REVISED 4-6-23
We play using the National Federation High School Rules with the following exceptions:
1.There are no pitching limitations. As we have no knowledge of a pitcher’s use prior to a tournament and each coach knows their players better than anyone, we do not enforce any pitching limitations. Every coach’s first priority should be the long-term health and well-being of their players. Once taken out as a pitcher, the player may not re-enter as a pitcher in that game.
2.Games are one hour and forty-five minutes in duration. Game clock starts immediately upon the conclusion of the pregame ground rules meeting. No new inning may begin after the one hour and forty-five-minute time limit unless the score is tied. New inning starts immediately upon the completion of the previous inning for time keeping purposes. In the event of tie games, regardless of time remaining, the following applies: Place the player who made the last batted out in the previous inning at second base to start the extra inning, and there is 1 out. For pool play games, there is a limit of 2 extra innings, if after 2 extra innings the game remains tied it, will be scored as a tie in the standings.
3.Umpire may limit warm-up pitches between innings.
4.Teams ahead by fifteen (15) runs at the end of four (4) innings or ten (10) runs at the end of five (5) innings or eight (8) runs after (6) innings will be declared the winner.
If at the end of a complete inning there is 5 minutes of less remaining on the game clock and either team is winning by 7 or more runs the game will immediately end.
If a game has reached or passed the time limit during the top of ANY inning the visiting team goes up by 10 runs, the game will immediately end, and the score will revert back to the score at the end of the previously completed inning. The exception to this rule is if the visiting team began the inning in question trailing, then the home team will receive their last ups. In this case, the score after the home team’s last at bat will be the final score.
These rules are in place to keep the tournament on schedule and end lop-sided games that have reached or exceeded the time limit.
5.Games are seven (7) innings in duration.
6.Teams need to be prepared to start any game up to 10 minutes prior to the posted start time. Allowances will be made for teams playing back-to-back games for the health and safety of the players. Any team, which does not take the field within 5 minutes of the declared start time, shall forfeit the game upon the opposing team taking the field and throwing the first pitch.
7.There is no mandatory slide rule, but base runners must make every effort to avoid contact with fielders. Please review the NFHS rules concerning avoiding contact. Base runner will be ejected if umpire determines actions were malicious.
8.Balks will be called at ages 11U-18U. Umpires will give each pitcher one warning at the 11U & 12U levels. There are no warnings at the 13U-18U levels (except for D Team Tournaments, where each pitcher will receive 1 warning before penalty).
9.For 7U-14U teams, all teams must bat all players in attendance and in uniform for each game. All players can reenter the field at any position, with the exception of the pitcher. Once a pitcher is removed from the game, he cannot return to pitch in that game. In the opinion of the umpires, if a player is forced to leave a game due to an injury and the player cannot continue that players spot in the lineup will be passed over without penalty. That player cannot reenter the game at any point. Any player arriving late for a game must arrive prior to their team batting through their order one time. The late arriving player should be placed last in the batting order and if has not arrived by their time to bat has arrived, they will not be eligible to play in that game. 15U-18U teams can choose to either use the lineup rules above or play using NFHS lineup rules.
10.Each game must begin with at least nine (9) players, but can end with eight (8) players, unless opponent allows the game to start with fewer than 9 players.
11.After first pitch of a team’s first game, no players can be added to a team’s roster.
12.All batters and runners must wear helmets with earflaps. No exceptions.
13.No batting practice or infield practice is to be taken on the infield before any game. Green spaces can be used.
14.Courtesy runners are optional with 2 outs, only for catchers.
15.Games canceled or called due to weather will not be rescheduled. In addition, weather conditions may result in games being shortened for all or part of the tournament. Game cancellations due to weather are under the control of the Field Provider, who has the right to cancel games as they see fit. Any game that completes 3 innings or 2 1/2 if the home team is winning is considered an official game. Furthermore, if a game is called due to weather and less than 2 1/2 or 3 innings have been completed, but the game clock has passed one hour, it is also an official game, score reverts back to last completed inning.
16.No protests allowed on judgement calls.
17.Players, coaches, and spectators are expected to show good sportsmanship at all times. We have a zero-tolerance policy for spectators or assistant coaches harassing umpires, spectators are to support their team in a positive manner. Any COACH that is ejected from a game may be suspended for their next game at the discretion of the Tournament Director. Any SPECTATOR that is ejected will be banned from the complex for the DURATION OF THE TOURNAMENT. There is no appeal of any ejection or banishment. Failure to abide by this rule will result in the team’s forfeiture of all tournament games played or games yet to be played. No refunds will be issued.
18.There are no bat restrictions for ages 8U-14U. 15U and older must use BBCOR bats only.
Metal spikes are allowed at the 13U-18U levels only. Pitchers on fields using portable mounds may not wear metal cleats while pitching and teams of any age level may be required to wear non-metal spikes on any turf field, if required by the venue to do so.
C Flaps for helmets are allowed if they are either part of the helmet or if an added accessory, if manufactured by the same company that manufactured the helmet.
19.Base and rubber distances: 18U-13U 90/60, 12U & 11U 70/50, 10U & 9U 65/46, 8U & 7U 60/40
20.11U-18U age levels play real baseball, as does 10U A Team tournaments.
21.On-deck batter must stand facing the back of the batter
22.Fake bunt, causing infielder to charge in, then swinging away is not allowed. Penalty is dead ball, batter is out.
23.Should a player throw their bat while swinging at a pitch, they are to be given an individual warning. Should that same batter throw their bat an additional time(s) the batter will be called out and a dead ball called.
24.9U-10U ONLY Leading off or stealing is allowed only when the pitch enters the hitting zone. Runner leaving early once will result in a dead ball. Same runner leaves any base early a 2nd time during any single instance as a baserunner will be called out. Drop 3rd strikes are live balls and we play using infield fly rules (excluding 9U D Team Tournaments). 9U-10U A Team tournaments play full baseball rules, same as 11U-18U.
25.8U ONLY Leading off or stealing is allowed when the ball enters the hitting zone. A runner leaving early will result in a dead ball. The same runner leaves early twice during the same appearance on base, will be called out. Runners who at the start of play are on 1st base or 2nd base can attempt to advance on passed balls, wild pitches or errant throws by the catcher to the pitcher, runners who at the start of play are on 3rd base CANNOT. The runner on 3rd base at the start of play can attempt to advance home when there is a batted ball in play, there is a base loaded walk, a bases loaded hit by pitch or the defense attempts to pick off the runner on 3rd base. The runner on 3rd base at the start of play CANNOT attempt to advance home, if the defense attempts to pick off any other runner or attempts to throw out another runner attempting to steal.
A batter who has been walked and has become a base runner CANNOT advance past 1st base as a result of the walk, unless there is an errant throw by the catcher to the pitcher or the pitcher does not catch the return throw from catcher cleanly. The catcher is expected to regularly throw the ball back to the pitcher to develop this skill and not hand the ball to the pitcher after each pitch to avoid errant throws. When appropriate a catcher can still hand the ball to the pitcher. A batter cannot advance to first base on dropped 3rd strike, but any runner on 1st or 2nd base can advance at their own risk. Infield fly will not apply.
The strike zone will be one ball width wider than home plate on the outside, one to two ball widths wider on the inside and one ball width below the knees. Umpires will be encouraged not to call the high strike. The widened strike zone is in place at this age level to reduce potential walks.
Intentional walks are not allowed.
26.Tiebreakers to advance to the championship bracket are as follows: 1. Head-to-Head (does not apply to ties involving 3 or more teams) 2. Least Runs Allowed 3. Run differential 4. Most Runs Scored 5. Coin Flip.
27.Wisconsin Baseball Tournaments reserve the right to make changes, as necessary. Any and all schedule changes or notices concerning the tournament will be posted online at www.wisconsinbaseballtournaments.com. This includes weather delays or cancellations. Teams are expected to access the site as needed throughout the tournament for schedule changes, weather delays and results.
28.Please report any score discrepancies to the on site Tournament Director. Any dispute concerning the score entered must be contested within 3 hours of the scheduled start of the game or 10:45pm, whichever comes first.
29.Any tournament not played to conclusion will not have a champion declared.