1. Age 8 & under. Cutoff date is May 1st. Player cannot turn 9 before May 1s of  that playing year.
  2. Home team will be determined by a coin flip between the two teams for each pool game. For bracket play games, the highest seed is the home team, except the Championship Game, which a coin flip will determine the home team.
  3. Games will be 6 innings or 1 hour and 30 minutes. Four (4) innings will be an official game, in the event of inclement weather.
  4. Mercy Rule :
       15 after three (3) innings (2 ½ innings if home team is ahead).
       10 after four (4) innings (3 ½ innings if the home team is ahead).
        8 after five (5) innings (4 ½ innings if the home team is ahead).
  5. No time limit for the Championship Game.
  6. Base length will be 60 feet.
  7. There will be a ten (10) foot mark set at forty-six (46) feet from the point of home plate. This mark is a safety mark for the player playing the pitchers position. All infielders must stay behind this line until the ball is hit unless the batter squares to bunt.
  8. The defensive player listed as the pitcher cannot leave the pitching line area until the ball is hit unless the batter squares to bunt. If the pitcher crosses the pitching line early, the play continues. After the play has ended, the offensive team has the option of taking the result of the play or accepting a no pitch and ruling the play as over. If this occurs a second time by the same pitcher, that player is removed from the pitcher position for the remainder of that inning. If it occurs any time after that by the same player, then that player will be removed from the pitching mound for the remainder of the game.
  9. Each batter is allowed six (6) pitches or three swinging strikes. On the last pitch a player that fouls the last pitch, will not be called out.
  10. . Pitching Machine – The front legs of the pitching machine will be set at a distance of forty-six (46) feet from the rear of home plate. Pitching machine speed recommendations: 40 – 44 MPH setting on machine would be set on nine (9).
  11. . A fair batter ball hitting the machine or umpire is declared a dead ball and ruled a single. All runners advance one (1) base from their original position.
  12. . Batted balls unless called a foul by the umpire, is alive and in play until the defense stops the progress of all runners and the umpire calls time out. If the runner stands off a base and "jukes" back and forth, this is to be interpreted, as "not attempting to advance" and time will be called. The ball is dead until the next batter.
  13. . There is a thirty (30) foot safety line from the back tip of home plate and from the first base line to the third base line. Fielders must stay behind this line until the ball is hit unless the batter squares to bunt. Penalty, batter will be awarded first base.
  14. . Each team will receive one (1) warning if a batter slings a bat. The second incidence by any batter will be an out, and the ball is dead with no runners advancing.
  15. . The batting order will consist of all present players on the team roster at the beginning of the game. Late arrivals shall be inserted at the bottom of the batting order. All players on the roster must bat before returning to top of the batting order. Example: All uniformed players in the dugout must bat. If 15 players are on the roster an present, all 15 must bat, etc.
  16. . Teams must use ten (10) defensive players. Teams can begin a game with nine (9) players but one player must be a pitcher, and one (1) player must be a catcher. The team takes an out for the tenth (10th) spot until a tenth (10th) player arrives.
  17. . Teams may use free substitution on defense but the batting order will always be the same.
  18. . Teams must have a minimum of eight (8) players to start a game and finish a game a game but must take an out for the ninth (9th) player. A ninth (9th) and tenth (10th) spot in the batting order. A ninth (9th) player and all other subsequent players may be added to the batting order as soon as they become available. With number less than eight (8) players the game is declared a suspended game and is not rescheduled. The suspended game is then ruled a forfeit by the Tournament Director.
  19. . Outfielders may not cover second base for an out on the first throw. Outfielders must play at least behind the ninety (90) feet mark on each field. Teams that start with less than ten (10) players must field a full infield.
  20. . A team may score a maximum of seven (7) runs per inning or record three (3) outs.
  21. . The catcher must be properly equipped. The catcher must play his position himself and play no more than six feet from home plate at the start of the pitch. The catcher should make the first attempted play at home. Cup is mandatory.
  22. . All base runners must be in contact with their bases and shall not leave their bass until the batter has hit the pitch. If runner leaves the base before the ball is hit, the umpire will signal to indicate the violation at the time it occurs. The runner is out and removed from the base upon leaving the base early and will be an immediate dead ball.
  23. . Runners do not have to slide at a base or home plate. Runners must however avoid malicious contact with the defensive player which includes the catcher or any fielder. This rule is the judgment of the umpire.
  24. . If an umpire determines a player is injured and has a safety concern, the umpire may use his judgment to stop play even if the ball is not dead. The Offensive players will be awarded one additional base for an infield injury and two additional bases for an outfield injury.
  25. . Courtesy runners are allowed for the catcher only. The courtesy runner will be the player who made the last out.
  26. . Teams are allowed to bunt a maximum of two (2) times per inning. A bunt must be in fair territory to count against pitch limit. A missed bunt of foul ball does not count against the pitch limit.
  27. . Fake bunts are not allowed. A batter that "shows" bunt is committed to an attempt to bunt or take the pitch. If a player swings after "showing" bunt will be called out and no runners may advance.
  28. . There is no infield fly rule in Machine Pitch.
  29. . Defensive coaches may not have physical contact with runners while the ball is alive and in play. Penalty is runner will be called out.
  30. . Defensive coaches are not allowed on the field of play and will coach from the dugout only.
  31. . There are no bat restrictions on Bats.
  32. . Players that play the pitchers position must wear a batting helmet.
  33. . Coaches must have your team ready to play thirty (30) minutes before scheduled game time.

 

 

Last Updated (Sunday, 05 September 2010 03:34)