Tournament Rules & Regulations

Pool Play Games

The home team will be determined by a coin flip. Teams winning the flip will have the option to choose home or visitor.

Bracket Play

• The higher seed will have the option to choose home or visitor for that contest.
• If both teams are the same seed from their respective pool, the home team will be determined by a coin flip. Teams winning the flip will have the option to choose home or visitor.
• For the Championship games in the Top Bracket (Majors Level), ties at the end of regulation will be resolved by continuing play with standard baseball rules until a winner is determined.
• For Championship games in the AAA/AA/A and other secondary brackets, ties at the end of regulation will be resolved using the standard tiebreaker rule, which starts with bases loaded and one out.

For all ages, the following mercy rules apply:

Pool Play Games

• If a pool play or consolation game is tied after regulation innings, the game will be recorded as a tie regardless of whether the time limit has been reached.
• Example: A 12U game tied 2-2 at the end of 6 innings with 15 minutes remaining in the time limit will be deemed complete and recorded as a tie.

Bracket Play / Extra Inning Rules

• For all bracket games where a winner must be determined in order to advance to the next round, the game will be played until a winner is determined.
• Each half-inning (following regulation or the time limit) will start with the bases loaded and 1 out, with the three previous batters in the batting order being placed on 3rd, 2nd, & 1st base respectively.
• Example: If the 5th position in the batting order is due up, the player in the 4th batting position in the lineup is placed on 1B, 3rd batting position is placed on 2B, 2nd batting position is placed on 3B.
• Consolation games with no advancement may end in a tie after regulation.
• The championship game in the top bracket will not have a time limit and will play out in traditional form without the bases-loaded tiebreaker.

Tournament Pitch Limits

Daily Rest Requirements

• No length-to-weight restriction applies in 9U-12U divisions.
• Wood bats are legal.
• Teams are responsible for confirming their bats are legal before use.
• If an illegal bat is used or brought into the batter's box, the batter will be declared out unless the defensive team accepts the result of the play. A later illegal-bat violation may also result in a coach ejection.

Lineup Options

• Teams may choose one of the following lineup options:
  • 9 Players: Standard lineup with substitution rules applied
  • 10 Players: Using an Extra Hitter (EH), which is considered the 10th defensive position
  • Entire Lineup Card: Everyone listed on the lineup card may bat
• A lineup copy must be provided to the umpires at the plate meeting.
• Teams must declare their lineup option before the start of the game.
• If a team bats 10 players or the entire lineup card, all players not currently in the field are Extra Hitters.
• Teams starting with one or more Extra Hitters must finish the game with those Extra Hitter spots. If a player is removed from the lineup and no legal substitute is available, that batting spot becomes an automatic out.
• Teams can use a Designated Hitter (DH) when batting 9 or 10 players. The high school DH rule applies.

Substitution Rules

• Free defensive substitutions: Allowed throughout the game, except for pitchers.
• Batting 9 or 10: High school substitution rules apply. Starters may re-enter one time in their original batting order spot.
• Batting lineup: Players only report as eligible substitutes when replacing another player in the batting order.
• Courtesy runners: Allowed for current pitcher and catcher at any time
  • If not batting everyone listed on the lineup card, use a player not currently in the batting order.
  • The same player cannot run for both the pitcher and catcher.
  • If batting everyone listed on the lineup card, the last batted out must be the courtesy runner.

• Intentional walks may be issued by request to the umpire.
• The high school force-play slide rule is in effect. Players must slide directly into the bag on force plays and may not initiate malicious contact.
• Defensive players must have possession of the ball to block a base or home plate.
• Head-first slides are allowed in all divisions.
• Slash bunting is allowed in all divisions.
• In non-leadoff divisions, a runner who leaves early may be returned to the appropriate base after the play. If that runner is put out, the out stands.
• Dropped third strikes are live balls under official baseball rules.
• No more than four coaches or team personnel are allowed in the dugout or on the field during a game.
• On defense, no more than one coach may be outside the dugout at a time. After one warning, a violation may result in removal from the game.

Electronic Communication Devices

• One-way electronic communication devices are permitted for calling pitches, defensive plays, and offensive play calls.
• The coach using the device must remain in the dugout or bench area.
• Devices may not be used for two-way communication.

Carelessly Thrown or Released Bat

• First offense: team warning.
• Second offense by the same team: batter is out, the ball is dead, and runners return to the last legally occupied base at the time of the pitch.
• Umpires will use judgment to determine whether a bat was released unsafely.

Divisions (and pools within divisions) will be seeded from top to bottom based on pool play record. If ties exist, the following tiebreaker criteria will be used:

1. Head-to-Head record (in the case of a two-way tie or when all tied teams have played each other)
2. Total runs allowed (ranked fewest to most)
3. Run differential (max +/- 8 per game)
4. Total runs scored
5. Fewest runs allowed in a single game
   ie: If a team allowed 3 runs in one game and 5 in the other, the tiebreaker score would be 3
6. Most runs scored in a single game
   ie: If a team scored 3 runs in one game and 5 in the other, the tiebreaker score would be 5
7. Last actual run differential – the ACTUAL run differential in the last completed pool play game
8. Coin flip

Forfeits and No Shows

• Teams unable to attend a scheduled game will take a forfeit.
• Forfeits are scored 7-0.
• Teams that forfeit or no-show games are not eligible for a refund.
• Teams are expected to play all scheduled games and honor their tournament commitment.

Rules Protests

• Protests may be made on rules interpretations only. Judgment calls are not protestable.
• Protests must be made immediately before the next pitch. Once play resumes, the opportunity to protest is lost.
• To initiate a protest, a coach should request time, notify an umpire, and wait for the tournament director to resolve the issue.
• A $100 cash protest fee is required. The fee is refunded only if the protest is successful.

• All players, coaches, and fans must conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner.
• Razzing, heckling, taunting, abusive conduct, and disparaging remarks toward opponents or umpires will not be tolerated.
• Only the coach who attends the plate meeting may discuss game situations with officials on the field.
• Ejection Policy:
  • First player or coach ejection: one-game suspension.
  • Second player or coach ejection: remainder of tournament suspension.
  • Third player or coach ejection: remainder of tournament season suspension.
• Fan or parent ejections may result in removal from the complex for the remainder of the tournament.
• No alcohol is permitted within the complex.
• Field restrictions must be followed, including sunflower seed, turf, and metal cleat rules.