NM/TXW TOURNAMENT RULES THAT APPLY IN ADDITION TO
USSSA NATIONAL RULES AMENDED MARCH 6, 2008 - - REVISED APRIL 30, 2008 --
REVISED 6/26/2008 - - AMENDED SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 - - AMENDED 8/19/2009; AMENDED 4/29/2011; AMENDED 10/27/2011; AMENDED 10/22/2012
ALL COACHES MUST ATTEND ONE COACHES MEETING PRIOR TO TEAM PLAYING FIRST GAME
ALL PLAYERS MUST CHECK- IN PRIOR TO FIRST GAME IN WHICH THEY PARTICIPATE. ALL TEAMS MUST CHECK IN AT THE TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS AND PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING AT CHECK-IN: TEAM ROSTER SIGNED BY COACH AND PLAYERS; COPIES OF ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATES USSSA RULE 3.10 OR CERTIFIED COPY; (IDENTIFICATION AS REQUIRED BY USSSA, SCHOOL ID) FOR EACH PLAYER PARTICIPATING IN TOURNAMENT; AND A OPPORTUNITY FOR EACH PLAYER TO SPEAK WITH TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS PRIOR TO TEAM'S FIRST GAME. PLEASE ALLOW ADEQUATE TIME TO ACCOMPLISH THIS TASK PRIOR TO YOUR FIRST GAME. ROSTERS MUST BE FINALIZED AND ONLINE BY MIDNIGHT PRIOR TO FIRST GAME OF CURRENT TOURNAMENT. YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN COPY OF YOUR ONLINE ROSTER TO CHECK IN.
A COACH AND/OR PLAYER EJECTION IS FOR REMAINDER OF GAME AND THE FOLLOWING GAME. FAN EJECTION IS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TOURNAMENT, NO GATE ADMISSION REFUND. THE RULE IS “GO TO THE PARKING LOT” i.e. "OUT OF SIGHT AND SOUND"
ALL BASEBALLS MAY BE ANY BRAND BUT MUST BE USSSA STAMPED. WE HAVE SOME AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.
COACHES UPON COMPLETION OF YOUR GAME PLEASE SHAKE HANDS WITH YOUR OPPONENTS AND VACATE YOUR DUGOUT TO ALLOW FOR NEXT GAME TO START. YOUR TEAM MEETINGS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED OFF THE FIELD.
RUN RULES 20 AFTER 1 INNING; 15 AFTER 2 INNINGS; 10 AFTER 3 INNINGS; 8 AFTER 4 INNINGS AND THEREAFTER TIES ARE ALLOWED IN POOL PLAY ONLY
IN ELIMINATION GAMES, CALIFORNIA TIE BREAKER RULE IS APPLICABLE, LAST OUT OF PRIOR INNING STARTS ON SECOND BASE (TAKES EFFECT WHEN TIME EXPIRES OR COMPLETION OF REGULATION GAME INNINGS)
MINIMUM TIME LIMITS/TIME LIMITS APPLY TO ALL GAMES UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
8U ---50 MINUTES - - 6 INNINGS
9U-12U---80 MINUTES - - 6 INNINGS
13-14U----90 MINUTES - - 7 INNINGS
THE POSTED TIMES AND FIELDS AT THE SITE ARE CONTROLLING. BE PREPARED TO PLAY 45 MINUTES PRIOR TO SCHEDULED GAME TIME, IN CASE OF FORFEITS OR GAMES STOPPED BY RUN RULE
9U / 10U (45' MOUND DISTANCE/65' BASES)
11U / 12U (50' MOUND DISTANCE/70' BASES)
13U (54' or 60' MOUND DISTANCE /80' or 90' BASES)
14U (60' MOUND DISTANCE/90' BASES)
YOU MAY HIT ENTIRE ROSTER BUT MUST BE ENTIRE ROSTER IN ATTENDANCE.
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR MAY COMBINE AGE GROUPS WHEN NECESSARY DUE TO LACK OF ATTENDANCE, FOR EXAMPLE 9 AND 10 OR 11 AND 12 OR 13 AND 14 OR 14 AND HS.
USSSA DOES NOT REQUIRE 14U BATTERS TO USE -3 BATS BUT PLAYERS MAY USE - 3 BAT DIFFERENTIAL IN TOURNAMENT AND EVENT PLAY BUT USSSA LEAGUES MAY REQUIRE 14U TO USE -3 WITHOUT NATIONAL OR STATE REQUEST OR APPROVAL.
ALL PLAYERS MUST HAVE A NON-REPEATING NUMBER ON THEIR JERSEY OR SHIRT
ALL TOURNAMENTS PLAYED IN NM AND TEXAS WILL FOLLOW “TEXAS SAFETY RULES” IN AGES 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14:
THIS RULE ONLY APPLIES WHEN THE RUNNER AT THIRD BREAKS FOR HOME PLATE SIMULTANEOUS WITH THE DELIVERY OF THE PITCH:
WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE BATTER MUST EITHER
1) LET THE PITCH TRAVEL TO THE CATCHER WITHOUT SWINGING OR
2) MAKE A MOVEMENT CONSISTENT WITH BUNTING THE BALL.
IF THE BATTER MAKES A MOVEMENT INTERPRETED AS SWINGING OR BUNT/SLASH AT THE PITCH, THE BATTER IS AUTOMATICALLY OUT. FURTHERMORE THE PITCH WILL BE RULED A “DEAD BALL” WITH THE RUNNER RETURNING TO THIRD BASE AND THE THIRD BASE COACH WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE GAME.
EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE OCCURS ONLY WHEN THERE ARE TWO OUTS AND THE BATTER COUNT IS FULL (3-2): IN THIS CASE RUNNER AT THIRD MUST PROCEED TO HOME PLATE CLEARLY IN FOUL TERRITORY.
COACH PITCH
1. WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED FOR THROWN BATS AND AT THE ABSOLUTE JUDGEMENT AND DISCRETION OF THE UMPIRE A PLAYER MAY BE CALLED OUT FOR THROWING A BAT AFTER A FIRST WARNING HAS BEEN MADE.
2. ONCE TIME IS CALLED, BASED ON THE LEAD RUNNER, RUNNERS THAT ARE MORE THAN HALF WAY TO THE NEXT BASE WILL BE ADVANCED TO THAT BASE AND RUNNERS LESS THAN HALF WAY WILL BE SENT BACK TO THE LAST BASE OCCUPIED AND SHALL AT THE ABSOLUTE JUDGEMENT AND DISCRETION OF THE UMPIRE.
3. 55 MINUTE TIME LIMIT ON THE CLOCK MAINTAINED BY THE UMPIRE WITH THE INNING BEING COMPLETED ONLY IF THE HOME TEAM IS LOSING OR THE GAME IS TIED.
4. THE OFFICIAL CLOCK BEGINS IMMEADIATELY AFTER THE UMPIRE COACHES PRE GAME MEETING HAS ENDED AND WILL BE MAINTAINED BY THE UMPIRE.
5. THE PITCHING COACH MAY NOT COMMUNICATE WITH ANY OFFENSIVE PLAYER OR COACH AT ANY TIME WHILE HIS TEAM IS ON OFFENSE.
6. PITCHES MUST BE THROWN AT 32-40 MPH OR ON A ROPE WITH NO UPWARD LOOP OR LOB. PITCHES MUST BE FLAT OR ON A DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY AT THE ABSOLUTE JUDGEMENT AND DISCRETION OF THE UMPIRE
TBALL
1. BATS THROWN COMPLETELY OUT OF CIRCLE WILL BE DECLARED DEAD BALL AND BATTER OUT.
2. TIME WILL BE CALLED WHEN THE BALL CROSSES THE HALF WAY POINT ON THE INFIELD EXCEPT FOR PLAYS AT HOME AND SHALL AT THE ABSOLUTE JUDGEMENT AND DISCRETION OF THE UMPIRE.
3. ONCE TIME IS CALLED, RUNNERS THAT ARE MORE THAN HALF WAY TO THE NEXT BASE WILL BE ADVANCED TO THAT BASE AND RUNNERS LESS THAN HALF WAY WILL BE SENT BACK TO THE LAST BASE OCCUPIED AND SHALL AT THE ABSOLUTE JUDGEMENT AND DISCRETION OF THE UMPIRE.
4. 55 MINUTE TIME LIMIT AND NO NEW INNING STARTS WITH LESS THEN 5 MINUTES ON THE CLOCK MAINTAINED BY THE UMPIRE.
5. THE OFFICIAL CLOCK BEGINS IMMEADIATELY AFTER THE UMPIRE COACHES PRE GAME MEETING HAS ENDED AND WILL BE MAINTAINED BY THE UMPIRE.
6. THE PITCHER CANNOT MAKE A FORCE OUT AT ANY BASE. THE PITCHER CAN ONLY TAG THE RUNNER IN THE BASE PATH OR RECEIVE THE BALL AT THE BASE.
7. ONCE A BASE RUNNER ENTERS THE CIRCLE AT HOME ONLY THE CATCHER CAN MAKE THE OUT.
PROTESTS: $100 CASH. DECISION MADE DURING GAME AT TIME OF PROTEST LODGED FOR AGE, PITCHING VIOLATION AND RULE INTERPRETATION ONLY. UIC, TOURNAMENT AND SITE DIRECTORS WILL RENDER DECISION. NO AFTER GAME PROTESTS ALLOWED EXCEPT FOR ROSTER AND ELIGIBILITY VIOLATIONS.
WEATHER OPTIONS (WHEN APPLICABLE)
1) ELIMINATE 10 - 20 MINUTES FROM GAME LENGTH
2) ALL BATTERS START WITH 2-1 COUNT AND PLAY 1 INNING LESS THAN PRESCRIBED REGULATION GAME
REFUNDS ARE NOT GIVEN ONCE AN EVENT IS POSTED. IN THE EVENT OF A RAIN OUT OR INCLEMENT WEATHER SITUATION THERE WILL BE A $50 FEE THAT IS NOT REFUNDABLE. REFUNDS WILL BE DETERMINED BY NUMBER OF GAMES PLAYED IF ONE GAME IS PLAYED REFUND WILL BE 50% LESS $50; IF TWO GAMES ARE PLAYED REFUND WILL BE 20% LESS $50.00.
COACHES WILL BE PROVIDED A COPY OF TOURNAMENT BRACKET, AND ASKED TO FILL OUT COACHES FORM FOR PHONE CONTACT AND COMMUNICATION PURPOSES AND ACKNOWLEDGE THEY ARE WELL VERSED IN TOURNAMENT RULES TO BE FOLLOWED - - PLEASE DOWNLOAD YOUR PERSONAL COPY OF RULES FROM OUR WEB SITE
ANY TEAM THAT WITHDRAWS AFTER PAYING AN EVENT WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE EVENT WILL NOT BE GIVEN A FULL REFUND AT WITHDRAWAL. THERE WILL BE A $75.00 FEE FOR SOLD OUT EVENTS AND $50.00 FOR ANY EVENT NOT SOLD OUT. THERE WILL BE NO REFUND GIVEN IN ANY EVENT ONCE THE BRACKETS HAVE BEEN DRAWN. RUIDOSO SELLS OUT 6-8 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE START AND THERE ARE ROOM COSTS THAT VENDORS DO NOT REFUND. A TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR MAY DECIDE ON WHETHER TO EXTEND CREDIT FOR A FUTURE EVENT BUT IS NOT REQUIRED TO DO SO.
GAME REQUESTS CAN ONLY BE MADE BY EMAIL BUT ARE NOT GUARANTEED. THE CRITERIA USED ARE THAT TEAMS MUST BE REGISTERED WITH USSSA, HAVE AN ONLINE ROSTER AND TOURNAMENT FEE MUST ALREADY BE PAID, THEN THE TEAMS WILL BE PLACED IN ORDER OF REQUEST AFTER COMPLETION OF THE ABOVE CRITERIA.
FORFEITS: ANY TEAM THAT FORFEITS A POOL GAME WILL BE PLACED LAST IN THE POOL STANDINGS AND SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME NO MATTER THE RECORD. IF A FORFEITING TEAM CONTINUES PLAY, EACH PLAYER ON THE ROSTER WILL BE CHARGED AT THE FORFEITED GAME WITH 9 OUTS FOR THAT GAME. NO REFUNDS WILL BE ALLOWED OR GIVEN.
VICTOR FALVEY: USSSA NM BASEBALL STATE AND TXW STATE DIRECTOR
LARRY HERNANDEZ: NM AND TXW TOURNAMENT AND AREA DIRECTOR, ACTING UIC
CORY FALVEY: NM AND TXW TOURNAMENT AND SITE DIRECTOR
ROBERT HERNANDEZ: NM AND TXW SITE DIRECTOR
DIANE ULLOA : MARKETING COORDINATOR
