2020 10u SUMMER OF SWAT Baseball Tournament Rules
Manager Check-In
Prior to the start of your first game within the tournament, each manager must check-in at the Tournament Director’s table located by the snack stand at Windlestrae Park.
To check in, managers must have all paperwork required, including birth certificates for the rostered players, certificate of insurance, and the roster form.
Rosters
Teams must submit an Official Team Roster prior to the team’s first game with no more than 14 players. Once submitted, the roster may not be altered unless with the permission of the Tournament Director.
Once the first pitch is thrown for your team, the rosters are final and there is no reason for change. Birth certificates are required for each player and must be brought to the Manager Check-In for review.
Players without birth certificates are not permitted to participate in the tournament until the Tournament Director approves prior to the start of the team’s first game.
Insurance
Each team is required to carry its own insurance and submit a certificate of insurance to M.T.B.S.A. prior to the first game. No team will be able to play until the information is verified.
Tournament Format
Teams will be split into 3 divisions. After division play the top team from each division and the next best team overall will advance to the playoff games on Sunday.
Playoff Seeding
Playoff seeding will be done through pool play records and needed tie breakers. 1 seed will face 4 seed, etc.
Tie Breakers
Points: Win-2 points, Tie-1 point, Loss-0 points
Tie Breakers are in the order that follows.
(1) Win/Loss Record, (2) Head to Head, (3) Points, (4) Least Total Runs Allowed, (5) Least Total Runs Allowed in the first game, (6) Least Total Runs Allowed in the second game, (7) Least Total Runs Allowed in the third game,
(8) Least Total Runs Allowed in the fourth game, (9) Least Runs Allowed inning by inning. Not cumulative, inning by inning comparison starting with first game of round robin play, (9) Coin Flip.
Forfeits
In the event of a forfeit, the forfeiting team will be fined a three hundred fifty ($350.00) fee. Forfeits count as 1-0 in the scorebook. Any team that forfeits a game will also be ineligible to participate in a championship game.
Scoring
Winning teams are the official scorer for that game. Each team will be given several Official Score sheets. The winning team must hand in the score sheet to the Tournament Director’s table immediately following the game.
Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
No alcohol or tobacco products are or will be permitted in Rose Twig and Windlstrae Parks. Failure to comply with this regulation will result in ejection from park.
Batting Cages
There is a batting cage near Field 3 at Windlestrae Park and a cage at Rose Twig Park. Batting cages are available on first come, first served basis but limited to 15 minutes when another team is waiting.
Fields
There are two fields in use for this tournament (W #1, W #3 and RT1). All fields have 60’ base paths and 46’ pitching mounds. Players are prohibited from hitting baseballs into any fencing on or around the fields.
Home and Away Teams
Home team is decided by a coin toss for all pool play games. For the playoffs, the team with the higher seed is home. In the event that two teams have like records, the least runs allowed will be the home team. In the event that the records are still the same, a coin flip will be used.
Baseball Rules
All Rules follow Official Major League Baseball Rules except where the following amendments override.
Bat Size – All non-wood bats must have USA Bat Marking. Barrel Maximum 2 5/8". No BBCOR Bats are permitted.
Bats also must comply with Cal Ripken Baseball League
Steals are permitted. There are NO LEADS.
On a steal, if the runner is called for leaving early, the runner remains out if called out on the steal/play, returned to original base if safe on a steal. If the runner leaves early on a batted ball, the umpire will make a call and appoint bases.
There are NO drop third strikes.
There are NO balks.
If a batter squares to bunt, he may not in any circumstance, pull back and swing. This will result in an immediate out and subject the coach to ejection. This rule is in place to ensure the safety of all players throughout the tournament.
While it is not required, we strongly encourage coaches to play all players present at the game!
Game Length and Mercy Rules
6 Inning Games will be played
10 Run Rule in effect after 4 innings (3 ½ if home team is ahead). Home teams always get their at bat if down by 10.
New innings will not start after 1:50.
Time Limits
There will be a 2 hour time limit on all games and consolation games. Clock begins when the ball hits the catcher’s mitt or batter’s bat. Official will announce the start time which should be noted on the official score sheet. No inning will begin after 1:50. Any innings in progress at the 2 hour time limit will be completed. All games ended by time limit are considered official. Any games ending in a tie as result of time will be recorded as a tie in the standings. If the time limit is not reached, extra innings will be played. There are no time limits to the playoff games. There will be definite winners of those games.
Speed Up Rules
Umpire may call for speed up rules at any point in the game, which consists of 5 warm-up pitches and returning balls directly to pitchers after outs are recorded.
Pitching
8 inning limit for division play games.
6 inning limit per game.
6 inning limit per day.
All pitching resets for games on Playoff Sunday. One pitch thrown in an inning counts as one inning.
Pitchers must be replaced after 2nd trip to mound in the same inning.
Once a pitcher is removed from the mound he is done as a pitcher for that game. They cannot re-enter as a pitcher in later innings, even if kept on the field.
Head Coaches from each team are required to fill out and sign a Post Game Pitching report (provided at Registration) at end of each game to track innings pitched by players and hand in to registration table.
Any coach that pitches a pitcher that is out of innings either for the day our tournament is automatically disqualified and your team will receive a loss for that game.
Courtesy Runners
Teams may use courtesy runners for pitchers and catchers at any time during the inning. The courtesy runner must not be currently in the game. In the event that a team is batting everyone, the player who recorded the last out must be the courtesy runner.
Batting Line-up
Teams must start with a minimum of 9 players. Once a game is started the team may complete the game with 8. Fewer than 8 players will result in a forfeit.
Teams have 3 line-up options: (1) 9 batters with no DH, (2) 10 batters with an EH, (3) Include all players on roster in line-up.
Teams may have different types of lineups facing each other. Ex. One team may bat 9 and the other 13.
If the entire lineup is batting and a player is injured, the team will not take an out for every time the player comes up in the lineup.
If a player is ejected from the game, an out will be recorded each time the player comes up in the line-up.
Pre game Warm-ups
Infield and outfield practice is not permitted in order for field crews to get the fields ready for play.
Re-Entry Rules
Starters may re-enter the game one time in same position in the batting order he was previously in.
In the event of injury only, if all legal substitutes have been entered into the game, a starting player may re-enter in the game at the injured player’s position in the lineup without penalty at the choice of the opposing team.
If a team is batting 10 players with no bench players and an injury occurs, there will be NO penalty at the point the injured players spot in the lineup comes up. The team will skip his spot and continue in their lineup. An out will NOT be recorded.
In event of player’s ejection and all substitutes have been used, an out will be recorded for every time the player’s position in the line-up comes up. Starting players MAY NOT re-enter the game to replace an ejected player in another spot. The exception is when the ejected player is a substitute, then the starter may reenter.
Teams are permitted to complete a game with 8 players.
Slide Rule
Teams must slide or avoid contact while running the bases. If a player doesn’t slide or avoid contact, the player is called out with the possibility of an ejection if umpires deem necessary.
General Rules
Umpires rule on all calls not covered in the amendments and rules.
There will be two umpires for the championship game.
Decisions of umpires are final with no room for debate!
Fans are not permitted in dugouts or bench areas. Only 4 coaches total are allowed in the dugout.
Bat Boys/Girls must wear a protective helmet and all times.
Game Balls will be supplied by and returned to the umpire.
Spikes: Only rubber spikes may be worn. Metal Spikes are not permitted.
No Protests as all rulings by umpires are official.
Managers ejected are suspended until the Tournament Director deems okay to reenter dugout.
Sportsmanship
In the interest of maintaining a terrific atmosphere as well as a quality event, the tournament committee reserves the right to eject any person from the site for unruly or unsportsmanlike behavior. Therefore, it is up to the coaches to carry themselves with respect as well as control the behavior of the team’s players and fans. Unsportsmanlike conduct, Harassment and Verbal Abuse will not be tolerated in the least by any player, parent, or coach and will be subject to ejection from the premises if this conduct is observed by umpires and/or tournament officials. This tourney is for the players to enjoy and experience the competitiveness of the game in a great environment. Noncompliance will result in a forfeit.
Awards
Teams finishing in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place will be awarded.
Rain / Inclement Weather Policy
In the event of rain, we will do everything possible to stay as close to the game schedule as possible. However, based on field conditions we may have to deviate from the established schedule. If and when we need to alter the schedule, we will use the following procedures/priorities as our guide:
1. Our first priority always will be to make sure that each team plays its minimum number of games. We will try to maintain the original schedule as much as possible. We will attempt to have a championship game.
2. Games that do not make it to regulation (4 complete innings for a 6 inning game) due to weather / darkness will be considered a suspended game and will be resumed (if possible) from the point of suspension at the earliest time available. If there is not time to resume the game, it will be considered a complete game at the end of the last complete inning and the team that is winning at that point will be the winner.
3. The Tournament Director can cancel or not complete any game that will have no bearing on the final standings.
4. The Tournament Director may change the tournament format in order to complete the tournament in the scheduled time.
5. In the event of inclement weather game cancellations, the refund policy will be as follows: Play 0 Games – 100% refund, Play 1 or 2 Game - $200 refund Play 3 Games – No refund
