GC BRAWLERS BASEBALL

TOURNAMENT RULES

Inclement Weather Policy

In the event of rain we will do everything within our power to make up games and stay as close to the original game schedule as possible. However, there may be circumstances in which we will need to deviate from the printed schedule. If and when this occurs, we will use the following procedures as a guide:

• Our first priority will always be the safety of each individual at the facility.
• If inclement weather forces a cancellation of game slots during pool play rounds; we may have to alter the brackets to complete the tournament. If a pool play game can not be played, the team with the higher seed will advance.
• GCB will not name a champion of the tournament without a championship game.

Suspended Games

Games that do not make it to regulation (3 complete innings for a 6 inning game or 4 complete innings for a 7 inning game) due to weather / darkness will be considered a suspended game and will be resumed (if possible) from the point of suspension at the earliest time available. If there is not time to resume the game, it will be considered a complete game at the end of the last complete inning and the team that is winning at that point will be the winner. For games that do make it through regulation and are called early, the score would have to revert back to the last completed full inning of play, unless the Home was winning or took the lead in the bottom half of the inning when the game was called.  

Refund Policy

• Play No Games - $100 administrative cost is non-refundable.  Credit applied to future tournament for this year or next year. 
• Play 1 Game - Receive a 50% credit towards tournament for this year or next year.
• Play More Than 1 Game – No refund.

Note: Once a game starts it will count as a game played, regardless of its length.  One pitch counts as a game. 

Insurance Requirement

Each team is required to carry its own insurance and submit a certificate of insurance to Baseball prior to the beginning of the tournament. The certificate must have (GC Brawlers 134 Barnaby Ave Gloucester City, NJ 08030) listed as additionally insured:

Time Limit

There will be a 1 hr 45 minute time limit for age divisions 6U-18U.  No new inning may start after the time limit elapses; however, GCB reserves the right to put in a drop dead time limit during pool play games based on how many teams have entered the tournament to ensure all pool play games are completed by Saturday night or if weather concerns arise.  The time begins from the time of the first warm-up pitch of the game to the last out of an inning. Games can go into extra innings as long as the time limit has not expired. Pool play games can end in a tie.

If we do play with a drop dead time limit, the game will end at the designated time and the result will be the score regardless of where we are in the game. We will not revert back to any previous full inning. Intentionally delaying a game is considered unsportsmanlike conduct and will not be tolerated.

GCB will update time limits for Elimination Day and Championship Round

Coin Flips

In pool play and seeding games, there will be a coin flip before each game.  In the elimination rounds, the higher seeded team will get choice of Home/Away.  In Consolation, if there are no seeds, a coin flip will determine higher seed. 
 

Official Scorebook

Both teams will report the score to the umpire after each inning to enable accuracy of the score. 

Mercy Rule

7u-12u 
12 after 3 innings; 10 after 4 innings; and 8 after 5 innings.
13u-18u
15 after 3 innings; 10 after 4 innings; and 8 after 5 innings  

Playing Rules

The interpretation of playing rules shall be that as defined by the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs (Official Baseball Rules), with the exception of the following special league rules:

Age Cutoff Date

April 30th – age on this date will be the age you are classified for.  If a player turns 12 yrs old on April 30^th then he is considered 12u.  If he turns 12 on May 1^st, he’s considered 11 yrs old. 

Bat Rule (2011)

Wooden and aluminum bats are both permitted.

Bat Size:

• 10U and Below: USA Bat Standard (including the 30/20 Easton Ghost)
• 11U and 12U: USA Bat Standard (including the 30/20 Easton Ghost)

·        13U: 2 5/8” barrel (-3) and (-5) USA and BBCOR standards

·        14U: 2 5/8” barrel (-3) and BBCOR standards

·        15U and Above: 2 5/8” barrel (-3 drop) and BBCOR standards.

Tampering with bats is strictly prohibited. If a bat is tampered with or an illegal bat is used, the result will be a dead ball out if a batted ball was put in play and the batter advanced to any base.

In the fall, players may use the same bat size as they did during the spring/summer season.

Slide Rule

If a defensive player is in possession of the ball, the base runner must slide or veer in order to avoid a collision. If a defensive player does not have possession of the ball, he may not block or obstruct the base runner, and must avoid a collision if possible. Any contact or collision deemed by the umpire to be intentional and avoidable shall be cause for ejection from the game of the offending player.

Stealing (9U and 10U)

A player may steal at the time the ball crosses the plate. The ruling will be an immediate dead ball if the runner leaves too soon. The first time will be a team warning, and the second time the runner will be ruled out.

Lineup

Teams will have the discretion to select one of the following options that must be declared prior to the start of the game. Further, this option must be utilized for the entire game.

·        Bat the entire lineup

• Bat nine
• Bat ten, utilizing an Extra Player (EP). You may only use one EP.
• If you are batting the entire order, there is NO out taken if a player must leave the game providing the lineup does not go below nine players.

A team may start with no fewer than eight players. If a team starts with eight, any additional player(s) that shows up shall be placed at the bottom of the batting order. The ninth position shall be deemed an out until the 9^th player arrives

Only players listed on the scorecard at the beginning of the game are participants. Players added after the game has started (or resumed in the event of a continuation due to rain or darkness) will not be considered to be on the roster for that game, and may not participate in that game.

Designated Hitter (DH)

We will use a designated hitter for age divisions 15 and older for the pitcher only.

Defensive Substitutions

The ability to use defensive substitutions will be based on the lineup option that was selected. 

• Bat entire lineup - Unlimited defensive substitutions.
• Bat nine - Must following official playing rules; however, starters may re-enter (once). Further, once a sub has been removed, he may not re-enter with the exception of injury.
• Bat ten using an EP - Same rules as playing nine apply; however, the substitution rules apply to the ten players in the starting lineup.  

Courtesy Runner

Speed up rule –  Optional run for the catcher with one out and is mandatory with two outs.  The runner will either be the last recorded out (if batting the lineup) or any player on the bench who is not currently in the game (batting nine or using an EP). You may also use a runner for the pitcher with two outs. This is optional. The same rule applies in the selection of the courtesy runner. The catcher will be defined as the player who will be playing that position the upcoming inning, not the inning of record.

Balks

Balks do not apply to age divisions under 11U. We will issue one warning per pitcher per game at 11U and 12U. A balk warning is a dead ball. There will be no warning at ages 13U and above.

Protest Opportunities

There will be no formal protests permitted to the Tournament Director. All decisions will be determined on the field by the umpires. If necessary, GCB will determine a ruling on a book rule question. There are no protests on judgment calls.

Pitching

We will play tournament baseball rules for pitching using a rolling consecutive number of innings - six innings for ages under 12U and seven innings for ages 13U and above. For example (under 12U), if a pitcher throws three innings in game one, he is eligible for three innings in game two. If he only throws two innings in game two, he is eligible for four innings in game three, etc.

There will be NO re-entry of a pitcher at any time during the game.

If a pitcher extends beyond the pitching requirements, the rule basically states he is an illegal player and thus creates a forfeit; however, rather than a coach wait until a pitcher has become illegal, the opposing coach must immediately bring it to the attention of the other team and have the pitcher removed at that point. Unless three outs have been recorded, the inning will be restarted with no outs.  

Roster Size

Limit to participate in Tournament Play: 15

Intentional Walk

Speed up rule – The pitcher or manager may inform the umpire their intention to walk the batter to first base.

Game

Innings – 12U and Below: 6 innings; 13U and Above: 7 innings

Field Dimensions

• 10U and Below: 46/60
• 11U and 12U: 50/70
• 13U and Above: 60/90

Code of Conduct/Sportsmanship

Any coach ejected from a game will not be permitted to coach for the remainder of the tournament. Further, they will not be permitted on the field at any point thereafter and must remain away from the dugout in the outfield or down the outfield lines.

Catcher’s  Equipment

Catcher’s helmet gear must provide ear protection. As a result, no skull caps are permitted.

Tie Breakers (Determine Seeds)

1. Best Record (based on points)

2. Head to Head (only if two teams)

3. Fewest Runs Allowed

4. Net Run Differential

5. Number of Shutouts

6. Coin Flip

To determine best record, we will award points as follows:

• Win – Two points
• Tie – One point

When there are more than two teams tied, we will not look at Head to Head as a tie breaker, instead we will move to the next criteria, Fewest Runs Allowed. At no point will we reset the tie breaker as teams are seeded or eliminated. The tournament committee has the final say on tie breakers on any misunderstandings. The best advice is that if there is a question that it gets resolved before a game starts that may impact the tie breaker formula.

Documentation

Coaches are required to have on hand – insurance, team rosters and player date of birth support. They will not be collected by GCB; however, if a player is challenged, the coach must have support for that player. A challenge may only be performed before the first pitch is thrown for that game. A challenge will not be reviewed at any other time ( ie, during the game or after the game). If the coach does not have support or is ruled ineligible, the tournament director will make a final ruling on his eligibility, as well as the results of previously played games and future games.

Fake Bunt/Slash Bunt (Ages 7U through 12U)
A batter is out for illegal action when the player fakes a bunt and then takes a full swing, thus eliminating a player from fake bunting (slap-hitting) the ball.  Penalty:  Batter is out, the ball is dead, no runners may advance.