Any disputes will be resolved by the Tournament Director and will be considered Final.

 

General Rules

1. All teams must submit proof of insurance that lists Spring Ford Youth Athletic League, 190 S. Wall St, Spring City, PA 19475 as additional insured and your official tournament roster, prior to their first game of the tournament. These rosters will be locked in for the duration of the tournament.

   1. No player shall be rostered on more than one team at the same tournament.​

2. Tournament officials or umpires may determine the end of games due to weather, darkness or other factors. Suspended games will be resumed, if possible, from the point of suspension (same baserunners, score and count on the batter). If it is decided that any suspended games are unable to be resumed, they will be considered complete games at the last completed inning recorded.

3. Dugouts are on a first come first serve basis. All teams are required to clean out dugouts of all trash at the completion of each game.

4. GameChanger will be used for scoring games throughout the tournament. Both coaches must verify and agree the final score and innings pitched is correct in GameChanger at the completion of the game. Results must be turned into tournament officials at that time.

5. Each team entered in the tournament will play 2 pool play games and at least one elimination round game, weather permitting. The elimination round will depend on the number of teams.

   1. The home team will be decided by a coin flip during pool play.

   2. The higher seed will be the home team during elimination play.

6. Time permitting, each game shall be six complete innings, unless after 3 complete innings, either team leads by 12 or more runs, after 4 complete innings, a team leads by 10 or more runs, or after 5 complete innings a team leads by 8 or more runs. There will be a five-run limit in every inning but the sixth. If a game is suspended for any reason other than the time limit, it will be resumed from the point of discontinuance.

   1. Game time will be 1 hour and 20 minutes to start a new inning, finish the inning. 

   2. No time limit in the championship game. 

   3. An inning is deemed to have begun immediately after the third out made to end the previous inning.

   4. See below for tie-breaker rules in pool play and bracket play.

   5. No infield/outfield warm-up balls between innings (allowed in first inning only).

   6. Innings 1 through 5 will end when the batting team gets 3 outs or 5 runs. Unlimited runs in the 6th inning. Must get 3 outs.

   7. International tie breaker rules are in effect for bracket play. The person who batted last in the previous inning shall be placed on second base with no outs to start the inning for each team.

7. Tie breaker rules for pool play: 

   1. Head to head 

   2. Fewest runs allowed 

   3. Run differential with a maximum of 10 per game

   4. Runs scored 

8. Each team shall field up to ten players: pitcher, catcher, four infielders, four outfielders.

   1. Outfielders must play in the grass.

   2. An outfielder is not allowed to cover a base.

9. Each team must bat their entire roster. All players on the roster will bat in order. An injury to a player does result in an out in the lineup. Free substitution will be allowed for all defensive positions.

10. The Blue Flame pitching machine will be used for each game.

    1. Each batter will receive 5 pitches or three swinging strikes, whichever occurs first. Each pitch will count as one of the five even if the batter does not swing. If the 5th pitch is hit (not bunted) foul, the batter will remain at bat.

    2. The umpire may declare a “no pitch” if in their judgment it is not reasonably hittable.

    3. Pitching machine will be placed 35ft from home plate. The blue flame settings are not to be altered with.

    4. There shall be no Base on Balls (walk) awarded.

11. If a batted fair ball hits any part of the pitching machine without touching any defensive player first, the ball is immediately dead and the batter will be awarded first base. All other runners will not advance unless forced to do so.

12. The coach or assistant coach of the team batting will work the pitching machine.

13. The coach working the machine shall ONLY talk to the batter and can not coach baserunners. They must make every effort to get out of the way of the defensive players when fielding or throwing. The umpire has the discretion to call a runner out if they believe the coach has caused interference.

14. Throwing the bat: Each team will be allowed only one warning, an out will be charged for each subsequent occurrence. Ruling: Dead ball out.

15. The infield fly rule will NOT be in effect. 

16. Bunting is allowed. 

17. No fake bunts. Batter cannot pull back and swing once she shows bunt. 

18. No stealing allowed, but may take leads when the ball crosses home plate.

    1. A runner who leaves early will be warned the first time and then called out if additional times occur.

19. Overthrows: Plays made at a base that result in an overthrow will allow the runner to advance one base at their own discretion. Ex. Ball hits to pitcher and overthrows first, runner may advance to second but no further.

20. Play stops when the ball is controlled in the pitching circle by the pitcher (one foot in the pitcher’s circle is considered in the circle) or the defensive team stops the lead runner or the runner abandons the effort to advance.

21. If a runner is past the halfway mark when the pitcher gets the ball, they will be awarded the base. If they are not half way, they will be asked to go back to the previous base.

22. A courtesy runner is allowed for the catcher. The runner needs to be the player that made the last out.

23. Teams are allowed one defensive coach in the outfield. The coach must remain on the outfield grass during play.

24. Profanity or harassment by a team member, coach, or fans towards an opposing team or tournament officials will NOT be tolerated. This type of action will result in an immediate rejection from the complex.