SOUTH FLORIDA TRAVEL BASEBALL LEAGUE/TOURNAMENT RULES
I ELIGIBILITY and ROSTERS
TEAM/PLAYERS/COACHES
1. Each team must register their team and pay the league fee if applicable.
2. Each team will have an insurance coverage with a coverage of $5,000,000.00 3. Failure to show proof of insurance will result in suspension from league until proof of insurance is obtained
4. Teams must have 8 players to start all games
5. Each team will be permitted to roster up to 25 players
6. Each team must submit their roster online within 24 hours prior to their first game of the tournament.
7. Roster/medical release form has to be turned via-email or text before first game.
8. Each player must be on the roster.
9. Each player must age elligabile.
10. A player’s age is set as of May 1st of that year in the spring and May 1st of the following year in the Fall.
11. A player can be listed on two rosters as long as they are not in the same age division
12. A player can “play up” (i.e. a 10U player can play on an 11U team) but can not “play down”
(i.e. a 10U player can not play on a 9U team)
13. A player playing in 2 age divisions is eligible to play for both teams in the playoffs if both teams advance to the playoffs in their respective age divisions
14. If a player on a team is eliminated, the player cannot play for another team.
15. Copies of birth certificates, passports or resident alien cards with their picture stapled on it are required by all players on tournament team rosters and the Manager has to have them with him at all times.
16. Playoffs in tournament will be single elimination
II Manager/Coach/Umpire Responsibility
1. Manager/Head Coach is responsible for knowing the rules
2. Manager/Head Coach is responsible to maintain a “team book” which should include (but not limited to) copies of players birth certificates, insurance certificate, roster’s, etc.
3. Coaches attire should match or be consistent with the team uniform
4. The Official Scorekeeper for a game will be the Home Team. It is recommended that each team still maintains its own scorebook but the Home Team will maintain the Official Score Book.
5. Manager/Head Coach for both teams are responsible for making sure scores are correct on web site.
6. It is the Umpire in Charge’s responsibility to call a game due to weather or field conditions
7. If a game is called due to weather during the course of a game (and the game is not yet “official”) we will go by USSSA rule.
III EJECTIONS
1. 1st Occurrence: Player or Coach suspended for the remainder of the game
2. 2nd Occurrence: Player or Coach suspended for the remainder of the game plus the next league game
IV RAIN POLICY
1. If rain occurs during the game and the umpire calls the game and the game did reach official status the game will be considered “complete”
2. All rain policy rules will defer to USSSA rule book.
V FORFEITS
1. If a team forfeits, winning team will be given a 1-0 score
VI PROTESTS
1. Protests must be made verbally with the umpire in charge at the time of the play and prior to the next pitch. The protest must be acknowledged by the umpire in charge.
2. The protest fee is $100.00 per protest
3. Protest will only be allowed for a “rule” in question or a players age
VII RULES OF CONDUCT
1. Only the Manager, coaches and players in full uniform are allowed in the dugouts or on the field.
2. Only the Manager may discuss any play or rule with the umpires. If a coach argues with an umpire he/she will be automatically ejected from the game.
3. Air horns, bells or any other artificial noise makers are prohibited during pitchers windup.
4. Smoking is not allowed during games.
5. Alcohol or illegal substances are not allowed during games (including in the parking lots).
6. Dugouts are to be cleaned at the end of each game.
7. Any adult who gets in a physical altercation on or off the field, before, during or after a game, will be suspended indefinitely (a minimum of one year) from the tournament. If the director deems the incident involved more than one individual, severe penalties shall be invoked up to and including the removal of the team from the tournament without refund or recourse.
8. Any fan who becomes unruly or uses abusive language towards players, umpires, coaches, league officials or other fans will be asked to leave the premises (including the parking lots), and may be suspended as determined by the director. Coaches will be held responsible for their players and fans, and are required to assist in the enforcement of this and all rules.
VIII GAME PROCEDURES
1. Dugouts are on a first-come basis.
2. Each team must give 2 new baseballs to the umpire prior to the start of a game
3. Line up Sheets will be filled out and turned into the umpire in charge at home plate meeting prior to game.
4. All starters and subs must be listed on the official game sheet prior to game time to be eligible for play
IX SPECIAL RULES
1. If a rule is not covered here, we will be using USSSA rules, with modified pitching trips (Major League)
2. A runner for the catcher must be used with two outs, you can run for the pitcher or the catcher any time, if you have subs must be the sub, if you burn your subs it will be your last batted out.
3. The batters and runners must use double ear flap helmets
4. All players must be in full uniform to be eligible to play in a game. This includes socks, shirt, pants, cap and cup
5. Metal cleats are permitted at only 13U-14U
6. Butcher Boy only allowed at 15U-JV-Varsity age division. No head first slide at home in any division.
7. Stealing home, suicide squeeze or bunting with runner on 3rd base allowed at 9U-JV divisions
8. Players advancing to second or any other base with intent to break-up a double play must slide directly into the bag. If a runner goes in standing up and a play is being made on him, and he makes contact with the defensive player, he will be declared out. All calls regarding rough play, sliding, etc., shall be judgment calls of the umpires. Penalty: Runner is out and the ball is dead. All runners must return to the last base they legally had advanced to prior to the infraction. While a head first slide should be discouraged it is not against the rules.
9. All new USSSA Bat rules will be enforced. Bat size shall not be limited by the High School Baseball Rules published by the National Federation of State High Schools (NFHS) regarding bat specifications. However, the tournament director reserves the right to ban any bat at its sole discretion and without prior notice. 14U – VARSITY has to use BBCOR -3 bats. 13U -5
10. You can bat 9,10,11 or the entire lineup, on the lineup card just list them as EP. 11. EXTRA PLAYER (EP) AND/OR DESIGNATED HITTER (DH)
12. At the beginning of a game, either the EP and and/or the DH may be elected.
13. FREE DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTIONS. SUBS CAN START DEFENSIVELY AND NOT BE IN BATTING LINEUP, ONLY PITCHER HAS TO BE IN LINE UP OR DH FOR.
14. The Extra Player (EP) is listed in the batting order and may assume any of the nine defensive positions (including pitcher) without being counted as a substitution.
15. Under all of the following options, there are never more than the standard nine defensive positions.
16. Use neither DH or EP:
17. Use only the DH, FOR PITCHER
18. Use only the EP, and not the DH: Ten (10) players in the batting order, of which nine play on defense.
19. Tie Breaker Rules: If time runs out and there is a tie the game ends in a tie unless in elimination games, if there is time left and game is tied you will play a Kansas City tie-breaker.
20. GRADE EXEMPTION PLAYERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PITCH.
PITCHING RULES
No pitching rules in tournament, managers should use discretion.
GAME TIME LIMIT
1. 9U-12U no new inning will start after 1 hour 45 minutes
2. 13U-JV no new inning will start after 1 hour 50 minutes
3. Mercy Rule (6 inning games) 15 after 3, 8 after 4
4. Mercy Rule (7 inning game) 15 after 3, 8 after 5
