Time Limit

Official game time is at the CONCLUSION OF GROUND RULES!

9u-12u: No new inning after 1 hour and 40 minutes 

13u-18u: No new inning after 2 hours 

Slaughter Rule

15 after 3, 10 after 4, 8 after 5

Rosters

May not exceed 20 players during the tournament for 9u-14u and may not exceed 25 players during the tournament for 15u-18u. No players may be added to a roster once the tournament has begun. Players may not participate on more than 1 team in the same tournament (regardless of age / divisions) All players must listed on the roster and must have a parent fill out a waiver to be eligible to participate!

Protest Fee

$100 cash (on rule interpretation only). Protests must be made prior to the next pitch being thrown. Umpire(s) must be informed first of a protest made during the game. The Tournament Director will make the final decision on all protests.

Game Time

Starting time is forfeit time, unless delay is created by USA Tournament Series. Game time starts at the completion of plate meeting.

Home Team

Determined by coin flip in pool play. Higher seed is awarded the choice of home team in playoffs and championship games. The exceptions to this rule are in the case of a double elimination bracket the undefeated team will always have choice of home or away, regardless of their seed and in a "if" Game, the team that won the "first" Championship Game has choice of home/visitor. If two equal seeds meet then we will use a coin flip. Any seeding disputes will be determined by tournament staff.

Player Minimum

A team must start with a minimum of 9 players but can finish with fewer, taking outs in the vacant batting order positions.

Championship Games

No time limit. No Tiebreaker. Run rule still in effect.

Ties

There are ties in pool play, NO TIES IN championship brackets.

Tie Breakers

Head to Head, Runs Allowed, Runs Scored, Run Differential

Pitching Rules

There are NO pitching restrictions, we HIGHLY recommend that coaches follow USA Pitching Guidelines

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.

Infield Warm Ups

All teams are encouraged to warm-up as much as possible before game time. No pre-game infield

Footwear

No steel spikes for any divisions 12u age and younger. 13u & older MAY use steel spikes. **Reminder NO steel spikes allowed on portable mounds** **Some facilities may prohibit spikes**

Bat Restrictions

Illegal Bat Penalties

Penalties for illegal bats assessed per the NFHS rule book.

Adverse Weather

USA Tournament Series Baseball tournaments will be played in adverse weather conditions. The format may be changed to lesser time limits, fewer innings cancellation of games or seed advancement to complete the tournament. Awards distribution may be based off pool play seeding, in instances where games are played without an elimination finish. If weather becomes a factor, we may revert back to the first Pool Play game or 1/2 of the official game time for the playoff seeding. Coaches and players accept these conditions when entering the tournament. Tournament Philosophy: Score Early, Win Early, Stay Winning. Play to win every game!

Courtesy Runners

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. However, there's an optional (not mandatory) allowance for the catcher only - if the team doesn't meet the NFHS rule (eligible substitute), the last batter out may run for the catcher.

Batting Order

Teams may bat any number of players and retain subs but must remain at the same total number of batters they started with throughout the game: Example 11 batters and 3 subs must finish with 11 batters. Batters not listed defensively will be extra hitters (EP or EH) and may rotate anywhere on the field like any other starter. If a team finishes the game with less players than they started, the team must take outs in the vacant positions (NO EXCEPTIONS).

Refund Policy

There will be administration fee charged for complete rainouts the fee is a percentage of the entry and this amount is available in the team's confirmed registration for the event; 1 game played = 50% future USA Tournament Series event credit, 2 games played = NO FUTURE EVENT CREDIT

Ejections

A player or coach that is exhibits unsporting behavior and is ejected from a game will at a minimum be required to leave the immediate playing field and exit to the closest parking lot. The situation will be reviewed, and any additional consequences may include the player/coach ejection from additional games, or player/coach ejection from the tournament. A fan/spectator that is exhibits unsporting behavior and is removed from a game will at a minimum be required to leave the immediate playing field and exit to the closest parking lot. The situation will be reviewed, and any additional consequences may include the fan/spectator non-admittance for additional games, or the remainder of tournament.

Decisions

Tournament Director shall have final decision on all tournament questions.