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Rules

Team Tournament Check-in

  • Please check-in 45 minutes prior to your first game—your team should be ready to play 30 minutes prior to scheduled game time
  • Youth Baseball Network Roster, Team Insurance and Youth Baseball Network Tournament Checkin Sheet Required
  • A Youth Baseball Network Representative will be at each ball park to facilitate team check-in
  • Tournament Brackets will be posted at all weekend tournament locations
  • Official brackets and game times are posted on our website

Youth Baseball Network Must Have A Copy Of the Following Items Before Play Starts

  • Paper copy of your Youth Baseball Tournament Roster with Parent Signatures
  • Youth Baseball Network Team Check-in Sheet
  • Team Insurance Certificate
  • Birth Certificates for each player

Tournament Withdrawal Policy

  • Youth Baseball Network will provide a full refund minus a $300 withdrawal fee for any team withdrawing from tournaments up to 28 days prior to scheduled start of the event
  • Tournament Withdrawals Inside of 60 Days From Start Date Forfeit All Tournament Fees
  • Youth Baseball Network Does, If Needed Mix Ages/Divisions To Form Brackets – Tournaments Are 4 Teams

Rainout Policy

  • 0 games played= full refund minus $75 of tournament fees
  • 1 game played= 50% refund
  • 2 Games Played = full tournament – all tournaments. No additional refunds.
  • All Refunds (Withdrawal and Rainout) Take 8 to 10 Weeks To Process
  • In The Event of Rain and Cancellations, Trophies and Plaques Are Awarded Based On Seeding and Only If Championship Game Teams Have Been Established
  • Awards Are Only Awarded at Park

The Following Youth Baseball Rules Apply, All Other Rules Follow MLB Rules

  • In pool play, a coin flip will determine the home team—teams that forfeit pool play games, regardless of reason, do not advance to bracket play
  • The coin flip will be conducted by the umpiring crew at ground rules
  • During the bracket play, the higher seeded team will be the home team in all games
  • Time limits are: 1:40 for all ages
  • Pitchers must be removed after 2nd Mound Visit During Same Inning To Same Pitcher
  • Inclement weather could force Youth Baseball Network to modify tournament game times on any given weekend
  • Three baseballs per game provided – each team should provide two slightly used ball at ground rules—all teams should chase foul balls or provide replacement baseballs
  • Both teams should keep score books and should report the game score to the home plate umpire between innings. Umpires will maintain official game card all games.
  • Home team will maintain official game book and start time. Game start time will be announced immediately after ground rules and confirmed with Home team scorebook.

Coaches Have The Following Lineup Batting Options

  • Bat the Roster and be allowed free defensive substitutions
  • Play 9 Bat 9 or Play 9 Bat 10 with Free Defensive Rotations with these 9/10 Players
  • Play 9 with DH for any Defensive Player Position
  • Starters in Options 2 and 3 may re-enter one time in their ORIGINAL batting position. Substitutes removed from a game are ineligible to return. Teams should report all substitutions to the home plate umpire and opposing score keeper.
  • If At Anytime A Player Does Not Make His Turn At Bat Due To Injury, Sickness and No Sub Is Available, That Turn At Bat is Recorded As An Out. Opposing Coach May Waive This Rule If Approached Prior To That At Bat
  • Teams May Play A Game With 7 Players—The 8th and 9th Batters In The Order Would Be Recorded As An Out With Each Flip Of The Lineup
  • Courtesy Runner at anytime for Pitcher and Catcher. Runner must be last out if batting roster and sub if batting 9 or 10 or last batted out if batting roster. Courtesy Runner can only run once per inning and only for pitcher or catcher.

Game Procedures—Pool and Championship Play

  • Pool games will end in ties after allotted time has expired—pool play games that are tied after regulation, will continue if time remaining on clock
  • If elimination games are tied after time expires, Youth Baseball Network Tie-Breaker Rules Are Played—Each team will start with the previous innings last batted on 2nd base with one out
  • The following Pool Play Tie Breakers will be used for seeding in the championship rounds
    • Head to Head Play
      (If Only Two Teams With Same Record)
    • Total Runs Allowed
      (Used When More Than 2 Teams Have Same Record)
      (There Is No Head To Head At This Point)
    • Total Runs Scored
    • Coin Flip – Done Virtually With The GMB Scoring System.
  • ½ Point Rule Established For Ties In Pool Play Games
  • All Forfeits Will Be Recorded As 6–0—Any Team That Forfeits A Pool Game Is Not Eligible For Bracket Play
  • Team Managers are required to verify Game Scores and Game Cards of all games immediately following completion of game. Signed game cards are the official scoring for each game played. Failure to sign Completed Game Card assumes acceptance @ 10 minutes after completed

Balks and Intentional Walks

  • In 10U-18U all balks will be called. All balks will be called according to Major League Rules.
  • Intentional Walk’s Will Follow MLB Rules and Policies

Schedule Game Time Starts

  • All Teams Should Be Prepared To Start Games 30 Minutes Prior To Scheduled Start Time As This Allows Youth Baseball To Keep Pace With The Over All Scheduled Tournament

Mercy Game Run Rules

  • 20 After 1 Inning
  • 15 After 2 Innings
  • 10 After 4 Innings
  • 8 After 5 Innings

9U Specific Rules

  • Dropped 3rd Strike Rule Does Not Apply
  • No Stealing Or Advancing To Home On Past Ball By Catcher
  • 3rd Base Runner Can Advance To Home If Play Is Made At Any Base
  • 5 Runs / Inning – Unlimited In 6th Inning Only

Mercy Game Run Rules

  • All Games, All Ages—2 ½ Innings If Home Team In Lead
    or
  • 1 Hour In Time Limit Played—Score Reverts To Previous Finished Inning
  • In the event rain and if games are incomplete—games will be started over if moved to the next day due to rain and weather
  • No new inning may start after the time limit has elapsed. A new inning automatically begins after the 3rd out is recorded in the bottom half of the previous inning.
  • The official game time starts after Ground Rules Are Completed—Umpires Will Confirm Official Game Start Time With Home Book ScoreKeeper
  • Championship games have a 2 Hour time if last game of day—run rules are still in effect

Youth Baseball Network Pitch Limits and Recommendations

Youth Baseball Tournament Directors will not be involved in counting pitches or innings pitched during Youth Baseball Network Tournaments and Events.

The responsibility of managing pitch counts and innings rests with each team’s Head Coach.
Youth Baseball Network endorses the Pitch Smart program, developed by USA Baseball and Major League Baseball. This program is a series of practical, age appropriate guidelines to help parents, players and coaches avoid overuse.

Pitch Smart

“Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the coach, parent and the athlete to ensure that the player follows the guidelines for his age group over the course of a year.”

Cleats

  • Metal cleats are allowed in the 13U–18U divisions—No metal cleats on portable mounds.

Line-Up Cards

  • Each team should prepare a written line-up, listing first and last names and numbers of all players/subs prior to each game. Line-ups must be given to the plate umpire at ground rules. Line-up cards will be provided to each team at check-in

Slide Rules

  • Youth Baseball Network does not enforce a Mandatory Slide Rule at any base. If a player does not slide to avoid contact and if it is determined by an umpire that the play is ruled malicious with the intent to hurt, the player will be ruled out and ejected for the game in progress

Bat Restrictions

  • 13U & Under must be stamped USSSA 1.15 BPF Stamped or USA Stamped or BBCOR or WOOD
  • 14U and Above Must Use BBCOR or Wood Bats with -3 Drop Ratio
  • 14U Teams Must Use BBCOR -3 when choosing to play up at 14U/15U Mixed Brackets

Game and Roster Protest

  • Protests shall follow major league procedures on the field and stop play to file a protest
  • No protest of a judgment call or game outcome, and only an incorrect rule interpretation can be protested that impacts the natural course of the game.
  • Umpire must sign both scorebooks and site the game situation. The manager then has 5 minutes to present his protest, citing the specific baseball or Youth Baseball Network rules to justify his protest to the Tournament Director along with submission of a forfeit fee—cash. If the manager does not file his protest within the 5 Minute time frame, the protest will be considered as dropped and no action will be taken by Youth Baseball Network Site Director.
  • If the protest is won, the Protest Fee is returned.
  • If the protest is lost, the fee will be forfeited.
  • Game clock does not stop during protest situations
  • Each Team Should Maintain A Copy of their Youth Baseball Network Roster in addition to turning one in at tournament check-in—each weekend. Teams must first present a copy of their signed team roster and player birth certificates prior to protesting an game opponent’s roster.
  • Non roster players are considered ineligible. Any team using an ineligible player will be assessed a 7-0 forfeit for game in question when roster is protested

Age Chart: Proof of Age

Youth Baseball Network Does Not Collect Birth Certificates Prior To Tournament Events

  • It is the Managers responsibility to have his players birth certificates or accepted proof of age identification in the case of any question regarding the age of his players—failure to produce birth certificates and sanctioned Youth Baseball Network Roster will result in a forfeit if roster is protested by opposing team
  • At times and at certain parks, Youth Baseball Network will adjust base distances to adapt to park setups and field constraints
  • In rain shortened timed games, Youth Baseball Network does run hard stop time limits—game is stopped at designated game length (deteremined at ground rules), at that time score reverts to previous finished inning’s score
Age Birth Date Field Game Time Innings Max Runs Per Inning
18U Born On or After May 1st, 2005 60′-6″ x 90′  1 Hour 40 Minutes 7 Innings Unlimited
17U Born On or After May 1st, 2006 60′-6″ x 90′  1 Hour 40 Minutes 7 Innings Unlimited
16U Born On or After May 1st, 2007 60′-6″ x 90′  1 Hour 40 Minutes 7 Innings Unlimited
15U Born On or After May 1st, 2008 60′-6″ x 90′  1 Hour 40 Minutes 7 Innings Unlimited
14U Born On or After May 1st, 2009 60′-6″ x 90′  1 Hour 40 Minutes 7 Innings Unlimited
13U Born On or After May 1st, 2010 54′ x 80′  1 Hour 40 Minutes 7 Innings Unlimited
12U Born On or After May 1st, 2011 50′ x 70′  1 Hour 40 Minutes 6 Innings Unlimited
11U Born On or After May 1st, 2012 50′ x 70′  1 Hour 40 Minutes 6 Innings Unlimited
10U Born On or After May 1st, 2013 46′ x 65′  1 Hour 30 Minutes 6 Innings Unlimited
9U Born On or After May 1st, 2014 46′ x 65′  1 Hour 30 Minutes 6 Innings See Rules Section
8U Born On or After May 1st, 2015 40′ x 60′  1 Hour 10 Minutes 6 Innings See Rules Section
7U Born On or After May 1st, 2016 40′ x 60′  1 Hour 10 Minutes 6 Innings See Rules Section

Youth Baseball Network Grade Exception Rules

9U Division—Players who turn 10 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 3rd grade. Also, any player turning 12 prior to September 1st will not be eligible. Players who are 12U are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

10U Division—Players who turn 11 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 3th grade. Also, any player turning 12 prior to September 1st will not be eligible. Players who are 12U are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

11U Division—Players who turn 12 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 5th grade. Also, any player turning 13 prior to September 1st will not be eligible. Players who are 12U are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

12U Division—Players who turn 13 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 6th grade. Also, any player turning 14 prior to September 1st will not be eligible. Players who are 12U are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

13U Division—Players who turn 14 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 7th grade. Also, any player turning 15 prior to September 1st will not be eligible. Players who are 13U are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

14U Division—Players who turn 15 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 8th grade. Also, any player turning 16 prior to September 1st will not be eligible. Players who are 14U are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

15U Division—Players who turn 16 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 9th grade. Also, any player turning 17 prior to September 1st will not be eligible. Players who are 15U are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

16U Division—Players who turn 17 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 10th grade. Also, any player turning 18 prior to September 1st will not be eligible. Players who are 16U are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

17U Division—Players who turn 18 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 11th grade. Also, any player turning 19 prior to September 1st will not be eligible. Players who are 17U are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

18U Division—Players who turn 19 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 12th grade. Also, any player turning 20 prior to September 1st will not be eligible. Players who are 18U are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.

All grade level exception players must have a photocopy of their birth certificate and their current report card, or official school ID with grade, or an official government document stating their grade.

Youth Baseball Network Roster Rules

  • All Teams Must Provide A Sanctioned Youth Baseball Network Roster Prior To Game Time and At Tournament Check In
  • Teams Should Keep A Copy Of Their Youth Baseball Network Roster and Be Prepared To Present During Game If Opposing Coach Questions A Player. Opposing Coach Should File Official Roster Protest With Youth Baseball Network Prior To Observing Roster. Game Clock Will Not Be Stopped During Protests Of Any Type
  • Failure To Produce A Youth Baseball Network Roster and Player Birth Certificates During Game, if protested, Will Result In Immediate Forfeit Of Game In Play
  • Players Can Be Added and Dropped From Teams Until 1st Pool Game of Tournament Weekend
  • A Player Can Not Reside on Two Different Rosters
  • A Player Can Not Play On Two Different Teams In Sam Tournament Regardless Of Age
  • Teams Found Using Ineligible Players Will Immediately Forfeit The Game Being Protested. Score Will Result In 6-0 Loss

Rules of Conduct—Disruptive Behavior

  • Youth Baseball Network strives to provide a great baseball and family atmosphere for its tournament participants and guests. No unsportsmanlike conduct by participants or fans will be tolerated, and penalty for such behavior will be removal from the grounds for the remainder of the tournament.
  • Coaches are responsible for themselves, their players, and families at all times. Any suspension/ejection imposed by umpires or officials will be served during the game in progress and the next tournament game and/or tournament weekend. Applies for Coaches and Parents. Players are eligible for next game.
  • Ejected coaches and players should leave playing field and report to Tournament Check In. At the time the Tournament Site Director will escort Player or Coach Outside the Park and Playing Area. Game clock resumes during ejections and all time associated with the ejection.
  • Failure to leave the field and park in a timely manner will result in Forfeit. Youth Baseball Network Site Director will determine outcome of game if needed. umpires do not have the authority to call a game forfeit.
  • Max 3 Coaches and Score Keeper Allowed In Dugout—Head Coach, Two Assistants and Score Keeper
  • Defensive Coaches Are Not Allowed On Playing Field During Your Respective Teams Defensive 1/2 Inning—Defensive Coaches Should Remain In Dugout

Park Rules

  • Please remove all items, including trash, from your dugout promptly at the completion of your game. Tournament schedules are always tight, so we ask that you clear the dugout first before talking with your team after the game.
  • Food and beverages cannot to be brought into any ballparks. Water coolers may be brought for your team’s consumption during your game, but we ask that all other items be left at home. Coolers must be placed in team dugout.
  • Failure to comply with park Food and Beverage rules may lead to games being forfeited.
  • No pets of any kind are allowed in any ballpark leased by Youth Baseball Network regardless of park rules. Please help us insure the safety of our participants and the cleanliness of our facility by leaving your pets at home.

Youth Baseball Network Photo Policy

  • Youth Baseball Network and Greater Midwest Sports Marketing may use film, voice or photographic records of Youth Baseball Network Tournament Participation in the activities for its promotional and/or commercial purposes. This includes (but is not limited to) social, media, and other means of marketing via photography, video, live stream, etc.

To nominate a player for the Youth Baseball Network Elite Games, please complete the form below.

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