Tournament Rules and Guidelines

(OHSAA rules apply with the following exceptions)

 

ROSTERS / ELIGIBILITY

         

• 8U  --  All boys must be entering the 3rd grade or younger in 2023.

• 9U  --  All boys must be entering the 4th grade or younger in 2023.

• 10U -- All boys must be entering the 5th grade or younger in 2023.

• 11U -- All boys must be entering the 6th grade or younger in 2023.

• 12U -- All boys must be entering the 7th grade or younger in 2023.

• 14U -- All boys must be entering the 9th grade or younger in 2023.

• All Players must be from the same school District.

• A player can only be on one roster per division and may not be added to a roster once the tournament has started. A player may play on a team in a different division, provided he is not too old for either division. This is only to be used out of necessity and no scheduling will be done to accommodate this.

• Teams are limited to 15 Players.

• Teams must be ready to play 30 minutes prior to scheduled time.  Games may start early.

• Teams Must be able to field 8 players at start of game. Failure to field 8 will result in a forfeit.

  • Teams are required to have a minimum of 9 in the lineup.  Teams playing with 8 players must take an “out” for the 9th player in the lineup.

• If a player is found to be ineligible (either by age or not from the same school district), the team will forfeit all games in which the ineligible player played.

• Rosters/waivers form must be turned in prior to first game.  Each player and parent/legal guardian must sign the roster/waiver form.

 

GAME PLAY

 

• A coin toss will determine the home team except in the Championship game(s) where the winner’s bracket winner will be the home team.  A coin toss will determine the home team if there is a 2nd game in the finals.

• Time Limit:

  • All games will be on a time limit except the championship game(s).

  • In all Divisions, Umpire will call “Last Inning” based on the discretionary flow of the game (approximately 10 minutes before the time limit) to try to stay within the stated time limit.  This will allow each team to have the ability for the open scoring inning.  Umpire must call “Last Inning” before the inning starts.  If “Last Inning” is completed before the stated time limit is reached, the game is still over.

  • If for any reason the time limit is reached during an inning where “Last Inning” has not been established, then that inning is the final inning.  No new inning will start.

 

• Extra Innings: If a game is tied after 6 innings or time has expired, the game shall be settled as follows. An extra runner will be placed at 2nd and 3rd base in the following innings until there is a winner. The extra runners will be the last batters who completed an at bat. Although no time limit will be imposed on the championship games, the extra runners in extra innings will still apply.

• Courtesy Runner: It may be used for the catcher at any time (optional). Courtesy runner must be the player that made the last out.

• Weather: In the event of rain or threatening weather, the Tournament Director may deem a game complete after 4 complete innings in the 8U-12U divisions and 5 complete innings in the 14U division.  If weather renders a diamond(s) unplayable (tournament director decision), loser brackets will be cancelled first, starting with the youngest division and moving up from there as necessary.

• Tournament Director may shorten games or impose an additional time limit if needed due to time, weather or darkness.

• Home team will be official score book. Visiting team should verify score with home team throughout games to avoid potential score differences.

 

CONDUCT/SAFETY

 

• No protests allowed. All umpire rulings are final. Head coach shall be the only coach to approach an umpire to discuss plays.

• No harassment of umpires by players, coaches or fans will be tolerated.

• No Chattering. This is at the discretion of the umpire or Tournament Director.

• Batters/Runners must wear protective helmets; catchers must wear protective gear during play and warm-ups.

• Batters will not throw the bat. Umpire will warn both teams at the same time with the next resulting in player being called out.

• All base runners should slide when played upon. Players shall be called out at the discretion of the umpire.

• In the event of threatening weather, If a coach or umpire sees lightning or threatening weather that poses a danger to players, coaches or fans they should immediately postpone the game, instruct all players, coaches and fans to seek shelter. Games should not resume until all threats of threatening weather have passed.

• Failure to abide by these rules may result in ejection or forfeiture of game(s) at the discretion of umpire, Board Members or Tournament Director.

 

 

8U Division

• Coach Pitch--At least one foot must be within the pitcher’s circle when the pitch is thrown. (Must be within 5’ of rubber). 

• 60’ distance between bases.

• 6 innings or Time limit will constitute as a game.

  • Time Limit: 1 hour

• Sanctioned USA, USSSA, or BBCOR baseball bats. 33” maximum bat length.

• No Metal Cleats.

• All players present (max 15 per team) must be in the batting order. If a player cannot bat due to injury, this must be reported to the umpire prior to his turn in the batting order. If a player’s spot in the batting order is skipped, he may not play the rest of the game.

• Late players may be added to the end of the batting order as long as that spot has not come up.

• Free substitutions on defense (batting order stays the same).

• 10 defensive players, with outfielders playing approximate equidistant from infield. No short fielders (rover) allowed.  Outfielders must begin the play in the grass.

• One defensive outfield coach is allowed (not required). The coach must remain in the outfield at all times while the ball is in play.

• Each team must field a catcher in full catcher’s equipment.

• Player in the Pitchers Position is required to be within 5’ of the rubber at the time of each pitch.  At least one foot must be in the pitcher’s circle when the pitch is thrown.

• No infield fly rule.

• No Bunting.

• No Leading off or Stealing. One warning will be given to each team per game for their first violation of this rule. All subsequent violations will result in the runner being called out and all other runners will return to their previous bases.

• Runners MAY advance on overthrows until the ball is declared dead or time is called.

• The designated pitcher must make every attempt to not interfere with the play in the field after the batter hits the ball. If the pitcher interferes with the play, it’s a dead ball and all runners will return to the last base they were at. Batter will receive another pitch and shall not be called out if this was the 7th pitch of the at bat.

• Each batter will be allowed a maximum of 7 pitches, unless the 7th pitch is a foul ball. A batter will be ruled out by strikeout if:

• Failure to hit any of the 7 pitches into fair territory and the last was not a foul ball.

• Has any combination of 3 missed swings and foul balls and the last strike was not a foul ball.

• An inning will be 3 outs or 6 runs maximum, even if the last hit causes more the 6 runs to score (only 6 runs will count).

• Run-Rule 15 runs after three complete innings and 10 runs after four complete innings or any complete inning thereafter.

• Unlimited runs will be allowed as follows: 1. In the 6th inning.  2. In any inning the umpire declares as the last due to time limit.  3. In extra innings, if necessary.

• Before an umpire declares a “Time Out”, the ball must be in control of a defensive player in the infield.  When “Time Out” is called runners that are not halfway to the next base will be required to return to the base they are coming from.  (Hash marks will mark the midway point)

• Tournament director decisions regarding discrepancies are final

 

 

9U – 12U Division

• 46' pitching distance and 60' bases for 9 & 10U.

• 50' pitching distance and 60' bases for 11U

• 50’ pitching distance and 65’ bases for 12U.

• 6 innings or Time limit will constitute as a game.

  • Time Limit: 1 hour and 20 minutes

• Sanctioned USA, USSSA, or BBCOR baseball bats. 33” maximum bat length.

• No Metal Cleats.

• All players present (max 15 per team) must be in the batting order. If a player cannot bat due to injury, this must be reported to the umpire prior to his turn in the batting order. If a player’s spot in the batting order is skipped, he may not play the rest of the game.

• Late players may be added to the end of the batting order as long as that spot has not come up.

• Free substitutions on defense (batting order stays the same).

• 10 defensive players, with outfielders playing approximate equidistant from infield. No short fielders (rover) allowed.  Outfielders must begin the play in the grass.

• Pitchers can pitch a maximum of 3 innings per game, 6 innings per day.

• No intentional curve balls (at the discretion of the umpire).

• Balks will not be enforced.

• A player may NOT re-enter as a pitcher once he is removed from that position.

• Any pitcher hitting 3 batters in a single game must be removed as a pitcher for the remainder of that game. He may take another defensive position.

• No infield fly rule for the 9U.

• Infield fly rule applies for 10U - 12U.

• No leading off.

• Bunting IS allowed.

• Stealing 9U, runners may steal 2nd and 3rd after the pitched ball crosses home plate, a passed ball, or overthrows back to pitcher.  The runner cannot steal home, or take home on a pass ball or overthrows back to the pitcher. 

• Stealing 10U – 12U, runners may steal 2nd and 3rd after the pitched ball crosses home plate, a passed ball, or overthrows back to pitcher.  Runners MAY advance home on any overthrow, passed ball or any attempted play on any runner at any base. 

• Stealing 9U-12U, No delayed stealing. After the ball is pitched and the ball crosses home plate, a runner must immediately make an attempt to steal the next base.

• Stealing 9U-12U, A team will receive one warning per game for the violation of leaving base too early, and the runner must return back to the base. Thereafter, runners will be called out.

• A batter may not take first base on a dropped or missed called third strike (runners may attempt to advance).

• An inning will be 3 outs or 6 runs maximum, even if the last hit causes more than 6 runs to score (only 6 runs will count).

• Unlimited Runs will be allowed as follows: 1. In the 6th inning.  2. In any inning the umpire declares as the last due to time limit.  3. In extra innings, if necessary.

• Run-Rule: 15 runs after three complete innings and 10 runs after four complete innings or any complete inning thereafter.

• Tournament director decisions will be final regarding discrepancies

 

 

 14U Division

 

• NFHS/OHSAA Rules this includes:

• 60’ 6” pitching distance and 90’ bases.

• DH (Designated Hitter).

• Metal cleats allowed.

• The following EXCEPTIONS will also apply:

• 6 innings or Time limit will constitute as a game.

  • Time Limit: 1 hour and 45 minutes.

• Sanctioned USA, USSSA, or BBCOR baseball bats.  Must be drop 8 or less.

• EH (Extra Hitter) may be used (optional).

• Pitchers can pitch a maximum of 4 innings per game, 7 innings per day.

• Balks will be enforced with each team getting 1 warning.

• A player may NOT re-enter as a pitcher once he is removed from that position.

• Any pitcher hitting 3 batters in a single game must be removed as a pitcher for the remainder of that game. He may take another defensive position.

• In the event that a game is tied after 6 innings or time has expired, the game shall be settled as follows.  An extra runner will be place at 2nd and 3rd base in the following innings until there is a winner. The extra runner(s) will be the last batter(s) who completed an at bat.  Although no time limit will be imposed on the winner’s bracket final, loser’s bracket final and championship game(s), the extra runner(s) in extra innings will still apply.

• Tournament Director may shorten games or impose an additional time limit if needed due to time, weather or darkness.

• Home team will be the official score book. Visiting team should verify score with home team throughout games to avoid potential score differences.

• Run-Rule will be 10 runs after four complete innings or any complete inning thereafter.

• Tournament director decisions will be final regarding discrepancies.