Junior (9u-14u) Tournament Rules 

The Texas Wood Bat Association uses Sporting News Rules.  These rules are the official rules in which all tournament games are played by.  Listed below are the TWBA modifications to the Sporting News Rules which apply to all tournament JR. Division games.

• BASEBALLS:  Each team is required to provide 2 game balls to the Umpire in Chief at the exchange of line up cards.  It is your responsibility for returning foul balls from your side of the field even if they are hit outside the fence.  Home run balls are to be given to the player who hit the home run (coaches discretion).  All other baseballs are to be returned to the umpires.  If the umpires need more baseballs each team is required to provide one each until the foul balls are returned.  Extra baseballs can be purchased at the admission gate.  Ensure that each team gets baseball back from the umpires upon completion of the game.

• MANAGER/COACHING STAFF:  The manager /coaching staff is responsible for the conduct of it player, staff and fans, if a situation either on or off the field arises and the Manager/Coaching staff is unable to assist in correcting the matter  the team in question is subject to disqualification. 

• UNIFORM:  Managers, coaches and players are required to be in uniform if they are not they will be required  to pay the daily admission anyone refusing to do so could result in the team forfeiting it’s game.

  • COACHING STAFF UNIFORM:  Uniform will be consistent of a traditional baseball uniform or   coaches shorts and a team shirt, there must be uniformity only those who meet these standards will be allowed on the field this will be at the discretion of the Field Director/Tournament Director.

  • PLAYER UNIFORM:  Traditional in style, they are not required to all be the same, but all jerseys must have a number, no 2 uniforms may have the same number.  Only those players who meet these standards are eligible to participate.  Dressing on the field is not authorized.  All players must be dressed prior to passing the admission gate.  If they are not dressed they will be required to pay admission, refunds are permitted.

• MINIMUM PLAYERS: If a team has 8 players the game will start at game time.  The 9^th position in the batting order will be left blank and when the spot comes up in the batting order it will be an automatic out.  If the 9^th player arrives prior to the 5^th inning, he/she will be placed in the batting order as the 9^th batter and we will complete the game under standard game rules.  If a team can’t field 9 players by the completion of 4 1/2 innings that team will forfeit the game by a score of 7-0.

• ELIGIBLE PLAYERS:  To determine your team's age in the 8u's thru 14u's divisions for the Spring-Summer season, determine the age of your oldest player on April 30th, 2007, and that is is the age your team should play.  For the 2007 Fall-Winter season, all teams move UP in age effective August 1st.  To determine your team age for the fall-winter season - use the same month and dates mentioned above, but use 2008 as the year.  Only those player listed on the official roster are eligible to participate in the tournament.

• ILLEGAL PLAYER (POOL PLAY):  Any team who plays and illegal player, will forfeit the game in which the player was challenged in. (Score for the game will be 7 – 0).

• ILLEGAL PLAYER (ELIMINATION ROUND):  Any team who plays and illegal player, will be disqualified for the balance of the tournament

• HOME TEAM:  The home team will be selected by a coin-flip during pool play.  Highest seed will be home team during bracket play.

• LINE UP CARDS:  Both teams are responsible to present their line up cards to the Umpire In Chief at which time they will be reviewed and each manager will be presented a copy, any player not listed on the line up card is considered ineligible to play.  No additions to the line up cards once the first pitch is made will be allowed.

• COMPLETE GAME:  In order to have a complete game you must of played at least 4 innings, unless the run rule applies.

• 6 INNING GAME:  No inning will start after 1 hour and 30 minutes with 9u-12u.

• 7 INNING GAME:  No inning will start after 1 hour and 45 minutes with 13u-14u.

• RUN RULE:  15 run lead after 3 complete innings is considered a complete game. 10 run lead after 4 innings is considered to be a complete game.  8 run lead after 5 innings is considered to be a complete game.

• TIE BREAKER:  The last out of the previous inning returns to second base with no outs.  The next batter in the line up will bat, each team will bat till three outs are recorded, at the end of one inning and the game is still tied then the game will be registered as a tie.

• RUN FOR THE PITCHER AND CATCHER:  You can run for the pitcher or catcher any time by the last out.  Mandatory with two outs.      

• INTENTIONAL WALK:  Tell the Plate Umpire that you want to walk the batter, NO PITCH TO THE BATTER IS NECESSARY.

• EXTRA HITTER:  EH is allowed, EH must be placed on the line-up card as the player’s position.  In the event that an EH is used and becomes injured, this player must be substituted for.  If a team doesn’t have anymore sub’s then this spot in the line-up becomes an automatic out when it’s spot in the line-up is due.  If a player  is designated as the EH this player can play any defensive position at any time as long as the starter continues to hit.  The EH can not change in the batting order.  If the EH is substituted for the EH can not return to the batting order and will be out for the balance of the game.

• RE-ENTRY:  Re-entry once for the starters only.  They must re-enter in the same batting position from where they started the game. 

• EJECTION:  In the event that a player, coach or manager is ejected from the game, the individual must leave the dugout and playing complex for the remainder of that game.  The Rules Committee, will also review all ejections. for the possibility of imposing  additional game suspensions, their ruling will be final.

• PITCHING RULES:  There are no maximum innings during a tournament.  Pitchers may not re-enter as a pitcher in the same  game.

ELIMINATION ROUND RULES

• SEEDING: 

·  Seeding is determined by overall records.

·  Higher seed will be home team.

TIE BREAKERS:

• Head to head (4 teams only)

• Least runs allowed

• Runs scored

• Run differential

• Flip of the coin, a flip of the coin will never eliminate a team from the playoffs.  If this situation dictates we will break the tie by using our game tie breaker rule:

  • GAME TIE BREAKER RULE:  Each team will provide the umpire in chief with their line-up card the leadoff batter will go to second base and the second batter will hit.  From this point on the line-up card will be followed.  There will be  no inning restriction, if a  consecutive inning is necessary you will continue with the batting order.  Last out goes to second base and the next batter will hit, this will be continued till there is a game winner.

• FIELD HOST:  The field host will have the right to play its games at its home field as long as their field is in use.  The host team’s seeding will be adjusted accordingly to allow them to continue to play on their home field.

• GAME TIE BREAKER:  The last out of the previous inning returns to second base with no outs.  The next batter in the line up will bat, each team will bat till three outs are recorded, at the end of one inning and the game is still tied then this process will continue till we have a winner.  There is no tie breaker in the Championship Game.  The game will be played out till there is a winner.

• RUN RULE:  15 run lead after 3 complete innings or, a 10 run lead after 4 innings, and 8 run lead after 5 complete innings is considered to be a complete game, this includes the championship game.

• TIME LIMIT:  No time limit in the championship game.

In the event of any confusion, conflict or disagreement of any rule or regulation included herein, the decision of the rules committee is final and binding.

Texas Wood Bat Association

Owner

Matt Forson