Rules

 

  Unless noted prior to the event, National Federation High School Rules will be used as the basis for our play, with the following notations overriding or supplementing those basic baseball rules.

   

  Eligibility 1) Age Requirement: May 1st, of 2024 will be the designated date to determine age groups. We will honor the Canadian age cut of Jan 1st, 2024 for Canadian teams at AA & below. On September 1st, 2024, we will rollover to 2025 age    

 

  Standings, Seeding Determinations, Tie-breakers.

   Standings will be posted at most sites, and updated via the web-page and email in the evening. Because scores matter, we ask that scores are reported along with victories, ties, and losses. Seeding is also determined by our tie-breaker rules. Tiebreaker rules Overall record, Head-to-head,  runs allowed, run differential.  

 

Innings & Time Limits. 

    For the 8U – 12U Divisions, games will consist of six (6) innings with a 1 hour and 45 minute time limit. For the 13U- 18U Divisions, games will consist of seven (7) innings with a 1 hour and 45 minute time limit. No new inning shall start after the designated time limit. An extra inning may be played IF there is additional time but ties are allowed in pool play. In seeded play or playoffs, the following TIE BREAKER rule will be enforced in extra innings: the player that made the last out the previous inning will return to second base, the inning will start with one (1) out and play will resume with the next player in the line-up batting. Complete innings will be played until a winner is determined. ONLY the Championship game will be played in full without a time limit. In the event that a tournament game cannot be completed within its time limit due to adverse weather, poor lighting/darkness or serious injury, the following guidelines applies: a game may be called after four innings of play (or 3 1/2 innings of play if the home team is ahead) and will be considered as an official game played. The tourney director has right to amend this rule due to weather & time factors on Sunday play.  

 

Mercy Rules: 15 run lead after 3 innings, 10 run lead after 4 innings, and 8 run lead after 5 innings (an inning in this case represents number of at bats by the losing team).

 

Roster minimums and maximums.

   A team must start with a minimum of 8 players. The team can play the entire event with just eight players – if necessary. Teams should carry no more than 14 players. If your team carries more than 14, please let tourney officials know by Wednesday prior to the start of the event as we can then allocate award

 

  PITCHING RULES  

  Travel: In travel, there will be no pitching restrictions. HOUSE All-Star: In House All-Star divisions, pitchers may pitch nine consecutive outs (they cannot be pulled then returned later in game). It is the opposing coach’s obligation to track the number of outs in House All-Star divisions, not the umpire. The tournament expects coaches to use good judgment in using their pitchers safely. Maximum 3 hit-batters per pitcher per game for 11U-14U. (Umpire does have discretion to amend this rule) BALKS: Travel: 9U-10U – Balks – Unlimited & Educational; Umpire's discretion. 11U-13U: One balk warning; 14U-18U: No warnings. House: 13U14U – One warning; 15U-18U – no warnings.

 

  Defensive Alignment:

In House All-Star Divisions for 8U-10U, you can play four outfielders.  

 

BATS

  TRAVEL – Bats must comply with USSSA rules or USA rules  

 

  14U – USSSA Rules.  

  **15U and older – High School rules on bats.

 

  BATTING LINE-UP: 

 House All-Star: All ages must bat entire line up. 

 

Travel: All ages may bat entire line-up, or may also choose to bat nine or ten (EH for 10 hitters).

 

 A DH is also allowed in batting 9 or 10. Courtesy Runners: With two outs, a courtesy runner for pitcher or catcher is allowed by using last batted out.   

 

  Field Dimensions & Field Rules  

Travel ball Field sizes

8u 40/60

9-10u 46/65

11-12u 50/70

13u 54/80

14u-18u 60/90

 

House All star field sizes

8u 40-60

9-12u 46-60

13-14u 54/80

15 and up 60/90

 

COACHING STAFF

  Three (3) coaches per bench for travel. House – exceptions can be made to adjust for larger staff. Coaches MUST stay in dugouts. Please call time-out from umpire to request to come on the field of play.

 

INFIELD WARM UPS 

  All teams are encouraged to warm-up as much as possible before game time; however, no practice may be taken on the infield prior to the game.

 

  Baseballs are provided by the tournament. WE expect teams to assist in returning foul balls to umpires. When 2-3 balls are hit foul, teams may want to throw a ball in to save time and pace of game.

 

  Playing surface is as it remains at the tournament fields.

 

BASE RUNNING   

  TRAVEL: Unlimited Stealing & Lead-offs. Players may advance on dropped third strike. 

 

9U & Below: Only one steal per home on pitcher-catcher exchange per inning (does not include pitcher throwing to another base); No advancement on dropped third strike   

 

  HOUSE ALL STAR - Runner may steal ONLY after the ball crosses plate in 9U-12u. Umpire’s discretion on giving offending team a warning when leaving base 
early. Only one steal of home per inning on pitcher-catcher exchange (does not include when pitcher throws to another base).

 

  Slide rules   

  We advise all players to slide at close plays – and the runner must avoid contact. This is an umpire discretion area – and will be determined by the umpires on the field. The umpires can warn players and teams to a forced slide in plays at the base. Malicious contact at any base is forbidden and automatic ejection.

 

  Spikes/Shoes

  8u-12u rubber or plastic sheeted shoes only. 13U & Up may wear metal cleats. WE recommend pitchers to bring indoor shoes for portable pitching mounds at certain sites (Will be noted in specific events).

 

8U Kid Pitch Rules    

 Field Dimension – 40-60 field dimensions

   No lead-offs – One warning per team

  

    Stealing – One base per pitch; Leave after ball crosses plate.

  

  Stealing home – You can steal home once. Can steal home if ball is thrown to other bases.

  

   No pitching restrictions. TEN players on Defense – 4 OUTFIELDERS are our default rules. Teams can both agree to play 9.

 

Refund Policy

Zero games played will result in a full refund. 1 game played will result in a 50% refund. 2 or more games played will not result in any refund, however future event partial credits will be considered if you play 2 or more games--but are unable to complete your event due to weather related issues.