2010 TOURNAMENT RULES for EASI /USSSA
1. TOURNAMENTS will be round robin, bracket play or pool play. There will be a three (3) game guarantee.
2. WINNERS OF POOL PLAY will be determined by:
A. Win/loss record
B. Head to head
C. Runs allowed
D. Run differential (+/-8 max)
E. USSSA points
F. Coin toss
In the round robin format if a game ends in a tie, it will be recorded as a zero.
3. POOL PLAY: There can be ties if regulation time has expired or innings have been completed. ONCE AN INNING BEGINS, IT MUST BE COMPLETED, REGARDLESS OF THE SCORE OR UNTIL A RUN RULE IS MET. NOTE: INNINGS WILL BE STARTED AS LONG AS TIME REMAINS.
4. AGE LIMITS: Age before May 1st of 2011 is how playing age is determined. Coaches will be required to have copies of birth certificates with them. Failure to have a birth certificate for a player being protested will result in game forfeiture. Official tournament roster must be on-line at www.usssa.com prior to 1st game. No changes can be made until the completion of the tournament. Playing an illegal player will result in forfeiture of all games the illegal player participated in. Players may not participate on more than one (1) team during the tournament. Tournament director can verify at any time that the names/date of birth on the birth certificates match EXACTLY to the on-line roster. Any difference will result in that player not being able to play in the remainder of the tournament.
5. GAME TIME: In pool play games, the home team will be determined by the coin toss. The team on the top of bracket or listed last in pool play will occupy third base dugout. In bracket play, the highest seed will be home team except for the championship game where a coin toss will determine home team. A team playing in back to back games will remain in the same dugout. Teams may play an official game with an eight (8) player line-up. If a team plays with an eight (8) player line-up, an out shall be declared for the ninth (9th) position in the batting line-up each turn at bat. A ninth (9) player may be added to the batting order as soon as he becomes available.
6. GAME LENGTH: Ages 5 thru 7, game time will be 5 innings or 1 hr. 15 minutes
Age 8, game time will be 6 innings or 1 hr. 15 minutes
Ages 9 thru 14, game time will be 6 innings or 1 hr. 20 minutes unless otherwise stated on bracket.
Game length can be changed by EASI to accommodate number of teams/weather.
7. UNIFORMS: Each player must have a different number on their jersey. Cleats are only allowed for ages 13 and over.
8. RUN RULE: Ages 5 thru 7, 15 runs after three innings, 8 after four innings. Age 8, 15 runs after four innings, 8 after 5. Teams can only score 7 runs per inning.
Ages 9 thru 14, 20 runs (mercy rule)
15 runs after 3 innings
8 runs after 4 innings
9. PITCHING RULES: Ages 9 thru 14, pitchers are allowed to pitch 6 innings in one day or 8 innings in three consecutive days. The maximum a pitcher can pitch in one day is 3 innings in order to be allowed to pitch the next day. EXAMPLE: day one/ 3 innings; day two/ 3 innings, day three/ 2 innings. Do not exceed 8 innings in two consecutive days. Violation will be forfeiture of game. Innings will be determined by outs: 1 out = 1/3 inning, 2 outs = 2/3 inning, 3 outs = 1 inning. Coaches are allowed 2 trips to the mound per inning, per pitcher. On the 2nd trip you must remove the pitcher. A pitcher that is removed because of their 2nd trip may not return to the pitching position. Any pitcher may return to the mound if he is removed between innings or on the coaches 1st trip to the mound and he remains in the batting lineup. All intentional walks, just tell the umpire you want to walk the batter.
10. SUBSTITUTIONS: Please report subs to the official scorekeeper (home team). Starters may re-enter one time at any point in the game and must return to their original spot in the lineup. A sub, once removed from the game, may not return to the game. NOTE: In the event of illness, injury or ejection or any other emergency and all subs have been used, your team will have an automatic out in that position. You can finish the game as long as you have at least 8 players, below eight players will be a forfeit.
11. CONTINUOUS LINE-UP or EXTRA HITTER (EH): Teams may bat a nine (9) player line-up, a ten (10) player line-up using an extra hitter (EH) or a continuous line-up of all present uniformed players. Such line-up must be declared before the state of the game and used the entire game. When playing with a continuous line-up, all players other than the nine (9) defensive position players are Extra Hitters and may move freely in defensive positions. Any player(s) arriving after the game has begun, shall be added to the bottom of the batting line-up. For teams using a continuous line-up, the courtesy runner for the pitcher or catcher only shall be the player whom recorded the previous out. If no outs have been recorded, the courtesy runner shall be the previous batter no on base. If a courtesy runner is determined to be ineligible, a proper replacement (if available) will be used without penalty. If no proper courtesy runner is available, the pitcher and/or catcher must run for themselves.
12. Ages 5-8: Only full roster batting, no infield fly rule, no intentional walks. T-ball will be allowed to have only 3 swings before the batter is called out. 7 and 8 year olds will be allowed a total of 6 pitches (or three swinging strikes) before the batter is called out, even if the 6th pitch is a foul. T-ball and 7 year olds get no intentional walks. 8 year olds get one intentional walk per player. Bunting is allowed with a runner on 3rd for 8 year olds only. Teams may bunt a maximum of two (2) times per inning. If a batted ball hits the machine, the batter is awarded first base and all other runners will be awarded one base. Stealing is allowed in 8 year old only once the ball has crossed home plate. The machine will be set 42 feet from the back of home plate to the front leg. 7 year olds the speed of the machine is 39 mph. 8 year olds the speed of the machine is 42 mph. There can be 4 outfielders. The extra player must play the outfield.
13. 9 year olds – No infield fly rule.
14. CONDUCT: Any player, manager, coach, or fan ejected from the game by an umpire must immediately leave the complex grounds and may not return for any reason until the next scheduled game. If the same person is ejected a second time, he or she will not be allowed to participate for the remainder of the tournament. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RULE MAY RESULT IN FORFEITURE OF THE GAME. Heckling of the opposing team in any manner is prohibited.
15. RAIN OUTS: Start “0” games = full refund
Start “1” game = 50% refund
Start “2” games = no refund
16. RAIN DELAYS: EASI reserves the right to change the tournament format in order to complete the tournament.
17. SUSPENDED GAMES: In tournament competition, any game not legally completed because of inclement weather or other unforeseen developments shall be a suspended game and play shall resume from the point of suspension.
18. GATE FEES: For TOURNAMENTS – General admission is $5.00 per adult, 6 to 16 and seniors (60 and over) are $3.00, six and under are free. Each team will be provided with three (3) coach’s passes.
19. PROTEST PROCEDURE: You must notify the umpire prior to the next pitch. The umpire shall stop the game and summon the tournament committee. The manager of the protesting team must present a $100.00 cash protest fee to the committee before the protest will be accepted. No protest allowed for judgment calls. If you win your protest, the $100.00 will be refunded.
20. SCOREKEEPERS: The home team scorekeeper will be the official book. The starting time must be recorded as determined by the umpire. If at all possible, both scorekeepers need to sit together.
21. REPORTING: Each team must sign the umpire’s card after game. Umpires’ card is the official card.
22. USSSA rules will be in effect for any items not covered in the tournament rules.
23. PARK RULES: No outside food or drinks are allowed in the park. Team drinks and snacks are available at a discounted rate at the concession stand. No pets, no use of ANY tobacco products, no skateboarding, rollerblades, bikes or scooters. If one of your team members refuses to follow the park rules, their child will not be allowed to play until they comply with the park rules. No one is allowed on the infields when they are not in use. No infield practice is allowed along with soft toss into the fences.
