. 3½ innings (if the home team is winning or 4 innings if the visitor is winning).
2) For all other divisions: No minimum number of innings is required. But there must be a winner.
5) Check umpire pay schedule. Championship Games or Series come with "Championship Game Rules", and a different pay schedule for umpires. Use "Finals" column for all Championship games or if your division has a series, you will also use "Finals" column for all games in that series.
**Playoff bracket seedings are determined by the website's standings system.