Tournament Rules

Unless noted prior to the event, National Federation High School Rules will be used with the following notations. Tournament director reserves the right to enforce particular invitational tournament rules.(Franchisees may offer rule variations)

 

Age cutoff information for all age divisions: April 30th will be the designated date to determine ages. A player’s eligibility of play is determined by their age on April 30th; with additional grade considerations: All rostered players will have a valid copy of birth certificate, birth certificate are not required to be shown unless requested by tournament director. 

 

 

9u Division – Player turning 10 prior May 1 of current year is NOT ELIGIBLE, unless player is in 3rd Grade

 

10u Division – Player turning 11 prior May 1 of current year is NOT ELIGIBLE, unless player is in 4th Grade

 

11u Division – Player turning 12 prior May 1 of current year is NOT ELIGIBLE, unless player is in 5th Grade

 

12u Division – Player turning 13 prior May 1 of current year is NOT ELIGIBLE, unless player is in 6th Grade

 

13u Division – Player turning 14 prior May 1 of current year is NOT ELIGIBLE, unless player is in 7th Grade

 

14u Division – Player turning 15 prior May 1 of current year is NOT ELIGIBLE, unless player is in 8th Grade

 

 

9U Division

1. No Lead Offs, No Dropped 3rd strike rule will be in effect 

2.  8 runs per half inning: After 8 runs score, teams exchange offense and defense. All runs which score on the play of the 8th run, are recorded. Last inning, due to time or being the 6th inning will still be played even if the trailing team is too far behind to catch up. 8 runs per inning rule will apply in last inning, not unlimited runs. Mercy run rule still applies. 

3. Balk Rules; 1st offense = warning, 2nd offense = balk rule in effect

 

Rosters: May not exceed 20 players during the tournament for 7u-14u.  No players may be added to a roster once the tournament has begun.  Players may not participate on more than 1 team in the same tournament (regardless of age / divisions) All players must have an authorized signature to be eligible.

 

Protest Fee: $100 cash (on rule interpretation only). Protests must be made prior to the next pitch being thrown. Umpire(s) must be informed first of a protest made during the game. The Tournament Director will make the final decision on all protests. Protests will not be allowed on judgment calls.

 

Game Time: Starting time is forfeit time, unless delay is created by tournament director. Game time starts at completion of plate meeting.

 

All Games in Divisions 13u and 14u will be 7 innings or no new inning after 1 hour and 40 minutes. 9u, 10u, 11u and 12u Divisions will be 6 innings or no new inning   after 1 hour and 40 minutes. During pool play only; In the event time has expired and the game is tied, the game will end in a tie. No tie breaker innings will be played. If time is not expired use the International Tie Breaker rule to break the tie

 

Home Team: Determined by coin flip in pool play. Higher seed is awarded the choice of home team in playoffs and championship games. The exceptions to this rule are in the case of a double elimination bracket the undefeated team will always have choice of home or away, regardless of their seed and in a “If” Game, the team that won the "first" Championship Game has choice of home/visitor. Home team is required to keep the official book. If two equal seeds meet then we will use a coin flip. Any seeding disputes will be determined by tournament staff.

 

Player Minimum: A team must start with a minimum of 8  taking outs in the vacant batting order positions. If a ninth player arrives they may be entered in the 9th position and the outs will stop. 7 or fewer players will result in a forfeit. All Forfeits will be scored 8-0 for seeding and tie breaker purposes. 

 

Championship Games: No time limit. No Tiebreaker. Run rule still in effect.

 

Run Rules:

(9U-14U) 15 runs after 3 innings, 12runs after 4 innings, or 9 runs after 5 innings.

All ages have a 20-run rule after 2 complete innings (home team gets last bat, if necessary).

 

Field Dimensions

·       9u – 46’ pitching & 60’ bases

·       10u – 46’ pitching & 65’ bases

·       11u & 12u – 50’ pitching & 70’ bases

·       13u – 54’ pitching & 80’ bases

.       14u – 60′ pitching & 90′ bases

 

 

Pitching Rules

 

1. If a pitcher pitches more than 4 innings in one calendar day, a 36-Hour rest period will apply. (1 pitch delivered in an inning constitutes an inning pitched) 

2. Maximum Innings in One Calendar Day = 7 innings (Note: This is a “per day” rule not a “per game rule”

3. No pitcher may return to pitching position after being removed from pitching position. 

4.  Each team will be responsible for signing game card after the game. It can be signed by the opposing manager, umpire, or the official scorer of the game. This is our only way of tracking pitching.  

5. If a coach has a question about the opposing team’s pitching log, he may bring it to the attention of the tournament field director. A coach may not request the pitching affidavit from the opposing coach. 

6. If the tournament field director determines that the pitcher in question is ineligible to pitch, the pitcher will be removed from the mound at the time of discovery. This is not a retroactive rule – The pitcher will be removed after discovery.

 

Pitching Rules: Innings allowed per tournament.

-9's = 6 innings

-10's = 6 innings

-11's = 6 innings

-12's = 6 innings

-13's = 7 innings

-14's = 7 innings

 

*Each player on the roster gets (1) additional inning per game played starting in a team's 4th game played, 5th=1 more inning, 6th=1 more inning, etc.

 

*No limit on number of appearances.

 

*A mound appearance resulting in any single pitch (warm-up pitch or game pitch) being thrown or a play will be considered an inning pitched.

 

*Eight warm-ups to start, five thereafter.  Umpires reserve the right to limit the warm-up time to a minimum of 1 minute regardless of the number of pitches thrown.

 

*If pitching rules are violated and the infraction is detected, the situation will be reviewed and a MINIMUM of the head coach ejection will be enforced. Additional consequences may include the player ejection from game, player and head coach from the tournament, forfeiture of game and elimination of team from the event.

 

*Scorecards must be signed by both team managers to eliminate inning validation problems. (Managers, please help with this process.)

 

Visits to the mound: As per NFHS rules, each team is allowed three charged visits to the mound within a game. A charged visit is a trip in which the manager or coach does not remove the pitcher. After the three charged visits are used, every trip to the mound will result in the pitcher being removed. A visit is not “charged” when the manager removes the pitcher from the mound. Remember, charged visits are cumulative for the entire game (visits are not tracked “per pitcher”). No restrictions on visits per inning.

 

Infield Warm-Ups: All teams are encouraged to warm-up as much as possible before game time. No pre-game infield.

 

Courtesy Runners: The team at bat may use a courtesy runner for the pitcher and/or catcher of record from the previous inning on defense, any time after they reach base other than by substitution. The same runner may not be used for both positions in the same inning. Neither the pitcher nor the catcher will be required to leave under such circumstances. The courtesy runner must be a substitute player that has not been in the game. However, if you are batting the entire roster or do not have any eligible substitute on the bench, you may use the last batted out for either player. 

If the pitcher or catcher get out prior to an out being recorded in the 1st inning, and there are no substitute players, the courtesy runner shall be the previous batter not on base. In all other innings, the courtesy runner is the last batted out and if no outs have been recorded, it will be the last out from the previous inning.

 

Lineup/Batting order: Teams 14U and younger may bat any number of players and retain subs but must remain at the same total number of batters they started with throughout the game: Example 11 batters and 3 subs must finish with 11 batters. Batters not listed defensively will be extra hitters (EP or EH) and may rotate anywhere on the field like any other starter. If a team finishes the game with less players than they started, the team must take outs in the vacant positions (NO EXCEPTIONS). 

 

Base Running

1. We will enforce an avoid contact or must slide rule at home plate. Malicious contact-runner will be ejected. It is the discretion of the umpire if the runner is trying to avoid contact or a collision. This is a judgment call by Umpire. Not open to discussion or protest – Umpire Judgement. 

2. A must slide rule will be in effect when an infielder is attempting to turn a double-play at any base. If the runner is not close enough to merit a slide, he must peel away from the baseline. The runner will be called out only if by his not sliding or peeling away affects the defensive play. Runner may also be called out or ejected for a malicious slide into any base. This a judgement call by Umpire. Not open to discussion or protest 

 

Baseballs: Estimated two new balls per game and 1 used per game. Umpires reserve the right to refuse baseballs they determine are not suitable. If a dozen baseballs are provided by the Official Ball for the tournament to each team to start the tournament, that is the ball that must be used and you may purchase any additional by the dozen as needed. 

 

No steel spikes: for any divisions 10u age and younger. 13u & older MAY use steel spikes.

**Reminder NO steel spikes allowed on portable mounds**

 

Bat Restrictions: 13u & Younger: All bats -5 or greater must be stamped BPF 1.15 USSSA or USA stamp. Must be a baseball bat – no restriction on weight or length as long as bat has “BPF 1.15 or USA” stamp. All -3 bats must be stamped BBCOR. Wood bats allowed.14u and Older: -3 weight/length ratio only. All -3 bats must be stamped BBCOR.

 

Wood Bat Rule: To be considered a wood bat, a bat must be made of a single piece of wood. All other bats such as bamboo or two-piece must meet the BBCOR standards and have the BBCOR stamp. Bat rules apply to the age division you are playing in (not the age of the player or team). Penalties for illegal bats assessed per the NFHS rule book.

 

Uniforms: Unique numbers mandatory (no repeat numbers), matching uniforms recommended.

 

Adverse Weather: Baseball tournaments will be played in adverse weather conditions. The format may be changed to lesser time limits, fewer innings cancellation of games or seed advancement to complete the tournament. Awards distribution may be based off pool play seeding, in instances where games are played without an elimination finish.  If weather becomes a factor, we may revert back to the first Pool Play game or ½ of the official game time for the playoff seeding. Games of at least 4 innings or 1hr are considered complete, if called for adverse weather. Coaches and players accept these conditions when entering the tournament.  Tournament Philosophy: Score Early, Win Early, Stay Winning. Play to win every game!

 

No Show: Team(s) that no-show will forfeit the entry fee.

 

Refund Policy: There will be administration fee charged for complete rainouts the fee is a percentage of the entry and this amount is available in the team’s confirmed registration for the event; 1 game played = 50% refund; 2 or more games played = no refund.

 

 

Player/Coach Behavior: A player or coach that is exhibits unsporting behavior and is ejected from a game will at a minimum be required to leave the immediate playing field and exit to the closest parking lot.  The situation will be reviewed and any additional consequences may include the player/coach ejection from additional games, or player/coach ejection from the tournament. 

 

One-Way Communication: One-way electronic communication devices are allowed to be used by every player in the field; both on defense and offense.  The use of a smartwatch (ex: iOS or Android) is illegal and subject to the penalty listed below. 

 

PENALTY: The umpire shall issue a team warning to the coach of the team involved and the next offender(s) of that team will be ejected along with the head coach.

 

Fan/Spectator Behavior: A fan/spectator that is exhibits unsporting behavior and is removed from a game will at a minimum be required to leave the immediate playing field and exit to the closest parking lot.  The situation will be reviewed and any additional consequences may include the fan/spectator non-admittance for additional games, or the remainder of tournament.

 

Any excessive unsportsmanlike conduct by players, coaches, or fans may result in removal from game, possible forfeiture of game plus possible ban from future tournaments. 

 

Decisions: Tournament Director shall have final decision on all tournament questions.