Updated 1/1/2012
ARKANSAS USSSA BASEBALL
TOURNAMENT RULES
2012 Season
THESE RULES SHOULD BE USED BY ALL ARKANSAS
TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS
Additional Individual Park Rules May be Added
Any individual park rule changes must be printed out and handed to coaches
For Rules not covered in the Arkansas State rules, please refer to National By-Laws and MLB rules
*****************************************************
ENTRY FEE PAYMENT POLICY
ALL tournament entry fees are required to be pre-paid UNLESS arrangements are made with an individual tournament director. If you are NOT PAID, you will not be included in the brackets.
REFUND POLICY
If you have paid your tournament entry fee and the tournament is canceled due to weather or lack of teams, you will receive a FULL refund.
If you pull out of a tournament BEFORE the brackets have been posted, you will receive a FULL refund.
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 an individual 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 canceled or rained out, the following guidelines will be used regarding refunds: (For those teams who have pre-paid)
If you’re TEAM has played:
NO games - FULL REFUND
ONE game - HALF REFUND
TWOgames or more - NO REFUND
It is the team Managers responsibility to contact the tournament director for rain out information. Information should be posted on the city's website, or a message on a answering machine. The tournament director cannot be expected to contact each team if a tournament is rain out.
FORFEITS
The score for ages 12 and below will be 6 -0 The score for ages 13 and above will be 7-0 Any intentional forfeits the team will be placed last and not allowed to move to bracket play.
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.
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.
LINE – UP CARDS
Each manager must prepare a minimum of three written copies of his line up, listing 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.
SCORE BOOK / SCORE BOARD
The home team is responsible for the score book 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
If the pool games are not all able to be completed the 1st pool game a team played shall be used to determine seeding in the brackets.
COMPLETE GAME IF THE NUMBER OF INNINGS LISTED BELOW ARE PLAYED
|
AGE
|
INNING |
|
6U |
3 |
|
7U |
3 |
|
8U |
3 |
|
9U |
3 |
|
10U |
3 |
|
11U |
3 |
|
12U |
3 |
|
13U |
4 |
|
14U |
4 |
|
15U |
4 |
|
16U |
4 |
|
17U |
4 |
|
18U |
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
Please Refer to the National By-laws
Page 11, Rules 8.05.C.1 to 8.05.C.7
RUN RULES
|
AGE GROUP
|
WINNING TEAM DECLARED |
RUNS PER INNING |
|
6 through 8 |
15 after 3
8 after 4 |
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.
COACHES PASSES
Each team will receive three coaches’ passes in their tournament packet. Coaches must have these passes to enter free.
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
Our city has been very generous in allowing us to host these tournaments here. 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.