Tournament Rules

Fees & Weather Policy

Pay at Plate (PAP). Each team pays the umpires directly before each game.

Fees are set by the umpire association.

This is a free-entry, gate-fee event. If play is suspended by weather or field conditions and cannot resume that day, the gate fee is non-refundable.

Game Times

Every time limit finishes the inning in progress. Each team is assigned a designated home and away game during pool play.

Game durations may be modified by the tournament director for weather or anything else affecting play.

Eligibility

Coaches must be able to produce proof of age upon request.

Format & Bracket

• Pool play seeds all teams into a single-elimination bracket unless otherwise posted at check-in.
• The higher seed is the designated home team for all bracket games.
• If seeds are unavailable or tied entering bracket play, the home team is determined by coin flip.

Equipment

Game balls — teams must provide their own baseballs.

Bats — USSSA-stamped bats are allowed. Bats appearing on the current USSSA banned bat list are not permitted, regardless of stamp.

Metal cleats are not permitted in any division. Rubber/molded cleats or turf shoes only.

Rules of Play

Slash bunting is banned in all age divisions.

Run rules:

• 12 runs after 2½ innings, if the home team is winning
• 10 runs after 4 innings
• 8 runs after 5 innings

If the visiting team leads by the applicable margin after the top half of the deciding inning, play continues through the bottom half so the home team completes its at-bat.

Balks are dead-ball. A fake move to third followed by a throw to first is illegal and will be called a balk.

Pitching — no pitch count or innings limit is enforced. Coaches are asked to use good judgement to avoid overusing any one pitcher across the weekend.

Leadoffs and stealing (9U through 12U player pitch) — runners may steal and leave the base at any time. No leadoff restrictions.

A tied bracket game goes to extra innings with no baserunners and no outs. Play continues until there is a winner.

Seeding & Tiebreakers

• Win/loss
• Head to head
• Runs allowed
• Runs scored
• Coin flip

Protests

Protests cost $200, payable to the tournament director. The tournament director's decision is final.

Coach Pitch (7U–8U)

• Seven runs maximum per inning, or 3 outs
• Infield fly rule applies
• Intentional walks are allowed, once per player per game
• Base runners may leave the base once the ball crosses the plate
• Everyone on the team must bat
• Six pitches per batter, or three strikes
• If the batter fouls off the 6th pitch, they continue hitting until no contact occurs or an in-play hit results
• If the batter takes the 6th pitch, it is an out
• Bunting is not permitted
• A ball hitting the pitching coach is a foul ball, with intent judged by the umpire