2018 KNIGHTS SPRING CLASSIC

 

TOURNAMENT RULES

 

 

 

Note-Special 8U Rules are at the end of this document.

 

 

 

Inclement Weather Policy

 

In the event of rain we will do everything within our power to make up games and stay as close to the original game schedule as possible. However, there may be circumstances in which we will need to deviate from the printed schedule. If and when this occurs, we will use the following procedures as a guide:

 

• Our first priority will always be the safety of each individual at the facility.

• If inclement weather forces a cancellation of game slots during pool play rounds; we may have to alter the brackets to complete the tournament. If a pool play game cannot be played, the team with the higher seed will advance.

• We will not name a champion of the tournament without a championship game.

   

 

Suspended Games

 

Games that do not make it to regulation (3 complete innings for a 6 inning game or 4 complete innings for a 7 inning game) due to weather / darkness will be considered a suspended game and will be resumed (if possible) from the point of suspension at the earliest time available. If there is not time to resume the game, it will be considered a complete game at the end of the last complete inning and the team that is winning at that point will be the winner. For games that do make it through regulation and are called early, the score would have to revert back to the last completed full inning of play, unless the Home team was winning or took the lead in the bottom half of the inning when the game was called.  

 

 

 

Refund Policy

 

• Play No Games - $100 administrative cost is non-refundable. 

• Play 1 Game - Receive a 50% refund.

• Play More Than 1 Game – No refund.

  Note: Once a game starts it will count as a game played, regardless of its length.

   

 

Insurance Requirement

 

Each team is required to carry its own insurance and submit a certificate of insurance prior to the beginning of the tournament. The certificate must have Kingsway Knights Inc. listed as the certificate holder:

 

 

 

Kingsway Knights, Inc

217 Casella Way

Woolwich Twp, NJ 08085

 

 

 

Time Limit

 

 

 

There will be a one hour and forty five minute (1:45) time limit for all age divisions meaning no new inning may start after the time limit elapses. The time begins from the time of the first pitch of the game. Time limit will be strictly enforced to keep all games on track.

 

 

 

Games can go into extra innings as long as the time limit has not expired. Pool play games can end in a tie. Intentionally delaying a game is considered unsportsmanlike conduct and will not be tolerated.

 

 

 

Coin Flips

 

There will be NO coin flips to decide home team. This has been predetermined. All teams will be home for at least one game. In the playoff rounds on Sunday the higher seeded team will be the home team. The home team is listed last in the game schedule and should occupy the 1_st base dugout providing that makes sense. (if a team occupied first base dugout in the prior game, they should stay in the dugout)

 

 

 

Official Scorebook

 

The home team will keep the official scorebook. The visiting team should check with the home team after each inning to ensure the accuracy in the score.

 

 

 

Playing Rules

 

The interpretation of playing rules shall be that as defined by the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs (Official Baseball Rules), with the exception of the following special league rules:

 

 

 

Age Cutoff Date

 

April 30th 

 

 

 

Bat Rule (2018)

 

Wooden and aluminum bats are both permitted.  Bat Size:

 

• 8U-12U: All bats must be BPF 1.15 or USA Baseball. No other weight of size restrictions for this age group.

• 13U: All bats must be BPF 1.15, USA Baseball, or BBCOR. No other weight of size restrictions for this age group.

• 14U-18U: BBCOR designated with a -3 differential (length to weight)

   

  Tampering with bats is strictly prohibited. If a bat is tampered with or an illegal bat is used, the result will be a dead ball out if a batted ball was put in play and the batter advanced to any base.

   

 

Slide Rule

 

If a defensive player is in possession of the ball, the base runner must slide or veer in order to avoid a collision. If a defensive player does not have possession of the ball, he may not block or obstruct the base runner, and must avoid a collision if possible. Any contact or collision deemed by the umpire to be intentional and avoidable shall be cause for ejection from the game of the offending player.

 

 

 

Stealing (9U and 10U)

 

A player may steal at the time the ball crosses the plate. The ruling will be an immediate dead ball if the runner leaves too soon. The first time will be a team warning, and the second time the runner will be ruled out.

 

 

 

Lineup

 

Teams will have the discretion to select one of the following options that must be declared prior to the start of the game. Further, this option must be utilized for the entire game.

 

• Bat the entire lineup

• Bat nine

• Bat ten, utilizing an Extra Player (EP). You may only use one EP.

• If you are batting the order, there is NO out taken if a player must leave the game providing the lineup does not go below nine players.

   

  A team may start with no fewer than eight players. If a team starts with eight, any additional player(s) that shows up shall be placed at the bottom of the batting order. In playoff and tournament play, the ninth position shall be deemed an out.  

   

  Only players listed on the scorecard at the beginning of the game are participants. Players added after the game has started (or resumed in the event of a continuation due to rain or darkness) will not be considered to be on the roster for that game, and this may not participate in that game.  

   

 

Defensive Substitutions

 

The ability to use defensive substitutions will be based on the lineup option that was selected.  

 

• Bat entire lineup - Unlimited defensive substitutions.

• Bat nine - Must following official playing rules; however, starters may reenter (once). Further, once a sub has been removed, he may not re-enter with the exception of injury.

• Bat ten using an EP - Same rules as playing nine apply; however, the substitution rules apply to the ten players in the starting lineup.   

   

 

Courtesy Runner

 

Speed up rule - Mandatory for the catcher with two outs. The runner will either be the last recorded out (if batting the lineup) or any player on the bench who is not currently in the game (batting nine or using an EP). You may also use a runner for the pitcher with two outs. This is optional. The same rule applies in the selection of the courtesy runner. The catcher or pitcher will be defined as the player who is playing that position (inning of record), not the upcoming inning.

 

 

 

Balks

 

Balks do not apply to age divisions under 11U. We will issue one warning per pitcher per game at 11U and 12U. A balk warning is a dead ball. There will be no warning at ages 13U and above.

 

 

 

Protest Opportunities

 

There will be no formal protests permitted. All decisions will be determined on the field by the umpires.

 

 

 

Pitching

 

We will play tournament baseball rules for pitching using a rolling consecutive number of innings - six innings for ages under 12U and seven innings for ages 13U and above. For example (under 12U), if a pitcher throws three innings in game one, he is eligible for three innings in game two. If he only throws two innings in game two, he is eligible for four innings in game three, etc.

 

There will be NO re-entry of a pitcher at any time during the game.

 

If a pitcher extends beyond the pitching requirements, the rule basically states he is an illegal player and thus creates a forfeit; however, rather than a coach wait until a pitcher has become illegal, the opposing coach must immediately bring it to the attention of the other team and have the pitcher removed at that point. Unless three outs have been recorded, the inning will be restarted with no outs.   

 

 

 

Roster Size

 

Limit to participate in Tournament Play: 15

 

 

 

Intentional Walk

 

Speed up rule – The pitcher or manager may inform the umpire their intention to walk the batter to first base.

 

 

 

Game

 

Innings – 12U and Below: 6 innings; 13U and Above: 7 innings Field Dimensions

 

• 10U and Below: 46/60

• 11U and 12U: 50/70

• 13U and Above: 60/90

   

 

Code of Conduct/Sportsmanship

 

Any coach ejected from a game will not be permitted to coach for the remainder of the tournament. Further, they will not be permitted on the field at any point thereafter and must remain away from the dugout in the outfield or down the outfield lines.

 

 

 

Mercy Rule - A mercy rule will be imposed:

 

• 12U and Below: 15 runs after three innings, 10 runs after four innings and 8 runs after five innings

• 13U and Above: 15 runs after four innings, 10 runs after five innings and 8 runs after six innings

   

 

Catcher’s Equipment

 

Catcher’s helmet gear must provide ear protection. As a result, no skull caps are permitted.

 

 

 

Tie Breakers (Determine Seeds)

 

1. Best Record (based on points)

2. Head to Head (only if two teams)

3. Fewest Runs Allowed

4. Net Run Differential

5. Number of Shutouts

6. Coin Flip

 

To determine best record, we will award points as follows:

• Win – Two points
• Tie – One point

 

 

When there are more than two teams tied, we will not look at Head to Head as a tie breaker, instead we will move to the next criteria, Fewest Runs Allowed. At no point will we reset the tie breaker as teams are seeded or eliminated. The tournament committee has the final say on tie breakers on any misunderstandings. The best advice is that if there is a question that it gets resolved before a game starts that may impact the tie breaker formula.

 

 

 

Documentation

 

Coaches are required to have on hand – insurance, team rosters and player date of birth support. They will not be collected by Kingsway Knights; however, if a player is challenged, the coach must have support for that player. A challenge may only be performed before the first pitch is thrown for that game. A challenge will not be reviewed at any other time ( i.e., during the game or after the game). If the coach does not have support or is ruled ineligible, the tournament director will make a final ruling on his eligibility, as well as the results of previously played games and future games. 

 

 

 

Fake Bunt/Slash Bunt (Ages 7U through 12U)

 

A batter is out for illegal action when the player fakes a bunt and then takes a full swing, thus eliminating a player from fake bunting (slap-hitting) the ball.  Penalty:  Batter is out, the ball is dead, no runners may advance.

 

 

 

Official Start Time

 

The official start time will begin when the catcher throws the ball down to second base after the completion of the starting pitcher’s warm up tosses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

8U SPECIAL PLAYING RULES

 

 

 

 

 

Kingsway Knights and MLB rules apply. There are NO home team rules that override the playing rules.

 

 

 

Field Dimensions

 

46/60

 

 

 

Innings

 

Six inning games (or two hour time limit) - Time limit rules from page 2 apply.

 

Continuous Batter Order

 

• You must bat the entire lineup.

• Three outs or maximum four runs per inning. No runs beyond four will be scored unless a home run over the fence. In that situation, all runs scored will count.

  There will be unlimited runs in the designated last inning which must be

  determined by both coaches/umpire before a new inning can start. (In playoff and tournament play, it will only be the 6^th inning.)

• Should a player become injured, sick, etc., an automatic out shall not be recorded unless the batting order becomes less than nine players. 

• Once a player is removed from the batting order, he may not re-enter the game.

   

 

Defense

 

• Free defensive substitutions are allowed.

• Infield fly rule is not in effect.

• Three outfielders.

   

 

Stealing

 

• Maximum five steal attempts per inning.

• No straight steals permitted.

• Runners may advance to 2^nd and 3^rd on a clear passed ball. (Beyond backstop end post to end post.).

• Runners may not steal home. Runners may not score on a passed ball or wild pitch. 

• If runners are on first and third, and a play is made at second base on a steal, the runner from third may not advance.

• If a play is made on a runner stealing third on a wild pitch, the runner may not advance to home.

• IF a play is made on a steal at second or pickoff at first, the overthrow rule applies. No runner may advance in any situation at third.

• (example-if an attempt to throw out a runner stealing second is made and there is an overthrow-the runner may advance (not counted as a steal)

   

 

Bunting

 

• Is allowed.

• Fake bunting is prohibited.

• If a batter fakes a bunt and pulls back and swings at the pitch, the batter will be called out.

• Jiggling the bat around, offering to bunt and pulling back on every pitch will result in the batter being called out.

   

 

Play Declared Dead

 

• The defense stops the runner.

• The lead runner stops (all following runners are considered stopped).

• The runner does not make an effort to advance.

• Once a runner turns back to his original base, he cannot advance; however, lead runners may continue to the base they are headed for when a defensive play is being made.

• With bases loaded, there cannot be a pickoff attempt of a runner at first base.

   

 

Overthrows

 

• Overthrows will not count as steal attempts.

• All runners may advance if a pitcher, catcher or any other fielder makes a play at a base that results in an overthrow (with the exception of third base by a catcher

  and when the bases are loaded and a play at first or second base after the pitch has been made).

• A “bad” throw from the catcher to the pitcher will not be deemed an overthrow.

   

 

Pitching

 

• Two innings per game. Ten innings for playoffs and tournaments. 

• One pitch equals one inning pitched.

• A pitcher may not re-enter the game as a pitcher once removed.

   

  Courtesy Runner

 

    Speed up rule - Mandatory for the catcher (next inning) with two outs and optional for the pitcher. The runner will be the last recorded out