10U rustbuster Tournament Rules 1. We will be adhering to SWOL League Rules with the following exceptions: a. 1:45 time limit (inclusive of weather delays). No new inning can start after 1:45 though the current inning can be completed. b. If a game is tied at the time limit, teams will play ONE extra inning using California tiebreaker rules to try to break the tie. California tiebreaker: the last batted out will be placed on second base with one out to start the next new inning. If that inning ends in a tie, the game will be counted as a tie in pool play. In the event that extra innings are needed before the time limit, they will be played as normal extra innings until the time limit is hit, at which point the one inning California tiebreaker will take effect. The time limit and tiebreaker will also apply in single elimination play, with those games being played until a winner is decided. c. 46 Pitching. Bases will be placed at 65 feet. Leadoffs are allowed. d. Nations Baseball pitching rules: Pitchers may not throw more than 6 innings (18 outs) in a single day and no more than 9 innings (27 outs) over three days e. Run rules: 15 after 3, 10 after 4 & 8 after 5 f. Roster batting and courtesy runners (pitchers & catchers only) are allowed. 2. Coin toss prior to each game will determine home team in preliminary pool play. In the second round of pool play, home team will be decided by seed. Seeding is determined by preliminary pool play record. Tiebreakers include 1) head-to-head 2) run differential and, if necessary, a coin flip. 3. Designated home team MUST keep the official book, record innings pitched for each player for both teams (form provided) and return form to tournament director with both the home and visiting team coach s signature. It is also the responsibility of the visiting team to review the pitching form before signing. 4. We will be using a portable outfield fence for this tournament. Any batted fair balls that bounce over the fence or go past the fence in foul territory will be called a ground-rule double. This wall also provides the opportunity for teams to warm-up in the outfield before their game. Because of this, we expect that all teams will be ready to play within 10 minutes of the previous game s completion (as much as 30 minutes early). 5. The umpires are in charge of the game. Excessive arguing or abuse will not be tolerated. The umpire s decision on any judgment call is final. Rule interpretation can be discussed with the tournament director
6. Ejection of a player will result in suspension, meaning removal from the stadium, for the remainder of that game. Typically, ejected players will be eligible to resume play at the next scheduled game unless the reason for ejection is flagrant. In that case, the coach s ejection rule will apply resulting in suspension both that game and their team s next scheduled game. Note: While we want the kids to play, should the offense be serious, so too must be the punishment. Any second offense will result in being banned from the complex for the remainder of the tournament. NO EXCEPTIONS. Ejection of a coach or parent will result in suspension for the remainder of that game and their teams next scheduled game. This means removal from the game site. Any second offense will result in being banned from the complex for the remainder of the tournament. Folks, let s all keep in mind that this is youth baseball! NO EXCEPTIONS TO THE ABOVE. 7. All team warm-ups will only be allowed in designated warm-up areas. No pre-game practice on any mound or plates. No pre-game infield practice. Teams may warm up before their game in the grass areas both inside and outside the stadium and the outfield beyond the portable fence. 8. Weather Policy: Games will not be played in heavy rain or nearby lightning. The umpire will have the final say on when to delay a game if there is inclement weather. A game cancellation or suspension and subsequent tourney re-formatting that results will be announced by the tournament director following these rules: a. In the event of a delay, teams should not leave the premises as the field drains quickly (unless granted permission by a tournament official) b. Any game experiencing more than a one hour delay will be canceled such that the remaining games that day are unaffected. In that case, the next game may begin up to 30 minutes earlier than scheduled weather permitting. Games that are delayed for more than an hour or reach the time limit will be considered final no matter the score once 2 innings are completed. Otherwise, the game is considered a rainout. c. Unfortunately, we do not have any room in the schedule to make up rained out games. If a game is rained out, those teams will simply play one less game. d. Final decision on all rainouts and rescheduling will be made by tournament director. 9. The tournament entry fee is non-refundable. NO EXCEPTIONS 10. Any team may schedule time to hit in the Freedom Baseball Academy at a discounted rate of $35 for a half hour or $65 for an hour. All requests for the academy must go through the tournament director and reservations are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Payment must be made by cash or check at the time of using the academy.
Format This is a Double Pool format tournament with a four-game minimum. Teams will be randomly assigned to preliminary Red/Blue pools. Each team will play 2 games during this round (round robin in 3-team pool but not in 4-game pool). The top 3 teams from preliminary pool play will advance to the Gold championship pool. The remaining 4 teams will advance to the Silver Consolation pool. Pool Tie-breaker procedures 1. Head-to Head 2. Run Differential (There will be a cap of 8 runs when calculating run differential: if a team wins 15-3, the run differential would still be calculated as 8) 3. Runs Allowed (Same cap of 8) 4. Coin Toss In the event of a 3-way tie, the above tie breakers will be used to eliminate ONE team. Once that team is eliminated, the tie breakers will again be used again to decide which team advances. (Head-to-Head will generally be used). EX: Team A 1-2 run differential +5 Team B 1-2 run differential 0 Team C 1-2 run differential -2 Team C would be eliminated since head to head can t settle the tie break and record against common opponent can t settle it either. Run differential can and Team C has the lowest therefore they are eliminated. Team A and Team B remain tied. Since Team B beat Team A in Pool play Team B advances even though their run differential is lower that Team A. Consolation games We ve experienced difficulties getting teams to show up for these games. If your team is not going to play a Silver Pool game, please inform us in advance. Ground Rules and Stadium Information 1. NO steel cleats. Molded plastic cleats, turf shoes or sneakers only. 2. NO outside food and beverage, no coolers will be allowed in the ballpark. Yes, we are trying to sell concessions. We have exclusive arrangements will vendors that base their support of the Freedom on their sales volume. Our prices may indeed be a bit higher than the convenience stores down the street or the volunteer-run stand at other venues, but they are not paying $100,000 in Workers Comp premiums either! Concessions will be available throughout the tournament, so any fan entering the ballpark with ANY outside food or beverage will be asked to remove it from the stadium. Fans who do not follow the policy will be asked to leave. NO EXCEPTIONS 3. Freedom will provide water coolers in the dugouts. Gatorade and bottled water will be served at discounted rates for this tournament
4. NO sunflower seeds, peanuts, gum or tobacco products will be allowed on the field. Peanuts and sunflower seeds are not allowed in the stadium at all. Seeds get stuck in the fibers of the FieldTurf and are very difficult to clean up. Seeds can also clog our drainage system. We just spent thousands to dig up the turf to clear a clog made up of seeds. Please don t make us do that again! UC Health Stadium is an allergy friendly venue and the use of peanuts might be dangerous to some fans. Fans who violate the peanut and sunflower seeds rule will be asked to leave the ballpark. Players seen spitting sunflower seeds will be ejected from the game. We are NOT kidding. 5. NO smoking is permitted in the stadium, the only exception is the bar area on the first base side of the concourse 6. NO players, coaches or fans are allowed on the balcony level of the stadium without permission from the Tournament Director. No one is permitted up there until cleared by local officials. 7. Teams enter through Main Entrance 8. Gates open 60 minutes before the first game of the day 9. Teams must arrive an hour prior to their game time in case of a run rule 10. Electronic scoreboard utilized 11. Public Address Announcer provided 12. Please make an extra copy of your starting lineup to give to announcer each game that has the players first and last names and uniform numbers 13. Please provide Freedom with pronunciations so that player names that might be difficult to pronounce are announced correctly Waiver All coaches and teams must sign Florence Freedom waiver to be eligible to play in tournament Freedom Provides: Baseballs Umpires Water coolers in both dugouts Admission $3 for adults (will only need to pay once per day, the gate fee includes a free soda voucher) Free admission for teams, coaches (3) and kids 12 and under NO Refunds for gate admission Concessions open (including beer!)
PITCHING RULES AND LIMITATIONS 1. Limitations of pitching are based upon recorded outs while the pitcher is on the mound. a. In all age groups that are scheduled for six innings, a pitcher cannot pitch more than 18 outs in any given day. b. In all age groups 16 and younger that are scheduled for seven innings, a pitcher cannot pitch more than 21 outs in any given day. c. For six-inning games, a pitcher cannot pitch more than 27 outs in three consecutive days, regardless of game guarantee. e. For seven-inning 16U and younger games, a pitcher cannot pitch more than 30 outs in three consecutive days, regardless of game guarantee. f. Any pitcher in the 16U or younger divisions that has pitched three days in a row must rest the 4th day regardless of outs recorded. g. Pitching limitations stop for the day when the park is shut down for the night and the teams leave. h. When games are suspended and continued the next day, pitching limitations are split between the two days. i. In the case of a double or triple play, there is no penalty for exceeding outs recorded at the time of the play. j. It is the duty of each team s manager to protest pitching violations by contacting the event director prior to the start of the next game of the team in possible violation. k. Any outs recorded during a game once it is ruled a forfeit count toward the pitcher s recorded outs. l. Pitchers who violate pitching limitations are ejected from the game. Other penalties, including forfeit, may be imposed by the tournament or league director. A violation of pitching limitations is determined when a pitcher toes the rubber to throw to the next batter after reaching his or her pitching limit. 2. Pitchers a. Balks are enforced in 12U+ age divisions without warning. In age divisions 11U and below, balks are not enforced strictly unless a persistent violation of the balk rule occurs. b. Nations Baseball uses OBR (MLB) rules for balks. The balk can be a live ball (depending on the situation). The intent is not to penalize the offense. 3. A second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning causes the pitcher s automatic removal from the mound (not the game). 4. When a pitcher takes his or her position at the beginning of each inning, or when he or she relieves another pitcher, he or she is permitted warm-up pitches, not to exceed eight preparatory pitches to the catcher or coach. 5. A pitcher removed from the pitching position cannot return to the pitching position during a game, but can re-enter to any other position.