2021 USSSA Baseball Rules Packet
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Indiana USSSA Baseball Tournament Packet All players participating in any Indiana USSSA Baseball tournament play shall have photocopies of their original birth certificates in the possession of their team manager. Failure to have a copy of the birth certificate upon demand will result in the offending team losing the game, being ejected from the tournament, being placed last in the standings and forfeiting all awards and tournament berths that would have been awarded at the tournament. Rules to Note: 1. Any player can play in a higher age classification, but cannot play in a lower age group. 2. All players must be fully uniformed, which includes the following: Pants, socks, cap, and team shirt with numbers that are non-duplicating and at least three inches in height. Tournament Director has the right to make exceptions to the rule based on different circumstances. 3. Managers and coaches must wear a baseball cap with team insignia and will be properly dressed. (Coaches may wear coaching shorts). 4. While in the field, as a defensive player, team caps must be worn. 5. Protest of uniforms will not be allowed. It shall be the Tournament Director’s responsibility regarding uniform legality. Violation of the uniform rule will result in the violator being allowed to conform, be removed from the game, or team automatically forced to be the Visiting team prior to the game. 6. A full-use batting helmet which covers the top and back of the head and the side of the face must be worn by every player while in the on-deck circle, when at bat and while on the bases. 7. NO BAT BOYS/GIRLS ARE ALLOWED. Only Coaches and players on the team are allowed in the dugout. 8. The catcher must wear protective gear: Mask, chest protector, shin guards, protective cup, catcher’s helmet and throat guard. Hockey Mask covering the throat area is complying with the catcher equipment rules. Ages 8-14: Catchers must wear helmet that fully covers their ears. 9. The USSSA National By-Laws and the National League Major League Baseball Rules shall govern all playing rules not specifically covered in this document. Managers/Coaches Responsibility ****COACHES CHECK LIST PLEASE READ **** All teams must be registered with USSSA. A completed roster matching players birth certificates name and date of births must be online at www.usssa.com All Players must be on the online USSSA roster or the team will be forfeited from the tournament. Have photocopies of birth certificates – Birth certificates do not have to be shown before the start of the 1st game, but must be on SITE if needed. Player’s names on Birth Certificates and the online roster at www.usssa.com must match. A copy of team’s Proof of Insurance must be provided to the tournament director. You can turn the proof of Insurance into the office before your first game on the day of the event. We will keep this, so make sure you have extra copies. 2 2021 Tournament Policy & Procedures 1. The tournament director reserves the right to alter the tournament format in the event of inclement weather or other unplayable conditions or other events that may arise. 2. Management reserves the right to alter Tournament Rules with advance notice to teams. 3. Each team must be Sanctioned with USSSA and have your teams roster entered online at www.usssa.com. NO EXCEPTIONS or Teams will be Forfeited from the tournament. 4. Teams Insurance and Entry Fee Balances owed: a. Each team must turn in the teams proof of Insurance policy prior to first game played. b. Teams with a remaining tournament entry fee Balance must be paid in full prior to 1st game. Checks are not accepted day of the tournament. Charge and or Cash only will be accepted on day of the event. c. No team shall be permitted to start tournament play without all information being completed at check-in. If your team fails to comply with our check-in procedures prior to the start of the first game, your game may be a forfeit. 5. Rainout Info: Contact your Tournament Director for this information and/or visit the pages below. a. Website: www.Indianausssabaseball.com b. Facebook: Indiana USSSA Baseball 6. NO FOOD, DRINKS, PETS, OR COOLERS ALLOWED INTO THE PARKS. a. Exception: One (1) team Water/Gatorade jug is allowed. 7. Use of tobacco, E-Cigarettes, Vapors and alcoholic products is prohibited on all fields and in dugouts. Failure to comply will result in dismissal from park and possible team suspension from tournament with no refund. 8. Coach/Fan Ejection Rule a. 1st Offense: Coach/Fan is removed from remainder of current game. Coach/Fan may return for next game (if Tournament Director deems appropriate) and will receive a call from the State Office the following week. b. 2nd Offense: Coach/Fan is suspended from next Indiana USSSA Baseball event that team is scheduled for. c. 3rd Offense: Coach/Fan will be banned from Indiana USSSA Baseball events for the remainder of the scheduled year. 9. PLEASE BE WARNED -- Our tournament has "zero tolerance" for any physical confrontations by players, coaches, fans or anyone else. Upon the first violation, the violating party shall be removed from the facility for the remainder of the tournament. 3 2021 Tournament Rules USSSA National By-Laws including the following exceptions/clarifications. 1. Individual Player and Team Eligibility: Please refer to the USSSA By-Laws 3.01 through 3.13 2. USSSA Bat Standards are in effect for all Indiana USSSA Baseball Tournaments. Please revert to the USSSA National By-Laws. a. NEW RULE for 13u: Effective January 1st, 2020, all 13u players must use a maximum drop 8 (- 8) bat with the official USSSA 1.15 BPF Mark permanently stamped. 3. The following base length and pitching distance will be used for each age group below: a. 7 & 8U Coach Pitch: 40/60 b. 7U Machine Pitch: 46/60 (40 MPH) c. 8U Machine Pitch: 46/60 (42 MPH) d. 9U and 10U: 46/65 e. 11U and 12U: 50/70 f. 13U: 54/80 g. 14U: 60/90 4. Coin Flip: In Pool Play home team is determined by a coin flip. Teams with the higher seed will be the HOME team during the single elimination tournament. The home team will be the official book and will record game start time when announced by the umpire. The home team will compare scores each inning with the Opponents scorekeeper and confirm scores with the home plate umpire. 5. Scorecards: Managers must sign off on the umpire scorecards with signature confirming the score of the game and the INNINGS pitched by each individual player that pitched. It is the coaches responsibility to make sure the information on the score card is correct. Once the card has been signed it is official. 6. Game balls: Provided by all Indiana USSSA tournament directors/venues. 7. Dropped third strikes and infield fly rule are in effect at all levels except 7u & 8u. 4 9U AA ONLY Tournament Modifications No Leadoffs: A player can’t leave the base until the ball has crossed the plate. If a player leaves the base before the ball crosses the plate he will be declared out. No Warnings. A batter shall be automatically out on a dropped / missed third (3rd) strike by the catcher 8. Metal spikes: are allowed for 13u and older age divisions except the pitchers on Portable Mounds. a. Metal Spikes for 13 and 14u WILL NOT be allowed on any portable pitching mounds. The pitcher will be removed from the pitching position if caught wearing metal cleats on a portable pitching mound. 9. Intentional walks: no pitches need to be thrown. 10. Game time is forfeit time. Forfeit score: 6 inning game = 6-0 score. 7-inning game = 7-0 score. 11. All teams must be ready to play 20 MINUTES PRIOR to their scheduled start time. This rule is in effect to help keep the tournament on time. 12. Tie-Breakers: These Tie Breakers will be used for all events: 1. Winning Percentage – Descending 2. Number Wins – Descending 3. Number Loses – Ascending 4. Tied Teams (vs. each other) Winning Pct. – Descending (more than 2 teams tied, skip this tie breaker) 5. Avg. Runs Allowed – Ascending 6. Avg. Run Differential with a maximum of (8) – Descending 7. USSSA Points – Descending 8. Date Team Entered USSSA Database 9. Coin Flip 5 13. Pitching Restrictions: USSSA By-Laws pitching rules are in full effect for all USSSA tournaments. AGE ONE DAY MAXIMUM TO PITCH ONE DAY MAXIMUM THREE DAY DIVISION THE NEXT DAY MAXIMUM 7-12U 3 6 8 13-14U 3 7 8 15U-18U UNLIMITED UNLIMITED UNLIMITED A. ONE DAY MAXIMUM TO PITCH THE NEXT DAY: The maximum number innings a player can legally pitch in one (1) day and still pitch the next day. - In 8U-14U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of three (3) innings in one (1) day and still legally pitch the next day. If the player pitches three and one-third (3 1/3) or more innings in one (1) day, the player can not legally pitch the next day. B. ONE DAY MAXIMUM: In the 8-12U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of six (6) innings in one (1) day. The player would be ineligible to pitch the next day. In the 13-14U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of seven (7) innings in one (1) day. The player would be ineligible to legally pitch the next day.