USA Travel Ball World Championship and Region Rules
Tournament Rules 2019/2020
 
GOVERNING RULES
National Federation HS rules with modifications. See modifications below:
 
PITCHING
Pitching limits are at the Head Coaches discretion.   USA Travel Ball 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.

Week Long Events:: Pitching Rules "USA Travel Ball World Championships" only (does not apply to shortened events):  A pitcher can not pitch more than 27 outs for the event.  If a player pitches more than 9 outs in a day then he must take a day rest.  No pitcher can pitch more than 18 outs in a day.  Coaches must sign score cards and verify pitching after each game.  Charts will be kept at control center and online

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.
Turbo events will only allow 18 outs per player.
TIME LIMITS
Pool Play and Bracket play: (7u-8u ) 1 hour and 15minutes. (8U/9u hybrid, 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 8uMP Championship and Underdawg games : 1 hour 15minutes time limits.
8u kid pitch Championship 1 hour 30 min/ underdawg game will be 1 hour 15 minutes
8u/9u hybrid division 1 hour 40 min for Championship and Underdawg game
Underdawg Championships will remain at 1 hour and 40 minutes (9u-14u) and 1 hour and 50 minutes (16u-18U)
 
UMPIRE FEES at The Plate
7u-8u/8u kid pitch $15 for each team (one umpire)
8u kid pitch $30 each team if two umpires available
8u/9u hybrid division $30 for each team
9u-18u $50 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)
 
Run Rules do NOT apply in 8u machine or kid pitch.  The game will be played to time limit.   Run rules do NOT apply on Saturday only in the 9u division.  The game will be played to time limit.
 
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 USATB 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 (no show, failure to take field or not enough players), the forfiet will be recorded at an 8-0 score.
No rules infractions forfeits in USA Travel Ball events.  Penalty is, Manager will be ejected for that game and the following game and a review of the situation by USATB headquarters for possible further penalties.
Designated Hitter-
USATB 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. 
 
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.
 
BAT SIZE
2020 BAT RULES
13u  -5  
14u-HS BBCOR -3
 no restrictions on 8u-12u as long as bats are not modified or damaged
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.
 
 
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
10U:
 Player cannot turn 11 before May 1st, 
The following calender year
11U:
 Player cannot turn 12 before May 1st, 
The following calender year
12U:
 Player cannot turn 13 before May 1st,
The following calender year
13U:
 Player cannot turn 14 before May 1st, 
The following calender year
14U:
 Player cannot turn 15 before May 1st, 
The following calender year
16U:
 Player cannot turn 17 before May1st, 
The following calender year
18U:
 Player cannot turn 20 before May 1st, 
The following calender year
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.
 
Skills Contest
Home Run Derby (Your own Coaches throw to your players, 5 players per team). 10 outs (out is any swing (foul, tip, miss or any ball in play)  that does not leave the park).  13/14u 200' fence, 12u 195' fence, 9u-11u will use temp fence or hitting location on field for approx 140-160'
 
Around the Horn 8-10u 60, 11/12u 70, 13/14u 90 (catcher to third, third to second, second to first, first to home (clock starts on first throw and ends when ball pops mitt at home (feet must tag all bases)) Each team will get two attempts and keeps best time.  2 second penalty for dropped ball
 
Roadrunner (home to home for time, 5 players per team)
 
Golden Arm (throws centerfield to home, three players per team).  5 throws from approximately 120-140' for points.

 

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