SAN DIEGO TOURNAMENT RULES
Divisions are based upon a player’s age as of the 2020 League age(April 30th, 2019. To determine a player’s League Age, use USSSA’s age calculator. Players may play up in age but may not play down. The 2020 season runs from Aug. 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022
Tournament Participants
Players are permitted to play on only one team during a weekend tournament. This rule applies no matter where the USSSA tournament is located in Southern California. Any team knowingly using an illegal player shall be subject to discipline including but not limited to: forfeiting a game, ejection from tournament and/or suspension from all USSSA sanctioned leagues and tournaments for a one year period.
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. Schedules may be changed, games may be shortened and a two day tournament may become a one day 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 San Diego USSSA Tournaments.
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.
Schedules are not final until 12pm the day before the tournament start date.
Teams are required to have non-duplicating numbers on their jerseys at least 4 inches in size. (If there are duplicating numbers designate the players as "A" & B") example 3A & 3B. Players may not change numbers during the tournament. The number they wear in the first game of the tournament shall be their number for the remainder of the tournament. The only exception is if a player must change jerseys due to blood on the original jersey. Should this occur, the change must be reported to the tournament director immediately. If a player plays with a different number during the tournament, both the player and team manager will be ejected from the game.
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 is permitted in foul territory only!
Pitching Rules & Restrictions
Right handed pitchers may not fake a pickoff attempt to third base. This is a balk. A pitcher who steps toward first or third must throw to that base. Pitchers are permitted to step toward second base without throwing to that base.
To intentionally walk a batter, a coach simply needs to inform the umpire and point to first base. No pitches are thrown.
Tournament Pitching Restrictions: Team Pitching Log Verify your teams pitching after each game, the recorded pitching records on the score cards are official.
All tournaments, regardless of how many days, ( 7U, 8U 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U ) 6 innings in a day, 8 total in the tournament. (Throwing one pitch in an inning , equals an inning pitched) A player that pitches more then 3 innings in one day must rest one day. A pitcher may not pitch in three consecutive days regardless of how innings pitch each day.
13U, 14U: 7 innings in a day, 8 in the tournament. A player that pitches more then 3 innings in one day must rest one day. A pitcher may not pitch in three consecutive days regardless of how innings pitch each day.
15U & up: no pitching restriction
Pitching Distances for all USSSA baseball tournaments are as follows:
7U – 8U: 42 foot mound, 60 foot bases
9U: 46 foot mound, 65 foot bases
10U: 46 feet mound 65 foot bases,
11U – 12U: 50 foot mound 70 foot bases
13U: 54 foot mound 80 foot bases (Some 14Us will play 54×80)
14U & up – 60.6 foot. mound 90 foot bases
On a single weekend tournament, pitching does not recycle for the playoffs. 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. All teams will receive a Pitching Log at check in for their own records. Official pitching logs will be available at the tournament site after each round of games.
Base Running
FORCE PLAY SLIDE RULE: A runner may slide in any direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering
the play of the fielder. Runners are never required to slide, but if a runner elects to slide, the slide must be legal. If contact
is made on either side of the bag or behind the bag, the ball is immediately dead. The runner is out, interference is called
and the batter/runner is also called out.
COLLISSION RULE HOME PLATE: If a defensive player has the ball in hand ready to make a tag, the offensive player
must apply one of the following:
1. Proper Slide going into the base
2. Go around the defensive player
3. Give your-self up
4. Go back
8U Division 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. When a runner is stealing home from third is put out, the runner is out. If called safe the runner is returned to third base.
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
2019 Season Rule Change 9-14U
Teams may bat a nine (9) player line-up, or a nine (9) player line-up with a Designated Hitter
(DH), or a ten (10) player line-up with an Extra Hitter (EH), or a 10 player line-up up with a
DH and EH, or a continuous line-up of all present, eligible, uniformed players. Such line-up
must be declared before the start of the game and used the entire game. (Note: The DH can
be used for any position player.)
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.
Bat Regulations
All bats for age divisions 13U and younger must be permanently
stamped with the new USSSA 1.15 BPF Mark (Chart 7.01.C), or
BBCOR.50 Certified Mark or made of wood and manufactured
by a licensed USSSA manufacturer.
7.01.C.1 All 13U players must use a maximum drop 8 (-8) bat
with the official USSSA 1.15 BPF Mark permanently stamped.
7.01.C.1(a) In Elite World Series, 13 Majors must
use drop 5 (-5), BBCOR or wood bats only.
7.01.C.2 All 14u players must use a maximum drop 5 (-5) bat
with the official USSSA 1.15 BPF Mark Permanently
stamped.
14U Bat Regulations
7.01.C.2.(a) In all Local San Diego Tournaments, Select Super NIT’s, Super NIT’s &
Elite World Series, 14 Majors must use BBCOR or wood bats
only.
7.01.C.3 All bats for scholastic divisions (High School Events)
must conform to the National Federation of High School
Associations (NFHS) bat standards including a length to weight
ratio no greater than negative three (-3) ounces. These bats must
be permanently stamped with the BBCOR.50 Certified Mark or
made of wood and manufactured by a licensed USSSA
manufacturer.
Illegal Bat Penalties
If an illegal bat is discovered after a fair batted ball and before the next pitch legal/illegal or play, the offended coach has the option of selecting the outcome of the play or the penalty. If he chooses the penalty then the batter is out, bat removed and all runners return to the base legally occupied at the time of the pitch. Should a second infraction occur, then the manager is ejected, and the offended coach gets to choose the outcome of the play or the penalty again as stated.
NOTE: There shall be no penalty for discovery of an illegal bat until a fair batted ball occurs. If an illegal bat is discovered
during the ab, the bat is then removed from the game.
Length of Game Game clock starts at the completion of the plate meeting - not first pitch. The umpire/s will keep the official clock.
08U: Play 6 innings with no new inning after 1 hour 30 minutes
09U – 12U: Play 6 innings with no new inning after 1 hour 45 minutes
13U & up: Play 7 innings with no new inning after 2 hours
These time limits will be applied to all pool play and non-gold division championships games. We will make every attempt to put no time limit on Gold division championship games.
Once an inning begins, it must be completed. However, if the home team is ahead and batting when time expires, the game is over and the inning is not completed. In an effort to keep games on time and to conserve pitching, no extra innings are played during pool play. Games will end either at end of scheduled innings or when time expires. If time expires in a tie game during pool play, the game is recorded as a tie game.
In the event a team cannot make it’s scheduled time the tournament director will first attempt to condense the schedule. If the schedule cannot be condensed a forfeit win will be awarded.
A win awarded by forfeit will be scored as 1 run for each scheduled inning. (example, a 12u game scheduled for 6 innings will be scored 6-0 for the winning team). USSSA 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.
Pool Play Standing will be sorted on the following
1. Winning PCT, 2. Head to Head (only used when two teams are tied, with three or more tied, the next tie breaker is used) 3. Runs Allowed 4. Runs Scored
Requirements for a Mercy rule are as follows:
7 inning game - 13U & Up
15 run lead after 3 innings
12 run lead after 4 innings
8 run lead after 5 innings
6 inning game - 12U & Down
15 run lead after 3 innings
8 run lead after 4 innings
8U Division all innings are open inning, no limit as to how many runs may be scored.
Rosters:
Verify that your rosters are online at USSSA.com and up to date. Players not listed on your roster are ineligible to play in the tournament.
You may use a hand written roster if you can not add players to your Online Roster. Hand Written Roster
Print your roster and turn it in to the site director prior to your first game.
Rain Out/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. Schedules may be changed, games may be shortened and a two day tournament may become a one day tournament. In the event of a rain out with no make-up tournament scheduled, we will offer all teams a credit based on the following criteria:A full rain out, 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 San Diego USSSA Tournaments
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
The Home team will be determined by a coin flip and occupy the 3rd base dugout. Winner of coin flip has option to choose visitors. In the playoffs, the higher seeded team will be the Home team for duration of tournament. Each team may provide a scorekeeper but all changes must go through the home plate umpire, who is the official scorekeeper.
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.
No more than three (3) coaches will be allowed in the dugout during USSSA games. All assistant coaches must be listed on your team’s online roster on www.usssa.com. There is a drop down menu to add them. In addition, no one other than official team coaches and players are allowed in the dugout at any time.
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. Protest will be decided by the Tournament Director, not a site director.
Any team forfeiting a game may not advance to playoff round if it is determined that it is beneficial to that team with regard to runs allowed/differential, etc.
Mechanical noise makers are not allowed at USSSA Southern California events.
USSSA reserves the right to change locations of tournaments.
2. EQUIPMENT:
A. Catchers must wear full catchers gear (Mask, Chest Protector and Shin Guards) No Exceptions
B. The ball should weigh not less than 5 or more than 5 1/4 ounces & measure not less than 9 or more than 9 1/4 inches in circumference.
