017/2018 TBL Tournaments Rules
Divisions are based upon a player’s age as of the 2017 League Age date (April 30th,2018). Players may play up in age but may not play down. The 2017/2018 season runs from Aug. 1, 2017 to July 31,2018.
Players are permitted to play on only one team during a weekend tournament. This rule applies no matter where the TBL tournament.
Any team knowingly using an illegal player shall be subject to discipline ranging from forfeiting a game, ejection from tournament.
Metal cleats are prohibited for teams 12U and below.
Teams are prohibited from warming up or conducting their pre-game on any of the infields, no matter what the facility. Warm up in foul territory only!
Major League Baseball’s Sporting News rules shall apply, along with those found in the TBL Bylaws booklet.
Please verify with local TBL Directors for modification to national rules prior to participating in a TBL Tournaments.
All participating teams in a TBL Tournament acknowledge that all pictures taken by a TBL Director may be used for promotional advertisement through signage, social media, web ads, tv ads, and etc.
Pitching
Pitching restrictions for 2015 tournaments are as follows:
• 7U, 8U 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U: 6 innings in a day, 8 for the tournament
• 13U, 14U: 7 innings in a day, 9 in the tournament.
• 15U & up: no pitching restrictions
- If a pitcher throws one pitch, it will be considered one full inning in that inning.
There will be no ties allowed
Ties will be allowed on a 2 or 3 day tournament.
If a game is tied after either time has expired or the complete innings have been played,
(Check with your local state director on tie-breaker rules that he enforces. Every state director has modified his tie-breaker rule)
we will implement a tie-breaker.
- Last 3 batters will be placed on base and there will be no outs to start the inning
- Once a pitcher is removed from the mound, he may not pitch again in that game. Umpires show leniency on balks in 9U and below. Violation of pitching restrictions will result in the automatic ejection of the offending Manager and player.
Pitching Distances for all TBL baseball tournaments are as follows:
7U – 8U: 40 ft mound, 60 foot bases
9U: 46 ft mound, 65 ft bases
10U: 46 feet mound 65 ft bases,
11U – 12U: 50 ft mound 70 ft bases
13U: 54 ft mound 80 ft bases (Some 14Us will play 54×80)
14U & up – 60.6 ft. mound 90 ft bases
To intentionally walk a batter, a coach simply needs to inform the umpire and point to first base. No pitches are thrown.
Base Running
Teams in the 7U and 8U divisions may not lead off or steal home. Home plate is dead – runners from 3rd base may only advance on a hit ball or when forced-in by a walk. Runners may steal after the ball crosses home plate. Bunting is allowed. The ball is dead when the pitcher has the ball in area of mound. The infield fly rule is in effect
Courtesy runners will be allowed for the pitcher or catcher at any time. The courtesy runner must be a player not currently in the game or if the team has no players on bench, the last out. A courtesy runner may only run one time per inning. It is the base runner’s responsibility to avoid contact with the fielder when he has the ball. Slide or avoid is in effect at all times when fielder is in possession of ball. Intentionally running into a fielder who is in possession of the ball is grounds for ejection.
Hitting
Teams may elect to bat 9 players AND/OR bat 10 players with the 10th player being an EH. The EH is considered a defensive player and may switch in and out defensively. Teams may also bat their entire roster. If a team bats entire roster or has no subs when a starter is injured, an out is recorded each time the injured player’s spot comes up to bat. Once a player is removed from a game due to injury, he may not return. Starters may re-enter only one time only in their original spot on the line-up.
Only 15U divisions and up may use the DH, but only if they are not using the EH.
Teams may play with 8 players with an out being taken for each time the 9th spot comes up. A 9th player may be added any time during the game.
2015/6 TBL Bat Rules are effective August 18th, 2015
Length of Game
6U and younger: Play 5 innings with no new inning 1 hour 15 minutes
7U – 8U: Play 6 innings with no new inning after 1 hour 35 minutes
9U – 12U: Play 6 innings with no new inning after 1 hour 40 minutes
13U & up: Play 7 innings with no new inning after 1 hour 55 minutes
TBL Tournament reserves the right to modify the length of games due to issues involving limited visibility or park curfew. Every effort will be made to finish the tournament but in cases of rain, darkness or other acts of God, the tournament director reserves the right to shorten games or modify schedules in order to finish the event.
Requirements for a Mercy rule are as follows:
7 inning game:
- 12 run lead after 3 innings
- 10 run lead after 4 innings
- 8 run lead after 5 innings
6 inning game:
- 20 runs after 1 inning
- 15 runs after 2 innings
- 12 runs after 3 innings
- 8 runs after 4 innings
There will be no run limits per inning for 7u and up. The director does reserve the right to implement a max run per inning rule for the 7u. If there is an implementation of this rule, the teams will be notified prior to the start of the tournament.
Rainout/Tournament Cancellation Policy
In the event of tournament being cancelled by weather or any other unpreventable occurrence, every effort will be made to complete the tournament. In the event of a rainout with no make-up tournament scheduled, we will offer all teams a credit based on the following criteria:
- A full rainout, meaning no games were played, a credit will be issued for the entire entry fee.
- If one game was played, a team will receive credit for ½ of the entry fee.
- If two games are played, no credit will be given.
All credits must be used in the TBL Tournament Area you paid.
If a tournament is rained out while in progress and a make-up is scheduled, there will be no refund or credit for teams that do not play the make-up. The tournament director has the right to alter schedules, adjust time limits, or adjust the number of playoff participants in order to complete the tournament. The tournament director also has the right to alter the amount of the credits issued.
Miscellaneous
Home team will be determined by a coin flip. In the playoffs, the higher seeded team will be the Home team including the championship game. Each team must provide a scorekeeper all changes must go through the home plate umpire.
All conversations with an umpire should be conducted after a time-out has been called and be handled in a calm and professional manner. Verbal abuse of the umpire will not be tolerated and may result in ejection from the game.
Any manager or coach ejected from the game is required to sit out the next game also. After being ejected, a manager or coach must vacate the premises of the current game and the next game in which he is suspended. Any manager caught continuing to coach after being ejected or suspended will be suspended for an additional period of time. Any player ejected from a game is subject to a one game suspension at the tournament director’s discretion.
Managers are responsible for the conduct of his players and fans at all times. Managers are subject to ejection if his players or fans are out of control.
To protest a game, the umpire must be informed that the game is being played under protest. Once the protest has been made, you must get a ruling from a tournament director immediately. Do not continue the game under any circumstances. Once the next pitch is thrown, both teams have lost the right to protest.
Any team forfeiting a game may not advance to playoff round if it is determined that it is beneficial to that team with regards to runs allowed/differential etc.
TBL reserves the right to change locations of tournaments.
6U rules
6u – Entirely of league age 6 year old players or any combination of 5 and 6 year old players. Distance between bases is 50 feet. Coaches shall pitch from a pitchers plate 35 feet from the point of home plate.
6u – Pitching Coach The pitching coach will be allowed to pitch on one knee, but there front foot must be in contact with the pitching rubber and the knee on the ground will be behind the rubber.
a) The player fielding the pitchers position shall take position always to the rear of the pitchers rubber on the left or right side of the coach-pitcher
b) If a batted ball strikes the coach-pitcher, the ball is dead, the pitch counts and no runners shall advance.
c) The coach-pitcher shall not give instructions or in any way interfere with the defensive play once the ball is in play.
d) On a thrown or batted ball that is put into play the coach-pitcher must move into foul territory.
6u – Playing Rules Game play shall be (5) innings, unless the score is tied. In this event the game will be played to it’s conclusion, if time permits. Free defensive substitutions.
a) All players listed on roster will bat.
b) A batted ball becomes dead when an infielder within the baselines or at a base and has possession of the ball and holds the ball above their head and in the umpires judgement is not attempting to make a play on a base runner. The baselines between 1st and 2nd , 2nd and 3rd, 3rd and home there is a line running between the middle of each base. The umpire will either move the runner to the next base or send him back once an infielder has possession of the ball.
c) 5 runs max per inning for the 1st 4 innings. In the 5th and final inning it is an open inning and the batting team shall bat until 3 outs are made
6u – Defense Minimum of 9 players shall be used defensively with a maximum of 10
a) There cannot be more than six players in the infield stationed at normal infield positions. The extra player must be used as an outfielder.
b) All outfielders must be stationed not less than 15ft behind the baseline when the coach pitches the ball.
6u – Batters Are not permitted to bunt or swing easy at the ball. (penalty : the batter shall be called back to the plate, the swing is a foul strike, the ball is dead and no runners shall advance)
a) Batted ball must travel past a 10ft arch in front of home plate or it will be a foul ball.
b) The batter is out if after failing to hit a fair ball after three swings or five pitches by the coach.
6u – Runners Are not permitted to steal or lead off and shall remain in contact with the base until the ball is hit (penalty: 1st warning, 2nd out)
a) On a batted ball, runners may advance until an infielder has control of the ball between the bases. This is a judgment call of the umpire. At that point the ball becomes dead. The umpire will determine where to place the runner based on the halfway line between the bases. If a player advanced beyond the halfway line they will advance to the next base. If not they will return to the prior base.
b) No infield fly
Bat Regulations
New USSSA Baseball Bat Marks & Grandfathering Rules
Effective January 1, 2015
Big Barrel Bat Rules (2 5/8” or 2¾”) – 14U & Below
Effective January 1, 2015
- Have the new USSSA Mark on its taper OR
- Be a Qualified BBCOR bat* OR
- Be a Wood Bat
ALL of the above must be manufactured by an approved USSSA Bat Licensee
This applies to ALL Big Barrel Bats, including Coach Pitch bats.
Big Barrel Bat Rules (2 5/8” or 2¾”) – 15U & Above
- Must be NHSF approved with the appropriate BBCOR certification mark OR
- Be a Wood Bat
Both of the above must be manufactured by an approved USSSA Bat Licensee
Small Barrel Baseball Bat Rules (2¼” or less)
Be a Wood Bat