Special Notes:
> Concessions will be available
> Coolers are not allowed except for the team cooler.
> Please only one team cooler per team. Thank You!!!!!
> Gate Fee: $7.00 a day or $10.00 Weekend Pass.
> During pool play there will be one umpire. Bracket play we will have 2 umpires.
>Nations of Greater Orlando does allow dual roster players for different age divisions within the
same tournament. Dual roster players can only pitch in one age division. A player is NOT allowed to play on two teams in the same age division.
>8U-9U will have a 4 run rule per inning including the last inning. (9U in pool play only).
> Rosters should be turned in prior to the first game at the head table or the roster should be maintained online prior to first game. This is the manager/coach responsibility to make sure the roster is updated prior to event or a hard copy turned in prior to first game.
NATIONS BASEBALL OF GREATER ORLANDO
Tournament Rules 2014-2015
GOVERNING RULES
Nations Baseball of Greater Orlando events follows NFHS rules with modifications. See modifications below:
PITCHING
Pitching limits are at the Head Coaches discretion. Nations of Greater Orlando considers the safety and health of our players to be a high priority and we ask that coaches and parents be mindful of the number of pitches a player throws throughout the weekend.
Any Pitcher is allowed back in the game unless they were removed due to limited visits. Pitchers are allowed 1 visit per inning, on the 2nd visit the Pitcher must be removed. Removing a pitcher does not count as a visit. (Per NFHS rules.) The coach is permitted to come to the mound for a conference with the pitcher three times during the game. If the pitcher is removed, the conference does not count against this limit of three. After the three conferences have been used, the coach can still come out for a fourth, but the pitcher must be removed from the mound. It is considered a conference as soon as the coach walks across one of the foul lines. During extra-inning games, one conference is permitted in each additional inning. These extra conferences cannot be saved and used in later innings.
TIME LIMITS
Pool Play and Bracket play: (7u-8u ) 1 hour and 15minutes. (9u-14u) 1 hour and 40 minutes time limit (16u-18u) 1 hour and 50 minute’s time limit (Texas Tie breaker will be used if time limit is up in Bracket play and Championship Game)
Texas Tie breaker: In the event of a tie in Bracket play or the Championship game and regular time has expired, a Texas tie breaker will be used. The inning will begin with no outs and the last batted out on 2nd base. This will be used until a winner is determined.
Championship Game: 2 hour and 15 min. time limit (9u-18U)
7u and 8u Championship and Underdawg games : 1 hour 15minutes time limits.
Underdawg Championships will remain at 1 hour and 40 minutes (9u-14u) and 1 hour and 50 minutes (16u-18U)
UMPIRE FEES
Saturday Pool Play- One umpire
7u-8u $15 for each team
9u-12u $20 for each team
13u-18u $25 for each team
Sunday- Two umpires
7u-8u $15 for each team (one umpire)
9u-12u $40 for each team
13u-18u $45 for each team
Umpire fees should be paid at the plate meeting before the game starts. Failure to pay umpire fee will result in a forfeit by the non-paying team.
MERCY RULES
Games shall be declared complete games and ended upon fulfillment of any of the following mercy rule criteria. Mercy Rules do not apply when a run rule is in place.
15 runs after 3 innings (losing team must have had 3 at bats)
10 runs after 4 innings (losing team must have had 4 at bats)
8 runs after 5 innings (losing team must have had 5 at bats)
TIE BREAKERS
A. Once a tie is broken with three or more teams, teams advance to the next tie breaker rule until the tie is broken.
B.Tie breakers
1.Win-Loss Record
2.Highest Run Differential*
3.Fewest Runs Allowed (actual runs)
4.Runs scored
*Note: This calculation is determined by taking total runs scored minus total runs allowed. The maximum run differential per game is +8 or –8. Our system auto defaults to an 8 run differential: example if you win 17 to 2 the score will reflect 10-2.
5.Coin Flip
C.When three or more teams are tied, highest run differential in all pool play games is used in determining all three places. If there is still a three-way tie, the fewest runs allowed is used to determine who advances.
D.When a three-way tie is broken, and the remaining two teams are tied with run differential, the next tie breaker is actual runs allowed in all games. If the teams are still tied, a coin is flipped.
BATTING ORDER
Extra Hitters (EH) are allowed in Nations of Greater Orlando Baseball events. Consequently, a team may choose to bat 10, 11, or more players by listing the additional players as EHs. Further, if a team chooses to bat their entire lineup, they may then utilize free defensive substitutions.
FORFIETS
In the event of a forfiet, the forfiet will be recorded at an 8-0 score.
Designated Hitter-
Nations of Greater Orlando allows a DH in all age divisions (except MP) as per high school rules.
COURTESY RUNNERS
Teams may utilize courtesy runners for the catcher or pitcher. Courtesy runners must first come from the pool of eligible substitutes in the dugout. If a team has no eligible substitutes, the player who was the last recorded out shall become the courtesy runner.
It is not necessary for the same substitute player to courtesy run for the pitcher or catcher each time a courtesy runner is utilized; however, if a courtesy runner is used for the pitcher or catcher more then once in the same inning, the same runner must be re-used.
Election of Home Team
During pool play the home team will be decided by coin flip. Dugouts are on a first come, first serve basis.
The higher seed has the election of being home team until the championship game.
Championship game: The home team will be decided by coin flip.
BALKS
In 8u and 9u, balks will not be called.
BAT SIZE
The 8u through 14u age groups shall not be limited by the High School Baseball Rules published by the National Federation of State High Schools (NFHS) regarding bat specifications. However, 15u and older must follow the current NFHS bat specifications, including the use of BBCOR bats.
INJURIES INVOLVING BLOOD
A player or coach who is bleeding or who has an open wound shall be prohibited from participating further in the game until appropriate treatment has been administered. If medical care or treatment can be administered in a reasonable amount of time, the individual would not have to leave the game. The length of time that is considered reasonable is according to the umpire’s judgment. The reentry rule would not apply to players in case of a bleeding injury. If there is an excessive amount of blood on the uniform, it must be changed before that individual may participate.
LAST HALF INNING
The bottom half of the last inning will not be completed solely for tie-breaker purposes once the home team has more runs than the visiting team in that inning.
RAIN OUTS
In the event the tournament, or any part of it, is canceled due to rain, fees paid for the tournament shall be treated as follows:
1. If team finishes 2 full games, no refunds/credits shall be issued.
2. If team finishes 1 full game, team shall be issued a credit to the next Nations of Greater Orlando event they choose to attend. They must provide the email that was sent showing credit.
3. If event is completely rained out, tournament fee shall be refunded.
SUSPENDED / REGULATION GAMES POLICY
Games that do not make it to regulation (4 complete innings for a 6 inning game or 5 complete innings for a 7 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 enough time to resume a suspended game, it will be considered complete and official at the end of the last complete inning. Below are some further points to help illustrate this policy:
Pool play / Consolation games:
If a game is suspended prior to being official and there is not enough time to resume – the game would be considered complete at the end of the last complete inning. If tied at the end of the last complete inning – the game would stand as a tie.
Elimination games:
A) If one inning hasn’t been completed and the game is suspended and there is not enough time to resume - the higher seed would advance to the next round.
B) If tied at the end of the last complete inning – the higher seed would advance
C) If tied at the end of the last complete inning and the two teams are the same seed from different divisions entering the game – we would revert back to the tie-breaking system in place
D) If the championship game starts and is not able to complete due to weather/darkness and there is no time to resume – the game would be considered official at the end of the last complete inning.
E) If tied at the end of the last complete inning – both teams will be named co-champions.
AGE CHART
9U:
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Player cannot turn 10 before May 1st,
The following calender year (same as LL,BRuth,AAU, USSSA)
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10U:
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Player cannot turn 11 before May 1st, The following calender year (same as LL,BRuth,AAU, USSSA)
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11U:
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Player cannot turn 12 before May 1st, The following calender year (same as LL,BRuth,AAU, USSSA)
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12U:
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Player cannot turn 13 before May 1st,The following calender year (same as LL,BRuth,AAU, USSSA)
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13U:
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Player cannot turn 14 before May 1st, The following calender year (same as LL,BRuth,AAU, USSSA)
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14U:
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Player cannot turn 15 before May 1st, The following calender year (same as LL,BRuth,AAU, USSSA)
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16U:
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Player cannot turn 17 before May1st, The following calender year (same as LL,BRuth,AAU, USSSA)
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18U:
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Player cannot turn 20 before May 1st, The following calender year (same as LL,BRuth,AAU, USSSA)
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TEAM COOLERS
Each team will be allowed 1 team cooler, brought in by a coach that may contain bottled water, ice packs, wrap, etc. Please do not bring other drinks or food to the facilities.
MACHINE PITCH
Nations of Greater Orlando Orlando Machine Pitch Specific Rules –
8.07.A Fair Ball Arc: There shall be a twenty (20) foot arc drawn from first (1st) baseline to third (3rd) baseline in front of home plate. A batted ball must go past this line to be a fair ball.
8.07.B Safety Arc: There shall be a thirty (30) foot arc drawn from first (1st) baseline to third (3rd) baseline in front of home plate. Infielders must stay behind this line until the ball is hit.
8.07.C Pitching Circle: There shall be a ten (10) foot diameter circle with the front edge set at forty-two (42) feet from the rear point of home plate.
8.07.D Pitching Machine: The front leg(s) shall be set at a distance of forty-two (42) feet from the rear point of home plate.
8.07.E Recommended pitching machine speeds:
8.07.E.1 36 M.P.H. – 39 M.P.H. for the 7U age division.
8.07.E.2 39 M.P.H. – 42 M.P.H. for the 8U age division.
8.07.F Ten (10) defensive players shall play in the field with four (4) outfielders. The fourth (4th) outfielder shall not
assume an infield position. All outfielders shall stay behind the baselines.
8.07.G The defensive player listed as pitcher shall not leave the pitching circle until the ball is hit.
Rule 8.07.G Penalty: The play continues. After the play has ended, the offensive team has the option of taking
the result of the play or no-pitch.
Rule 8.07.G Additional Penalty: First Offense: Warning; Second Offense: Removal of player from the pitching
position for the remainder of the game.
8.07.H Defensive coaches shall not allowed on the field of play and shall coach from the dugout.
8.07.I The Infield Fly Rule shall not be in effect at any time.
8.07.J The batting order shall constitute all present players on the team roster at the beginning of the game. Late arrivals shall be inserted at the bottom of the batting order. All players on the roster shall bat before returning to the top of the batting order.
8.07.J.1 Teams may start a game with eight (8) players. The ninth (9th) position in the batting order will be declared an out each turn at bat. There is no penalty for not having a 10th player.
Rule 8.07.J.1 Approved Ruling: A ninth (9th) & tenth (10th) player and all subsequent players may
be added to the bottom of the batting line-up as soon as they become available.
8.07.K Teams may use free substitution on defense but the batting order shall remain the same.
8.07.L Teams may bunt a maximum of two (2) times per inning.
8.07.L.1 Fake bunts shall be prohibited. A batter that “shows” bunt is committed to an attempt to bunt or take
the pitch.
Rule 8.07.L.1 Penalty: A batter who swings after “showing” bunt shall be called out and no runners
may advance.
8.07.M The batter shall receive a maximum of six (6) pitches or three (3) swinging strikes.
Rule 8.07.M Comment: A batter that has received less than six (6) pitches and has a count of two (2) swinging
strikes shall have his turn at bat extended on foul balls up to the six (6) pitch limit.
8.07.N A player may only be Intentionally Walked once per game by announcement from the defensive team.
8.07.O Runners shall not lead-off or steal bases. A runner is out for leaving the base before the ball is hit or reaches homeplate.
8.07.P 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.
8.07.Q A team may score a maximum of Four (4) runs per inning, including the last inning or record three (3) outs.
8.07.R Umpires shall call “Time” after every play and declare the ball dead. “Time” shall be called as soon as the lead
runner is not attempting to advance. “Time” does not have to be called by the defense for the purpose of this rule.
Rule 8.07.R Comment: When a runner stands off a base and “jukes” or “feints” back and forth, this is to be
interpreted as “not attempting to advance” and “Time” shall be called.
8.07.S When a batted ball hits the pitching machine, the ball is dead, the batter is awarded first (1st) base and all runners shall advance one (1) base.
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