General Keogh 500 Rule:

We love all and stress our Catholic heritage so be kind, generous, courteous, forgiving, thoughtful and fair.... and still beat the other team!

Warning: Games for Softball, Volleyball and Soccer may start as early as 4 pm on Friday night. In your registration form you will be asked to indicate if your team will be there for 4 pm. We will do our best to try and accommodate starts later on Friday or Saturday morning but cannot guarantee that this will be possible.

Softball

It is classic Keogh 500 softball. You are guaranteed two games. The winner of the first game advances down the winner's side of the bracket. The loser of the first game advances down the consolation side; with the hope they can play at the end for a grand championship (if time allows). In the second-round games only the winner advances. If you lose your second game – on either side of the bracket - you are eliminated.

Rules: Get as much softball in as you can in 55 minutes. Please do not start a new series of innings if it is clear that you cannot finish the bottom inning within the time allotted. Three outs per inning and all general softball rules apply; except as modified below. 

Start Time: Please start games within 10 minutes of the scheduled time to allow us to get all games in on schedule. If a team doesn't show up they forfeit the game; unless in some miraculous way the game can be rescheduled and still keep our overall schedule on time.

Pitching/Hitting: You pitch to your own team. You are permitted four pitches per player; with special indulgences permitted for those under 8. You must rotate your hitters such that a female is at bat at least every third position in the order.

Fielding:  You may have a maximum of 10 players on the field at any given time.  Put them where you want, but we recommend: someone at first, second, shortstop, third, catcher, beside the pitcher, and four outfielders. The pitcher is not allowed to touch a ball hit by their team; if they do the batter is automatically out and runners may not advance.

Volleyball

Again, it is classic Keogh 500 volleyball: two matches guaranteed. The winner of the first match advances down the winner's side of the bracket. The loser of the first match advances down the consolation side; with the hope they can play at the end for a grand championship (if time allows). In the second round matches only the winner advances. If you lose your second match – on either side of the bracket you are eliminated.

Rules: Best two out of three games win the match. Games are to 25 with scoring done Olympics style (one point for every miss – regardless of who is serving). All games must be won by 2 points. Service changes based on whichever team wins the point. A serve that hits the net but lands in play is a good serve.

Time: Please start games within 10 minutes of the scheduled time to allow us to get all games in on schedule. If a team doesn't show up they forfeit the game; unless in some miraculous way the game can be rescheduled and still keep our overall schedule on time.

If you have not completed the second game within the 55 minutes allotted, then the winner of the first game shall be the winner of the match. If you have not completed the third game within the time allotted, then the winner of the third game shall be the team that is ahead by two points at the end of the 55 minutes of match play. 

Players:  You may have a maximum of 6 players on the court. You must have at least two female players on the court at all times. You must rotate one position and substitute in one new player as you are awarded the serve.  No Liberos are permitted. If you don't know what a libero is then google it.

Soccer

Soccer was new in two reunions ago and a roaring success!  It is sudden death play: if you win you continue; if you loose then you are out!

Rules:  The team with the highest score at the end of 55 minutes of play wins. All regular soccer rules apply.

Time: Please start games within 10 minutes of the scheduled time to allow us to get all games in on schedule. If a team doesn't show up they forfeit the game; unless in some miraculous way the game can be rescheduled and still keep our overall schedule on time.

If the game is tied at the 55 minute mark then you will have penalty kicks to determine the winner. Flip a coin to see who goes first. The team that wins the toss can choose to shoot first or second. The goalie must keep his feet on the goal line until the attacker kicks the ball. all your family members present at the field (including Grandmas and Grandpas) before you can have any player repeat as a penalty kicker.

Players: There are more liberal rules. You can have up to 8 adult players on the field at any time (not including the goalie) – with a maximum of only 5 male adult players at any one time. You can have up to 10 children 12 and under on the field at any time.

Horseshoes

The structure of the tournament will depend on how many sign up. We hope to be able to play double elimination.

Rules: The first team to 21 points advances. If you have time to get in more than one game then the winner of the best 2 out of 3 games advances. If you get only partially way through the third game before the allotted time expires then the person ahead by 2 points at the end of the allotted time advances.

The game begins with a horseshoe toss to decide who goes first. The winner of the toss throws both horseshoes—one at a time—at the opposite stake, and then the second player throws both of their horseshoes—again, one at a time—at their end. After scoring, the team that won points in that end goes first.

Scoring: Only one pitcher per end can score points. The team with the horseshoe closest to the pole scores a point for every horseshoe that is closer to the pole than the opposing teams' shoes. If both horse shoes are closer to the pole than the opposing team's shoes than you score two points. If one horse shoe is closer to the pole, but the second shoe is further away than an opponent's horse shoe than you score only one point.

Leaners count for two points. Ringers count for three points.

Leaners scored by both opposing teams negate each other and leave no score for those shoes. Ringers scored by both opposing teams negate each other and leave no score for those shoes.  In either instance you then look to the next shoe to see which team scores.