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 Tournament Playing Rules

Entrance:

1 box of 12 balls from each team and 10 League pins for the pin hat draws. All participating players will be given a  Fred Ritchie pin.

Team Definition:

1.  Eligible teams must be "Minor" 9 & 10 year old All-Star teams. Up to a maximum of 3 players aged 9 or 10 who have played for "Major" (11 & 12 year olds) teams over the course of the season are eligible.

2.  The official roster may include up to 14 players.

3.    

All Players Bat: 

All players listed on the official game roster/batting order will bat regardless of whether they are in the active defensive line-up or not.

Minimum play:

1.  Each player on the game roster must play a minimum of six (6) defensive outs and have one (1) at bat.

2.  Any player that does not reach his/her minimum play requirements in any game that ends before six (6) complete innings must start the next game.

Injury / Discipline & Sickness:

The minimum play rule will not apply under the following circumstances:

1.   Injury: If one or more players is injured and cannot play.

3.  2.   Discipline: If disciplinary action is required against one or more players.

4.  3.   Sickness: If one or more players becomes sick and is unable to play.

     In those situations, the umpire, opposing coach and scorekeeper must be notified and the affected player(s) may be removed from the game line-up. 

Minimum number of players for games

1.  A team may start a game with no less than eight (8) players.

ThFor a team that plays with eight players the ninth position in the batting order will be ruled an automatic out.

Scheduled Start times / Grace period & Forfeits:

1.  All games will start at their scheduled time.

2.  If one or both teams has less than eight (8) players at the scheduled start time a grace period of five (5) minutes will be allotted to the affected team(s).

3.  If one team only has less than eight (8) players at the end of the grace period, that team will automatically forfeit the game.

If both teams have less than eight (8) players after the allotted grace period the game will be ruled a “non-game.” (See “Points” for scoring info.)

Game time restrictions:

At the start of the game the official scorekeeper will make note of the “Official Game start time”. (When umpire signals “Play Ball” for first pitch) No new inning will start after two(2) hours from official start time. The time stamp signifying the end of an inning is when the third out is made. Special note: The tournament committee reserves the right to change any or all scheduled game times and lengths as a result of bad weather delays or any other unforeseen circumstances.

 Minimum Game Length:

For the purposes of this tournament, a game may be considered complete after 4 full innings have been played unless the Home team is leading after 3 & ½ and does not require their 4^th at bat. This definition will be enforced if the tournament game schedule is adversely affected by poor weather or in a mercy situation. (See “Mercy Rule” Definitions)

Maximum Game Length:

The maximum game length for all games is six(6) complete innings. Note: All Round Robin games that are tied at the end of six full innings are considered complete and no extra innings will be played.  All Playoff games will include extra inning(s) if necessary to break a tie.

Rain Delays, Suspended & Cancelled games:

Rain delays & game suspensions will be determined by the umpires on a diamond to diamond basis. In the event that a game is delayed or suspended for any reason, every effort will be made to re-schedule and play it out to at least the “Minimum game length” requirements. (See "Complete game definitions.”) Note: The committee reserves the right to impose a time restriction on the game once it has resumed. If it is impossible to re-schedule and play the game out to the “Minimum game length” requirement, the game will be ruled a “Cancelled game” and will be scored as a 1-1 tie.

Mercy Rule (Round Robin):

All games in pool round robin play are subject to the mercy rule. If after 4 innings the visiting team is ahead by ten (10) or more runs, the game is over and the visiting team is declared the winner. If after 3&1/2 innings the home team is ahead by ten (10) or more runs, the game is over and the home team is declared the winner.

Mercy Rule (Playoff Games):

All playoff games are subject to the mercy rule. Note change: If after 5 innings the visiting team is ahead by ten (10) or more runs, the game is over and the visiting team is declared the winner. If after 41/2 innings the home team is ahead by ten (10) or more runs, the game is over and the home team is declared the winner.           

Weather:

In the event of rain, teams must still show up and be ready to play at their scheduled game time.  Factors such as field conditions, severity of rain and player safety will be considered before a decision to play is made. The game may or may not proceed at the discretion of the umpire in consultation with a tournament official. Failure to show up will result in a forfeit or non-game.

Coaches:

1.  1.  Coaches must wear long pants. No shorts allowed.

2.  In each team’s defensive half of the inning, coaches must remain in the dugout, except to confer with a pitcher or umpire. A coach may stand in the area immediately in front of the dugout entrance.

3.  3.  No smoking will be permitted during games or warm-ups.

4.  4.  Both base coaches may be adults as long as there is a 3^rd coach in the dugout.

Pitching Rules:

1. The maximum number of innings an individual pitcher can pitch in one game is two(2) or six outs.

2. A pitcher will be removed if three (3) batters are hit in the same inning or four (4) batters in one game.

3.Consecutive game pitching is allowed.  

4.Coaches will not be allowed to warm up their respective pitchers.

5.A manager or coach may come out twice in one inning to confer with the same pitcher.  On the third visit, that pitcher must be removed from the pitcher’s position.    

 Pinch Running:

Pinch runners are not allowed except in the case of injury or under special circumstances )of which the umpire must be informed before the game). If an injured player cannot continue, the runner takes that players place. Otherwise the original player returns to his/her defensive position next inning

Dugout rules & Fan Protocol:

1.  No one except players, managers and coaches shall occupy the dugout during a game.  All playing equipment must either be in or behind the dugout and not in the playing field.

2.  No jewellery is to be worn on the field.  If jewellery cannot be removed, it must be taped.

3.  Positive cheering only.  Attempts to distract or intimidate opposing players will not be permitted.  Coaches will be asked to assist in controlling offending fans. 

     1^st infraction:  player/coach will be warned.  

     2^nd infraction: player/coach will be removed from the game.

     Game forfeited for 3^rd team offence.

4.  Harassment of any kind directed towards the umpires will not be tolerated.

Protests:

In the event of a game delay due to a protest the acting tournament official(s), in consultation with the umpire, will resolve and rule on the issue immediately. This decision shall be considered final.

Points :

Points are awarded as follows:

Win – 2, Tie – 1,  Loss – 0,  Forfeit - Win (2 pts) for remaining team,  Loss (0 pts) for forfeiting team,  Non-game (see above) - 2 losses,  Cancelled game - Scored as: 1-1 Tie.

Team advancement:

A winner from each pool will be declared according to the following criteria:

Criteria #1: Highest no. of games won. If two or more teams have an equal no. of wins a winner will be declared according to criteria #2. If still tied, criteria #3 and #4 will be used.

Criteria #2: Head to head.

Criteria #3: Lowest average  number of runs per defensive innings played.

Criteria #4:  Highest average  number of runs per offensive innings played.

Once the winners of their respective pools have been determined, teams are seeded 1 - 4 according to the same criteria.

Playoff Games:

Refer to schedule for playoff match-ups. Home and Away teams will be determined by a coin toss before each game.

Trophy Presentations:

Immediately following the completion of the final game there will be a brief closing ceremony and trophy presentation to the winning team and runner-up.

Scorekeeping & Announcing:

Although every effort is made to provide an in-house scorekeeper and announcer for each game, when this is not possible it will be the responsibility of the Home team to provide an official scorekeeper.

Coach’s Reminders:

1.  Hand in 1dozen game balls and 10 league pins to tournament official prior to first game.

Submit lineup sheet to official scorekeeper 30 min. prior to start of each game. The line-up should record each player's first and last name, uniform number and position (at least for the pitcher & catcher).

Have fun.

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