MIDDLE ATLANTIC LEAGUES

Following the Tournament Trail (What Coaches Need to Know)

2021 Edition

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction ...... 1 Scope ...... 1 Purpose ...... 1 Ruth Baseball Organization ...... 2 The Tournament Trail ...... 4 The District Tournament ...... 5 District Participants ...... 5 District Tournament Travel...... 5 District Tournament Schedule ...... 5 District Tournament Jurisdiction ...... 5 The State Tournament ...... 6 State Participants ...... 6 State Tournament Travel...... 6 State Tournament Schedule ...... 6 State Tournament Jurisdiction ...... 6 The Regional Tournament ...... 7 Regional Participants – Full Trail ...... 7 Regional Participants – Non-World Series ...... 7 Regional Tournament Travel ...... 8 Regional Tournament Schedule ...... 8 Regional Tournament Jurisdiction ...... 8 The World Series...... 9 World Series Participants ...... 9 World Series Tournament Travel...... 9 World Series Tournament Schedule ...... 10 World Series Tournament Jurisdiction ...... 10 2019 Tournament Dates ...... 11 Total Commitment ...... 12 Managers and Coaches ...... 12 Multiple Tournament Participation ...... 13 Don’t Be A Quitter! ...... 13 Sanctions against Leagues ...... 14 Coaching Certification ...... 14 Conduct ...... 15 Tournament Credentials ...... 15

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Introduction

Scope There has been an increasing problem in recent years with leagues/teams dropping out of tournaments either right before a tournament starts, or during the actual playing schedule itself. This is occurring at all levels of play. It is extremely disruptive to the other teams playing in the tournament. It also affects the host league financially.

Purpose This document is intended to inform anyone who is going to become a coach on a tournament team exactly what is expected from them as far as commitment and conduct.

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The Babe Ruth Baseball Organization In order to understand the tournament trail it may first be helpful to understand how Babe Ruth Baseball is organized. Babe Ruth League, Inc. has divided the country into eight regions which contain multiple states, provinces and territories. Some of the states are divided into more than one “state” due to a large geographic area or a large number of charted leagues (as shown on page 3). The individual states are further divided into districts. The number of districts is determined by the State Commissioner based on the number of leagues which charter under his jurisdiction. The State Commissioner also determines how many and which leagues are in each district.

The following diagram shows the multiple levels of the organization with a focus on the Middle Atlantic Region.

BABE RUTH LEAGUE, INC.

New Southeast Southwest Middle Midwest Pacific Pacific England Region Region Atlantic Valley Plains Northwest Southwest Region Region Region Region Region Region

DE Eastern MD Northern PA (13-18) or Southern Southern Western NY NJ NJ NY NY NWPA (8-12) & SEPA (8-12)

District District

League League League League

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NEW ENGLAND MIDDLE ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST Northern Southern New Jersey Eastern Western North Carolina Eastern Western Massachusetts Eastern Southern New York Western New York (Canada)

SOUTHWEST OHIO VALLEY MIDWEST PLAINS Northern Ohio Southern Arkansas Eastern Western Kentucky Eastern Western Texas Northern Virgin Islands Southern Indiana (Canada) (Canada)

PACIFIC NORTHWEST PACIFIC SOUTHWEST Northern Southern Washington Northern Northern Central California Southern Oregon Southern California (Canada) (Canada)

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The Tournament Trail

The Babe Ruth League Tournament trail has four stages:

DISTRICT STATE REGIONAL WORLD TOURNAMENTS TOURNAMENTS TOURNAMENTS SERIES

There is an entire tournament trail for seven age groups: 10 years old, 12-year olds -- played on a 60-foot diamond, 12-year olds -- played on a 70-foot diamond, 13 years old, 14 years old, 13-15 years old, 16-18 years old.

In addition, there are also three other regional tournaments: 8 years old, 9 years old, 11 years old -- played on a 70-foot diamond,

There are “invitational” World Series for the following: 8 Year-Old (machine pitch) 8-Year-Old (player pitch) 9-Year-Old 11-Year-Old --- played on a 70 foot diamond

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DISTRICT STATE REGIONAL WORLD TOURNAMENTS TOURNAMENTS TOURNAMENTS SERIES

The District Tournament

District Participants An all-star team from a particular league will start out playing in a district tournament. The number of participants in a district tournament depends on the number of leagues that each State Commissioner has put into each district.

In some states there may not be enough leagues to form districts in a particular age group (i.e., 16-18). In these cases the individual all-star teams from each league will skip this level and go right to the state tournament.

District Tournament Travel In most cases the leagues within a district are located within easy driving distance of each other and do not require the team to stay overnight at the tournament site.

District Tournament Schedule District tournaments generally start in mid to late June. The duration of the tournament depends on the number of games being played. The number and frequency of days played depends on the format used. The schedule is determined by the District Commissioner.

District Tournament Jurisdiction All district tournaments shall be under the jurisdiction of the District Commissioner. The District Commissioner may appoint a Tournament Director to act as his delegate to run a tournament in his absence. The final ruling on any situation that arises lies with the District Commissioner.

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DISTRICT STATE REGIONAL WORLD TOURNAMENTS TOURNAMENTS TOURNAMENTS SERIES

The State Tournament

State Participants Each district winner will advance to play in a state tournament. The number of participants in that tournament depends on the number of districts that each State Commissioner has designated for his state.

State Tournament Travel In most cases the leagues within a state are located within easy driving distance of each other and do not require the team to stay overnight at the tournament site.

State Tournament Schedule State tournaments are generally played in the month of July. The duration of the tournament depends on the number of games being played. The number and frequency of days played depends on the format used. The schedule is determined by the State Commissioner.

State Tournament Jurisdiction All state tournaments shall be under the jurisdiction of the State Commissioner. The State Commissioner may appoint a Tournament Director to act as his delegate to run a tournament in his absence. The final ruling on any situation that arises lies with the State Commissioner.

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DISTRICT STATE REGIONAL WORLD TOURNAMENTS TOURNAMENTS TOURNAMENTS SERIES

The Regional Tournament

Regional Participants – Full Trail Each state winner will participate in a regional tournament. In the Middle Atlantic Region, the number of participants depends on the format of the tournament and the particular age division.

In the Cal Ripken Division, the region is divided into nine states: Western New York Eastern New York Southern New York Northern New Jersey Southern New Jersey Maryland Northwestern Pennsylvania Southeastern Pennsylvania Delaware

The tournaments that fall into this division, the 8 through 12-year olds, will have ten teams participating in them, the nine state winners and a host team.

In the older divisions (13-15 and 16-18) the region is divided into eight states: Western New York Eastern New York Southern New York Northern New Jersey Southern New Jersey Maryland Pennsylvania Delaware The tournaments in the 13-15 division which use the pool play format will have ten teams participating: the eight state champions, the host team and a state runner-up team from the host state. The double elimination bracket format is used for the 16-18 division. The tournament will have nine participants: the eight state champions and a host team.

Regional Participants – Non-World Series The non-world series bound regional tournaments are run the same way as the regional tournaments whose winners advance to a World Series. The number of participants varies depending on the age group and whether or not a state elects to put in a team.

The pool play format is used for all of the invitational tournaments. If only one state does not field a team in a pool play tournament, the state runner-up will fill the spot. If more than one state does not put in a team, the pool play schedule and divisions are adjusted accordingly.

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Regional Tournament Travel Regional tournaments involve interstate play. Teams elect whether to stay at the host site in hotels or travel back and forth. All travel expenses, including the hotel bill is the responsibility of the team itself.

Every effort is made to compact the tournament schedule to cut down on the expense for the participating teams, while being mindful of the constraints of scheduling such as field availability, double headers, rescheduling due to rain, and the mandatory tournament end date. Teams may play four days in a row or may have one or more days off in between.

Regional Tournament Schedule Regional tournament dates are dictated by Babe Ruth League Headquarters. They determine the date that the regional tournament has to end based on the travel dates for the individual World Series. The regional tournaments generally begin the last two week of July or first week of August.

In the tournaments, which use the ten team (two divisions) pool play format, the schedule consists of twenty (20) games in the pool play phase and five (5) in the single-elimination bracket phase. Each team is guaranteed to play in four games during the pool play phase. The top three teams in each division advance to the single-elimination phase.

In the tournaments that use the double elimination bracket there are sixteen (16) games with a seventeenth “if game” if necessary. Each team plays a minimum of two games before being eliminated. The more a team wins the more games they play.

At the regional spring meeting held in March or April, the State Commissioners draw to see where their state champion plays in each particular tournament.

Regional Tournament Jurisdiction All regional tournaments shall be under the jurisdiction of the Regional Commissioner. The Regional Commissioner may appoint a Tournament Director to act as his delegate to run a tournament in his absence. This official delegate will always be a Babe Ruth official such as an Assistant Regional Commissioner, a State or District Commissioner, or one of the state assistants. The final ruling on any situation that arises lies with the Regional Commissioner.

DISTRICT STATE REGIONAL WORLD TOURNAMENTS TOURNAMENTS TOURNAMENTS SERIES

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The World Series Babe Ruth League, Inc. holds several World Series each year. These baseball tournaments are held at various sites around the country.

World Series Participants For the 10 years-old and the Cal Ripken Major/60 ft. (12-year olds) tournament, there are eight regional winners, the state champion from the state in which the World Series is being held, and the host team.

In the Cal Ripken Major/70 ft. (12-year olds) tournaments, there are eight regional winners and eight international teams participating. Babe Ruth League may, at its discretion, invite other teams to participate in this World Series.

For the 13 years-old, the 14 years-old and the 13-15 years-old tournaments there are ten participants: eight regional winners, the state champion from the state in which the World Series is being held, and the host team.

The 16-18 years-old tournament has ten participants: eight regional winners and two co-host teams.

At times the Babe Ruth League Board of Directors may decide to allow additional teams to play in the World Series, such as an invitational team from a foreign country or the state champion from the neighboring state (i.e., both Northern Arkansas and Southern Arkansas playing in a World Series held in Northern Arkansas). When this happens, invitational teams will be added to balance out the pool divisions.

World Series Tournament Travel The World Series are played the month of August. Teams which participate in a series arrive a few days before play begins to attend the banquet and/or other functions, followed by a week of tournament play. All participants are required to stay at the site for the duration of the tournament unless otherwise approved by Babe Ruth League, Inc.

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Babe Ruth League, Inc. makes the arrangements and pays for the team’s travel to the World Series site. Players and coaches are housed in designated tournament hotels in/around the host city.

World Series Tournament Schedule In the Cal Ripken Division Major/70 foot tournament the United States teams are divided into two equally numbered divisions, with the eight international teams forming two other divisions. There is a pool play schedule. Each US team plays in a minimum of four games during pool play. This is followed by a single-elimination bracket phase in which the top two teams from each international division play each other to determine an “international champion”, and the top two teams from each United States division play off to determine a “US champion”. These two champions then play each other to determine a “World Series Champion”.

In all other tournaments, there are usually ten participants who are divided into two divisions of five teams each. The tournament consists of a twenty (20) game pool play schedule with a five game single-elimination bracket phase at the end. Each team plays in a minimum of four games during pool play. The top three teams from each division advance to the single-elimination phase. However, in recent years other pool setups have been used, such as two pools of six teams each with the top three teams from each division advancing to the bracket phase, and four pools of four teams each with every team advancing to the bracket phase.

World Series Tournament Jurisdiction Babe Ruth League, Inc. assigns a World Series Tournament Director to oversee the tournament. Each Tournament Director heads up a World Series Task Force of two or three people who are also chosen by Headquarters. The Task Force personnel are Babe Ruth League officials with years of experience in the league. The Task Force assists the numerous local committees to ensure that the tournament is run smoothly.

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2021 Tournament Dates

The following is the schedule of dates set for the 2020 tournaments. For district and state schedules, leagues should check with their respective District and State Commissioners.

World Regional Series Age Group Start Date Start Dates 8 year olds July 29 August 8 9 year olds July 15 July 28 10 year olds July 15 Aug 6 11 Major/70 July 15 July 28 CR Major/60 July 15 Aug 7 CR Major/70 July 15 Aug 5 13 year olds July 22 Aug 14 14 year olds July 22 Aug 14 13-15 July 22 Aug 11 16-18 July 14 July 31

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Total Commitment

Managers and Coaches When you sign on to be a coach of a Babe Ruth all-star team you are making a commitment to be responsible for that team as far as they go on the tournament trail.

Do not assume that your team will not get past the districts, or the states, etc. Never underestimate the talent and heart of your players. There are many factors which determine who wins a game and these can change daily during a tournament.

Tournament teams are allowed one manager and three coaches. This ensures that the team has supervision even if one coach can not make a particular game. However, if you can not commit to the entire tournament then you should not have your name on the roster. Teams are not allowed to replace or change coaches once a particular tournament is in progress.

The table of dates on the previous page should give you an insight into how much time your commitment will be. As game schedules are obtained from the individual host sites for each regional tournament, they are posted on the Middle Atlantic Regional website at www.marbaberuth.org.

TEAMS ARE ALLOWED 1 MANAGER AND 3 COACHES ONLY! This means no scorekeeper or third coach. If a team uses a third coach through the district, state, and regional tournaments, the team will be responsible for the expenses of that third coach to the World Series.

TEAM BATBOYS/BATGIRLS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TRAVEL TO THE WORLD SERIES. If a team advances to the World Series they will not be allowed to bring their own batboy or batgirl. The host site assigns local youth to be the team batpersons.

Credentials Meeting All tournament managers are required to attend a pre-tournament credentials meeting. If the manager cannot attend, then a coach or a league representative must attend. If no one attends the meeting the manager will be suspended for the first two games of their pool play schedule.

For the 16-18 regional tournament, the manager will be suspended for the first bracket game.

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Multiple Tournament Participation More and more leagues are signing up to have their all-star teams play in other youth baseball tournaments such as the one held at the Cooperstown Baseball World, etc. Teams who elect to participate in these tournaments do so at their own discretion.

A team may find they have a conflicting schedule between the Babe Ruth League tournament and the other youth baseball tournament. Be aware that the Babe Ruth League schedule will not be changed for any such conflict. The only time rescheduling is done in a Babe Ruth tournament is if games are cancelled due to inclement weather or problems with the field.

The fact that your league has signed up to play in another tournament is not the concern of the Middle Atlantic Regional Babe Ruth Leagues. Our commitment is to have the best Babe Ruth Baseball tournament possible for all teams participating, and to produce a regional champion to represent us at the Babe Ruth World Series.

Don’t Be A Quitter! Every team is in the tournament to win it but the reality is that in a pool play format only two teams from each pool will advance. The standings can some times become apparent after teams have only played three of their four games. Does this mean a team should not show up for its final game when it knows it won’t be advancing?

NO!

You have an obligation and are required to play in every game in the tournament that you are scheduled to play in.

Forfeits should not be taken lightly. The structure of the pool play tie breaker rules does not differentiate between a regularly concluded game and a forfeited game. However, the scoring rules of a forfeited game (per Official Baseball Rules) can adversely affect other teams in the standings when applying the tie breaker rules.

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Sanctions against Leagues When a team fails to show up for a tournament game, or pulls out of a tournament before it is done, it affects the tournament and it s participants in many ways. Some of these are:

• Loss of revenue for the host

• Teams spending idle days in hotels, or traveling when they didn’t have to

• Rescheduling problems

• Pool play standings unfairly affected

Any team, in the Middle Atlantic Region, who fails to report to or to complete all of the team’s scheduled games in the Regional Tournament shall be assessed a “Reinstatement Fee” of three hundred and fifty dollars ($350), to be paid to Middle Atlantic Babe Ruth Leagues, Inc., within 60 days of assessment notification. Three hundred dollars ($300) will be distributed to the Tournament Host and fifty dollars ($50) will be placed in the Middle Atlantic Babe Ruth Leagues, Inc. general funds.

Failure to comply will result in the suspension of tournament eligibility of the offending League at all age levels for a period of two (2) years.

The “Reinstatement Fee” may be waived only by the Middle Atlantic Regional Commissioner, under the following circumstances; a. The State Champion advises the State Commissioner immediately upon the completion of the State championship game that they will not move on and the State runner-Up accepts the offer to attend the Regional as the State Representative. (This rule would now apply to the State Runner-Up). b. Extenuating circumstances due to loss of life or natural disaster. c. At the discretion of the Middle Atlantic Region Commissioner.

Coaching Certification All tournament coaches must have completed a course and received certification from an accredited program.

Tournament Regulations – Rule 11.04 Documents, Para. 1 (h) “Coaching Certification I.D. Card or Certificate - Tournament Managers and Coaches must complete coaching education and certification prior to the start of their first level of tournament competition”.

No coach will be allowed on the field during competition if proof of certification is not presented as part of the team credentials prior to the start of play.

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Conduct Each manager and coach is responsible for his personal conduct on and off the diamond as well as each team member’s. All are officially placed on notice that we want everyone to enjoy themselves at the Regional Tournament, but that no conduct which could be interpreted as detrimental to the basic aim of Babe Ruth Baseball, which is “building better citizenship”, will be tolerated. Any team or individual whose conduct is not above reproach will be disqualified and sent home without delay. Individual leagues shall be held responsible for the action of their parents and fans. The leagues are liable for any damage done and any unauthorized expenses incurred by their tournament team players, coaches, manager, or fans.

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Tournament Credentials

The Regional Tournament Director will demand the following documents in complete and accurate condition before your team will be allowed to participate in the Regional Tournament.

NO PLAYER WILL BE ALLOWED TO PLAY WITHOUT COMPLETE CREDENTIALS.

Babe Ruth Rules & Regulations 11.04-1: The tournament team manager must place in the custody of the tournament officials the following documents prior to the start of competition.

Official Roster / Information Sheet Tournament Eligibility Form Copy of Group Accident Insurance Coverage Copy of Certificate of Commercial General Liability Insurance Coverage - Consent for treatment forms for each player Team Photo - 5x7 or 8x10 color or black & white with players and coaches identified Coaching Certification I.D. Card or Certificate for each manager/coach on the roster Abuse Prevention Training Certificate for each manager/coach on the roster Manager/Coaches contact information form Reinstatement Fee Acknowledgement Form Check for $300 made out to the host league

For State Tournament Official Use Only:

Checked by: Date:

Approved: YES NO

Remarks:

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Babe Ruth Leagues, Inc. Middle Atlantic Region

“REINSTATEMENT FEE” TERMS & CONDITIONS

Any state champion, in the Middle Atlantic Region, who fails to report to, or leaves prematurely from the Regional Tournament shall be assessed a “Reinstatement Fee” of three hundred and fifty dollars ($350), to be paid to Middle Atlantic Babe Ruth Leagues, Inc., within 60 days of assessment notification. Three hundred dollars ($300) will be distributed to the Tournament Host and fifty dollars ($50) will be placed in the Middle Atlantic Babe Ruth Leagues, Inc. general funds.

Failure to comply will result in the forfeiture of tournament eligibility of the offending League at all age levels for a period of two (2) years.

The “Reinstatement Fee” may be waived only by the Middle Atlantic Regional Commissioner, under the following circumstances; a. The State Champion advises the State Commissioner immediately upon the completion of the State championship game that they will not play in the regional and the State runner-Up accepts the offer to attend the Regional as the State Representative. This rule would now apply to the State Runner-Up. b. Extenuating circumstances due to loss of life or natural disaster. c. At the discretion of the Middle Atlantic Region Commissioner.

The undersigned has read the above ruling and agrees to abide by the conditions stated in it.

______(Print the manager’s name) (Date)

______(Manager’s signature) (League name)

Take this sheet out and put it in the proper order in your credentials loose-leaf binder notebook.

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