ULTIMATE EVENTS & SPORTS BASEBALL TOURNAMENT RULES 1. Tournament Format - Refer to each individual tournament, formats may vary. 2. Insurance certificates must list both the Ultimate Events & Sports and the County of Berks as additional insured: Address: 1107 Reber’s Bridge Road Leesport, PA 19533 3. Rosters - 25 player open roster, amateur status only. 1. A player cannot be rostered on more than one team in the same age division of an individual event. A player can compete on multiple rosters of different age groups of an event (i.e. John Smith could be listed on both a team in the 16-U age group as well as a team in the 18-U age group, but not for two teams in the 16-U age group). The player must be listed on all team rosters at the start of the event. He cannot be added to a roster after the start of the event. If a player is listed on two rosters, the team in which he plays for first shall be the team that he must remain with for the duration of the tournament. 2. The age cutoff date for spring/summer tournaments up to our Labor Day event, is April 30th of the current calendar year. As an example, if a player turns 10 on April 15, the player would be considered league age 10 since the player is 10 on April 30th. If the player turns 10 on May 15th then the player would be considered league age 9 since the player is 9 on April 30th. A player can always play up in age bracket. Although we do not check birth certificates at the time of check in, all coaches must be able to provide a copy of any player’s birth certificate in the event a player’s age is protested. 3. For our fall tournaments, starting with our Labor Day event, we will adhere to the following age determination: 10-U (currently in 5th grade or younger) 11-U (currently in 6th grade or younger) 12-U (currently in 7th grade or younger) 13-U (currently in 8th grade or younger) 14-U (currently in 9th grade or younger) 15-U (currently in 10th grade or younger) 16-U (currently in 11th grade or younger) 17/18-U (currently in 12th grade or younger) 1. Although, as with our summer events we do not check school ID or report cards at the time of check in, all coaches must be able to provide a copy of any players school ID, report card or other official document stating the player’s current grade or graduation date in the event a player’s age is protested. 4. Tournament Director will be on premise, if unable to locate please contact the Registration Booth. 5. Scoring - report your game score to BIG Vision field maintenance staff or registration booth to ensure accuracy. 6. Entrance Fee is non-refundable. 7. Rules - Major League rules apply except for where the following amendments override: 8. Field Dimensions: 1. 10-Under Division – 60' base paths & 46' pitching mound. 2. 11 & 12-Under Division - 70' base paths & 50' pitching mound. 3. 13-Under Divisions through Adult - 90' base paths & 60'-6" pitching mound. 9. Balks: 1. 10-Under Division – Only warnings (for educational purposes) are given for balks. 2. 11 & 12-Under Division - One balk warning per pitcher, after the warning, all base runners will advance one base each occurrence. 3. 13-Under Divisions through Adult - No balk warnings, all base runners will advance one base each occurrence. 10. Stealing: 1. 10-Under Division – Ball must cross home plate before runner can steal. It is an immediate dead ball call if the runner leaves too early. First offense per team is a warning; each additional offense per team will result in the runner being called out. 2. 11 & 12-Under Division - leads and steals are allowed. 3. 13-Under Divisions through Adult - leads and steals are allowed. 11. Infield Fly Rule: 1. 10-Under Division – No infield fly is in effect. 2. 11 & 12-Under Division - The infield fly rule is enforced. 3. 13-Under Divisions through Adult - The infield fly rule is enforced. 12. Ejections: The following outlines of the ejection rule are NON-Negotiable 1. Any manager, coach or player who is ejected from a game must sit out the remainder of the game as well as the next scheduled game of the event. 2. Any manager, coach player or fan that is ejected from the game, must leave the park immediately (dugout, bench & seating area). Failure to do so will result in his team’s forfeiture of the game. 3. If the same manager, coach or player is ejected a second time from the same event he will not be allowed to participate in the remainder of the event. 4. The BIG Vision Foundation, Inc. reserves the right to suspend or bar any individual and/or team associated with the individual from future play in the event or future events, depending on the severity of the offense or for repeat offenses. 13. Tobacco Use: 1. 10-Under Divisions through 19-U Divisions – Any player, coach, manager or score keeper using any type of tobacco products during the course of the game, on the field of play or in the dugout or bullpen areas will be ejected without warning. (See rule #12 regarding further ejection penalties.) 2. Adult – Discretionary tobacco use is permitted. 3. NO SMOKING ALLOWED ON THE PREMISES 14. Start Times: BIG Vision reserves the right to start games ahead of schedule should the pace of the tournament allow it. Please have your team at the scheduled field at least 10 minutes before posted schedule start-time ready to play. Note: A game shall be forfeited to the offended team by the Tournament Director when a team: 1. Is late in appearing or in beginning play after the Umpire calls “Play Ball.” 2. Refuses to continue play after the game has started. 3. Delays more than one minute in resuming play after the Umpire calls “Play ball” or in obeying the Umpire’s order to remove a player for violation of the rules. 4. Persists in tactics designed to delay or shorten the game. 5. Willfully and persistently violates any one of the rules after being warned by the Umpire. 6. Cannot provide the required number of eligible players to start or continue a game. 15. Game Length: 1. 10-Under Division - 6 innings. 1. Mercy rules shall be in effect for all games, including the championship game. Mercy rules shall be fifteen (15) runs after 3 innings, ten (10) runs after 4 innings, and eight (8) runs after 5 innings. 2. Games called due to darkness or rain after the 1st inning are official as played. Games called prior to the completion of the 1st inning will be suspended and resumed at the exact point in which play was suspended. 2. 11 & 12-Under Division - 6 innings. 1. Mercy rules shall be in effect for all games, including the championship game. Mercy rules shall be fifteen (15) runs after 3 innings, ten (10) runs after 4 innings, and eight (8) runs after 5 innings. 2. Games called due to darkness or rain after the 1st inning are official as played. Games called prior to the completion of the 1st inning will be suspended and resumed at the exact point in which play was suspended. 3. 13-Under Divisions through Adult - 7 innings. 1. Mercy rules shall be in effect for all games, including the championship game. Mercy rules shall be fifteen (15) runs after 3 innings, ten (10) runs after 4 innings, and eight (8) runs after 5 innings. 2. Games called due to darkness or rain after the 1st inning are official as played. Games called prior to the completion of the 1st inning will be suspended and resumed at the exact point in which play was suspended. 16. Time Limits: 1. 10-Under Division - There will be an hour and forty-five minute (1 hour, 45 minute) time limit on all games except for the championship game. The clock starts at the break of ground rules. No inning may start after the 1 hour, 45 minute time limit has expired. Any inning that is in progress when the game has reached the 1 hour 45 minute time limit will be completed. All games that are ended via the time limit are official as played, regardless of what inning the game is in at the conclusion of the time limit. Games that are tied after the 1 hour 45 minute time limit, will remain as a tie in the tournament standings, teams will receive two (2) points for a win and one (1) point for a tie. Extra innings will be played if the 1 hour 45 minute time limit has not been reached. There is no time limit in championship games. Those games will be played until a winner is determined. 1. If time expires in the bottom of an inning (Innings 1-5) with the “home” team batting while also having the lead in the game (Non-elimination round), the current batter will finish his at bat, and then the game is official as played. 2. 11 & 12-Under Division - There will be an hour and forty-five minute (1 hour, 45 minute) time limit on all games except for the championship game. The clock starts at the break of ground rules. No inning may start after the 1 hour, 45 minute time limit has expired.