8U-12U KID PITCH DIVISION
717 Tourneys – Tournament Rules
Uniforms
All players need to be dressed in a full baseball uniform. Duplicate numbers are strongly discouraged, but in the event they exist, the team must report and get approval by the tournament field director and announced at the pre-game meeting with both head coaches prior to the start of the game.
Bat Restrictions
8u/10u/11u/12u = Any USA or USSSA Approved bat is acceptable
Pitching Rules
8u / 9u / 10u = Pitchers are allowed to pitch three (3) innings per game
11u / 12u = NO PITCHING RESTRICTIONS – COACHES DISCRETION
Pre-game Meeting
Head coaches must attend the pre-game meeting to discuss sportsmanship, ground rules, exchange line-ups, review home-away team, and establish the “official start time” for the game
POOL PLAY:
Home team will be determined by a coin flip at plate meeting
BRACKET PLAY:
Home team will be the higher seeded team
Official Game
Four (4) innings will constitute an official game –or– three and one half (3 ½) innings if the home team is winning.
Games called due to the time limit are considered an official game regardless of the number of innings that are completed.
Games stopped for any reason (weather, lightning, darkness, emergency injury, etc.) before the game is official, will be suspended and resumed, if possible, from the point of the stoppage a time scheduled by the Tournament Director. In the event that no feasible time can be established, the Tournament Field Director will deem the game complete at the end of the last fully completed inning and the team that is winning at that point will be the winner.
Time Limits
There will be a 1 hour and 45 minute time limit [FINISH THE INNING] on all games, with the exception of the Championship Game. The official game start time will be noted at the home plate meeting with the umpire and head coaches. Teams are expected to hustle on and off the field at all times to keep the games moving.
Pool play and consolation games may end in a tie – no extra innings in pool play games.
EXTRA INNINGS: In the event the time limit has been reached during bracket play, and a winner must be declared, we will use the following rules for extra innings play until a winner is reached.
OFFENSIVELY: The offensive team will place the 3 previous batters in the lineup, in order, at 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
DEFENSIVELY: The inning will start with (1) out.
Protests
No protests will be allowed. The umpire possesses complete control over the game and all decisions made on the field during play by the umpire will be deemed final. The only exception will be to protest the use of an ineligible player outlined below.
Player Eligibility
The age cutoff date is April 30th of the current calendar year.
Ineligibility Player Protests
If a coach questions the eligibility of a particular player(s), he must notify the Tournament Field Director during the game or within in ten (10) minutes following the game. The player protest fee of $100 (cash) must be paid in order to initiate an investigation.
If the player is found eligible, the fee will be deposited in the tournament treasury.
If the player(s) is found ineligible, the $100 fee will be returned.
If a player is found ineligible and the player has not participated in any games, the game will simply be played without the ineligible player and the head coach will be permitted to remain with his team.
If a player is found ineligible and has played in a game, any games (including any game in progress) will immediately be forfeited to the opposing team. In addition, the ineligible player and head coach will be removed from the remainder of the tournament. The team (without player and head coach) may continue to play in the tournament.
Rosters / Birth Certificates / Team Insurance
Teams will be required to register their team with the Tournament Field Director prior to their first game. At that time, coaches will need to have copies of all players’ birth certificates on hand and available to be inspected upon request during the tournament.
Each team is required to carry its own insurance and should ensure that the
717 Tourneys, 865 Ripple Drive, Hanover, PA 17331
is listed as an ‘Additional Insured’ on their certificate. A copy of this certificate will need to be given to the Tournament Field Director when the team checks in prior to their first game.
Inclement Weather Policy
The Tournament Committee will make all decisions regarding playing conditions prior each game and will make their best effort to get fields playable. After a game starts, the umpire will be responsible for stop/starts related to weather. In the event of any weather related cancellations, the three (3) game guarantee is waived, however, the Tournament Directors will make every effort to get all teams three (3) games.
If the entire weekend is cancelled due to weather then the tournament refund policy will apply.
If the first day of games is rained out, the tournament format will move to a SUNDAY ONLY FORMAT. and teams will play their (2) Pool Games from Saturday’s Schedule and the Championship Game will be [#1 vs #2 Seeds] based on the Pool Play Game Results.
If the first day of games are completed but weather prohibits the completion of bracket play on the second day, then the tournament champions and runners up will be determined based on the (2) highest remaining seeded teams.
Tournament Payment Policy
Your spot will be guaranteed once your payment is received, as long as the tournament is not full at the time the payment is received.
Team Cancellation Policy
A $150.00 fee will be charged to any team that withdraws more than 30 days from the Tournament start date. There will be no refunds for any cancellations within 30 days of the Tournament start date.
Tournament Refund Policy
The following scenarios will apply to refunds should weather impact the tournament:
One (1) game played on Saturday or Sunday, no refund will be given.
Should the entire tournament be cancelled due to weather prior to any games being played, 75% of the registration fee will be credited to your organization for a future event.
Concessions
Concessions/Food Trucks will be available on site at most locations.
Game Results Reporting
Immediately following the completion of each game, each coach will submit the Player of the Game form, which nominates (3) players from the opposing team for the Tournament All-Tournament Team, as well as indicate the Final Game Score.
Game results & brackets will be posted using Tourney Machine.
Umpires
(2) Umpires will be provided at each game, 9u – 12u. In the event that there is an emergency or umpire shortage, the tournament director reserves the right to play games with only (1) umpire.
** Pay at the Plate Events: Coaches are responsible to pay (1) umpire each at the current rate of $70 per game, due at the pre-game plate meeting.
** If there is only (1) umpire, each team will pay $35
Awards
Championship Banners will be awarded to the winner of each age division.
Individual Awards will be given to players on the Championship and Runner-Up Teams.
A Championship Game MVP award will be given at all age levels. .
A maximum of 14 trophies will be awarded per team
All-Tournament Team
All team managers will be required to select (3) players from the opposing team for each game they play to recognize the Players of the Game. These selections will then be used by the Tournament Directors to publish the “All Tournament Team” for that event.
Any team managers who fail to turn in their selections will forfeit the opportunity for any players on his/her team to be considered for recognition for the “All Tournament Team”
Parking and Admission
Parking and admission are free.
First Aid
Each team is required to carry a first aid kit at all times.
Baseballs
The tournament will provide baseballs for each game. Teams are expected to help recover foul balls that are hit. In the event it is needed, teams are required to have with them 2 used but good quality baseballs that can serve as back up.
Teams may keep HR balls, maximum of (1) ball per player. .
Mercy Rule
Games may end early do to the mercy rule.
12 runs after 3 innings
10 runs after 4 innings
8 runs after 5 innings
** If at any time, after 3 full innings of play, either team (HOME OR VISITOR) is trailing by 15 runs, the game will immediately end, regardless if the home team bats in the bottom half of that inning.
** The mercy rules are in effect for all games including the Championship Game.
Length of Game
All games are 6 innings -or- time limit as noted in Rule #5
Forfeited Games
The final score of any forfeited games will be recorded as 1-0.
Game Format/Tie Breaker Criteria
The tournament format will be based on the number of registered teams in each division. All teams will be guaranteed 3 games (weather permitting) in all formats.
The following criteria will be used for tie breakers:
1. Win-Loss Record
2. Head to Head (when 2 teams are tied and played each other)
3. Total runs allowed
4. Run differential for all games
5. Blind Draw
Collision Rule
All runners must slide or otherwise attempt to avoid a fielder who has possession of the ball and is waiting to make a tag. If in the judgment of the umpire the collision is intentional, the offending player is called out and may be ejected from the game. If a runner does not slide but does not impact the play and is called safe, then the runner remains safe.
Courtesy Runners
Courtesy runners are allowed for pitcher and catcher of record at any time during the game. The player that made the last out will be used as the courtesy runner when a team is using a continuous batting lineup, otherwise, any player not in the batting lineup may be used.
Intentional Delays
Intentional delaying a game to achieve victory through time limit is considered unsportsmanlike conduct and will not be tolerated. The umpire and/or Tournament Field Director reserve the right to eject a coach or player for intentionally delaying a game and have the discretion to declare a forfeit against the offending team.
Official Start Time & Ready Play
OFFICIAL START TIME will begin at the conclusion of the home plate meeting between the umpires and head coaches. At that time, a team must start the game with 9 players. Should a team not have 9 players at the Official Start Time, the game will be declared a forfeit.
** There is no 15 minute grace period.
READY PLAY
Teams need to be on site and ready to begin play a minimum of 45 minutes before their scheduled start time. In the event games finish early, we will begin subsequent games early.
Ejections
Any player or coach that is ejected for a game will not be able to play in the following game even if it is a championship game.
Leading / Stealing
8U: No Leading / No Stealing
9U-10U: Runners may lead off/steal once the ball crosses the plate. If the umpire deems the runner left his base early, he shall be declared out. No warnings will be given.
11U-12U: Leading is allowed.
Bunting
ALLOWED in all divisions, except 8U
** Fake Bunt AND Swinging is not allowed in any division and will result in an out
** Teams will be given a warning and any subsequent offenses, the player will be ejected
Infield Fly Rule
NOT in effect for 8U-10U
ALLOWED for both the 11U-12U divisions
Dropped 3rd Strike Rule
NOT in effect for 8U-10U
ALLOWED for both the 11U-12U divisions
Sliding
No sliding rules, players may slide head or feet first.
Balks
NOT in effect for 8U-10U
ALLOWED for both the 11U-12U divisions
** One (1) Balk warning per pitcher for 11u ONLY any subsequent balk by that pitcher will result in the advancement of all baserunners by 1 base.
** NO Balk Warnings for 12u
Catcher’s Equipment
Catchers may wear a 1-piece (Hockey Style Mask) or 2-Piece Mask as long as it meats NOCSCAE safety standards
Defense / Defensive Substitutions
There will be free defensive substitutions throughout the entire game, regardless if a player is in the batting lineup. Defensive players are in no way tied to the batting lineup.
Batting Lineup
Teams may bat anywhere from 9 to the entire roster. The batting lineup is locked at the conclusion of the pre-game meeting. Any player not in the starting batting lineup may bat for another player in the starting batting lineup. However, once the substitution occurs, these two players are then locked into the same spot in the batting lineup and MAY NOT bat in any other spot. Either player may bat in this spot of the order for the duration of the game.
Mound Visits
Coaches will be allowed (1) mound visit per pitcher. A 2nd mound visit per pitcher will require that pitcher be removed.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS:
Any rule question that arises during an event that is not specifically covered in these rules, the on-site tournament director will have the final authority on said rule and that rule will remain in effect for the reminder of the tournament.