NFHS baseball rules govern unless modified by these tournament rules or an event-specific notice. The tournament director has final authority over items not specifically covered and may make the fairest ruling available when conditions require it.NFHS baseball rules apply unless an Impact Events rule or an event-specific notice states otherwise. Impact Events and the on-site tournament director may adjust these rules when tournament conditions require it. Coaches are responsible for reviewing the event page and any facility-specific rules before play begins.• First offense: warning.• Second offense: confined to the dugout.• Third offense: ejection.Coach-to-player electronic communication devices are allowed. Airhorns are prohibited at all events.

14U and older may qualify by high school graduation year or by age using the May 1 cutoff. Divisions 13U and younger use the May 1 age cutoff.Grade exceptions:• 9U: A player who turns 10 before May 1 is ineligible unless the player is in 3rd grade. Any player who turns 11 before May 1 is ineligible.• 10U: A player who turns 11 before May 1 is ineligible unless the player is in 4th grade. Any player who turns 12 before May 1 is ineligible.• 11U: A player who turns 12 before May 1 is ineligible unless the player is in 5th grade. Any player who turns 13 before May 1 is ineligible.• 12U: A player who turns 13 before May 1 is ineligible unless the player is in 6th grade. Any player who turns 14 before May 1 is ineligible.• 13U: A player who turns 14 before May 1 is ineligible unless the player is in 7th grade. Any player who turns 15 before May 1 is ineligible.• 14U: A player who turns 15 before May 1 is ineligible unless the player is in 8th grade. Any player who turns 16 before May 1 is ineligible.Players who meet the normal age requirement remain eligible regardless of grade.

• Every player must be added to the team roster before the first pitch of the game.• A player may not appear for more than one team in the same division during an event.• An unrostered player will be removed from the contest and may not participate. Multiple unrostered players may lead to additional penalties.• The manager is responsible for the roster and must be able to provide proof of age or grade, including birth certificates or school records.• A player whose eligibility cannot be verified may be suspended until documentation is provided. A player proven ineligible may be removed from the tournament.

The game ends when a team leads by:• 15 runs after 3 completed innings• 10 runs after 4 completed innings• 8 runs after 5 completed innings

• During pool play, the home team is normally determined by a coin flip.• The home team keeps the official scorebook and records the start time announced by the umpire.• Teams must be prepared to begin play up to 15 minutes before the scheduled start time.• Some 14U and older events may use predetermined home and away assignments when announced by the tournament director. In that case, the team shown on the right side of the matchup is the home team.

• 9U–10U: 46-foot mound, 65-foot bases; 1 hour 45 minute time limit.• 11U–12U: 50-foot mound, 70-foot bases; 1 hour 45 minute time limit.• 13U: 54/80 or 60/90 as listed for the event; 2-hour time limit.• 14U–18U: 60/90; 2-hour time limit.An event listing may publish a different field size or time limit. The event listing controls when it differs from this general rule.

• The game clock starts with the first pitch and is kept by the plate umpire or field manager.• For 13U and older, consult the event page for the time limit. A pool game tied after seven complete innings ends in a tie, with each team receiving one-half win and one-half loss.• For 12U and younger, pool games have a strict 1 hour 45 minute limit with no new inning after the limit. A game tied after six complete innings ends in a tie.• Playoff games use the event time limit except championship games, unless the tournament director announces otherwise.• The higher seed is the home team throughout bracket play.

For non-championship playoff games that remain tied:• The last completed batter from the previous inning begins on second base.• The offensive team begins with one out.• Every batter begins with a 1–1 count.• Normal substitution rules remain in effect.• Play continues until one team leads at the end of a complete inning.Championship games use normal extra innings. The tournament director may move a championship game to the modified format after two extra innings.

• Games affected by rain or unsafe conditions may not be made up because of time or field availability.• In a scheduled six-inning game, four innings constitute a complete game, or 3½ innings when the home team is ahead.• In a scheduled seven-inning game, five innings constitute a complete game, or 4½ innings when the home team is ahead.• When a delayed game cannot resume within one hour, it may be declared official. The tournament director may extend that window for field work, lightning delays, or other exceptional conditions.• The host facility and tournament director make the final decision on suspended and complete games.

• The MLB balk rule is enforced at all age levels. A balk remains a live ball.• The third-to-first pickoff move is illegal.• A coach is allowed two mound conferences per pitcher. The pitcher must be removed on the third conference. If a team makes a second conference in the same inning, the pitcher must be removed.USA Baseball Pitch Smart guidance is strongly encouraged:• Ages 11–12: daily maximum 85 pitches; 0 days rest for 1–20, 1 day for 21–35, 2 days for 36–50, 3 days for 51–65, and 4 days for 66 or more.• Ages 13–14: daily maximum 95; use the same rest ranges as ages 11–12.• Ages 15–16: daily maximum 95; 0 days for 1–30, 1 day for 31–45, 2 days for 46–60, 3 days for 61–75, and 4 days for 76 or more.• Ages 17–18: daily maximum 105; use the same rest ranges as ages 15–16.Pitch Smart limits are health guidance and are not monitored as tournament pitching restrictions unless an event states otherwise.

• Coaches must give the umpire a lineup card at the plate meeting. It must include each starter’s name, number, and position. Substitutes do not have to be listed.• Once the first pitch is thrown, the number of hitters is locked for the remainder of the game.14U and older may: (1) hit nine with or without a DH; (2) use one EH and hit ten, with or without a DH; or (3) use an EH and XH and hit eleven, with or without a DH. A modified college DH is allowed, including use of a pitcher/DH. The DH may bat for any defensive player.13U and younger may use any of those three options or bat a continuous lineup of every rostered player present.

Intentional walks: The head coach may notify the umpire, and the batter is awarded first base without pitches being thrown.Courtesy runners:• A courtesy runner is optional for the pitcher or catcher of record at any time.• The runner must be a legal substitute. With a continuous lineup, use the most recent batted out.• The same player may run for both the pitcher and catcher.• An incorrect courtesy runner is a correctable error and must be replaced with the proper runner.• A courtesy runner is never mandatory.

• A team may begin with eight players. The ninth lineup position is an automatic out.• If a team drops to seven players or fewer, the game becomes a forfeit unless the tournament director rules otherwise.• The standard forfeit score is 7–0, but the tournament director may amend the scoring.• A team that forfeits a pool game is not eligible for championship bracket play.For 13U and younger, when a team uses a continuous lineup or has no legal substitute and a player is injured, the injured player’s lineup position is skipped without penalty. Once skipped, that player may not return to the game.

No pregame infield or batting practice is allowed on the game field during a tournament unless the tournament director specifically authorizes it.

Apply tiebreakers in this order:1. Winning percentage2. Head-to-head result3. For three or more tied teams, whether one team defeated every other tied team or has the best winning percentage against the tied teams4. Fewest runs allowed5. Most runs scored6. Fewest runs allowed after removing the game with the most runs allowed7. Most runs scored after removing the game with the fewest runs scored8. Coin flipPool winners are seeded ahead of non-pool winners. Wild-card teams are then selected by the tiebreakers above. There is no organizational or pool protection in bracket play.

• A protest is limited to a rule violation or misapplication. Judgment calls such as balls and strikes, safe or out, or interference cannot be protested. Pitching limitations are also not protestable.• A protest during a game must be filed and decided before the next pitch. A protest after a game must be filed before the umpires leave the field.• The protesting team must provide a $200 cash fee when the protest is filed. The tournament committee decides the protest. The fee is returned when the protest is upheld.

• Teams, coaches, players, and spectators must follow all tournament and facility rules. The manager or head coach is responsible for the conduct of players and parents on and off the field.• Tournament directors and facility hosts may remove a player, spectator, or team for threats, physical attacks, abusive language, property damage, failure to pay, or other unruly conduct.• A physical altercation between teams before, during, or after a game may result in both teams being removed from the event and barred from future events.

• Anyone ejected from a game is suspended for the remainder of that game and must leave the complex for the parking area.• When a team uses a continuous lineup, an ejected player’s lineup position remains and is recorded as an out.• The tournament committee determines additional penalties for malicious acts or conduct intended to injure.• The tournament director determines the penalty for a second ejection during the same event.

• 12U and younger: maximum BPF 1.15 and must carry a USSSA or USA stamp.• 13U: BPF 1.15 or BBCOR, with a maximum drop of -5.• 14U–18U: BBCOR only.• Some events are wood-bat only; the event description controls.• Baum Bats and Delano Bats are permitted unless an event notice states otherwise.

The following models are prohibited unless specifically noted as retooled and approved:• WTDXCBR 2129-17 — 2017 CF Zen Balanced 2 5/8 (-8)• WTDXCBZ 1828-17 — 2017 CF Zen SL 2 3/4 (-10)• WTDXCBZ 1929-17F1 — 2017 CF Zen Zero Dark 2 3/4 (-10)• YBB18GX10 — 2018 Easton Ghost X 30/20, USA Bat version• DSBK08 — 2018 Dirty South Kamo• BTKYB — 2018 Mattingly Balistk BBCOR• CX2-BT0573 — 2018 CX2 Nike BBCOR• Reebok Vector TLS — 32/29 and 33/30• Marucci Cat 5 — 33/30 and 34/31• Marucci Black — 33/30 and 34/31• YB12D — 2018 TPX Dynasty -12• WTLBBMTB330 — 2020 Meta Prime BBCOR 33/30• Stinger Missile 2 — 33 inch

• Each head coach is responsible for monitoring the bats used by the team.• An illegal-bat appeal must be made before the next batter receives a pitch or before every defensive player leaves fair territory.• If the bat is illegal, the batter is out and runners may not advance.• A player has used an illegal bat upon stepping into the batter’s box with it.• After a team’s third illegal-bat violation, the head coach is ejected for the remainder of the tournament.

A runner on first base may not back into the outfield to create a personal base path. The runner must take a lead on a direct line from first base toward second base.First offense: Time is called, the team receives an official warning, and all runners return to their starting bases.Second offense: The runner is out, and the pitch and any action by other runners are nullified.