[Baseball]

{Tournament Rules}

9U-18U Rules(below)

 

9U-18U Tournament Rules
(excludes 9A/10A)

USSSA rules will be used with the following exceptions (these exceptions do not apply to 8U/9A/10A):

1. Home team will be the official scorekeeper in all tournament games.
2. Pre-game conference and coin flip between managers and umpires will take place 5 minutes prior to the start of the game.
  a. For Pool Play games, Home/Visitor will be determined by the coin flip.
  b. For Bracket games, the team with the highest seed has their choice.
  c. Dugout assignments are not based on home/visitor or seed.
3. Game balls will be provided by Midwest Sports Productions.
4. No infield practice before the games. Teams may warm up on grass or in foul territory while infield is being prepared. No live batting practice is allowed on the field or in the complex at any time. Batting nets are allowed.
5. Game length is determined by age group:  9U-12U play 6 innings; 13U-18U play 7 innings.
6. Time limit for all games ages 9U-14U is 1 hour and 45 minutes; time limit for games ages 15U-18U is 2 hours. Time begins after the 1st warm-up pitch. Time limit could change in case of tournament interruptions. All teams should be prepared to start their game up to 10 minutes early in case we are ahead of schedule (this will help the tournament keep on time).
7. Run spreads for all games:  12 runs after 3 innings; 10 runs after 4 innings; 8 runs after 5 innings.
8. Team manager may consult with the umpires; players, sponsors and other coaches are to refrain from discussions.
9. No smoking or tobacco use on the field or in the dugouts.
10. Pitching limitations will not be enforced with the exception that a pitcher cannot make a reappearance in the pitching position in a game in which he has already held the pitching position.
11.
    Team will be allowed to begin a game with 8 players.  Teams that begin the game with 8 players will NOT be required to take an automatic out.
12. Roster Batting will be allowed during the ENTIRE tournament.  Regardless of the number of players you have, you will need to announce your line-up format at the pre-game conference with the officials.  Due to MSP allowing roster batting, there are some additional rules that need to be clarified:
  a. Injury:  If a batter cannot fulfill his time at bat due to injury or illness, that player will be eliminated from that entire game. His spot will be skipped in the batting order.  Teams will not be required to take an automatic out UNTIL they drop below 9 players.
  b. Ejections:  A player ejection while roster batting will result in the team losing that player for the entire game.  His spot in the batting order WILL be an automatic out. 
13. Courtesy runner will be allowed for pitcher and catcher at any time.  The courtesy runner will be designated by the following rules:
  a. Rulebook batting line-up:  If a team has a “live” substitution(s) available, per rulebook that player(s) is required to be used as the courtesy runner.  If an additional courtesy runner is used in that inning, the last batter-out will be used.  If necessary, you will roll back in the line-up to an available player.
  b. Roster batting line-up:  The last batter not on base.
14. Winner of pool play will be determined by won-loss record. If tied the following tiebreakers will be used.
  a. Head to Head competition
  b. Runs allowed per game
  c. Runs differential (+/- of 8 runs per game)
  d. Coin Flip
15. In case of a rain-shortened tournament, pool play games can be deemed official after 2 1/2 innings of play for 6 inning scheduled game or 3 1/2 innings of play for a 7 inning scheduled ballgame (with home team winning) or 75 minutes of elapsed game time. This policy will only be used through pool play.

9A/10A Tournament Rules

USSSA rules will be used with the following exceptions:

1. Home team will be the official scorekeeper in all tournament games.
2. Pre-game conference and coin flip between managers and umpires will take place 5 minutes prior to the start of the game.
  a. For Pool Play games, Home/Visitor will be determined by the coin flip
  b. For Bracket games, the team with the highest seed has their choice
  c. Dugout assignments are not based on home/visitor or seed.
3. Game balls will be provided by Midwest Sports Productions.
4. No infield practice before the games. Teams may warm up on grass or in foul territory while infield is being prepared. No live batting practice is allowed on the field or in the complex at any time. Batting nets are allowed.
5. Game length will be 6 innings
6. Time limit for all games is 1 hour and 45 minutes. Time begins after the 1st warm-up pitch. Time limit could change in case of tournament interruptions. All teams should be prepared to start their game up to 10 minutes early in case we are ahead of schedule. (This will help the tournament keep on time)
7. Run spreads for all games:  12 runs after 3 innings; 10 runs after 4 innings; 8 runs after 5 innings.
8. Team manager may consult with the umpires; players, sponsors and other coaches are to keep out of discussions.
9. Pitching limitations will not be enforced with the exception that a pitcher cannot make a reappearance in the pitching position in a game in which he has already held the pitching position.
10. All teams must bat their roster. Free substitution is allowed defensively.
11. Special Playing Rules – 9U Level
  a.

No runner may leave base until the pitcher has released the ball.
  b. No base stealing is permitted.
  c. Runners may advance only on a batted ball, force (as a result of a walk, hits batsman) or players interference.
  d. Batter is automatically out on a dropped third strike.
  e. The infield fly and balk rule will not be enforced.
  f. Base and pitching distances will be 44ft pitching and 65ft bases
12. Special Playing Rules – 10U Level
  a. Runners are not permitted to leave base until the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. If the runner leaves a base too soon, he will be called out and the ball becomes “dead” the instant an infraction is observed.
  b. Stealing home on the pitch is not permitted. All runners may advance at their own risk on a wild pitch or passed ball, and on errant throws from the catcher to the pitcher or other fielder.
  c. After a walk, the batter/runner may not attempt to steal second base until the next pitch.
  d. The infield fly and balk rule will not be enforced.
13. Team will be allowed to begin a game with 8 players.  Teams that begin the game with 8 players will NOT be required to take an automatic out.
14. Roster Batting will be allowed during the ENTIRE tournament.  Regardless of the number of players you have, you will need to announce your line-up format at the pre-game conference with the officials.  Due to MSP allowing roster batting, there are some additional rules that need to be clarified:
  a. Injury:  If a batter cannot fulfill his time at bat due to injury or illness, that player will be eliminated from that entire game. His spot will be skipped in the batting order.  Teams will not be required to take an automatic out UNTIL they drop below 9 players.
  b. Ejections:  A player ejection while roster batting will result in the team losing that player for the entire game.  His spot in the batting order WILL be an automatic out. 
15. Courtesy runner will be allowed for pitcher and catcher at any time.  The courtesy runner will be designated by the following rules:
  a. Rulebook batting line-up:  If a team has a “live” substitution(s) available, per rulebook that player(s) is required to be used as the courtesy runner.  If an additional courtesy runner is used in that inning, the last batter-out will be used.  If necessary, you will roll back in the line-up to an available player.
  b. Roster batting line-up:  The last batter not on base.
16. Winner of pool play will be determined by won-loss record. If tied the following tiebreakers will be used.
  a. Head to Head competition
  b. Runs allowed per game
  c. Runs differential (+/- of 8 runs per game)
  d. Coin Flip
17. In case of a rain-shortened tournament, pool play games can be deemed official after 2 ½ innings of play (with home team winning) or 75 minutes of elapsed game time. This policy will only be used through pool play.
18. No smoking or tobacco use on the field or in the dugouts.

 

8U Machine Pitch Tournament Rules

USSSA rules will be used with the following exceptions:

1. Home team will be the official scorekeeper in all tournament games.
2. Pre-game conference and coin flip between managers and umpires will take place 5 minutes prior to the start of the game.
  a. For Pool Play games, Home/Visitor will be determined by the coin flip
  b. For Bracket games, the team with the highest seed has their choice
  c. Dugout assignments are not based on home/visitor or seed.
3. Game balls will be provided by Midwest Sports Productions.
4. No infield practice before the games. Teams may warm up on grass or in foul territory while infield is being prepared. No live batting practice is allowed on the field or in the complex at any time. Batting nets are allowed.
5. Game length will be 6 innings
6. Time limit for all games is 1 hour and 20 minutes. Time begins after the 1st warm-up pitch. Time limit could change in case of tournament interruptions. All teams should be prepared to start their game up to 10 minutes early in case we are ahead of schedule. (This will help the tournament keep on time)
7. An inning consists of severn runs or 3 outs.
8. Run spreads for all games:  12 runs after 3 innings; 10 runs after 4 innings; 8 runs after 5 innings.
9. Team manager may consult with the umpires; players, sponsors and other coaches are to keep out of discussions.
10. All teams must bat their roster. Free substitution is allowed defensively.
11. Teams are allowed to play with 10 defensive players (4 outfielders) or 9 players (3 outfielders).
12. Special Playing Rules – 8U Level
  a. Each batter will receive a max of six pitches or three swinging strikes.  Pitches that are deemed unhittable by the umpire will not be counted.
  b. No runner may leave base until the ball has been hit.
  c. The infield fly rule will not be enforced.
  d. Base and pitching distances will be 44ft pitching and 60ft bases
  e. The pitching machine will be set at 39 mph.
  f. The play will be considered over when the pitcher returns to the pitching circle with the ball.
13. Team will be allowed to begin a game with 8 players.  Teams that begin the game with 8 players will NOT be required to take an automatic out.
14. Roster Batting will be required during the ENTIRE tournament.  Regardless of the number of players you have, you will need to announce your line-up format at the pre-game conference with the officials.  Due to MSP allowing roster batting, there are some additional rules that need to be clarified:
  a. Injury:  If a batter cannot fulfill his time at bat due to injury or illness, that player will be eliminated from that entire game. His spot will be skipped in the batting order.  Teams will not be required to take an automatic out UNTIL they drop below 9 players.
  b. Ejections:  A player ejection while roster batting will result in the team losing that player for the entire game.  His spot in the batting order WILL be an automatic out. 
15.
    Courtesy runner will be allowed for catcher at any time.   The courtesy runner used will be the last batter not on base.
16. Winner of pool play will be determined by won-loss record. If tied the following tiebreakers will be used.
  a. Head to Head competition
  b. Runs allowed per game
  c. Runs differential (+/- of 8 runs per game)
  d. Coin Flip
17. In case of a rain-shortened tournament, pool play games can be deemed official after 2 ½ innings of play (with home team winning) or 75 minutes of elapsed game time. This policy will only be used through pool play.
18. No smoking or tobacco use on the field or in the dugouts.