Tournament Rules

No Coaches Meeting
 
There is no coaches meeting. Teams should come to the site of their first scheduled game to begin play. Head coach is required to have a copy of the team insurance certificate and player birth docs in their possession at all times. In order to question age qualification of an opposing player, a team raising the question must pay $100 protest fee. If player is found to be in violation of age limits, team receives refund of protest fee. If the player is found to be in compliance with age limits, protesting team forfeits $100 protest fee.

We provide baseballs.

All championships are exclusively sanctioned by Virginia USSSA Baseball.
 
USSSA registration needs to be obtained by each team to complete the registration process. 
- Register your team w/ USSSA 
 
No Shows and Forfeits:
Teams that are no shows for a game will be subject to immediate disqualification from the tournament and will forfeit 100% their entry fees.
The team will be reported to state and national sanctioning bodies and tournament directors for additional review and potential penalties. Teams that are forced to forfeit a game in progress because of too few players to continue or other rules infractions, will be allowed to complete the event but will not be permitted to compete in the championship round.
 
Saturday, September 1
2020 Tournament Rules: 9U-JV Divisions
Unless modified, play in all divisions will be governed by the current year NFHS Rules Book. On-site tournament director reserves the right to modify rules and game schedules as needed in the best interest of the event.
 
Bat and Cleat restrictions
Bats: BBCOR or Wood or 1.15 rated bats, USSSA Stamped.
Cleats: Ages 8U-12U must wear rubber cleats.

***Starting January 1, 2020, USSSA 13u division will have a new bat limit. A maximum of drop 8 (-8) will be the new bat restriction for the 13u age group. This will only apply to 13u events and teams playing in 13u events. 
 
Regulation Game:
9U Division: 6 innings (No leads, dropped third strike)
10U-12U Division: 6 innings (Leads, dropped third strike.)
13U-18U Division: 7 innings (Leads, dropped third strike.)
 
Time Limit:
9U-12U Age Division: One hour and fifty minutes (1:50). No New Inning after 1:45.
13U-14U Age Division: One hour and fifty minutes (1:50). No New Inning after 1:45.
 
An inning started prior to the expiration of the time limit will be completed. No new inning may be started once the time limit expires. During first-round pool play and consolation bracket play, if a game is tied at the end of regulation or expiration of the time limit, the tie will stand and be recorded as such. In other words, there will be no extra-inning games except in single-elimination championship bracket play. (Time limits are subject to change in the event of rain delays and could become "drop dead" time limits, meaning the game is called the moment time expires.)
 
Home and Visitors:
Pool Play - Home team is determined by a coin toss.
Bracket Play - Higher seeded team is home.
 
International Tie-Breaker Rule:
The International Rule for extra innings games is in effect for single-elimination championship bracket. It will be employed if the game is tied at the end of regulation play or at the expiration of time. In other words, if the game is tied after 5 innings and time has expired, the 6th and any subsequent inning would be considered an “extra inning”. The rule applies as follows: To start an extra inning, the visiting team places the last batter to complete an at-bat in the previous inning at second base. Play resumes until three outs are recorded. To complete the extra-inning, home team places the last batter to complete an at-bat in the previous inning at second base. Play resumes until 3 outs are recorded or the home team takes the lead.

Mercy Rule:
9U-12U:
- 12 runs after 3 innings (or 2 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead).
- 8 runs after 4 innings (or 3 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead);

13U-18U:
- 12 runs after 3 innings
- 10 runs after 4 innings
- 8 runs after 5 innings
 
Pitching Limitations:
USSSA pitching limitations on innings pitched for days/multiple days will be enforced. 


 

Column #1 is the max number of innings a player can throw on Saturday and be eligible to pitch on Sunday.
     - Ex: 12u player pitches 2 innings on Saturday, they will have eligibility to pitch 4 innings on Sunday. 
Column #2 is the max you can pitch in one day. 
Column #3 is the max a player can pitch in the weekend. 


Line-Ups:
Choose one of the following prior to each game:
1. Straight nine: Re-entry rule below applies to substitutions.
2. Designated hitter (DH): Re-entry rule below applies to substitutions.
3. Extra Hitter (EH): Bat 10 players. Unlimited fielding substitutions allowed
among 10 players in batting order. Re-entry rule applies to substitutions in batting order.
4. Bat entire roster: Unlimited fielding substitutions allowed.
 
Re-Entry Rule:
A starter who is substituted for may return to his original spot in the batting order once per game. Once a substitute is removed from the batting order he is no longer eligible to return to the game. Starting pitchers may return to the mound per NFHS rules. (This is contrary to the 2008 season USSSA rule change.)
 
Courtesy Runners:
You can run for the pitcher or catcher at any time with an eligible player. Protests: The on-site tournament director has the final authority to settle all disputes.
 
Official Scorer:
The home team scorebook is the official scorebook. Home team scorekeeper should confirm the score with visiting team scorekeeper after each inning and notify umpire of score. The home team scorekeeper should report the final score and innings pitched to the site director within 20 minutes after the game. Pregame Infield: No pregame infield practice is permitted.
 
Tie Breakers:
1 - Fewest Runs allowed.
2 - Most Runs Scored.
3 - Head to Head 

 
Field Dimensions:
9U: 46' mound,60' bases (No Leads)
10U: 46' mound, 65' bases (Leads)
11U and 12U: 50' mound, 70' bases
13U: 60'6" mound, 90' bases
14U-18U: 60'6" mound, 90' bases
 
How to determine age eligibility:
The age of the player on April 30, 2024 determines his age group for the 2022 season.
For example, a player who will be 11 years old on April 30, 2024 is an 11U player for the entire 2024 season that runs from September
1, 2023 to August 31, 2024. He can play "up" in an older age division, but 11U is the youngest age division he is eligible to play in for the 2024 season.

9U Division Players who turn 10 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 3rd grade. Also, any player turning 11 prior to August 1 will not be eligible. Players who are 9u are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

10U Division Players who turn 11 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 4th grade. Also, any player turning 12 prior to August 1 will not be eligible. Players who are 10u are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

11U Division Players who turn 12 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 5th grade. Also, any player turning 13 prior to August 1 will not be eligible. Players who are 11u are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

12U Division Players who turn 13 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 6th grade. Also, any player turning 14 prior to August 1 will not be eligible. Players who are 12u are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

13U Division Players who turn 14 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 7th grade. Also, any player turning 15 prior to August 1 will not be eligible. Players who are 13u are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

14U Division Players who turn 15 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 8th grade. Also, any player turning 16 prior to August 1 will not be eligible. Players who are 14u eligible are eligible for this division regardless of grade.
 
Refund/Cancellation Policy:
1. If a team withdraws for any reason after the final entry deadline has passed, no refund will be given.
2. If a team plays zero (0) games because the event is cancelled due to rain or other unforeseen circumstances, the entry fee paid less $100
administration fee will be refunded.
3. If a team starts or plays one (1) game in the event and the event is cancelled due rain or other unforeseen circumstances, a refund of 50% of entry fee will be given.
4. If a team starts or plays two (2) games in the event and the event is cancelled due to rain or other unforeseen circumstances, no refund will be given.