TOURNAMENT RULES

Ages 8:U – 12:U

1. Playing rules not specifically covered shall follow the Official Major League Baseball Rules as published by The Sporting News. They can also be accessed on the Internet at: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/official_rules/foreword.jsp
2. Age Requirement: May 1st will be the designated date to determine ages. Players exceeding the age of the Division before May 1st, will not be eligible to participate in that Division. Players can play in a higher age Division.
3. Protest Fee: $100.00 cash (in rule interpretation only). A protest must be filed before the next pitch.
4. Game Time: Starting time is forfeit time, unless delay is created by tournament director.
5. Home Team: Will be determined by a coin flip in pool play and higher seed in Bracket play. Championship game is determined by a coin flip. 
6. Time Limit: All games have a 1 hour 45 minute time limit in pool play and up to semi-final games. If the home team is ahead, the bottom half of the inning will not be played if the time has expired. Semi-final and Championship games have no time limit.
7. Run Rules: 8:U – 12:U: 6 inning games; 8 runs after 5 innings; 10 runs after 4 innings; 15 runs after 3 innings.
8. Slide Rule: The High School slide rule will be used. The player must avoid contact.
9. Metal Spikes: Not allowed in 12-under
10. EH Rule: Extra Hitter - Bat ten players, the EH can go into the field for any of the other nine players in the game and that player will then become the EH. The batting order does not change.  Batting the Roster: Also you may bat the roster and have free subs in the field, but if you lose a player, it will be an out in that spot the rest of the game. The batting order does not change.
11. EJECTION: Players and Coaches will sit out the remainder of that game.
12. Pitching Rules: For six-inning 12U and younger, a pitcher cannot pitch more than 27 outs in a three day tournament.   
13. Courtesy runner for both the pitcher and the catcher may be used at any time. Courtesy runner has to be someone not presently in the line-up. The same player cannot run for the pitcher and catcher in the same inning. If you’re batting the roster, the courtesy runner is the last recorded out.
14. Re-Entry Rule: High School Rule - starters can re-enter one time.  A pitcher removed from the pitching position cannot return to the pitching position during a game, but can re-enter to any other position. 
15. Fake to 3rd, throw to 1st Balk Rule - we will NOT be using this new MLB rule.  You may fake to 3rd and throw throw to 1st for this Nations Tournament.
16. 9:U Only: Closed bases 46’/60’, there is no lead off from the base. If a runner leaves the base early and the ball is not batted, the runner will return. If a ball is batted and the runner leaves early he/she will only advance to the extent forced by the batter.
17. 9:U Only: Runners can advance to any base, including home, on a wild pitch or a passed ball.
18. 9:U Only: There is no drop third strike in the 9:U division, on the third strike the batter is out. 
19. Inclement weather policy:
    0 games played - 100% refund
    1 game played   -  50% refund

 Ages 13:U – 18:U

1. Playing rules not specifically covered shall follow the Official Major League Baseball Rules as published by The Sporting News. They can also be accessed on the Internet at: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/official_rules/foreword.jsp
2. Age Requirement: May 1st will be the designated date to determine ages. Players exceeding the age of the Division before May 1st, will not be eligible to participate in that Division. Players can play in a higher age Division.
3. Protest Fee: $100.00 cash (in rule interpretation only). A protest must be filed before the next pitch.
4. Game Time: Starting time is forfeit time, unless delay is created by tournament director.
5. Home Team: Will be determined by a coin flip in pool play and higher seed in Bracket play.  Championship game is determined by a coin flip.
6. Time Limit: All games have a 2 hour time limit in pool play and up to semi-final games. If the home team is ahead, the bottom half of the inning will not be played if the time has expired. Semi-final and Championship games have no time limit.
7. Run Rule: 8 Runs after 5 innings; 10 Runs after 4 innings; 15 runs after 3 innings in all tournament games.
8. EH Rule: Extra Hitter - Bat ten players, the EH can go into the field for any of the other nine players in the game and that player will then become the EH. The batting order does not change.  Batting the Roster - Also you may bat the roster and have free subs in the field, but if you lose a player, it will be an out in that spot the rest of the game. The batting order does not change. DH Rule: High School Rule - You can DH for any player in the line-up.
9. Slide Rule: The High School slide rule will be used. The player must avoid contact.
10. Pitching Rules: For seven-inning 16U and younger, a pitcher cannot pitch more than 30 outs in a three day tournament.  
11. EJECTION: Players and Coaches will sit out the remainder of that game.
12. High School Bat weight/length differential rule is waived in the 15 and under ages.
13. Courtesy runner for both the pitcher and the catcher may be used at any time. Courtesy runner has to be someone not presently in the line-up. The same player cannot run for both the pitcher and catcher in the same inning. If you’re batting the roster, the courtesy runner is the last recorded out.
14. Re-Entry Rule: High School Rule - starters can re-enter one time. A pitcher removed from the pitching position cannot return to the pitching position during a game, but can re-enter to any other position.
15. Fake to 3rd, throw to 1st Balk Rule - we will NOT be using this new MLB rule.  You may fake to 3rd and throw throw to 1st for this Nations Tournament.
16. Inclement weather policy:
    0 games played - 100% refund
    1 game played    -  50% refund

 Pitching Rules and Limitations

1. Limitations ofpitching are based upon recorded outs while the pitcher is on the mound.
1. In all age groups that are scheduled for six innings, a pitcher cannot pitch more than 18 outs in any given day.
2. In all age groups 16 and younger that are scheduled for seven innings, a pitcher cannot pitch more than 21 outs in any given day.
3. For six inning games, a pitcher cannot pitch more than 27 outs in three consecutive days, regardless of game guarantee.
4. For seven inning 16U and younger games, a pitcher cannot pitch more than 30 outs in three consecutive days, regardless of game guarantee.
5. Any pitcher in the 16U or younger divisions that has pitched three days in a row must rest the 4^th day regardless of outs recorded.
6. Pitching limitations stop for the day when the park is shut down for the night and the teams leave.
7. When games are suspended and continued the next day, pitching limitations are split between the two days. COMMENT: Outs recorded for the day they are recorded. When the game resumes from suspension, all outs recorded count for the current day.
8. In the case of a double or triple play, there is no penalty for exceeding outs recorded at the time of the play.
9. It is the duty of each team’s manager to protest pitching violations by contacting the event director prior to the start of the next game of the team in possible violation.
10. Any outs recorded during a game once it is rules a forfeit count toward the pitcher’s recorded outs.
11. Pitchers who violate pitching limitations are ejected from the game. A violation of the pitching limitation is determined when the pitcher has delivered a pitch to the next batter after reaching his pitching limit. If the limit is reached at the end of an inning, it shall be a violation if the pitcher toes the rubber to begin a new inning.

Please Note – Violations of the pitching rules will result in the manager and pitcher being ejected from the game. If the violating team does not have an eligible substitute available, then they may continue to play with 8 players and will take an automatic out when the pitchers spot comes up to bat. If they are batting the roster, again, the pitchers spot will be an out offensively. There will be no forfeits given for the violation.

Pool Play To Bracket Play

In Nations Tournaments, the following rules will determine which teams will advance out of their pools.

1. Win – Loss Record
2. Head to Head – If there is not a three-way tie or more teams with the same record.
3. Fewest Runs allowed in pool play.
4. Highest Run Differential – with a Maximum Run Differential of 8 runs per game.
5. Nations Points
6. Coin Flip