TOURNAMENT RULES

AGES 8 TO ADULT 

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

1. FIELD DIMENSIONS:  8U to 10U will use 46'-60'

                                    11u to 12u will use 50'-70'

                                    13u to adult will use 60'-90'

2. BAT REGULATIONS:  a) it is mandatory for teams to use the following bat types

                                      8u to 14u no bat restrictions

                                      15u to 18u mandatory drop -3 BBCOR 15 NFHS certified

                                     wood bats can be used at any age level

                                     adult wood bat only

3. GAME TIME LIMITS:  8u to 12u  play 6 innings or 1hr. 50 mins

                                   13u to adult play 7 innings or 2hrs

4. AGE RESTRICTIONS:  the players age as of may 1st will determine the age group he/she will play in for

   that year.

5. ROSTER WAIVERS/BIRTH CERTIFICATES/INSURANCE

    a) copies of each players birth certificate should be kept on file in case of an opposing coach's challenge.

    b) all teams must hand in their roster waiver form signed by all parents and coaches prior to the start of

        their first game. once a team has started a tournament no players may be added to a roster. if an

       organization has more than one team in a tournament they may not double roster a player. 

   c) the penalty for any game an illegal player participates is the forfeiture of that game by the players team

   d) must have and show proof of teams insurance

6. PITCHING RESTRICTIONS: there are no limits on innings pitched for any age group. however the coaches

    are responsible for their players so please use common sense and caution when delegating pitching

    responsibilities.

                                                    GAME SPECIFIC RULES

1. CLEATS: 8u to 12u must wear rubber cleats (NO METAL)

                 13u and older no restrictions

2. BUNTING: all ages are permitted to bunt (8u to 12u no slash bunts)

                   11u and older infield fly rule in effect.

3. SLIDING: 8u to 10umust slide feet first into all bases

                  11u to adult may slide head first at players own risk

                  when sliding into a base contact must be avoided. (Runner maybe determindout at the umpire's

                  discretion.

5. COURTESY RUNNERS: Courtesy runners are allowed for the established pitchers and catchers only the runner must be a player who is not in the current batting line up. if a team is batting  all their players then the last batted out of the previous inning may be used.

6. MOUND VISITS: Coaches are allowed one mound visit per inning per pitcher. pitcher wiil need to be removed on the second mound visit. if a pitcher is in injured the coach and only the the coach may go out to the mound to check on a player. this will not count as a mound visit as long as no game strategy is discussed.

7. LEADS: 8u to 10u no leads permitted. if a player leaves a base too early an automatic dead ball occurs.

first offense by a team results in a warning. the second offense by a team results in the base runner being called out.

8. STEALS: 8U TO 10U Ball must cross home plate before the base runner can leave base

                 11u to adult. all base running will be live

9. BALKS: 8u to 10u. no balks

               11u to 12u. First offense results in a warning

                                Second offense results in advancement of base runners

              13u to adult. Regular balk rules apply.

10. MERCY RULES: For all age groups: After 3 innings 15 runs

                                                        After 4 innings 10 runs

                                                        After 5 innings 8 runs

                           Home team will not bat if ahead by mercy rules

11. RE-ENTRY: A starter may be replaced by a substitute and re-enter in his original batting position once throughout the game. if a starter is replaced a second time he not re-enter the game. when substitutes are removed they may not re-enter the game.if a team bats their entire lineup and a player is injured while playing the field he has until his spot comes up in the lineup to re-enter the game. once a player's spot in the batting order is skipped he may not re-enter the game. if a team bats their entire lineup and a player is injured while on the base paths he may not re-enter the game at any time.the last batted out will take the player's spot on the base paths. Automatic outs WILL NOT be given when an injured player's spot in the lineup is skipped . while batting the entire lineup if a player is ejected each time his spot in the lineup comes up an automatic out WILL be given.

12. NUMBER OF PLAYERS: A team must have at least nine players  to start a game, but may finish the game with less than nine due to injury.

13. EJECTIONS: If ejected. players , coaches, and fans must leave the field immediately. coaches and fans must be out of site of the field, which the game is being played on. if a player is ejected, he is also automatically ejected for the next game. if at any time a coach fan player uses profanity, or makes intentional contact with an umpire , tournamant director, or another competitor that person will be ejected from the remainder of the tournament.

14. LINE UP: teams batting nine with the pitcher batting nine with a DH hitting for the pitcher ten with an EH or the entire lineup. a designated hitter (DH) and an extra hitter (EH) may not be used in the same lineup. once the lineup is set it may not be changed. while batting the whole lineup if a player becomes injured and needs to be removed from the game hid spot in the lineup will be skipped. An automatic out WILL NOT be given. while batting the entire linup if a player is ejected each time his spot in the lineup comes up an automatic out WILL be given.

EXTRA HITTER (EH): when batting ten players with an EH the EH can go into the field for any of the other nine players. that player then becomes the EH. the batting order does not change.

15. APPEALS: there are no appeals. umpires and tournament directors have final say on all matters.

16. HOME/VISITOR: in pool play the home team will be decided by cion flip. in the playoffs the highest seed will be the home team.

17. CANCELLATION POLICY: any cancellations less then 30 days prior to the scheduled tournament date the registration fee will be forfeited.

18. POOL PLAY: teams will play two pool play games to seed for sunday's playoff games. seeding will be determined by: a) overall record during pool play.

                       b) TIEBREAKERS: head to head, runs allowed, runs scored, cion toss

forfeits are scored 7-0.

19. ARRIVAL: please arrive at least 45 minutes before your game. in some cases games may start early depending on the previous game.

20. TIES: pool play games may end in a tie. playoff games must have a winner . during playoff games if the game is still tied after the time or innings limits the international tie breaker rules will go into effect. this means the last batted out of the previous inning begins yhe inning on second base. the inning begins with zero outs.

21. OFFICIAL SCORE KEEPER: the home team will be the official score keeper for each game. after the game the home team must report the final score to academy sabres representative.

                                                        SAFETY POLICIES

1. All participants are competing at their own risk. by participating you agree to hold academy sabres tournament officials all facilities and umpires harmless from any liability resulting from participation in the tournament.

2. Prior to the start of each game fields must be inspected by the umpires and both coaches to insure safe field conditions.

3. All catchers must wear proper equipment including throat guards.

4. Helmets must be worn by base runners, batters, on deck batters and any playeracting as a base coach.

5. Catcher's mask must be worn by anyone warming up a pitcher including coaches, parents and other players. A  third player must wear a helmet when guarding the pitcher during warm ups.

6. All male players must wear protective cups at all times regardless of the position.

7. Head first slides, although allowed in some age groups are not encouraged.

Coaches please use common sense in dealing with players, parents, and other spectators of your team to ensure the safety of all people involved in ACADEMY SABRES tournaments. your help in these matters will be greaty appreciated.

                                                          FIELD POLICIES

ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, DRUGS, OR PETS ARE PERMITTED ON ANY FIELDS OR PARKS THAT ACADEMY SABRES USES FOR ANY TOURNAMENT OR GAMES.

IN THE EVENT THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH TEAMS IN A SPECIFIC AGE GROUP, ACADEMY SABRES RESERVES THE RIGHT TO COMBINE THAT AGE GROUP WITH AN ADJOINING AGE GROUP.ACADEMY SABRES ALSO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE GAME TIMES, GAME LENGTHS, AND TOURNAMENT FORMATS DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER OR TIME CONSTRAINTS.