Rules
Bases: 60′
Pitchers Plate: 40′
Pitchers Circle: 16' diameter circle with an 8' radius
- Games will be 6 innings in length (unless shortened by time limit).
- 15 players per roster maximum. Players may only be rostered on one tournament team.
- Copies of birth certificates must be presented at check-in and must be available during the course of the tournament.
- Everyone will play at least 5 games (weather permitting).
- Each team will provide 1 game ball for each game. A tournament coordinator will provide game balls for every team at the start of tournament.
- Individual awards for 1st and 2nd place winners. All participants will receive tournament bag tag.
- The diamond shall not be used by either team prior to the start of the game. All warmups should be in the outfield grass or outside of the foul lines within the infield.
- Coach must pitch from inside pitcher’s circle (any part of body) and leave immediately after ball is hit.
- Coaches pitch 5 pitches. If the ball is not put in fair territory, the player is out. If the player swings and misses three times then the player is out. Foul balls would be recorded as strikes like normal baseball except on strike three. Batter can not be called out on foul balls prior to the 5th pitch. If the batter fouls on the 5th and final pitch, the batter will be out.
- The coach that is pitching is considered fair territory and the ball must be played if the ball strikes the coach.
- Play is dead when the ball is in a player’s possession (and held) inside the pitcher’s circle. Base runners will be awarded the next base if they are more than 2/3 (40ft) of the way when play is called dead (umpires judgment).
- The infield fly rule is not in effect.
- The maximum allowed runs per inning is 6 except for the final inning. Teams are not limited in the final inning. The final inning may be called early by the umpire due to time constraints.
- Slaughter rule is 15 runs after 4 innings (3½ if home team is winning) and 10 runs after 5 innings (4½ if home team is winning).
- Lead-offs are not allowed. Base runners must wait until the ball is hit. Runners who are caught leaving early will be called out. Warnings will not be issued.
- Home team (or team listed second) occupies 3rd base dugout. Visitor (or team listed first) occupies 1st base dugout.
- Must start game with at least 9 players and end with at least 9 players. Failure to do so will result in a forfeit.
- All managers must submit their lineup to the opposing manager before the game starts.
- Players in uniform may not sit more than 2 consecutive innings.
- A continuous batting order will be used and free defensive substitution is allowed.
- Players must slide to avoid contact or may be called out (umpires judgement).
- Any player that leaves before the end of the game will be an out; injured players will be skipped in the lineup. If a player is skipped in the batting order, then he may not return.
- Players may not wear any type of jewelry including watches, rings, pins, earrings, etc. Necklaces/chains are approved as long as they are hidden inside the jersey.
- Players arriving late to the game may be added to the end of the batting order but must be there before the end of the lineup has batted or they cannot play.
- There will be a time limit of 90 seconds between half innings.
- Courtesy runners are optional at any time for the catcher only. The courtesy runner shall be the last batted out. The catcher for this rule is the catcher of the previous inning. If this situation arises in the first inning and no outs have been recorded, the catcher shall remain on the bases until an out is recorded.
- All bats are legal (bring it and swing it). Preferred bats should be stamped with USA or USSSA. Wood bats are also allowed.
- Teams will be given one (1) team warning for any batter throwing their bat. Any time after, the batter will be determined out, the play is dead, and any runners will return to their occupied base.
- Games must go a minimum of 4 innings (3½ if home team is winning) to be considered as have reached regulation.
- All games have a time limit (except Championship) … a new inning cannot be started after 1 hour 45 minutes. Games may end in a tie during pool play (if played to regulation) but must be played to completion during bracket play.
- Expiration of the time limit shall be ruled upon at the moment the final out in a half inning is recorded.
- An inning may be finished, but a new inning cannot be started after the time limit expires. If the home team is ahead when the time limit is reached, the game is over (a) immediately after the top half of the inning is finished or (b) at the moment the time limit is reached and the home team is ahead in the bottom half of the inning.
- Games may start up to 30 minutes early. Please have your team ready to play 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.
- The “California Rule” is in effect for tie games after regulation or if the time limit has been reached during bracket play. The last out from the previous inning (last batter) starts on 2nd base with 1 out. All batters will start with a 1-1 count. When the California rule is in effect, the catcher may not be pulled from base to prepare for the next inning.
- Ground rules will be discussed by umpire(s) and coaches prior to the game.
- There will be a 10 minute grace period after the scheduled start time for teams who do not have 9 players at game time. The game will be declared a forfeit after this grace period.
- Games decided by forfeit will be recorded as 6-0.
- Intentional walks are allowed by the defensive team. The plate umpire must be notified and no pitches are required.
- There is a maximum of four coaches allowed in the dugout including the scorekeeper.
- If any discrepancies occur during a game, a tournament coordinator will decide the outcome before play resumes. This is only for rules, not umpire calls.
- Scorekeepers must verify score after each inning.
- Lightning Rule: When thunder is heard or a cloud-to-ground lightning bolt is seen, play shall be suspended for at least 20 minutes. Any subsequent thunder or lightning after the beginning of the 20 minute count shall reset the clock and another 20 minute count shall begin.
TIE BREAKERS
– Head to Head (if only two teams)
– Total runs allowed
– Total runs scored
– Coin Flip