UPDATED 1/03/2010
BENTONVILLE ARKANSAS USSSA
TOURNAMENT RULES
Including those tournaments run in Rogers and Lowell
2011 Season
For Rules not covered in the Bentonville Arkansas rules, please refer to National By-Laws
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ENTRY FEE PAYMENT POLICY
ALL tournament entry fees are required to be pre-paid UNLESS arrangements are made with the tournament director. Gate Admission fees will also be collected at time of check in. Teams that are not paid in full for both entry fee and gate admission will NOT START their first game.
REFUND POLICY
If you have paid your tournament entry fee and the tournament is cancelled due to weather or lack of teams, you will receive a FULL refund. However. If you are signed up for another one of my tournaments and have not paid for it yet , a CREDIT will be issued towards that tournament.
If you pull out of a tournament BEFORE the brackets have been posted, you will receive a FULL refund. Brackets are generally post on the Monday before the tournament begins.
If you pull out of a tournament AFTER the brackets have been posted, but prior to the start day, you will receive HALF a refund.
If you pull out of the tournament on the start day or are a "no show" you will receive NO refund and your games will be listed as a FORFEIT even if brackets have been redone.
Those teams who make arrangements with me / the tournament director and are allowed to bring their entry fee with them and they back out of that tournament will be billed for their tournament fee and not allowed to compete in another USSSA tournament until the bill is paid.
RAIN OUT REFUND POLICY
If a tournament has been cancelled or rained out, the following guidelines will be used regarding refunds: (For those teams who have pre-paid) This will also include pre-paid gate admission.
If your TEAM has played:
NO games - FULL REFUND on entry fee, FULL REFUND on gate admission.
ONE game - HALF REFUND on entry fee, HALF REFUND on gate admission
TWO games or more - NO REFUND on entry fee
If your two games were played on Saturday and the tournament is rained out on Sunday – you will receive HALF REFUND on gate admission.
All Refund checks will be made out to the Team Manager. It will be mailed out the week after the tournament. If you are entitled to a full refund and I have the org check from you, it will be returned with “VOID” stamped on it.
It is the team Managers responsibility to contact the tournament director for rain out information. Information will be posted on my website, and a message on my answering machine (479-273-2128). I. as the tournament director cannot be expected to contact each team if a tournament is rained out. If it starts raining DURING the tournament, I will not be at the office to update the website or my answering machine, therefore you can reach me at (479-903-3787)
The only "forfeit" that will appear on a teams score will be if a team is a "No Show" at a tournament.
If a team / manager ejection results in a game forfeit, the score entered for the game is as follows. At the time of the team, manager ejection the score stands, unless the team / manager ejected were leading. If the team / manager ejected was leading the team trailing will be awarded one more run than the team / manager ejected. [i.e. "Team A" gets ejected and was winning by the score of 8-3 over "Team B". "Team B" will be awarded 9 runs so that the final score is "Team B"(9) and "Team A"(8).]
COACHES
1. All coaches must wear the same cap as the players. It is also preferred that all of your coaches have the same shirt, either one identical to the players, or perhaps a polo type shirt in one of your team colors.
2. The coach who turns in the line up to the plate umpire at the plate meeting will be the head coach and only he may address the umpires during the game.
3. Only three coaches will be allowed in the dugout during the game, the coaches names must be listed on the line up cards and only coaches in the dugout when the line up card is turned in will be allowed in the dugout( i.e. no switching of coaches once the game starts)
4. Only one coach will be allowed out of the dugout/bench area while the team is on defense(i.e. to call pitches) This coach must remain in front of the dugout area.
5. Base coaches must remain in the coaching box.
LINE UP
Teams may bat a nine (9) player line up, a ten (10) player line up using an Extra Hitter (EH) or a continuous line up of all present uniformed players. Such line up must be declared before the start of the game and used the entire game.
If you choose the continuous line up – you will void the use of a courtesy runner (see my rule for courtesy runners) . Also if you choose to use a continuous line up and a player is ejected, you will record an out in his batting position. However – if a player is injured ( see my rules for injured players) you will not record an out - but the player is out the duration of the game.
If you choose the continuous line up, you will have free substitution of players EXCEPT for the pitcher – all pitching rules apply. If a pitcher is removed from the mound he may not return for the rest of the game.
HOME TEAM
In Pool Play. Home team will be determined by coin toss. Once in bracket play, the highest seed team will have the option of choosing home or visitor. . In the Championship game, home team will again be determined by coin toss. In all games, home team will appoint a scorekeeper who will be the official scorekeeper and must record the game in the official scorebook.
GAME TIE BREAKERS
During the initial round of POOL play, at the end of regulation time limit if the score is tied, ONE extra inning will be played utilizing “International Rules” to determine a winner, if the game is still tied, it will be ruled a tie. *** International Rule: The last out in the lineup is placed on second; the game is then played as usual. After the visitors bat and three outs have been made. The home team does the same thing.
POOL PLAY TIE BREAKERs
1. Winning Percentage (Win - Loss Record)
2. Head to Head (if there is a three way tie (or more) this tie breaker is skipped)
3. Fewest runs allowed
4. Most runs scored
5. USSSA Points
6. Coin toss
When three or more teams are tied, Head to Head is skipped and the subsequent criteria in order are used to resolve the tie(s). Once advanced to a subsequent criteria, do not return to a previous criteria to resolve the tie(s).
SPORTSMANSHIP
GOOD sportsmanship is expected by players, coaches and fans at all times. The umpire will handle any disputed calls on the field immediately and finally. Razzing, heckling, chanting, or making rude remarks towards opponents is strictly prohibited. This type of conduct will be handled by a tournament official quickly and with no exceptions. Arkansas USSSA Sports will hold to a ZERO tolerance policy. We believe in stopping the problem BEFORE it starts. Unruly coaches, fans or players will be removed from the park for the duration of the game in which their conduct was inappropriate. This generally means that person will be sent to the parking lot, however, if I or the umpires still feel that person may be a threat, any of the following may be done:
1) you will be sent to the tent (where I am) and remain there until the game is over (In the time out chair as some coaches have called it )
2) you will be asked to leave the park entirely
3) The police will be called
EJECTIONS
If a coach or player is ejected from a game, MOST of the time he will be allowed to return to the next game, I as the tournament director reserve the right to decide as to the intensity of the offense that got you thrown out it the first place. For example: If a coach argues a call with the umpire and is thrown out, generally he will be allowed to return to the next game. However if he uses profanity and threatens the umpire before or after he is tossed, he will not be allowed in the next game.
COURTESY RUNNER
At any time, the offensive team may use a courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher of record the previous inning
on defense. The courtesy runner must be a player not presently in the line-up. If no players not presently in the
line-up are available, the courtesy runner shall be the player making the last batted out.
INJURED PLAYER
In the event of an injury, and the player cannot continue play, the team will not be assessed a penalty as long as nine players are still available to play. If the line up falls below nine players, an out will be recorded for the injured player’s position. If the injury occurs while the player is on base, and he cannot continue play, and there are no substitutes, the injured player can be replaced on base with the last recorded out player. If this is done however, the injured player will be removed from that games line up and not allowed to return for the duration of the game.
LINE – UP CARDS
Each manager must prepare a minimum of three written copies of his line up, listing first and last names and numbers of all players and subs on his roster, prior to each game. Please check each copy to make sure the writing has gone through ALL copies.
SCOREBOOK / SCORE BOARD
The home team is responsible for the scorebook, which is located in the scorekeeper’s tower or box. Visitor team will be responsible for the scoreboard (if field has one). COACHES are responsible for checking the score at the end of each inning.
GAME TIME LIMITS
|
AGE GROUP
|
GAME LENGTH
|
|
6, 7 & 8
|
6 innings / 1 hour 15 min
|
|
9 through 12
|
6 innings /1 hour 30 min
|
|
13 and over
|
7 innings / 1 hour 30 min
|
Championship games will be played out to the full amount of innings indicated above.
RAIN SHORTENED GAMES
COMPLETE GAME IF THE NUMBER OF INNINGS LISTED BELOW ARE PLAYED
|
AGE
|
INNING
|
|
7U
|
3
|
|
8U
|
3
|
|
9U
|
3
|
|
10U
|
3
|
|
11U
|
3
|
|
12U
|
3
|
|
13U
|
4
|
|
14U
|
4
|
|
15U
|
4
|
|
16U
|
4
|
FOR AGES 6 THROUGH 12 - 2 ½ INNINGS IF HOME TEAM IS LEADING
FOR AGES 13 THROUGH 18 - 3 ½ INNINGS IF HOME TEAM IS LEADING
PITCHING LIMITS IN REGULAR TOURNAMEENTS
|
AGE DIVISION
|
# of outs per weekend (Fri-Sun)
|
|
8U
|
24
|
|
9U
|
24
|
|
10U
|
27
|
|
11U
|
27
|
|
12U
|
27
|
|
13U
|
NONE
|
|
14U
|
NONE
|
|
15U - HS FRESHMAN
|
NONE
|
|
16U - SOPHOMORE
|
NONE
|
|
17U - HS JUNIOR
|
NONE
|
|
18U - HS SENIOR
|
NONE
|
Any violation of pitching limitation rules shall result in immediate forfeiture of the game. This may be done at any point after an illegal out has been recorded while the pitcher in violation is in the game and in the pitching position. If such violation occurs during pool-play, the team in violation of the rule may not advance to the championship bracket regardless of record.
Any pitcher concurring a double play on his final out WILL NOT be considered “over his limit” If a double play occurs on the pitchers final out it is considered one out for the pitcher – but will count as two outs for the opposing team upon which the plays were made
PITCHER CHANGES DURING A GAME
Coaches are responsible for notifying the home plate umpire of ALL pitching changes during the game. The umpire will record pitchers name and number and the number of outs pitched and return this information to the tournament director for future reference.
PITCHER’S RECORDS AND FINAL SCORE
Managers, please check the pitching records and final game score before the umpire turns it in. YOU must request to see it. The umpire will not look for you. ALL stats will be final once they are turned in to the tournament director. The game scores will be taken from these records. Scorebooks are for umpire’s reference during the game and as a secondary reference for the tournament director.
RUN RULES
|
AGE GROUP
|
WINNING TEAM DECLARED
|
RUNS PER INNING
|
|
6 through 8
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15 after 3
8 after 4
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7 runs per inning
|
|
9 through 12
|
15 after 3
8 after 4
|
N/A
|
|
13 through 18
|
15 after 3
12 after 4
8 after 5
|
N/A
|
BRACKET GAMES
Bracket games will be played out until there is a winner. The international rule will be used if the game time is up and there is a tie, International rule will be used each inning after game time until a winner is declared.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
All Championship games will be played out the full number of innings allowed for that age group. If the game is tied after that number of innings, the game will continue until a winner is determined. International rules will not be used. Run rules are still in effect.
GAME BALLS
Each team must provide two new or good condition baseballs per game. USSSA stamped balls are preferred. All baseballs must be USSSA approved.
AWARDS
Awards will vary depending on the tournament format. However, individual awards will always be given to the top two finishing teams in each division.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT ALTERATIONS
Arkansas USSSA Baseball Directors reserve the right to alter, change, or abbreviate the tournament format, when necessary, in order to complete the tournament or correct errors.
GATE ADMISSION
In all Bentonville Arkansas USSSA tournaments (including those run in Rogers and Lowell) – except State and World Series – a one time per tournament team fee of $180 will be collected from each team at check in. This fee will allow all family members and friends to enter the park without tickets at any time of the day.
TOBACCO
Use of any tobacco product is prohibited in the park, on all fields and in the dugouts. Smoking is allowed outside the fenced in area, IN THE PARKING LOT, AWAY from the dugouts and bleachers.
FINAL NOTE
The cities of Rogers, Lowell and Bentonville have been very generous in allowing us to host these tournaments . We thank them for the opportunity to use these facilities. Please urge your players and parents to pick up their trash and leave the dugouts, fields and facilities as you found them. We believe that the respect of a ballpark and ball fields, is something that coaches and parents by example, can teach young players along with learning to play the game that we all love.