St. Louis Tournament Rules
Field Restrictions: BC Baseball has maintained the policy of NOT allowing any outside food or drinks (other than water in individual water jugs to be brought into the complexes. All complexes have a full-service stand on premises. We appreciate your cooperation; however, we also reserve the right to inspect bags, etc, which are brought into the complex. IF food or drink (which includes bottled water, PowerAde or Gatorade type products) is brought into the complex, they will be confiscated.
Gate Fees: BC Baseball and other complexes utilized by the BC Baseball for tournaments are not equipped to handle gate fees. We have adopted a system whereby a team admission charge is assessed separate from the tournament entry fee. After much research BC St. Louis is charging an admission fee of $180 per team. We are asking the coach to collect this admission fee and pay it in one payment at check-in. Should inclement weather affect the play of this tournament, gate fees will be refunded in proportion to the number of games played. (NOTE: See Refund Policy included later in the flyer.) The team gate fee is part of the team’s entry fee and should be considered such.
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Check-in Procedures: Check- in will begin 1 hour before the start of each teams first game during check-in, each team will be asked to provide the following:
- Check in Form
- Gate Fees
For the 2013 Season BC Baseball will be printing rosters for every team in its tournaments on Thursdays. Teams will need put their rosters online before that and make sure they are aware of all USSSA roster rules. No longer will be checking birth certificates prior to the tournament. Teams will be responsible for having birth certificates on hand if questions. Failure to produce birth certificates will result as a Forfeit.
Rainout Numbers
St. Louis Tournaments: 573-442-3693
In case of rain we will make every effort to put it on the hotline as soon as we are notified by the ballpark. BC Baseball rents complexes for its tournaments and is not the one making the call on if they fields are playable. We will do everything in our power to be sure that we can player.
Refund Policy: A team will be charged a $50 cancellation fee in the event it cancels at least two weeks prior to the tournament. IF a team does not give a two-week notice, it will forfeit its entire entry fee. If inclement weather should limit the number of games played, refunds will be issued as follows:
- 0 games started or completed- Full Refund minutes $50 Administrative fee and refund of entire gate fee.
- 1 game started or completed- 50% refund of entry fee and gate fee
- 2 games stared or completed –No Refund
Format Alterations: All Baseball Tournaments will be posted at www.bcbaseball.org no later than the Tuesday before the tournament for St. Louis tournaments. BC Baseball reserves the right to change the format of the tournament at anytime. Updates to the tournament will posted on the website. BC Baseball reserves the right to accept or reject any teams entries. All games are considered complete after 2 ½ innings. We will revert back to last full inning if the visiting teams is at bat or the home team has not completed their at bat.
Game Procedures: The following will be used for BC Baseball St. Louis tournaments:
1. A coin flip will determine home team, in all games. Coin toss will be done on the field prior to the game.
2. Both teams are to provide scorekeepers, who will be required to obtain an official Two-Team Line-Up Card from the headquarters table at each location prior to each game. One team should obtain the card, complete it and pass it on to the opposing team for completion. During the game, the umpire will use this card to keep official score, substitutions and pitching records. Each coach will be required to sign this card at the end of each game to verify its accuracy.
3. In pool game, if the game is tied at the end of the regulation number of innings or at the end of time limit, the game will end as a tie. It there is still time left on the clock extra innings will be played until the time has run out. If in Bracket play and the game is tied and there no time left in the game extra innings will be played.
4. All games in the tournament will be conducted with a time limit. Umpires will start the clock after ground rules and will announce game time or that the game is being played on a stop watch. Inclement weather could force time limits to be modified. For purposes of interpreting the time limit, the next inning will begin when the third out of the previous inning is recorded. Thus, if there is any time remaining when the third out of the previous inning is recorded, the next inning will be started and completed in its entirety, unless the home team is batting and ahead in score.
5. Teams must be ready to and able to start game 10 minutes prior to scheduled game time. Tournament Director or Umpires will announce to teams if planning on starting early.
Time Limits: 8u 1 hour 30 minutes
Age’s 9u-14U: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Distances
Age Pitching Base Distances
8u 39 55
9u 46 65
10u 46 65
11u 50 70
12u 50 70
13u 54 80
14u 60 90
All 13u and 14u games will be 7 innings games
All 12u and below games will be 6 innings games.
Run Rules
6 inning Games- 15 after 3, 8 after 4
7 innings Games- 15 after 3, 12 after 4, 8 after 5
Sportsmanship
There will be a Zero Tolerance of coaches, players or fans questioning an umpire judgment in regards to balls and strike calls. Anyone disqualified or ejected from a game must leave the park immediately. (Going to the parking lot and being out of sight and sound of the games being played will be interpreted as complying with this rule.) Failure to do so will result in an immediate forfeiture of the game. Also anytime a parent is removed from the stands, the head coach is also removed for the remainder of that game only. BC Baseball reserves the right to kick out any team, manger, or parent from the tournament with no refunds. As these rules indicate, the matter of disorderly conduct will be taken seriously. The tournaments your team will be participating in will include some of the finest baseball teams in world. The level of competition will be high and at times fierce. Because of this, please remind your team and parents to be extra aware of good sportsmanship.
Tournament Rules: The tournament will be conducted under the rules of the USSSA, as published in the USSSA Baseball National By-Laws. All coaches are reminded and recommended to review all items under Article V111: USSSA Baseball Playing Rules, most particularly Item IV: GAME RULES, which contains information on run rules, courtesy runner, reentry, extra hitter, pitching limitations and pool play advancement. Coaches also should review the USSSA sportsmanship rules for coaches, players and parents, as these will be followed and enforced. If you do not have a USSSA rule book, these rules can be referenced at www.usssabaseball..org. With the following exceptions:
1. Batting Lineups
Teams may choose the following:
Teams can start a game with a minuminum of 8 players. The 9th spot in the batting order will be recorded as an out until a 9th player is available and plays defense first.
1. Bat the Entire Roster-Free Substitution
2. Bat 9 Re-enter Rule
3. EH Re-enter Rule
Re-enter Rule
Starters may re-enter one time in their Original batting position. Substitutes removed from a game are ineligible to return. As a courtesy, teams shall report all substitutions to the home plate umpire who will inform scorekeepers. Teams, which fall short of nine eligible players during a game to player ejections, shall forfeit that game only. There will be no forfeit due to a disabling injury to the last player available. In the event of a disabling injury, all eligible substitutes have already entered the game and been removed, the lst player removed must be reinserted. The injured player may not re-enter the game thereafter.
EH
A team may use an EH in any desired game. The manager must declare the use of an EH in ground rules. The EH position shall be considered the same as any other position. Normal substitution rules apply. However, any team that begins playing using an EH must maintain a 10 player lineup throughout the game. If, due to an ejection a team shall fall to nine players, an out shall be recorded each time the EH was to have come to bat. In the case of an injury, there will be no out declared, and the game will continue as if there was never a 10th batter player.
Each team must declare at ground rules which way they are going to play.
If using the #2 or #3 a lineup card must be given to the umpire and opposing scorekeeper (home team scorekeeper is the official scorekeeper). Should a coach omit a player from his written lineup, that player cannot participate in that game only.
If a team has no eligible subs and a player must leave the game due to injury, he may return later but must first play defense before he is eligible to bat bat. Until he returns, his spot in the lineup will be considered an out. If he returns, it must be in the original position in the batting order.
Pitching Restrictions
Age Division / One Day Max To Pitch the Next Day / One Day Max / Three Day Max7U-12U / 3 / 6 / 8
13U-14U / 3 / 7 / 8
15U-18U / Unlimited / Unlimited / Unlimited
One Day Maximum to Pitch the Next Day: The maximum number of innings a player can legally pitch in one (1) day and still pitch the next day.
Rule 8.05.C.1 Example- In the 7U-14U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of three (3) innings in one (1) day and still legally pitch the next day. If the player pitches three and and one-third or more innings in one day, the play can not legally pitch the next day.
One Day Maximum: The maximum number of innings a player can legally pitch in one day. In the 7U-12U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of six innings in 1 day. The player would be ineligible to pitch the next day. Similarly, in the 13U-14U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of seven innings in one day. The player would be ineligible to legally pitch the next day.
Three Day Maximum: The maximum number of innings a player can legally pitch in three consecutive days.
Rule 8.05.C.3 Example- In the 7U-14U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of eight innings in three consecutive days. This is to be interpreted as a player may legally pitch any combination of innings to equal eight innings in two days as long as the player doesn’t pitch more than three innings the first day. Similarly as a player may legally pitch any combination of innings to equal eight innings in three days as long as the player doesn’t pitch more than 3 innings the first or 2nd day.
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Protest:
Other than roster challenges and inning pitched there will be NO Protests. A coach may challenge an illegal play at anytime. The coach must put up $100 cash protest fee to the tournament director. At that time tournament officials will request to see the birth certificates of the player in question. If it is determined that the player is eligible, the $100 protest fee will be forfeited. Per USSSA rules team if a team forfeits any game due to any reason or violation they will not be allowed to advance to bracket play
Courtesy Runners
For either pitcher or catcher are optional to facilitate speedy play. The runner must be a substitute who has not been in the game if one is available. If no substitute is available, a team may use their last out.
Malicious Contact
Will result in the player being called out and ejected from game. Umpire decision is final.
Tiebreakers
In the even of ties between teams winners will be decided as follows:
1. Head to Head
2. Total Runs allowed
3. Victory Margin- Max + 8
4. Runs Scored
5. Coin Flip
New USSSA Baseball Bat Marks & Grandfathering Rules
Effective January 1, 2012
Big Barrel Bat Rules (2⅝” or 2¾”) – 14U & Below
Effective January 1, 2012
• Have the new permanent3 USSSA Mark on its taper OR
• Be a Qualified BBCOR bat1 OR
• Be a Wood Bat
ALL of the above must be manufactured by an approved USSSA Bat Licensee
This applies to ALL Big Barrel Bats, including Coach Pitch bats
Seeding
It is the ultimate responsibility for each team to check their seeding after Pool Play. Brackets will be posted at www.bcbaseball.org where the brackets are found. Lower seed will be home team for all bracket games. Championship games will have a coin toss to determine home team. Note- When taking Pool Winners out there will be a coin toss for All games that are not seeded.
Once again we know you have a choice in tournaments and BC Baseball truly appreciates the opportunity to serve you and your families as your tournament host. If there is anything we can do to make your tournament a more pleasurable experience please visit our tournament headquarters and let us know.