FUTURE PROSPECTS TOURNAMENT RULES

 

Age Requirements

We will be playing at the Current 2014 Age Requirements with the player’s age being based on a April 30 cutoff date.  (For example, a Player born on or before April 30, 2001 is considered a 13U Player.  A Player born on or after May 1, 2001 is considered a 12U Player).   A player may “play up,” in age,  but can not “play down.”

 

Rosters

 

All teams will be required to submit a signed roster prior to the start of their first game.  If a team is found to be playing with an illegal player, the player(s) will be removed immediately and the team will be ineligible to advance to a playoff game in that tournament.  Team disqualification will be up to the Tournament Director to decide based on information received from the umpires.

 

Birth Certificates

 

All teams should keep copies of their birth certificates on hand.  They are not required to show them at Check In, however if a team decides to protest a player, then the team must provide the birth certificate.  Failure to produce the produce the birth certificate may result in a forfeit.  It will be up to the Tournament Directors Discretion how to enforce - but a reasonable time will be given to produce the birth certificate.

 

Home/Visitor

 

During Pool Play, Home team will be determined by a coin flip prior to the game, with the team winning the flip getting its choice.  During Elimination Play, including the Championship Game, Home Team will be based on Seeding, with Highest Seed getting it's choice.

 

8U Rules

 

Bunting IS allowed.  There are NO lead offs.  Stealing IS allowed, however runners can not leave the base until the ball crosses the plate.  If a runner leaves the base early he will automatically be called out and the play will be treated as a DEAD BALL.  The batter will return to the plate and the Batter's count will remain as it was before the infraction.  If there were two outs, then the inning will be over.

 

Home Plate is considered dead.  A runner may only cross the plate on a hit ball, forced walk or forced hit by pitch.  Stealing home is NOT allowed.

 

Batters may NOT advance to First Base on a dropped third strike.  A dropped Third Strike is still considered a Strikeout.  The Infield Fly Rule is NOT in effect.

 

Tie Breaks

 

Seeding will be determined by:
(1) Best Record 
(2) Head to Head 
(3) Run Differential (max 7 +/- Runs per game versus all teams played)
(4) Runs Allowed 
(5) Coin Flip.

 

Scoring

 

HOME TEAM  provides the official scorekeeping book, however the Home Plate Umpire is the OFFICIAL SCOREKEEPER and his scoring is final.  It is up to each coach and/or their scorekeeper to make sure the score is correct at the end of everyone half inning.  If there are any inconsistencies, the Umpire's score will be considered OFFICIAL and Final.  If there are any scoring discrepencies during an inning (if one team has one set of runs for an inning, and the other team has a different set of runs for an inning) then they must be addressed BEFORE the next inning begins.  Once the inning has begun, the Umpires score remains official.

 

Lineups/Substitutions

 

Teams may bat 9 players, 10 players or their entire linup.  If batting 10 players, the 10th Player is considered an EH, and is considered a defensive player and may switch in and out defensively.  If a team bats entire roster or has no subs when a starter is injured, an out is recorded THE NEXT TIME ONLY when that players spot comes up to bat. Each time after that the players spot will be skipped over.  Once a player is removed from a game due to injury, he may not return.  Starters may re-enter only one time only in their original spot on the line-up.  If the injury occurs during an "at-bat in progress" and there is no substitute to replace the injured player, an out will be recorded on that player.  If the umpire deems that a team is feigning injury to gain an advantage, he can call an out when the injured spot comes up.

 

If a spot is made vacant due to ejection of a player, and there is no substitute to fill it, an out will be recorded EVERY TIME that players spot comes up.

 

If a player has substitutes, then a substitute may be inserted ANY TIME.  If he is entering for an injured player, then he picks up exactly where that player left off.  If he is filling in for a player who has been ejected, then no penalty will be recorded when the spot comes up.

A team may play with a minimum of 8 players - however, outs will be recorded for any missing players, up to nine.  If a team is short players and a rostered player shows up before that spot comes to bat, then the player may be inserted into that spot without penalty.

 

Courtesy Runners - A team may run for Pitcher or Catcher at ANY TIME .If a team is batting its entire roster, then the courtesy runner will be the last out (or last in the lineup if no outs have been recorded).   If a team has substitutes, then a substitute must be used for the courtesy runner.  If the team has more than one substitute, then a different runner must run each time - a courtesy runner can NOT run twice in the same inning.  The only exception would be if one time he was used as a courtesy runner, and the second time he was used as a substitution move.

 

If the "Catcher of Record" is on base and there are two outs, then the team MUST put in a courtesy runner for him.

 

Pitching

 

There are no pitching restrictions or innings restrictions.  We hope that coaches will use their best judgment in rotating their pitchers.

 

Once a pitcher has been removed from pitching in a game for any reason, he may not return to the mound to pitch.  A pitcher cannot be removed and return to the mound in the same game.  A pitcher is considered “in the game” if that player throws one warm up pitch from the mound.

 

Balks:

At the 8U, 9U  umpires will give a warning to the pitcher and coach before calling a balk.  He will explain the balk to both coach and pitcher.  After the first warning, it is up to the umpires discretion as to when to call balks.  However, a balk will always be called if it leads to an out for the hitting team (i.e. stopping motion and throwing out base stealer).

 

A pitcher may receive two visits to the mound by a coach or manager per game without penalty.  On the third visit, the player must be replaced.

 

Intentional Walks - To intentionally walk a hitter, no pitches need to be thrown.  A manager simply needs to notify the umpire.  An intentional walk can take place at any point during an at-bat.

 

Hit Batters - For 8U and 9U it is up to the Umpire's discretion.  For 10U through 14U, if a pitcher hits three batters in an inning or four batters in a game, he must be replaced.

 

Batting out of Order or Improper At Bat

If a player bats out of order or if you have an improper At Bat, it is up to the Opposing Team to point out the infraction.  The penalty phase will occur AFTER the first pitch is thrown to the illegal batter.  After that point it is up to the opposing team to point it at AT ANY POINT after the first pitch is thrown to the illegal batter and prior to the first pitch being thrown to the next batter.  So if the opposing team chooses to let the illegal batters' AT BAT stand, then they may.  If they choose to call out the infraction, then the illegal batter will be called out and all runners will return to their bases at the time of the "call out."

Game Length

 

8U:  6 innings with no new inning after 1 hour 30 minutes 
9U – 12U: 6 innings with no new inning after 1 hour 40 minutes  
13U – 14U: 7 innings with no new inning after 2 hours

 

NO TIME LIMIT FOR CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES.  Mercy IS still in effect.

 

During Pool play, extra innings are played if there is at least 10 minutes still on the clock.  There is NO Drop Dead time - once an inning has begun, it must be completed.  If time expires in a tie game during pool play, and there is the game is called a tie.  

Every effort will be made to finish the tournament but in cases of rain, darkness or other acts of God, the tournament director reserves the right to shorten games or modify schedules in order to finish the event. 

Requirements for a Mercy rule are as follows:

 

7 inning game:

15 run lead after 3 innings

10 run lead after 4 innings

8 run lead after 5 innings

 

6 inning game:

15 run lead after 3 innings

8 run lead after 4 innings

 

Field Dimensions

8U: 40/60                 
9U - 10U: 46/60                
11U – 12U: 50/70
13U - 14U: 54/80 or 60/90

 

Slide and Avoid

 

Base runners are expected to slide or avoid collisions.  If, in the view of the umpire, a base runner does not slide or avoid a collision when there is a play on him, he will be called out.  Malicious “plowing” of a defensive player will result in ejection from the game and could result in suspension of the offending player for the next game.

 

Metal Spikes

 

Metal spikes are prohibited in 8U through 11U Divisions.  They are allowed in 12U and UP.  In divisions that metal spikes are prohibited, a player coming to bat (stepping in the batter's box) with metal spikes will immediately be called out.  A player taking the field with metal spikes will have to be immediately replaced until spikes are removed.  If no sub is available, team will play short until spikes are changed.

 

NO METAL SPIKES ON THE MOUND AT ANY TIME.  A Pitcher who pitches with metal spikes will be allowed to remove them and wear standard spikes if he wants to continue pitching.  If there is less than 15 Minutes in regulation, then that pitcher will not be allowed to pitch and another pitcher must be used so as not to delay the game

BATS

• All bats must be an approved  USSSA Stamped 1.15 or a Qualified BBCOR Bat or wood bat. No Softball Bats.
• Max barrel in ages 7u & up is 2 3/4. Ages 15u & above must use Qualified BBCOR bat or wood bat. (-3)(Penalty for use of illegal bat will be an out. 2nd offense will result in ejection of offending player)
• illegal bat protocol (The manager or coach must call time out and ask the umpire to inspect the bat that is suspected of being illegal)

 

Protests

 

Protests are only allowed for an umpire’s rules interpretation, not for judgment calls.  Protests cost $100, due at time of protest, and will be resolved immediately by tournament director.  $100 is returned following successful protest only.

 

Refunds

Rain outs = 1 game played we refund 50% of the entry fee. 2 games played

there will be no refund. Cancellations = 14 business days before the tournament a full

refund will be given, 13 businesses days or less a credit of the full amount will be applied

towards a future tournament.

 

No Shows

Any team that doesn’t show up for their games will forfeit their entry fees

$25 dollar charge  on any returns checks

 

Tournament Director will make final decisions on all tournament questions.

Managers are responsible for the conduct of his players and fans at all times. Managers are subject to ejection if his players or fans are out of control.