Midwest Sports Productions
2010 9A/10A Baseball 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. In the event that both teams are the same pool seed, a coin-flip will determine which team 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 be required to take an automatic out when that spot in the line-up comes to bat.
14.	Roster Batting will be required during the ENTIRE tournament. Due to MSP requiring roster batting, there are some additional rules that need to be clarified:
	a.	Injury: Batter: 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. Runner: If a runner cannot continue his time on the bases, that player will be substituted under the Courtesy Runner rule for Roster Batting. He will not be allowed to participate in the remainder of the game. The line-up will compress when his spot comes to bat.
	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 as the last batter not on base. If the last batter not on base is unavailable (i.e. he is the catcher or pitcher), the designated runner will roll back until such time as a possible sub can be found.
16.	Winner of pool play will be determined by won-loss record. If tied the following tiebreakers will be used.
	i. If three or more teams are tied with the same record in a division, head-to-head may or may not be used to break ties. ii. Once a level of tie-breaker is used, we DO NOT revert back to any steps of the tie-breaking procedure. We will continue on down the list until all ties are broken.
	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.