Special Note:

> 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. 

>Please note: We do allow dual roster players for different age divisions within the

 same tournament. Dual roster players can only pitch in one age division. 

> 8U-9U will have a 4 run rule per inning including the last inning. (9U in pool play only).

NATIONS BASEBALL OF GREATER ORLANDO

Tournament Rules 2011-2012

GOVERNING RULES

Nations Baseball of Greater Orlando events follows NFHS rules with modifications. See modifications below:

Pitching

All age divisions, Pitchers are allowed 27 outs or 9 innings total for the weekend. (Excludes 16u and18u). (Pitchers are legal in all situations as long as they do not record 28 outs excluding Double and triple plays.) 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 2^nd visit Pitcher must be removed. Removing a pitcher does not count as a visit. (Per NFHS rules.)

TIME LIMITS

Pool Play and Bracket play: (7u-8u ) 1 hour and 15minutes. (9u-12u) 1 hour and 40 minutes time limit (13u-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)

Championship Game: 2 hour and 15 min. time limits (7u-8u) 1 hour 45minutes time limits.

UMPIRE FEE

Umpire fees Per Umpire ($20 for 7u- 8U (1 Umpire), ($40 for 10U-12U), ($50 for 13U up) must be paid at the plate before a game can start. Failure to pay umpire fee will result in a forfeit by the non-paying team. Pool Play will only have one umpire. The fee will be split. Bracket play and Championship games have 2 umpires.

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.

       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 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.

Designated Hitter-

Nations Orlando allows a DH in all age divisions 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. 

AGE CHART

PITCHING RULES

Note: Any pitcher who throws on three consecutive days, even if no outs are recorded, must have 1 full day of rest before pitching again.

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 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.

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.

Nations 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) & tenth (10th) positions in the batting

order will be declared an out each turn at bat.

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 home

plate.

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