TOWN OF NEW CASTLE 2016 EIGHTH ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND U8, U9 AND U10 TRAVEL BASEBALL TOURNAMENT Final Rules and Guidelines

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1 TOWN OF NEW CASTLE 2016 EIGHTH ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND U8, U9 AND U10 TRAVEL BASEBALL TOURNAMENT Final Rules and Guidelines TOURNAMENT WEBSITE (will include scores, schedules, standings and weather cancellation information. Scores: After each game, both teams must their scores to both and This is critical for updating standings, determining playoff seedings, etc. Please do so ASAP after the conclusion of your games. Clean-up: After each game, please make sure that your dugout area is cleaned up and ready for the next team, and ask your fans to do the same in the bleachers/seating areas. FINAL RULES: please distribute Rules and Guidelines to ALL assistant coaches and please stress we require good sportsmanship from all coaches and assistant coaches. ENJOY and WE LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT WEEKEND. Pitching: Player safety is the greatest concern. Please be cognizant of your pitchers arms and let safety and health be the overriding considerations. While pitching rules will be guided by innings pitched we ask you to pay attention to pitches thrown (pitch count) and please let your town s pitch count guidelines factor into your pitching decisions. We are going to use the following guidelines for the Tournament: Pitchers can pitch a total of 9 innings for the Tournament Weekend. If a pitcher enters an inning and throws 1 pitch, that counts as a full inning pitched. This applies for a pitcher starting

2 an inning as well as one coming in in the middle of an inning. 6 Innings maximum in any one day. All pitch logs must be signed by the opposing team after the game. Please be aware of the innings your pitcher pitched in their Rec leagues since Monday the 23 rd. We are giving a little more pitcher flexibility to make sure that there are no advantages or disadvantages associated with Friday night games, Saturday and Sunday games or differences in the draw. Nevertheless, please try to protect your pitchers arms and pitch them prudently. In addition please be very sensitive to pitches thrown (pitch count) and we strongly suggest not having a pitcher, pitch 3 innings a day, on 3 consecutive days. Stealing Bases: For U9 and U10 age groups, there is unlimited stealing, including of home. The U8 age group will have one steal per attempt and runners are not allowed to steal home. Please direct your players not to leave early; that is they cannot lead until after the ball crosses the plate. In the event that a player leaves early, the Ump will provide a first warning and the player will return to their base. Thereafter, if the ump makes a determination that this is purposeful, he can call the player out or return him to the base at his discretion. There is no limit on the number of steals per innings for any of the age groups. U8 and U9: Number of players in Outfield: U8 and U9 can play with 3 or 4 outfielders. Run Rule: Games can be called early based on a 10 run differential after four innings or 3 1/2 if the home team is leading. Both teams must complete their time at bat unless home team is leading. Only six (6) runs may score per inning. Sixth (6th) inning has no run limit. For purposes of calculating net run differential, the maximum is 10 per game. For example, if a team wins 15-2, the net run differential will be 10

3 and not 13. If both teams and umpire agree, games can be finished although the win and final score is determined when the run rule kicks in. Roster Set Up: Teams may elect to bat 9 players AND/OR bat 10 players with the 10th player being an EH. The EH is considered a defensive player and may switch in and out defensively. Teams may also bat their entire roster. Once a player is removed from a game due to injury, and as a result, misses his turn at bat, he may not return to the game. If a team bats entire roster or has no subs when a starter is injured, no out will be recorded each time the injured player's spot comes up to bat, however. If a player is injured in the field, however, he may return to the game as long as his lineup spot has not come up. Starters may re-enter only in their original spot in the line-up (i.e., the number 2 can only re-enter at number 2). Brackets and Playoffs: Tiebreakers: If there is a tie in the standings we will use the following in determining the winner, 2 nd place and so on in a given box: 1) If two teams are tied, the head to head results between those teams will be used to determine the tie. 2) Run Differential (Net runs scored by the team vs. the other teams in their tier). For example: Game 1 Win 6 to 2 is 4 net runs Game 2 Loss 3 to 8 is -5 net runs For a total of -1 net runs (the run differential) Run Differential (Net runs) scored in each game are then added and the totals for each team are compared to decide standings in question.

4 3) In the event of a tie after head to head and run differential are taken into account, we will look at head to head and run differential against common opponents. Field Maintenance: The Town of New Castle will be maintaining the fields over the full weekend. The tournament and all coaches, player families and anybody not employed by the town are restricted from performing any field maintenance. If a field is unplayable as a result of weather, either the game will be cancelled or rescheduled until the field situation is corrected by the town employees. Fields and Pitching Rubbers: Some fields have multiple pitching rubbers. Some are for men s softball, boy s baseball and girl s softball, so they vary by field. For those fields, please use as follows: Gedney 1: First rubber (closest to home plate) or portable mound will be set at 46 feet. Gedney 2: Second rubber (farthest away) Gedney 3: Second rubber (farthest away) Millwood: First rubber (closest to home plate) Rec Field: First rubber (closest to home plate) or portable mound will be set at 46 feet. Wagon Road: Second rubber (farthest away) Start times and Game Duration: Games should begin as close to the scheduled start time as possible. All games are six innings, barring mercy rules (see above), ties after six innings or games called for darkness. Games are to be played to completion when possible. Time permitting, teams should complete extra-inning games. The Ump will be responsible for calling a game in regard to darkness. For non-playoff games, regardless of where things stand, the top of an inning cannot start 1 hour and 50 minutes after a game has started. There will be no time limit for playoff games.

5 Safety: Safety is a priority. No players are allowed to swing bats in an on deck circle or any areas during the game. Players are only allowed to swing their bats when they are at bat. Coaches: Please make sure you enforce this rule. Bats: We are following Little League baseball restrictions on bats. Coaches please enforce this as it s a safety issue. It shall not be more than thirtythree (33) inches in length nor more than two and one-quarter (2¼) inches in diameter. Non-wood bats shall be labeled with a BPF (bat performance factor) of 1.15 or less. Sportsmanship: Good sportsmanship is critical for both kids and coaches. The umps will try to call the best games that they can. Please do not argue with the umps about calls and absolutely do not argue with umps about balls and strikes. If you want to discuss a call or situation with an umpire or the opposing coach, please call time out and discuss it in conversational tones. Remember, the kids and the fans are watching all of us and are here for fun. Ump Fees: Umpire Fees will be paid for by the Tournament Hosts. Baseballs: Balls will be provided to the teams (directly to coaches or to umps prior to each game). Home Team Determination: Teams will flip a coin prior to the game to determine who the home team is for all non-playoff games (bracket play). For play-offs and championship games, seeding will determine home team advantage, based on record and tiebreakers. Trophies: Championship and Runner up teams will receive trophies in each age group. Rain and Field issues: In the event of field closures due to rain, Tournament game schedules will be adjusted to get as many games in as possible and to complete the Tournament by Monday evening. If we play fewer games than expected registration fees will be pro-rated and teams will receive full or partial refunds. In the event of rainouts we ask you to be very flexible in rescheduling and note that some games might have to be played on additional fields or at times outside of your originally stated preferences.

6 Rainouts and scheduling changes will be ed to coaches. Coaches should speak with Tournament Coordinators before taking actions related to schedule changes. Jon Brolin and Alex Cohen (Tournament Directors) will be reachable by cell all weekend and we will have additional Tournament representatives on fields all weekend. Questions or disputes may be directed to: Jon Brolin (917) ; Alex Cohen (917) ; Thanks for participating and Play Ball! New Castle Travel Baseball Committee