Please click this link for A-AA Travel Rules as National Federation of State High School rules apply. Any rule not defined under NFHS, then will default to USSSA rules.

NFHS Rules Link:

//s3.amazonaws.com/my.llfiles.com/00252672/NHFS_2015.pdf

Updates to NFHS rules can be found at:

https://www.nfhs.org/activities-sports/baseball/

USSSA Rules Link:

http://www.usssabaseball.org/images/Rule_Book_2_23_2017.pdf

Game Times:

RESPONSIBILITY OF KNOWING AND UNDERSTANDING RULES
It is the responsibility of each team’s head coach to understand all rules and guidelines that presented in this document, as well as in the NFHS rule book.

FINAL DECISIONS
The Tournament Director shall have final decision on all tournament questions.

AGE REQUIREMENT
May 1, 2016 will be the designated date to determine ages. Photocopies of birth certificates MUST be kept with the team coach/manager at all times.  Failure to provide documentation, upon request, will result in an age/rules violation.

PLAYERS ON MULTIPLE ROSTERS

No player is allowed to participate on more than one team for each event.  For example, organization rosters have to designate players on one specific team in conjunction with their submitted rosters.  In addition, no player is allowed to play on more than one team even if those teams are in different divisions, or age groups. PENALTY FOR THIS VIOLATION IS TEAM FORFEIT OF ALL GAMES IN WHICH THE PLAYER PARTICIPATED IN WITH SAID TEAM.

BIRTH CERTIFICATES/PROOF OF AGE 
Each team must have birth certificates available throughout the tournament. An age protest, like any other protest, requires a $200 cash protest fee. If a protest is lodged against your team, you MUST provide proof of age. If you cannot do so, you lose the protest and the protesting team gets their $200 back. If you are able to prove proper age for your player, the protesting team loses the protest and the protest fee.

PROTEST FEE
$100 cash (only on rules interpretation and roster protests).  Must be paid at time of protest.  Protests must be submitted before the next pitch of the game, if the protest is play specific.  More general protests that are submitted after the conclusion of a game will not be allowed.

PRE-GAME WARM-UP
All teams are encouraged to warm-up as much as possible before game time. No pre-game infield.  Players cannot warm-up in the fair territory area of the infield.

RUN RULES PER AGE GROUP

9u – 20 runs after 2 innings, 15 runs after 3 innings, 8 runs after 4 or more innings 
10u – 20 runs after 2 innings, 15 runs after 3 innings, 8 runs after 4 or more innings
11u – 20 runs after 2 innings, 15 runs after 3 innings, 8 runs after 4 or more innings
12u – 20 runs after 2 innings, 15 runs after 3 innings, 8 runs after 4 or more innings
13u - 20 runs after 2 innings, 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 runs after 4 innings, or 8 runs after 5 or more innings
14u - 20 runs after 2 innings, 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 runs after 4 innings, or 8 runs after 5 or more innings

PITCHING LIMITS 
It is the responsibility of each team’s manager to challenge pitching violations by notifying the Umpire and then filing a protest with the tournament director.  A protest may be filed at any point after the pitcher in violation records any out beyond his legal limit AND while the pitcher in violation is in the game as the pitcher of record.  If such violation is the last recorded out of the game, the protest MUST be filed prior to the Umpire and the teams leave the field of play.

If pitching rules are violated and the infraction is detected, the situation will be reviewed and consequences will be determined by the tournament director. Consequences may include, but are not limited to, the following: coach and/or player ejections, game forfeiture, removal of team from the tournament, suspension for next game.

ADDITIONAL PITCHING RULES
1) One additional inning per game, per player starting in a team’s 5th game played
2) Pitching/Score cards MUST be signed by both teams at the conclusion of games. Once the cards are signed, the information becomes official, and will be utilized for record keeping.
3) Pitching limits will be based on 1/3 concept.  Each recorded out is 1/3 of an inning against the pitcher.

VISITS TO THE MOUND 
As per NFHS rules, each team is allowed three charged visits to the mound within a game. A charged visit is a trip in which the manager or coach does not remove the pitcher. After the three charged visits are used, every trip to the mound will result in the pitcher being removed. A visit is not “charged” when the manager removes the pitcher from the mound. Remember, charged visits are cumulative for the entire game (visits are not tracked “per pitcher”). No restrictions on visits per inning.

BAT RULE
13u and younger: All bats -5 or greater must be stamped BPF 1.15.  Must be a baseball bat – no restrictions on weight or length as long as bat has “BPF 1.15” stamp.  All -3 bats must be stamped BBCOR. Wood bats are allowed. 14u and older: -3 weight/length ratio only.  All bats must be stamped BBCOR.  Wood bats allowed. 

COURTESY RUNNERS
(Not used if batting entire line-up.) As per NFHS rules, a courtesy runner may be used for the pitcher or catcher. The courtesy runner must be a substitute player that has not been in the game. A courtesy runner may run for either the pitcher or catcher, but not both. Two courtesy runners (one for pitcher, one for catcher) may be used if the team has eligible substitutes for both roles. If there are no substitutes available, THE TEAM MAY USED THE LAST BATTED OUT AS THE COURTESY RUNNER. IF THE TEAM IS BATTING THE WHOLE LINEUP, THEN IT WOULD BE THE LAST BATTED OUT FOR THE
ENTIRE GAME FOR PITCHER AND CATCHER. THE SAME RUNNER CAN NOT RUN FOR BOTH THE PITCHER AND CATCHER WITHIN THE SAME INNING.

WEATHER CANCELLATIONS
There is a chance this tournament could be rained out. Please be aware that $50.00 of the entry fee will be kept to cover administrative costs if the tournament is cancelled due to inclement weather

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES
Schedules will be released no later than 9:00pm on Wednesday prior to the tournament. Once schedules are released, they can be found on the event’s webpage.