Baseball Rules

Classification System

Park Classification Group

  • 1-199: C Classification
  • 200-499: B Classification
  • 500+: A classification

*Based upon age groups 5-12

Age restrictions

  • 5uCP Division: Players born up to April 30, 2017 are eligible
  • 6uCP Division: Players born on/after May 1, 2017 are eligible
  • 7uCP Division: Players born on/after May 1, 2016 are eligible
  • 8uCP Division: Players born on/after May 1, 2015 are eligible
  • 9u Division: Players born on/after May 1, 2014 are eligible
  • 10u Division: Players born on/after May 1, 2013 are eligible
  • 11u Division: Players born on/after May 1, 2012 are eligible
  • 12u Division: Players born on/after May 1, 2011 are eligible

Basepath and Mound Distances

5

-- 

60'

6

--

60'

7

--

60'

8

--

60'

9

46'

65'

10

46'

65'

11

50'

70'

12

50'

70'

Game Topics

Home Team

  1. In pool play, a coin toss determines the home team.
  2. In bracket play, the higher seed has choice of home or away (same seeds that play each other in bracket play will be a coin toss). The home team keeps the official scorebook.
  3. The visiting team runs the scoreboard where applicable.

Game Time Limits

Game time limits apply to all games, including Championship games.

  1. Coach Pitch, 5u-8u: 1:15
  2. 9u-10u: 1:30
  3. 11u-12u: 1:45

Innings per Game

All games for 12u and younger are six (6) innings.

Max Runs per Inning

7 runs per inning for 5u, 6u, 7u, & 8u. No run limit for 9u and older

Mercy Rule: 9u and older

  1. 15 runs after 3 innings
  2. 12 runs after 4 innings
  3. 8 runs after 5 innings
  4. Mathematical elimination for all coach pitch

Forfeits

Forfeits are scored as 7-0

Tiebreakers, Pool Play

  1. Record
  2. Head-to-head (only if 2 teams are tied. If 3 or more teams are tied, then the first tiebreaking criteria is run differential, and never reverts to head-to-head).
  3. Run differential (the maximum run differential is 7 runs per game).
  4. Runs allowed
  5. Runs scored
  6. Coin flip
  7. Bracket protection:
  8. B and C Class:
  9. Will not play a team first round that played in pool play.
  10. Will not play a team from their park first round of bracket play.

Extra Innings, Bracket Play Games

Start with the last batted out on 2B, and 1 out.

Final Score Confirmation

All managers/head coaches must meet with the umpires immediately after the game to confirm the score and pitching records.

Official Games: If a game is cancelled due to weather…

  1. For 5u-12u, 3 innings (2.5 with home team leading) is a complete game.
  2. If an official game is suspended in the middle of an inning, then the score reverts to the last completed inning.
  3. If a game is cancelled due to weather, the teams must play the next day. (i.e., if a Sunday game gets cancelled, they will play Monday).

Protests

For rule interpretations only, the protesting team must pay $100 in cash. If the protest is successful, the money is refunded.

Umpire Ejections

The ejected party must leave the field area immediately and not be visible to the game and not communicate with the team. The ejected party may not return to the park for the remainder of the tournament. If the ejected party does not leave accordingly, that person’s team will be disqualified.

  1. Districts hosting the tournament will provide their own umpires.
  2. Region, state, and championship umpires will be provided.

Zero Tolerance Policy

Any coach/player/parent/fan/spectator who is ejected from a game will be out for the entire tournament. Any egregious offenses or a second offense may result in suspension for the year.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Any aggression towards umpires, tournament officials, the opposing team, fans, or spectators, is subjected to any or all of the following:

  1. A warning
  2. A restriction to the bench/dugout for the remainder of the game. A coach may leave the bench/dugout to attend to a player who becomes ill or injured.
  3. An immediate ejection
  4. A ban from the remainder of the tournament
  5. A ban from all future tournaments

Pitching Topics

Pitching Limits

USA pitch count

AGE DAILY MAX PITCHES REQUIRED REST (PITCHES)        
    0 DAYS 1 DAY 2 DAYS 3 DAYS 4 DAYS
9 -10 75 20-Jan 21-35 36-50 51-65 66+
11 - 12 85 20-Jan 21-35 36-50 51-65 66+

Warmup Pitches

8 pitches if the starting pitcher or a new pitcher; 5 pitchers if a returning pitcher.

Pitcher Removal

After 3 charged conferences (i.e., mound visits), or for any charged conference in excess of 1 in each extra inning, the pitcher shall be removed as pitcher for the duration of the game.

Pitching Violation

A protest may be filed at any point after the pitcher in violation records an out past his/her legal limit but must be filed prior to the game card being signed and/or the umpires leaving the field after the game. The penalty for a successful protest includes forfeiting the game and the manager is ejected (see Umpire Ejections).

No re-entering the pitcher on the mound.

Hitting Topics

Dropped 3rd Strike

Hitters can advance for 11u and older.

Lead offs

Closed through 10u.

Infield Fly Rule

Only for 9u and older.

Slashing (Fake Bunt, Pull Back, Full Swing)

Not allowed

Missing Batter or Injured Batter

Automatic out unless a legal substitution occurs.

Slung Bat

Player is called out after a warning to that player.

Courtesy Runner

  1. A courtesy runner is allowed for the catcher. All other subs must be an eligible substitute.
  2. Use of DH is allowed. The DH is connected to the fielding player, if the fielding player hits, the DH can re-enter once.