'25 Summer Tournaments

Rule Addendum

Games will be played in accordance with the Official Rules of Baseball including the following exceptions: 

Age Cut-Off: May 1, 2025 

General Rules 

Teams may use an unlimited batting order and free defensive substitutions. 

Courtesy Runner: When the pitcher or catcher of record (played in the last half-inning, or, in the top of the first inning, appears on the lineup card as a starter in those positions) attains a base by any means, the offensive manager/coach has the option to insert a courtesy runner in place of that pitcher or catcher, and continue to run for that player until he/she scores, is put out, or until the half-inning ends. The courtesy runner can be any legal and eligible (non-ejected) player on the team roster and in uniform and not currently in the batting order or last batted out, if last batted out was pitcher or catcher then move to next batter. The decision to use a courtesy runner may be made anytime the pitcher or catcher is on base. 

a. Once a courtesy runner is used, that player must complete the running assignment (i.e. there can never be a substitute or courtesy runner for a courtesy runner). 

b. A player can be a courtesy runner more than once per inning. 

If a player who is in the batting order is used for a courtesy runner and that player’s turn to bat comes up while that player is still on base, that batting position will become an automatic out and the courtesy runner will remain on base. 

If the courtesy runner is injured while on base, the pitcher or catcher for whom the courtesy runner ran can replace the courtesy runner, or a legal substitution can be made. The injured courtesy runner cannot participate in the games in any shape or form until after that half-inning. 

NOTE: If a legal substitution is made for an injured courtesy runner, then the pitcher/catcher is considered to have left the game and can re-enter if he/she has a re-entry privilege remaining. 

Using a courtesy runner for either the pitcher or catcher does not affect the re-entry status of those two players.

Mercy Rule 

10 runs after 3 innings, 15 runs after 2 innings of play in all age groups. 

Field Layout

Rookies (8U): Kid Pitch 44’mound distance / 60’ base paths

Minors (10U):  46’mound distance / 60’ base paths 

Majors (12U):  50’mound distance / 70’ base paths  

Pitching  

Mound Visits: There is a limit of 2 charged  conferences between the coaching staff and any defensive player in any half inning. The second mound visit in a half-inning will result in the removal of the current pitcher from the pitching position for the remainder of the game. A pitcher removed by this rule is allowed to play another defensive position. 

Note: A starting or substitute pitcher must pitch to at least one batter until that batter reaches base, is put out, there has been a third out in the inning, an injury has occurred to the pitcher, or the pitcher is disqualified by the umpire.  

Pitcher may return to the pitching position provided: 

pitcher has not been removed from the line-up 

pitcher has not exceeded pitching limits 

was not removed after two visits in the same inning 

Pitching Limits:

9u – 12u:  6 innings per day, 8 innings per tournament,

PITICHING INNINGS ARE RECORED BY  1/3, 2/3, etc. 

The pitching record will be kept by Game Changer. If a manager feels that a violation has occurred, then the manager must protest the game.  The tournament director will check the pitching records to see if a violation has occurred.  If it is deemed that a violation of the pitching limits has taken place, then the manager and the player will be ejected from the game.  The decision of the tournament director is final. 

The maximum number of innings a player can legally pitch in 1 day and still pitch the next day is 4 innings

Batting

Batter must keep one foot in the batter’s box between pitches. Failure to do so is subject to a strike penalty per umpire judgment. 

One offensive conference per inning. 

Leading Off

10U and up:  Leads, Balks will be called.

Dropped 3rd strike 

8U:  No dropped 3rd strike 

10U – 15U:  Dropped 3rd strike  

Cleats 

  No metal cleats are allowed 

Bats 

USA Stamped bats

Tie Breaker Rules 

Ties will be allowed in pool play.  In case of a tie, the following will be utilized to determine seeds for Championship Sunday:  

Two Way Tie:  Head to Head.  The team that won the game between the tied teams receives the higher position. 

Three Way Tie:

A) Runs Allowed among the tied teams.  The team with the fewest runs allowed among the games involving the tied teams will receive the highest finishing position.  The team with the second fewest runs allowed will receive the next highest position and so on.

B) If a three-way tie still exists: Runs allowed among all games played. 

If a three-way tie still exists:  The Run Differential (runs scored minus runs allowed) in the games involving the tied teams will determine the finishing positions.  The team with the highest numerical differential receives the uppermost position among the three teams.  The team with the second highest numerical differential receives the uppermost position among the three teams.  The team with the third highest numerical differential receives the third highest position among the three teams. 

If a three-way tie still exists, tournament officials will determine positions by means of a draw. 

If a two-way tie exists after applying rules 2a and/or 2b, tiebreaker reverts to Rule 1. 

PROTESTS 

• Sec. 1 PROTESTS MAY INVOLVE the interpretation of a playing rule or the eligibility of a player. 
• Sec. 2 A PROTEST INVOLVING A PLAYING RULE may only be made based upon a Rule Interpretation and may not be made based on the judgment of an umpire. 
• NOTE: Examples of protests which will not be considered are: whether a pitch was a ball or a strike; whether a ball was fair or foul; or whether a runner was safe or out.  
• Sec. 3 PROTESTS THAT SHALL be received and considered concerning matters of the following types: 
• Misinterpretation of a playing rule to a given situation 
• Failure of an umpire to apply the correct rule to a given situation 
• Failure to impose the correct penalty for a given violation 
• Whether a player is legally rostered on a team 
• Sec. 4 THE NOTIFICATION of intent to protest must be made immediately before the next pitch.  EXCEPTION: Player eligibility protests must be made before the end of the game being protested. 
• The manager of the protesting team shall immediately notify the plate umpire that the game is being played under protest. The plate umpire will then notify the scorekeeper and the opposing manager. 
• It is the umpire’s responsibility to record the surrounding conditions to aid in the correct determination of the issue. (i.e. inning, outs, names of players involved, runners on base, score, etc.) 
• Sec. 5 THE OFFICIAL protest must be filed within a reasonable time: 
• In league play, forty-eight hours after the scheduled time of the contest is generally considered a reasonable amount of time. In tournament play, all play ceases until the protest is resolved. 
• In tournament play, a protest concerning player eligibility must be filed before the end of the game being protested.  
• NOTE: In Tournament Play, once an official protest is filed, the matter must be settled before the next pitch is thrown. 
• NOTE: The Tournament Director/Coordinator or Tournament UIC may require a copy of the birth certificate or picture I.D at any time. Play ceases until the protest is resolved. 
• Sec. 6 THE FORMAL written protest should contain the following information: a. The date, time, and place of the game. 
• The names of the umpires and scorekeeper. 
• The rule and section of the Official Rules or local rules under which the protest is based. 
• The decision and conditions surrounding the making of the decision. 
• All essential facts involved in the matter protested. 
• Sec. 7 THE DECISION made on a protested game must result in one of the following: a. Protest denied: The game/play stands as played/called. 
• Protest Upheld: the game is replayed from the point at which the incorrect decision was made with the decision corrected. 
• Eligibility Protest: When protest for eligibility is upheld, the team in violation of the eligibility rule shall forfeit the game. 

Refund Policy 

If a  tournament is canceled due to inclement weather, the following policy will be adhered to when providing refunds: 

If the tournament is canceled prior to a team beginning 1 game, then the team will receive all entry fees minus $25 administration fee, 

If the tournament is canceled after the team plays 1 game, then the team will have 50% of their entry fee returned, 

If the tournament is canceled after the team plays 2 games, then no refund will be given. 

Home team decided by coin flip prior to each game.  In bracket play higher seed will always be home team.

Home team is the official , visitors please check each inning to confirm score card official and final score.

If a player is removed from the batting line up due to injury or illness and a substitution is not available then the batter will be skipped over without penalty. Once this has happened the batter  is removed from the batting line up due to injury, is not be allowed to return to the game.

**Tournament Withdrawal Policy** 

In order to withdraw from the tournament you must do so at least 7 days prior to the scheduled event date. Failure to do so within the deadline will result in the team being responsible for the entry fee.

** As a head coach, you are responsible for your players, assistant coaches as well as your fans.