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Comp Tournaments

Tournament Director:

Laurie Snow

Attn: Comp Coaches

All teams need to have their permanent roster online at www.usssa.com for our tournaments. You also need to be aware of the guest playing rules and follow these rules that are in place.

Rules:

  1. If the tournament is rained out before you play your first game you are entitled to a full refund. If one game has been started, you may receive half refund. If your second game has been started, there shall be no refund. If a team drops out of a tournament within 2 weeks prior to the start date, there shall be no refund. If the tournament is full and teams have been turned away within 30 days of the start date, there shall be no refund.
  2. Gate admission and souvenir sales are final and therefore non-refundable.
  3. Time limit 1 hour 10 min.
  4. Run rule 12 after 3, 10 after 4, and 8 after 5. Rule 4, Sec 4.
  5. Forfeited games are 7 to 0. Rule 4, Sec 7.
  6. A player shall not compete in any sanctioned tournaments of the association with more than one team during the same tournament. Page 6 Sec 4-B.
  7. All teams may begin the game with eight (8) players and take an out in the ninth (9) batting position. Rule 5, Sec 2-B.
  8. All teams must turn in their roster before the first pitch of their game of the tournament. It does not matter if your roster is online. (Carthage Complex Rule)
  9. Protest Fee is $100.00. Protest of player eligibility shall be charged per player. Rule 13, Sec 2.
  10. A batter shall have 10 seconds to take their position in the batter’s box. Rule 7, Sec 8.
  11. Attempted Bunt Rule. “Players must pull back out of strike zone” Rule 3, sec 12.
  12. Tie-Breaker. Rule 4, Sec 5.
  13. Additional Player. Up to two additional players can be used to increase the batting lineup to 10 or 11 batters. Rule 5, Sec 3.
  14. Blood Rule. Rule 5. Sec 8 (Please read rule book to understand rule).
  15. Look Back Rule. Rule 8, Sec 2 (Please read rule book to understand rule).
  16. Courtesy Rule. Rule 8, Sec 2. A courtesy runner can be used for the pitcher and catcher in the same inning.
  17. Sportsmanship. Rule 11, Page 52. (Please honor and respect this rule).
  18. Playing Field. Rule 1, Sec 1. Pitching distance for 13U on up will be 43′ beginning 1/1/2010.
  19. Equipment. Rule 2, Sec 4. Metal cleats and toe plates are allowed for 14U on up.
  20. Equipment. Rule 2, Sec 5. Unadorned devices may be worn to control a player’s hair.
  21. Equipment. Rule 2, Sec 9-B. The glove/mitt may be any combination of colors except the color of the game ball or optic. Glove lacing and manufacturer’s logos may be any color other than that of the ball. A gray, white or optic colored circle on the outside or inside of the glove/mitt that gives the appearance of a ball is illegal. A glove/mitt that is judged to be distracting by the Umpire is illegal.
  22. Pitching. Rule 6, Sec 1-K. Penalty: Dead ball; a ball on the batter. Once the ball has been returned to the pitcher, the pitcher has 20 seconds to release the next pitch, after the Umpire says “play”.
  23. Base Running. Rule 8, Sec 3-D. Allow courtesy runner for an injured runner.
  24. 10U and younger rule exceptions. Rule 15, Sec 3. Removed our current “non caught” third strike rule exception for 9U & 10U. The exception will continue to apply for 8U on down.
  25. Line Cards. Rule 3, Sec 10 & Rule 5, Sec 1-B. Make consistent in requiring both first and last names and player numbers.
  26. Adopt DP/FLEX to replace DH. Rule 5, Sec 4.
  27. Pitching. Rule 6, Sec 1. Require two feet on the pitching plate and no backward step is allowed.
  28. Manager/Coach ejection from the game must leave the vicinity of the playing area (out of sight) the coach will sit out of the remainder of the game and the following game. If the coach does not leave within 1 min of ejection the team will take a forfeit loss of that game.
  29. For all rainout updates for Tournament or League play visit www.carthageyouthsoftball.com.

The City of Carthage has implemented a park rule prohibiting smoking anywhere other than in parking lots. Please do not smoke inside our complex.

8U PLAYING RULES ADDENDUM

All games will be played by USSSA rules, with the following exceptions:

  1. Time limit for all games is 60 minutes. Time begins after the pre-game conference. Time limit could change in case of tournament interruptions. All teams should be prepared to start their game up to 10 minutes early in case we are ahead of schedule. (This will help the tournament keep on time)
  2. Once time has expired, the game will end if the losing team is trailing by the number of allowed runs per half inning +1.
  3. Regulation games will be defined by the type of game that it is.
    • Pool play: Games will be 6 innings or time limit. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, it will be declared a tie.
    • Bracket Play: Games will be 6 inning or time limit. Games that are tied at the end of regulation will use the ITB rule until a winner is declared.
    • Run Rule:  will be 12 runs after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4 innings, and 8 runs after 5 innings. If time has expired and either team is behind and cannot catch up or go ahead, the game shall be over immediately.
  4. Team manager may consult with the umpires; players, sponsors and other coaches are to keep out of discussions.
  5. No smoking or tobacco use on the field or in the dugouts.
  6. Roster Batting will be required during the ENTIRE tournament. Due to this roster batting, there are some additional rules that need to be clarified:
    • A. Injury: If a batter cannot fulfill her time at bat due to injury or illness, that player will be eliminated from that entire game. Her spot will be skipped in the batting order. Teams will not be required to take an automatic out UNTIL they drop below 9 players.
    • B. Ejections: A player ejection while roster batting will result in the team losing that player for the entire game. Her spot in the batting order WILL be an automatic out.
  7. Teams can score a maximum of 5 runs per half inning.
  8. Special 8U Coach Pitch Rules
    • ​Playing Field: Bases 60 ft., Pitching 35 ft., Pitching Circle eight (8) ft. radius around the pitchers plate. Outfield: An area behind a line from the back side of each base from first to second, and from second to third base shall be designated as the outfield.
    • Pitching Distance: The pitching plate will be placed at 35’.
    • Hitting: 
      • An At-Bat will consist of 5 pitches or 3 swinging strikes (if the final pitch is a foul ball, the at-bat will continue). 
      • There will be no walks.
      • Bunting is not allowed. NO PULLBACK AND SWING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.  The penalty is an automatic out. (For National Championship, bunting is not allowed – development aspect for MOUSSSA)
      • Baserunning:
        • There will be no stolen bases allowed.
        • Baserunners may not leave the base until the ball has has been released by the coach.
        • On batted balls, once the ball is in control by the pitcher with one foot in contact with the 8ft circle, base runners must stop at the base they have obtained. If they are halfway to the next base they will be awarded that base. If the ball goes to the play and not the pitcher it remains live for the purpose of scoring and or defense to make an out.
        • Courtesy runner will be allowed for Catcher only 8U division.
    • Defense:
      • Defensive players may not be stationed in front of the coach pitching. Also, players may not move in front of the coach pitching  until the batter has put the ball in play.
      • All outfielders must remain behind the outfield arc until the ball is hit into play. 
      • Two defensive coaches will be allowed on the field of play.  Coaches must remain behind the Infield Arc.
      • Teams will be allowed to play 4 outfielders.
      • No Infield Fly Rule
    • Coaching Conferences:
      • Teams will be allowed one (1) offensive and one (1) defensive conference per inning.
  9. Winner of pool play will be determined by won-loss record. If tied the following tiebreakers will be used.
    • If three or more teams are tied with the same record in a division, head-to-head may or may not be used to break ties.
    • Once a level of tie-breaker is used, we DO NOT revert back to any steps of the tie-breaking procedure. We will continue on down the list until all ties are broken.
    • Head to Head competition
    • Runs allowed per game
    • Runs differential (+/- of 8 runs per game)
    • Coin Flip
  10. Teams may begin a game with 8 players. If the 9th spot is not filled when that spot comes to bat, it will constitute an out. The 9th player can be added to the line-up at any time.
  11.  In case of a rain-shortened tournament, pool play games can be deemed official after 2 ½ innings of play (with home team winning) or 45 minutes of elapsed game time. This policy will only be used through pool play. In addition, if games are cancelled due to weather, there may be an adjustment in application of the tie-breaking procedures.
  12. If a team is playing an extra pool game, the runs allowed and the Win/Loss in that game will not count towards your total. However, the result of the game (win/loss) will be used in head-to-head consideration if a tie in pool play occurs.