DIMARINI BAT UPDATE: The following bats will no longer be accepted at Prostyle Tournaments until further notice:
TOURNAMENT FORMATS:
(Unless Specified) 2 pool play games and all teams advance to a single elimination bracket
AWARDS:
(Unless Specified) 1st & 2nd Place individual medals/ 1st and 2nd Team Trophies
POOL PLAY GUIDELINES:
ALL TOURNAMENTS THE FOLLOWING RULES WILL DETERMINE THE TEAM SEEDING FOR ELIMINATION BRACKETS.
1. WIN-LOSS RECORD
2. HEAD TO HEAD – IF THERE IS NOT A THREE-WAY TIE OR MORE TEAMS WITH THE SAME RECORD.
3. FEWEST RUNS ALLOWED IN POOL PLAY.
4. HIGHEST RUN DIFFERENTIAL – WITH A MAXIMUM RUN DIFFERENTIAL OF 10 RUNS PER GAME.
5. RUNS SCORED IN POOL PLAY.
FLORIDA TOURNAMENT RULES
Revised: December 11, 2014 – A player cannot play for two teams in the same weekend, regardless of age division and/or classification.
7U-8U Machine Pitch Rules
Game Time Limits
A.) Complete game will be 6 innings.
B.) Tie games at the end of 6 innings will be played until time limit expires during pool play. Pool play games can end in a tie once time limit expires. Elimination games will be played out until there is a winner.
C.) Time limit is 1:45 minutes. No new inning will start after this time. A new inning begins as soon as the last out is made of the prior inning.
Participation
A.) Batting Rule: Teams can choose to bat all batters in a continuous lineup or list nine, ten or eleven players in the lineup with the remainder of players listed as substitutes. The eleventh player will be an extra player that will be in the lineup and can substitute freely throughout the game on defense.
B.) Defense Rule: A maximum of 10 players will be on the field for defense.
C.) Coaching on Defense: Coaches must remain in or just outside the dugout.
D.) Coaching on Offense: 1 coach may occupy the coach’s box at first and another at third, while 1 coach operates the pitching machine.
Game Play
A.) An inning will continue until the offense has scored 5 runs or the defense has recorded 3 outs.
B.) Each batter will be given a total of 6 good pitches, 3 swings or 1 fair hit ball. If the last pitch is fouled off, the batter will be given another pitch. This will continue until the batter hits a fair ball or strikes out. (Good pitches are hittable pitches and will be a judgment call by the umpire.)
C.) If the batter, on the sixth pitch, does not swing, it will be considered a strikeout.
D.) If a batter swings at a pitch and misses that is considered a pitch and counts towards the batters pitch count. If a batter does not swing and the pitch is declared ‘bad’, it will not count towards the batter’s pitch count. If a batter swings at a ‘bad’ pitch (declared by the umpire), it will be considered a strike. Pitch cannot be declared bad until the ball is past the plate.
E.) If a batted ball goes under, over, around, hits the machine or operator of the machine and leaves the area of the machine, then the ball shall be considered a live ball.
F.) Under no circumstances will a player reach under, through or into the machine to retrieve a ball in the area the machine occupies. If a batted ball comes to rest under the machine, gets stuck in the machine, or any circumstances that appears that the player could be in danger, the operator should yell “Time, Dead Ball” and remove the ball himself. The batter will be awarded first base and the runners will advance 1 base.
G.) Bunting is allowed.
H.) Fake bunting and swinging is not allowed. The batter will be called out. You may square to bunt and either attempt the bunt or pull back. If you do not pull back, the pitch will be declared a strike. Foul bunt on sixth pitch will be declared an out.
I.) Pitcher must occupy the mound with one foot in the clay on either side of the machine but not in front of the pitching rubber or machine. Pitchers may not leave the mound until the hitter has made contact.
J.) There will be stealing of 2nd and 3rd bases only. Stealing may occur once the ball has crossed the plate. If a runner leaves early and successfully steals a base, he will be sent back. If tagged before reaching safely he will be called out. If runner attempts to steal home and is off the base and tagged out runner will be called out.
K.) To end a play, you must stop the lead runner. This can be done by throwing to the base where the runner may be advancing to, and he retreats to the previous base. In addition to this, an infielder may call timeout to stop the play. If a runner is still moving and progressing towards the next base (i.e. not standing still off the base), the umpire SHOULD NOT grant the time out.
L.) Runners WILL NOT be allowed to take extra bases on overthrows that occur during an attempted steal. The base stealer may not advance another base but can be tagged out if off the base. On a pitch that is declared ‘bad’, a base stealer will be required to return to the previous base occupied.
M.) Runners may not leave the bag until the ball reaches the batter.
N.) There is no infield fly rule.
O.) A courtesy runner for catcher of record only the previous inning may be used. The courtesy runner shall be the player that made the previous out. If no outs have been recorded in the game, the courtesy runner shall be the previous batter not on base.
P.) All other rules of baseball apply.
Umpires
There will be one umpire per game. Each team will pay the umpire $20 at the beginning of the game.
Pitching Machine / Scorekeeping
A.) The pitching machine will be set to 40-42 mph using the Blue Flame Pitching Machine.
B.) The home team will be responsible for the scorekeeper.
Run Rule
A.) There will be a 10 run rule in effect after 4 innings.
7U – 8U Player Pitch Rules:
1. Teams will consist of 10 defensive players.
2. There will be no balks called.
3. No leading off. Players must stay on base until ball crosses the plate. Runners must stay on the base when the pitcher is in the pitching position and the catcher is in the catching position. If the runner leaves the base early, the umpire places the runner back on the last base occupied unless the runner was put out. If forced, the runner advances one base ahead of the batter runner. If the ball is put into play, the defense has the option of taking the play or placing the runner or runners back on base and the batter back in the batter’s box.
4. The Infield fly rule applies.
5. Batter is automatically out on a dropped / missed third (3rd) strike by the catcher.
6. Runners shall not advance from third base to home unless the runner is batted home or force by a base on balls,hit batsman, or award from the umpire. Runners shall not advance from third base to home on passed balls, wild pitches or dropped third strike by the catcher.
9 Under Rules
1. Teams will consist of 9 defensive players.
2. There will be no balks called.
3. Runners shall not lead-off but may advance at their own risk after ball crosses the plate. When a runner tries to advance prior to the pitch ball crossing the plate, the following shall apply: The umpire places the runner back on the last base occupied unless the runner was put out. If forced, the runner advances one base ahead of the batter runner. If the ball is put into play, the defense has the option of taking the play or placing the runner or runners back on base and the batter back in the batter’s box.
4. Batter is automatically out on a dropped / missed third strike by the catcher.
5. The Infield fly rule applies.
Ages 7 and Under – 12 and Under:
AGE REQUIREMENTS: May 1st will be the designated date to determine ages. Players exceeding the age of the Division before May 1st, will not be eligible to participate in that division. Players can play in a higher age division.
INELIGIBLE PLAYERS: Teams caught using ineligible players during any part of a tournament will be removed from further participation in the event. Ineligible due to falsified age on the team roster and/or lack of verification by proof of a birth certificate. The opponents of the disqualified team will be awarded a forfeit and scored 6-0/7-0 depending on if the game is a 6 inning/7 inning game.
PROTEST FEES: $100.00 cash (in rule interpretation only). All protest must be done before the next pitch.
GAME TIME: Starting time is forfeit time, unless delay is created by tournament director. Games may begin no sooner than 30 minutes prior to the scheduled game time.
HOME TEAM: Will be determined by coin flip in pool play and high seed in Bracket play.
TIME LIMIT: All games have a 1 hour 45 minutes time limit in pool play and up through semi-final games. If home team is ahead, bottom half of inning will not be played if time has expired. Championship games have a NO TIME LIMIT and home team will be determined by a coin toss If game is tied after time has expired, the California Tie Breaker will be used. ** Local Tournament Directors may institute a time limit for Championship Games.
RUN RULES: 8U (6 inning games); 10 runs after 4 innings. 9U, 10U, 11U & 12U (6 inning games); 8 runs after 5 innings; 10 runs after 4 innings; 12 runs after 3 innings.
SLIDE RULE: Whenever a tag play is evident, a runner must slide or seek to avoid contact with the fielder and / or catcher.Attempting to jump, leap, or dive over the fielder and / or catcher is not interpreted as seeking to avoid contact. Malicious contact shall supersede all obstruction penalties.
Penalty: The runner shall be called out and may be ejected from the game at the umpire’s discretion
METAL SPIKES: Not allowed in 12U or younger. (PENALTY: If discovered on offense – Player is out and team warning issued. Next offense is an out and ejection of player and manager. If discovered on defense – Player is substituted for, spiked cleats are removed and team warning is issued. Next offense is an ejection of the player and manager.
EP RULE: Extra Player – Bat 10 or more players they are considered & EP, the EP can go into the field for any of the other 9 players in the field. The batting order does not change. Batting the Roster affords the ability to bat the roster and have free subs in the field, but if you lose a player it will be an out in that spot the rest of the game regardless of the reason for the loss. The batting order does not change.
EJECTION: Players and Coaches will sit out the remainder of that game.
PITCHING RULES: For 6 inning 12U and younger, a pitcher cannot pitch more than 21 outs in a three day tournament. Violation of this rule will result in forfeiture of the game being played.
BAT REGULATIONS: High School Bat weight/length differential rule is waived in the 15 and under ages. Approved bats are those which are stamped with 1.15 BFI or BBCOR. Wood bats are also approved.
COURTESY RUNNERS: Courtesy runners are available for both the pitcher and the catcher and may be used at any time. Courtesy runner MUST be someone not presently in the line-up (substitution availability not required). The same player cannot run for the pitcher and catcher in the same inning. If you are batting the line-up, the courtesy runner will be the last recorded out. If a team is batting more than 9 players in the line-up and substitutes are available on the bench, the substitute MUST be used as the courtesy runner. Once this requirement is met, then the last recorded out can be used as the courtesy runner. Both of these options are possible in the same inning. REMINDER: This rule was modified to speed the progression of the game.
TIE BREAKER SYSTEM: Pool play games can end in a tie.
If a playoff game is tied after all innings have been completed (or at time limit), the “California” tie-breaker rule will go into effect.
Each team puts the batter who is scheduled to bat last in that respective half of the inning on second base, continue hitting from where last out was made, and plays out a full inning.
This happens until the tie is broken and the game is complete.
RE-ENTRY RULES: Starters can re-enter 1 time in a game. Starters and the substitutes which replaced them are married to each other for the re-entry requirements.
* NOTE: The above rules govern play at the State and Local levels. Any rules NOT specifically covered above will be referred to the MLB Official Baseball Rule Book.
Ages 13 and Under – 18 and Under:
AGE REQUIREMENTS: May 1st will be the designated date to determine ages. Players exceeding the age of the Division before May 1st, will not be eligible to participate in that division. Players can play in a higher age division.
INELEGIBLE PLAYERS: Teams caught using ineligible players during any part of a tournament will be removed from further participation in the event. Ineligible due to falsified age on the team roster and/or lack of verification by proof of a birth certificate. The opponents of the disqualified team will be awarded a forfeit and scored 6-0/7-0 depending on if the game is a 6 inning/7 inning game.
PROTEST FEES: $100.00 cash (in rule interpretation only). All protest must be done before the next pitch.
GAME TIME: Starting time is forfeit time, unless delay is created by tournament director. Games may begin no sooner than 30 minutes prior to the scheduled game time.
HOME TEAM: Will be determined by coin flip in pool play and high seed in Bracket play.
TIME LIMIT: All games have a 1 hour 50 minutes time limit in pool play and up through semi-final games. If home team is ahead, bottom half of inning will not be played if time has expired. Championship games have a NO TIME LIMIT and the home team will be determined by a coin toss. If game is tied after time has expired, the California Tie Breaker will be used. ** Local Tournament Directors may institute a time limit for Champinship Games.
RUN RULES: 13U, 14U, 16U & 18U (7 inning games); 8 runs after 5 innings; 10 runs after 4 innings; 12 runs after 3 innings.
EP RULE: Extra Player – Bat 10 or more players they are considered & EP, the EP can go into the field for any of the other 9 players in the field. The batting order does not change. Batting the Roster affords the ability to bat the roster and have free subs in the field, but if you lose a player it will be an out in that spot the rest of the game regardless of the reason for the loss. The batting order does not change.
DH RULE: MLB Rule – You can DH for any player in the line-up.
SLIDE RULE: The High School slide rule will be used.
Rule 8-4 Article 2 (b)
Any runner is out when he: (b) does not legally slide and causes illegal contact and/or illegally alters the actions of a fielder in the immediate act of making a play, or on a force play, does not slide in a direct line between the bases; or
1. A runner may slide in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder.
2. Runners are never required to slide, but if a runner elects to slide, the slide must be legal. (2-32-1, 2) Jumping, hurdling, and leaping are all legal attempt to avoid a fielder as long as the fielder is lying on the ground. Diving over a fielder is illegal.
PENALTY: The runner is out. Interference is called and the ball is dead immediately. On a force-play slide with less than two outs, the runner is declared out, as well as the batter-runner. Runners shall return to the bases occupied at the time of the pitch. With two outs, the runner is declared out. The batter is credited with a fielder’s choice.
PITCHING RULES: For 7 inning 13U & 14U, a pitcher cannot pitch more than 24 outs in a three day tournament. Violation of this rule will result in forfeiture of the game being played.
PITCHING REGULATIONS: 16U & 18U (High School Divisions) there are NO pitching rules.
EJECTION: Players and Coaches will sit out the remainder of that game.
BAT REGULATIONS: High School Bat weight/length differential rule is waived in the 15 and under ages. Approved bats are those which bear the stamp for 1.15 BFI or BBCOR. 16U & 18U divisions are required to meet high school bat specifications (BBCOR). Wood bats are approved. Any younger teams wishing to play in the 16U and/or 18U divisions MUST comply with the bat specifications for those age groups.
COURTESY RUNNERS: Courtesy runners are available for both the pitcher and the catcher and may be used at any time. Courtesy runner MUST be someone not presently in the line-up (substitution availability not required). The same player cannot run for the pitcher and catcher in the same inning. If you are batting the line-up, the courtesy runner will be the last recorded out. If a team is batting more than 9 players in the line-up and substitutes are available on the bench, the substitute MUST be used as the courtesy runner. Once this requirement is met, then the last recorded out can be used as the courtesy runner. Both of these options are possible in the same inning. REMINDER: This rule was modified to speed the progression of the game.
RE-ENTRY RULES: Starters can re-enter 1 time in a game. Starters and the substitutes which replaced them are married to each other for the re-entry requirements.
BATS: FOR 14U DIVISION, only -5 or -3 BBCOR BATS ALLOWED ***NO COMPOSITE ALLOWED***
TIE BRAKER SYSTEM: Pool play games can end in a tie.
If a playoff game is tied after all innings have been completed (or at time limit), the “California” tie-breaker rule will go into effect.Each team puts the batter who is scheduled to bat last in that respective half of the inning on second base, continue hitting from where last out was made, and plays out a full inning. This happens until the tie is broken and the game is complete.
*NOTE: The above rules govern play at the State and Local levels. Any rules NOT specifically covered above will be referred to the MLB Official Baseball Rule Book.
POOL PLAY TO BRACKETS
· WIN-LOSS RECORD
· HEAD TO HEAD – IF THERE IS NOT A THREE-WAY TIE OR MORE TEAMS WITH THE SAME RECORD.
· FEWEST RUNS ALLOWED IN POOL PLAY.
· HIGHEST RUN DIFFERENTIAL – WITH A MAXIMUM RUN DIFFERENTIAL OF 10 RUNS PER GAME
· MOST RUNS SCORED IN POOL PLAY.