Rules

Roster and Guest Player Rules

Rostered Players: A) Players may only be listed on one WCS roster at a time, regardless of age group. a. If a player is guest playing for another team, they do not need to be removed from their main team’s roster. They will be added to the team they are guest playing for as a “guest player”. B) If a player is dropped by their main team, the player may not return to that team as a permanent player, however they can be added as a guest player to play for that team. C) All players participating in WCS events will be required to register with the roster link sent out by their coach. Players’ parent/guardian must fill out all required information before player is active to join a team’s roster. a. Players should not have more than one profile in the system. b. Making multiple accounts for a player will be flagged. Player and/or coach will receive disciplinary action. D) Once a player is registered in the WCS system, they will receive a classification based on their team classification. a. Players may always play up classifications if they are being used as a guest player. b. Players that play down classifications will require the team they are guest playing for, to play up a classification in their age group for that event. E) Players cannot be listed as a guest player and play for their main team in the same event, regardless of age group. F) Players must have necessary documentation turned into WCS if they are grade exemption eligible. Guest Playing: A) Guest players are used to fill out a teams roster for an event. B) Guest Players must be added to the team roster by 4:00PM TUESDAY, leading up to the weekend’s event. C) If the player is not registered in the WCS system. They will not be considered a guest player and can be added to the main roster. D) If a guest player is coming from a higher classification, the team will automatically be moved up to a higher classification for that event, by the tournament director. E) Guest players must be left off the tournament roster by their main team if both the guest team and main team are playing in the same event. (See below for Roster submission). F) Coach of the team requesting a guest player will use the guest player link to have the guest player added to the team. Guest player will be tagged with “guest” next to their name once approved. G) GUEST PLAYER PERIODS a. A team may use up to 6 Guest players per event during the time frame of: i. JULY 1st – DECEMBER 31st. ii. Team will Reclass for event if higher classification players are added as guest players. b. A team may use up to 4 Guest players per event during the time frame of: i. JANUARY 1st – JUNE 30th. ii. Team will Reclass for event if higher classification players are added as guest players. c. Teams may only add guest players from one Classification higher than what the team is registered. i. Example- AA team may only add a AAA player. Team would be reclassed to AAA for that event the guest player is attending. d. Teams will not be reclassed if they are picking up guest players within their same age group and classification. Roster Submission: A) Rosters will always be listed on a teams page. B) To help with all coaches on maintaining an up-to-date roster, Rosters will need to be submitted for approval before each event. You will not have to reload your roster every event. You will just click “submit roster” in your dashboard for that event. a. Roster Submissions must be done before event starts. i. Approved Rosters will be cleared for the event. ii. Rejected Rosters will need to be resubmitted before event begins. iii. If roster is rejected, please contact the tournament director for details on the rejection. C) Players not playing that weekend can be deactivated for that event by removing them from that events roster. YOU DO NOT have to remove them from your team. D) Players guest playing for another team will need to be deactivated from the main teams roster. They do not have to be removed completely from the main team. E) Coaches must use the player link to add players to the roster. a. Parents will be required to fill out all the necessary information for their player to be rostered.

Baseball 8-U Coach Pitch

FIELD DEMENSIONS Pitching coach Box: Marked with Chalk or Paint. Front of box will be 36 feet from the back of Home plate. Back of box will be 42 feet from the back of Home Plate. Defensive Pitcher Box: Marked with Chalk or Paint. Front of box will be 42 feet from the back of Home plate. Back of box will be 46 feet from the back of Home Plate. 60-foot base lines

Game Time limits and rules: A) A complete game will consist of 6 innings or 1 Hour and 30 Minutes of play (inning will finish if time expires during the inning). B) Championship games will have a time limit of two hours and will be determined by a coin flip. C) Home and Away teams for pool play will be determined by a coin flip. For bracket play (excluding championship game), Home team will be determined by the higher seed. D) An inning continues until the offensive team has scored five (5) runs OR until the defensive team has recorded three (3) outs. E) A 10 Run Mercy Rule will be in effect after four innings of play. a. Pool Play: IF the AWAY TEAM goes up by more than 10 Runs in the 5th inning, the HOME TEAM will have the option to hit in the 5th inning, attempting to score runs for Seeding Purposes. IF the AWAY TEAM goes up by more than 6 Runs in the 6 th inning, the HOME TEAM will have the option to hit in the 6th inning, attempting to score runs for Seeding Purposes. b. Bracket Play: After the fourth inning, IF a team cannot mathematically come back to TIE or WIN the game, The game will conclude. 10 Run Mercy Rule is still in effect. F) Pool play games can end in a tie at the end of a completed game or the time limit has been reached. G) In the event a bracket play game is tied at the end of a completed game or a time limit has been reached, an “international tie breaker” will be put into play. The last out of a previous inning will be placed on second base with no outs; and will continue until a team has won. H) All games can start up to thirty minutes before the scheduled game time. I) All game times may be adjusted by the discretion of the site director. J) Each batter will be given six (6) pitches, three (3) swings and missed attempts, or a fair hit ball. Foul balls with two (2) strikes will continue until the batter has either put the ball in play or swung and missed for strike three (3). K) If the batter does not swing at the sixth pitch, it will end the at-bat as a strike out. L) The Pitching Coach must be positioned to where they are not obstructing the players. If the umpire believes the Pitching Coach has obstructed with a live play, obstruction can be called. a. Penalty: Batter will be called out if umpire believes the Pitching Coach has obstructed with a live play, obstruction can be called. a. Penalty: Batter will be called out M) If a batted ball hits the pitching coach: (Umpires Discretion) a. And no attempt was made to avoid contact with the ball, an out will be called and runners will return to the previous base. b. And an attempt was made to avoid contact with the ball, play will stop, runners will return to the previous base and batter will receive a “no pitch.” N) The defensive pitcher shall occupy the pitching area with at least one (1) foot in the area of the defensive pitcher box. The pitcher shall not leave the box until the batter has made contact with the ball. a. PENALTY: If, in the judgement of the umpire, the pitcher has both feet outside of the defensive pitchers box before contact is made, the play shall continue until all action has stopped. At that time, the umpire shall call time, explain the violation by the defense, and the offense shall have the option to take the result of the play or to reset all runners and have the batter hit again. O) Stealing is NOT PERMITTED in Coach pitch. If a runner leaves early and is not put out, he must return to his originating base. If a runner leaves early on a ball batted into play, the runner may only advance one base more than the batter. P) To end a play, the defense must stop the lead runner. This may be accomplished by throwing the ball to the base ahead of the lead runner and either putting the runner out or forcing him to retreat to his last base established. The defensive team may ask for time out only when all runners have stopped any attempts for advancement. Time out will not be allowed if the umpire considers the play “live”. Q) The infield fly rule is NOT in effect. R) All outfielders must remain in the outfield grass until the ball has been put into play by the batter. S) The HOME team is responsible for the scorekeeping; The umpire will keep the game score and will be deemed the final decision on all score related issues. Batting rules: A) Teams must list at least nine (9) batters on the lineup card. B) A team may start the game with 8 players, however the 9th spot in the order will count as an out until it is filled. C) Teams have the option to bat as many players as they choose. D) Any players not in the batting lineup must be listed as a substitution player under the section on the scorecard. a. Penalty: A Substitution player left off the lineup card, that enters the game is considered an illegal player regardless if the player is listed on the tournament roster. The game would resolve in a Forfeit. E) E) No team may add a player to their lineup once the official score card has been turned into the umpire in chief. Any errors to the scorecard “MUST” be addressed prior to turning it into the umpire in chief. It becomes an “official game card” once it has been handed to the umpire in chief. F) If a player in the batting lineup is removed from the game due to a coach’s decision or injury and there is no sub to go in, that position in the batting order will be listed as an automatic out when it is reached until the player returns to the game. G) There will be NO BUNTING in the Coach Pitch Division. H) Faking a bunt then taking a swing or a “butcher boy /slash play” is not permitted for 7u12u age divisions. Penalty will result in a dead ball regardless if contact is made or not. The batter is called out and all runners shall return to the base they occupied at the time of the pitch. Intentional Walk Rule: A) If an intentional walk is called for, the pitcher will not have to throw four pitches outside the strike zone. Instead, the team’s manager may signal and point the runner to first base. No players can make this call. B) For 7u-8u divisions, no batter can be intentionally walked more than one time per game. Re-Entry rule: Starters can re-enter only once in a game. Starters and substitutes are “married” to each other for the re-entry requirements. Designated Hitter/Extra Hitter Rule: A) Any team may use the DH rule for any player in their line-up. (Please see the MLB DH Rule 6.10 for detailed definition of the rule) B) The “Extra Hitter or Extra Player” rule allows any team to bat eleven (11), twelve (12), etc. the EH/EP is free to substitute for any of the nine (9/10) defensive players on the field at any time. The batting order does not change. Any team batting their roster affords them the ability to bat their entire roster and have “free substitutions” on defense. C) Should a player in the lineup be forced to leave the game for any reason and no legal substitutions are available, his/her spot will be an automatic out every time it comes up in the line-up. Contact rule: A) Whenever a tag play is evident, a runner must slide or seek to avoid contact with the fielder and/or catcher. B) Malicious contact shall supersede all obstruction penalties. Malicious contact is solely the judgement of the umpire. C) Runners advancing to a base if in the judgement of the umpire interferes with a throw shall be called out for interference and the batter/runner may also be called out. D) Runners may dive around and under the defensive player in an attempt to reach the base or plate safely. E) There will be no diving over or leaping (landing on feet) over the defensive players. PENALTY: The runner shall immediately be declared out. Should contact occur, additional penalties may be assessed. Courtesy runner Rule: A) A courtesy runner may be used for the catcher only in Coach Pitch. B) The courtesy runner must be a substitute not in the batting line-up. C) If no substitutes are available, then the last recorded out will be used. The only exception is in the first inning where no outs have been recorded; in which case no courtesy runner may be used and the catcher/pitcher must run until an out is recorded by the defense. D) Should a courtesy runner be on base when their spot in the order comes up, the offensive team may not replace the “courtesy runner” with another but rather their position in the lineup will be called out. E) Should an illegal courtesy runner be used, and the defensive team brings it to the umpire’s attention, no out shall be called but rather, the correct runner shall be inserted. This can be one any time before the runner scores. Should the runner score and they are deemed an illegal runner, they will be called out and the run will not count. *This must be done before the next pitch* Defensive rules: A) For 7U-8U, a maximum of 10 players will be on the field for defense. B) The infield shift is allowed. C) Teams have the option to sub freely on defense (with their EH/s) without the umpire having to report changes. Cleat Rule: A) 7u-12u divisions may only wear molded cleats or turfs. Bat Regulations: A) 7-12u divisions will use bats which are clearly marked with 1.15 BPF, USA Baseball or BBCOR B) Wood bats are approved for all age groups Coaching: A) The area directly in front of each dugout will be considered the “coaches’ area”. This area will run the length of the dugout and extend five feet out towards the playing field. Each team may have one manager and one coach in this area during the game. (Some fields do not allow buckets on the field so please respect the park rules) B) No coach or manager may walk down the foul line to coach or manager players. C) The Pitching Coach may not coach from the Pitching Coach Box. D) Umpires will have the final judgement on awarding or taking away bases should a live ball come into contact with either a coach or any foreign objects that are brought onto the fields such as buckets, chairs or stools. E) Each team may have a total of four (4) coaches in their dugout during a game. You may have three coaches and a scorekeeper but no more than four in total. F) Please note that a coach or player may not call “time-out.” They may only ask the umpire, and it will be at their discretion to call an official time out. G) Coaches may only use players that are on their tournament roster. No player shall play for multiple teams in the same tournament, regardless of age division. The first team a player plays in a tournament for will be the only team that player can play for, for the remainder of the tournament. Illegal players in a tournament will be resolved in a forfeit. Ejection: A) Any player or coach ejected from any game will have to leave the playing field. If the umpire believes the situation could become worse if the player or coach is near the playing area still, they may be asked to leave the field site. B) If a player is ejected from the game and the team does not have a sub to replace the position in the offensive lineup, that spot in the order will be recorded as an out. C) The player or coach may be able to return the next scheduled game depending on the severity of the ejection. D) The ejected player or coach shall not return to the field even after the final out is recorded and the game is officially completed. E) The site director or tournament director may extend the ejection for the next game or suspend them for the remainder of the tournament. Protests: A) All protests must be raised verbally by the offended team manager at the time of play and before the next pitch. B) A fee of $100.00 in cash (refunded if the protest is upheld) must accompany the protest and be remitted to the site director. Only then will the official game clock stop. C) All protest decisions are final. The site director and tournament director shall comprise the protest committee for all rule challenges. D) Should the protest be upheld, the fee will be returned to the protesting team manager and play will resume. E) Only decisions involving the misinterpretation or misapplication of a rule may be protested. No Protests shall be allowed in situations involving “judgement of an umpire.” Suspended Game Policy A) Games that do not meet the official game policy due to weather/darkness will be considered a suspended game and resume (if possible) from the point of the suspension at the earliest time available. B) If there is not enough time to resume a suspended game, it will be considered complete and official at the end of the last completed inning. a. Pool play / consolation games: i. If a game is suspended prior to being official and there is not enough to resume, the game will be considered complete at the end of the last complete inning. If tied at the end of the last complete inning, the game will stand as a tie. b. Elimination games i. If one inning hasn’t been completed and the game is suspended without time to resume- the higher seed would advance to the next round. ii. If tied at the end of the last complete inning- higher seed would advance to the next round iii. If tied at the end of the last complete inning and the two teams are the same seed from different divisions entering the game – we would revert to the tiebreaking system in place. iv. If the championship game starts and is not able to complete due to weather/darkness and there is no time to resume – the game would be considered official at the end of the last complete inning v. If tied after the last complete inning- the higher seed will be named champions.

*Rules not specifically outlined will fall under 2022 MLB Rules and guidelines. *

Baseball 10U & 12U Kid Pitch

FIELD DEMENSIONS 10U: Pitcher’s Mound will be set at 46 feet from back of home plate. 65-foot base lines 11U-12U: Pitcher’s Mound will be set at 54 feet from back of home plate. 80-foot base lines Game Time limits and rules: A) GAME TIME LIMITS a. A complete game will consist of 6 innings or 1 Hour and 40 Minutes of play (inning will finish if time expires during the inning). B) Championship games will have a time limit of two hours and will be determined by a coin flip. C) Home and Away teams for pool play will be determined by a coin flip. For bracket play (excluding championship game), Home team will be determined by the higher seed. D) Inning Completion a. An inning continues until the defensive team has recorded three (3) outs. b. An inning can end if the Mercy Run Rule is met in the bottom half of an inning. E) MERCY RUN RULE: a. 12+ Run Lead after 3 Completed Innings b. 10+ Run Lead after 4 Completed Innings c. 8+ Run Lead after 5 Completed innings F) Pool play games can end in a tie at the end of a completed game or the time limit has been reached. G) In the event a bracket play game is tied at the end of a completed game or a time limit has been reached, an “international tie breaker” will be put into play. The last out of a previous inning will be placed on second base with no outs; and will continue until a team has won. H) All games can start up to thirty minutes before the scheduled game time. I) All game times may be adjusted by the discretion of the site director. J) Stealing: Runners may advance at their own discretion. Lead-Offs are in play. K) DROPPED THIRD STRIKE: The Dropped third Stike Rule is in play. L) The defensive team may ask for time out only when the Umpire has considered play to have stopped. Time out will not be allowed if the umpire considers the play “live”. M) Infield fly rule is in effect. N) The HOME team is responsible for the scorekeeping; The umpire will keep the game score and will be deemed the final decision on all score related issues. Batting rules: A) Teams must list at least nine batters on the lineup card. B) A team may start the game with 8 players, however the 9th spot in the order will count as an out until it is filled. C) Teams have the option to bat as many players as they choose. D) Any players not in the batting lineup must be listed as a substitution player under the section on the scorecard. a. Penalty: A Substitution player left off the lineup card, that enters the game is considered an illegal player regardless if the player is listed on the tournament roster. The game would resolve in a forfeit. E) D) All players in the lineup that are not in the defensive lineup will be listed as an Extra hitter (EH). The EH can go in and out of the field without defensive changes being recorded to the umpire. F) E) No team may add a player to their lineup once the official scorecard has been turned into the umpire in chief. Any errors to the scorecard “MUST” be addressed prior to turning it into the umpire in chief. It becomes an “official game card” once it has been handed to the umpire in chief at the plate meeting. G) If a player in the batting lineup is removed from the game due to a coach’s decision or injury and there is no sub to go in, that position in the batting order will be listed as an automatic out when it is reached until the player returns to the game. H) Faking a bunt then taking a swing or a “butcher boy /slash play” is not permitted for 7u12u age divisions. Penalty will result in a dead ball regardless if contact is made or not. The batter is called out and all runners shall return to the base they occupied at the time of the pitch. Designated Hitter/Extra Hitter Rule: A) Any team may use the DH rule for any player in their line-up. (Please see the MLB DH Rule 6.10 for detailed definition of the rule) B) The “Extra Hitter or Extra Player” rule allows any team to bat eleven (11), twelve (12), etc. the EH/EP is free to substitute for any of the nine (9/10) defensive players on the field at any time. The batting order does not change. Any team batting their roster affords them the ability to bat their entire roster and have “free substitutions” on defense. C) Should a player in the lineup be forced to leave the game for any reason and no legal substitutions are available, his/her spot will be an automatic out every time it comes up in the line-up. Intentional Walk Rule: A) If an intentional walk is called for, the pitcher will not have to throw four pitches outside the strike zone. Instead, the team’s manager may signal and point the runner to first base. No players can make this call. Defensive rules: A) A maximum of 9 players will be on the field for defense. B) The infield shift is allowed. C) Teams have the option to sub freely on defense (with their EH/s) without the umpire having to report changes, excluding the pitcher. D) Pitching changes must be reported to the Umpire. A) 8u-12u divisions: A pitcher cannot pitch more than twenty-seven (27) outs in a three-day tournament and no more than eighteen (18) outs in one day. a. If a pitcher is in violation of the pitching rules, the manager and player will be ejected from the game. The game will resume. B) Once a pitcher is removed from the mound, they may not return to the mound that same game. C) Pitchers may not wear on either hand; wrist bands, batting gloves, and arm sleeves, regardless of color or style D) Pitchers may wear prescription glasses. All other eyewear is left up to the umpire’s discretion. Re-Entry rule: A) Starters can re-enter only once in a game. Starters and substitutes are “married” to each other for the re-entry requirements. Contact rule: A) Whenever a tag play is evident, a runner must slide or seek to avoid contact with the fielder and/or catcher. B) Malicious contact shall supersede all obstruction penalties. Malicious contact is solely the judgement of the umpire. C) Runners advancing to a base if in the judgement of the umpire interferes with a throw shall be called out for interference and the batter/runner may also be called out. D) Runners may dive around and under the defensive player in an attempt to reach the base or plate safely. E) There will be no diving over or leaping (landing on feet) over the defensive players. a. PENALTY: The runner shall immediately be declared out. Should contact occur, additional penalties may be assessed. Courtesy runner Rule: A) A courtesy runner may be used for the catcher or pitcher. B) The courtesy runner must be a substitute not in the batting line-up. C) If no substitutes are available, then the last recorded out will be used. The only exception is in the first inning where no outs have been recorded; in which case no courtesy runner may be used and the catcher/pitcher must run until an out is recorded by the defense. D) Should a courtesy runner be on base when their spot in the order comes up, the offensive team may not replace the “courtesy runner” with another but rather their position in the lineup will be called out. E) Should an illegal courtesy runner be used, and the defensive team brings it to the umpire’s attention, no out shall be called but rather, the correct runner shall be inserted. This can be one any time before the runner scores. Should the runner score and they are deemed an illegal runner, they will be called out and the run will not count. *This must be done before the next pitch* Cleat Rule: A) 7u-12u divisions may only wear molded cleats or turfs. Bat Regulations: A) 7-12u divisions will use bats which are clearly marked with 1.15 BPF, USA Baseball or BBCOR B) Wood bats are approved for all age groups Coaching: A) The area directly in front of each dugout will be considered the “coaches’ area”. This area will run the length of the dugout and extend five feet out towards the playing field. Each team may have one manager and one coach in this area during the game. (Some fields do not allow buckets on the field so please respect the park rules) B) No coach or manager may walk down the foul line to coach or manager players. C) Umpires will have the final judgement on awarding or taking away bases should a live ball come into contact with either a coach or any foreign objects that are brought onto the fields such as buckets, chairs or stools. D) Each team may have a total of four (4) coaches in their dugout during a game. You may have three coaches and a scorekeeper but no more than four in total. E) Please note that a coach or player may not call “time-out.” They may only ask the umpire, and it will be at their discretion to call an official time out. F) Coaches may only use players that are on their tournament roster. No player shall play for multiple teams in the same tournament, regardless of age division. The first team a player plays in a tournament for will be the only team that player can play for, for the remainder of the tournament. Illegal players in a tournament will be resolved in a forfeit. a. See Batting Rules for more information related to the official scorecard and players being left off scorecards. Ejection: A) Any player or coach ejected from any game will have to leave the playing field. If the umpire believes the situation could become worse if the player or coach is near the playing area still, they may be asked to leave the field site. B) If a player is ejected from the game and the team does not have a sub to replace the position in the offensive lineup, that spot in the order will be recorded as an out. C) The player or coach may be able to return the next scheduled game depending on the severity of the ejection. D) The ejected player or coach shall not return to the field even after the final out is recorded and the game is officially completed. E) The site director or tournament director may extend the ejection for the next game or suspend them for the remainder of the tournament. Protests: A) All protests must be raised verbally by the offended team manager at the time of play and before the next pitch. B) A fee of $100.00 in cash (refunded if the protest is upheld) must accompany the protest and be remitted to the site director. Only then will the official game clock stop. C) All protest decisions are final. The site director and tournament director shall comprise the protest committee for all rule challenges. D) Should the protest be upheld, the fee will be returned to the protesting team manager and play will resume. E) Only decisions involving the misinterpretation or misapplication of a rule may be protested. No Protests shall be allowed in situations involving “judgement of an umpire.” Suspended Game Policy A) Games that do not meet the official game policy due to weather/darkness will be considered a suspended game and resume (if possible) from the point of the suspension at the earliest time available. B) If there is not enough time to resume a suspended game, it will be considered complete and official at the end of the last completed inning. a. Pool play / consolation games: i. If a game is suspended prior to being official and there is not enough to resume, the game will be considered complete at the end of the last complete inning. If tied at the end of the last complete inning, the game will stand as a tie. b. Elimination games i. If one inning hasn’t been completed and the game is suspended without time to resume- the higher seed would advance to the next round. ii. If tied at the end of the last complete inning- higher seed would advance to the next round iii. If tied at the end of the last complete inning and the two teams are the same seed from different divisions entering the game – we would revert to the tiebreaking system in place. iv. If the championship game starts and is not able to complete due to weather/darkness and there is no time to resume – the game would be considered official at the end of the last complete inning v. If tied after the last complete inning- the higher seed will be named champions.

*Rules not specifically outlined will fall under 2022 MLB Rules and guidelines. *

Baseball 14U & 16U Kid Pitch

FIELD DEMENSIONS 13U-18U: Pitcher’s Mound will be set at 60 feet from back of home plate. 90-foot base lines Game Time limits and rules: A) GAME TIME LIMITS a. A complete game will consist of 6 innings or 1 Hour and 40 Minutes of play (inning will finish if time expires during the inning). B) Championship games will have a time limit of two hours and will be determined by a coin flip. C) Home and Away teams for pool play will be determined by a coin flip. For bracket play (excluding championship game), Home team will be determined by the higher seed. D) Inning Completion a. An inning continues until the defensive team has recorded three (3) outs. b. An inning can end if the Mercy Run Rule is met in the bottom half of an inning. E) MERCY RUN RULE: a. 12+ Run Lead after 3 Completed Innings b. 10+ Run Lead after 4 Completed Innings c. 8+ Run Lead after 5 Completed innings F) Pool play games can end in a tie at the end of a completed game or the time limit has been reached. G) In the event a bracket play game is tied at the end of a completed game or a time limit has been reached, an “international tie breaker” will be put into play. The last out of a previous inning will be placed on second base with no outs; and will continue until a team has won. H) All games can start up to thirty minutes before the scheduled game time. I) All game times may be adjusted by the discretion of the site director. J) DROPPED THIRD STRIKE: The Dropped third Stike Rule is in play. K) The defensive team may ask for time out only when the Umpire has considered play to have stopped. Time out will not be allowed if the umpire considers the play “live”. L) Infield fly rule is in effect. M) The HOME team is responsible for the scorekeeping; The umpire will keep the game score and will be deemed the final decision on all score related issues. Batting rules: A) Teams must list at least nine batters on the lineup card. B) A team may start the game with 8 players, however the 9th spot in the order will count as an out until it is filled. C) Teams have the option to bat as many players as they choose. D) Any players not in the batting lineup must be listed as a substitution player under the section on the scorecard. a. Penalty: A Substitution player left off the lineup card, that enters the game is considered an illegal player regardless if the player is listed on the tournament roster. The game would resolve in a forfeit. E) D) All players in the lineup that are not in the defensive lineup will be listed as an Extra hitter (EH). The EH can go in and out of the field without defensive changes being recorded to the umpire. F) E) No team may add a player to their lineup once the official scorecard has been turned into the umpire in chief. Any errors to the scorecard “MUST” be addressed prior to turning it into the umpire in chief. It becomes an “official game card” once it has been handed to the umpire in chief at the plate meeting. G) If a player in the batting lineup is removed from the game due to a coach’s decision or injury and there is no sub to go in, that position in the batting order will be listed as an automatic out when it is reached until the player returns to the game. Designated Hitter/Extra Hitter Rule: A) Any team may use the DH rule for any player in their line-up. (Please see the MLB DH Rule 6.10 for detailed definition of the rule) B) The “Extra Hitter or Extra Player” rule allows any team to bat eleven (11), twelve (12), etc. the EH/EP is free to substitute for any of the nine (9/10) defensive players on the field at any time. The batting order does not change. Any team batting their roster affords them the ability to bat their entire roster and have “free substitutions” on defense. C) Should a player in the lineup be forced to leave the game for any reason and no legal substitutions are available, his/her spot will be an automatic out every time it comes up in the line-up. Intentional Walk Rule: A) If an intentional walk is called for, the pitcher will not have to throw four pitches outside the strike zone. Instead, the team’s manager may signal and point the runner to first base. No players can make this call. Defensive rules: A) A maximum of 9 players will be on the field for defense. B) The infield shift is allowed. C) Teams have the option to sub freely on defense (with their EH/s) without the umpire having to report changes, excluding the pitcher. D) Pitching changes must be reported to the Umpire. Pitching Rules: A) 13U division: A pitcher cannot pitch more than twenty-seven (30) outs in a three-day tournament and no more than eighteen (21) outs in one day. a. If a pitcher is in violation of the pitching rules, the manager and player will be ejected from the game. The game will resume. B) 14U-18U divisions: No pitching restrictions on the amount of outs a pitcher may throw. C) Once a pitcher is removed from the mound, they may not return to the mound that same game. D) Pitchers may not wear on either hand; wrist bands, batting gloves, and arm sleeves, regardless of color or style E) Pitchers may wear prescription glasses. All other eyewear is left up to the umpire’s discretion. Re-Entry rule: A) Starters can re-enter only once in a game. Starters and substitutes are “married” to each other for the re-entry requirements. Contact rule: A) Whenever a tag play is evident, a runner must slide or seek to avoid contact with the fielder and/or catcher. B) Malicious contact shall supersede all obstruction penalties. Malicious contact is solely the judgement of the umpire. C) Runners advancing to a base if in the judgement of the umpire interferes with a throw shall be called out for interference and the batter/runner may also be called out. D) Runners may dive around and under the defensive player in an attempt to reach the base or plate safely. E) There will be no diving over or leaping (landing on feet) over the defensive players. a. PENALTY: The runner shall immediately be declared out. Should contact occur, additional penalties may be assessed. Courtesy runner Rule: A) A courtesy runner may be used for the catcher or pitcher. B) The courtesy runner must be a substitute not in the batting line-up. C) If no substitutes are available, then the last recorded out will be used. The only exception is in the first inning where no outs have been recorded; in which case no courtesy runner may be used and the catcher/pitcher must run until an out is recorded by the defense. D) Should a courtesy runner be on base when their spot in the order comes up, the offensive team may not replace the “courtesy runner” with another but rather their position in the lineup will be called out. E) Should an illegal courtesy runner be used, and the defensive team brings it to the umpire’s attention, no out shall be called but rather, the correct runner shall be inserted. This can be one any time before the runner scores. Should the runner score and they are deemed an illegal runner, they will be called out and the run will not count. *This must be done before the next pitch* Cleat Rule: 13-18u divisions have the options of wearing molded cleats, turfs, or metal spikes. Bat Regulations: A) 13u division will have a maximum drop weight of -8 marked with 1.15 BPF, USA Baseball or BBCOR B) 14-18u divisions will be required to meet high school bat specifications (-3 BBCOR). C) Wood bats are approved for all age groups Coaching: A) The area directly in front of each dugout will be considered the “coaches’ area”. This area will run the length of the dugout and extend five feet out towards the playing field. Each team may have one manager and one coach in this area during the game. (Some fields do not allow buckets on the field so please respect the park rules) B) No coach or manager may walk down the foul line to coach or manager players. C) Umpires will have the final judgement on awarding or taking away bases should a live ball come into contact with either a coach or any foreign objects that are brought onto the fields such as buckets, chairs or stools. D) Each team may have a total of four (4) coaches in their dugout during a game. You may have three coaches and a scorekeeper but no more than four in total. E) Please note that a coach or player may not call “time-out.” They may only ask the umpire, and it will be at their discretion to call an official time out. F) Coaches may only use players that are on their tournament roster. No player shall play for multiple teams in the same tournament, regardless of age division. The first team a player plays in a tournament for will be the only team that player can play for, for the remainder of the tournament. Illegal players in a tournament will be resolved in a forfeit. a. See Batting Rules for more information related to the official scorecard and players being left off scorecards. Ejection: A) Any player or coach ejected from any game will have to leave the playing field. If the umpire believes the situation could become worse if the player or coach is near the playing area still, they may be asked to leave the field site. B) If a player is ejected from the game and the team does not have a sub to replace the position in the offensive lineup, that spot in the order will be recorded as an out. C) The player or coach may be able to return the next scheduled game depending on the severity of the ejection. D) The ejected player or coach shall not return to the field even after the final out is recorded and the game is officially completed. E) The site director or tournament director may extend the ejection for the next game or suspend them for the remainder of the tournament. Protests: A) All protests must be raised verbally by the offended team manager at the time of play and before the next pitch. B) A fee of $100.00 in cash (refunded if the protest is upheld) must accompany the protest and be remitted to the site director. Only then will the official game clock stop. C) All protest decisions are final. The site director and tournament director shall comprise the protest committee for all rule challenges. D) Should the protest be upheld, the fee will be returned to the protesting team manager and play will resume. E) Only decisions involving the misinterpretation or misapplication of a rule may be protested. No Protests shall be allowed in situations involving “judgement of an umpire.” Suspended Game Policy A) Games that do not meet the official game policy due to weather/darkness will be considered a suspended game and resume (if possible) from the point of the suspension at the earliest time available. B) If there is not enough time to resume a suspended game, it will be considered complete and official at the end of the last completed inning. a. Pool play / consolation games: i. If a game is suspended prior to being official and there is not enough to resume, the game will be considered complete at the end of the last complete inning. If tied at the end of the last complete inning, the game will stand as a tie. b. Elimination games i. If one inning hasn’t been completed and the game is suspended without time to resume- the higher seed would advance to the next round. ii. If tied at the end of the last complete inning- higher seed would advance to the next round iii. If tied at the end of the last complete inning and the two teams are the same seed from different divisions entering the game – we would revert to the tiebreaking system in place. iv. If the championship game starts and is not able to complete due to weather/darkness and there is no time to resume – the game would be considered official at the end of the last complete inning v. If tied after the last complete inning- the higher seed will be named champions.

*Rules not specifically outlined will fall under 2022 MLB Rules and guidelines. *

Softball 6U & 8U Coach Pitch/Modified Pitch

1. Pitching Modification: While the pitcher takes the signal, her stride foot may be on or behind the pitcher’s plate as far back as desired. Once the pitcher initially sets the toe of her stride foot, she CANNOT move it to increase the distance behind the pitcher’s plate. In addition, the pitcher must take or appear to take a signal while in the pitching and signal-taking positions.

2. One-Way Communication: All defensive players may have digital one-way communication from the dugout using wristbands to show pitch, shift, etc. The use of a smart watch is illegal and subject to the penalty listed below. Audio one-way communication can go from the dugout to the catcher ONLY. The communication devise CANNOT be used for two-way communication and will also carry the same penalty.

PENALTY: The umpire shall issue a team warning to the coach of the team involved and the next offender(s) of that team will be ejected along with the head coach.

ALL COMMUNICATION IS FOR DEFENSE ONLY AND CANNOT BE USED ON OFFENSE.

3. Intentional Walks: All pitches, including a pitchout, must be legally pitched to the catcher and ball is live.

4. Courtesy Runner: We will be using the written NFHS courtesy runner rule, which states the courtesy runner must be an eligible sub that has not been in the game at any capacity.

5. Lineup Modifications: Any option listed below may be used:

Option 1: Straight nine- Those nine can play any position on defense without reporting to the umpire.

Option 2: DP/Flex- 10 players are listed on the line-up, but only 9 bat. The DP can bat for any player that you designate prior to the start of the game. That player is designated as the Flex and should be listed in the 10th spot on the line-up card. Any of the 10 players can play on defense.

Option 3: EH/EP- This gives you the option to bat 10 players and any 9 can play defense. This player can be placed anywhere in the line-up.

Option 4: DP/Flex and the EP/EH- This allows you to have 11 players listed on the lineup, only 10 will bat any 9 of these players can play defensively. The Flex is listed at the bottom of the lineup.

It is NOT free substitution or bat your lineup during any game. Each team will need to turn in a lineup at the home plate meeting.

6. Run Rules: The run rule for all age groups is 10 runs after 4 innings or 8 runs after 5 innings.

7. Coin Flip: A coin flip will determine the home team for all games, including bracket and championship games.

8. Game Times: 1hr 30 mins finish the inning. Championship game will be 1hr 30 mins or 7 innings.

9. Ties: A pool game can end in a tie, but all bracket games must have a winner. Pool games will seed you into your bracket.

Two-Way Tie (Same Pool): 1. Win/Loss Record, 2. Head to Head, 3. Total Run Differential, 4. Least Runs Allowed, 5. Most Runs Scored, 6. Last Actual Run Differential (LAD) 7. Coin Flip.

Three-Way tie (Same Pool): 1. Total Run Differential, 2. Least Runs Allowed, 3. Most Runs Scored, 4. Last Actual Run Differential (LAD), 5. Coin Flip.

IMPORTANT: Maximum run spread per game is 7, regardless of score; forfeits are scored 7-0.

10. Age Cut-Off: August 31st

The age of the player on August 31st indicates what division they must play in. For example, if a player is 12 on August 31st they can still play 12u, but if the player is 13 on August 31st they must move up and play 14u.

11. Rosters: A full team roster must be uploaded to your Triple Crown Sports account prior to the start of the event. Each player must also have a valid up-to-date signed waiver on file before they step onto a field.

*NO college players, college students, or those that have graduated high school are allowed to play in this event. First offense will be a warning, second you will forfeit the game.

12. Protests: This is a NO PROTEST event.

13. Ejections: Coaches, players and/or spectators who have been asked to leave the game must immediately depart the field and go to the parking lot. The ejected individual then must sit out the following game. Should an ejected coach/spectator not comply and begin to verbally/physically contest the ejection, the site director has the right to forfeit the game.

*The tournament director has the right to change format during the event.

Softball 10U, 12U and 14U Kid Pitch