Game preparation

It is customary for contestants to find out their court assignments and warm up on the court for their first game with the proper opponent. The court should be prepared for play during this time. When the tournament official announces the start of play, the contestants shall flip a shoe or coin with the winner having the choice of first or second pitch.
After a game is completed, a contestant shall go to the next assigned court and prepare one pit for play. When the other contestant arrives, the same procedure shall be followed. When both contestants have arrived and prepared the pits, they may pitch four warm up shoes each and then must start their game, using the method in the previous paragraph to decide first pitch. It is legal for a contestant to practice alone if the second contestant is late in arriving.