Special Notes:  > Concessions will be available > Coolers are not allowed except for the team cooler.  Please respect the rules of the individual parks by not bringing coolers, alcohol, and pets.   Soft Toss against the fence is also NOT allowed.     > NO SEEDS, GUM, OR METAL SPIKES on TURF FIELDS.  at The Seminole Sports Complex: NO METAL SPIKES ON ANY FIELDS, TURF OR GRASS. > Please only one team cooler per team. Thank You!!!!!  > Gate Fee:    $7.00 per day > Greater Tampa Baseball does allow dual roster players for different age divisions within the  same tournament. Dual roster players can only pitch in one age division.   Players are not allowed to play on 2 teams in the same age division.  >8U will have a 4 run rule per inning including the last inning.    > 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.    GREATER TAMPA BASEBALL Tournament Rules 2018/2019   GOVERNING RULES GreaterTampa Baseball events follows NFHS rules with modifications. See modifications below:   2018 BAT RULES 8u-13u NO BAT RESTRICTIONS   14u-HS BBCOR -3    PITCHING Pitching limits are at the Head Coaches discretion.   Greater Tampa Baseball 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. 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. Turbo events will only allow 18 outs per player. TIME LIMITS Pool Play and Bracket play: (8u MP/KP) 1 hour and 15minutes. (9u) 1 hour and 30 minutes time limit  (10u-14u) 1 hour and 45 minute’s time limit in Pool Play, 2 hour time limit in the Championship Game (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.   UMPIRE FEES 8u/8u kid pitch $20/game for 1 umpire/game 9u-12u $45/game for each team 13u-18u $50/game 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 "RUN" RULES 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        5.Coin Flip    *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.   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 Greater Tampa 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 10 or more their entire lineup 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- Greater Tampa Baseball 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. In Bracket Play the higher seed has the election of being home or visiting team.     CLEATS Metal cleats are NOT allowed for the 8u-12u divisions.  Molded Cleats or Turf shoes must be worn by all divisions, including 13u-18u when playing on turf fields at select complexes.   BALKS In 8u and 9u, balks will not be called.     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 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.     Game guarantee:  Top seeded teams could end up with a "bye' in bracket play.  This "bye" is counted as a game for the purposes of the minumum game guarantee.     AGE CHART   9U:  Player cannot turn 10 before May 1st, The following calender year (same as LL,BRuth,AAU, USSSA) 10U:  Player cannot turn 11 before May 1st,  The following calender year (same as LL,BRuth,AAU, USSSA) 11U:  Player cannot turn 12 before May 1st,  The following calender year (same as LL,BRuth,AAU, USSSA) 12U:  Player cannot turn 13 before May 1st,The following calender year (same as LL,BRuth,AAU, USSSA) 13U:  Player cannot turn 14 before May 1st,  The following calender year (same as LL,BRuth,AAU, USSSA) 14U:  Player cannot turn 15 before May 1st,  The following calender year (same as LL,BRuth,AAU, USSSA) 16U:  Player cannot turn 17 before May1st,  The following calender year (same as LL,BRuth,AAU, USSSA) 18U:  Player cannot turn 20 before May 1st,  The following calender year (same as LL,BRuth,AAU, USSSA) 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.       8U KID PITCH SPECIFIC RULES: AT THE 8U LEVEL ONLY: Pitching distance is 42 feet. Time limit is 1 hour 15 minutes. Except championship game will be 1 hour 40 minutes, still using 4 runs per inning.  Games will play to time.  Run rules do NOT apply.  The game will be played to time limit. No leadoffs. No stealing home -- a runner, starting a play at 3rd Base may only advance home on a batted ball or when forced home by a walk, hit batter, or other force play (bases loaded). For 8u, note that a walk is considered a ""Dead Ball"" situation -- the batter may only take 1st Base and any forced runners may only advance one base. Runners shall not advance when the pitcher is on the pitching rubber with the ball in his possession and the catcher is in position to receive a pitch. On a base on balls, the batter may attempt to steal second prior to the pitcher and catcher coming set at his own risk, but if a runner is on third, he may not advance home even if the defense attempts to throw the runner out at second base. A runner starting from 1st or 2nd Base may advance home as a batted ball continuation of a play (there is not a mandatory ""red light"" at 3rd Base for a play in motion). A RUNNER STEALING FROM 2ND TO THIRD BASE MAY NOT ADVANCE TO HOME ON AN OVERTHROW BY THE CATCHER. HE MUST STAY AT 3RD BASE. 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. This is not an appealable play. 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. 8U is closed bases meaning a batter may not run on dropped 3rd strike, the batter will be automatically out on a dropped 3rd strike. Bunting is allowed.  But no Slash bunting, meaning a batter cannot square to bunt then pull back and swing. 4 runs an inning no matter what inning or game.  This holds true for Saturday and Sunday games. The infield fly rule applies.