Texas Wood Bat Association will strictly adhere to all rules set for The Sporting News except as amended below by the tournament's sanctioning body.  Any modification of those rules will be posted at the time of the tournament.

• 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.

• 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:  All high school age divisions, which includes pure age divisions 15 thru 18, will continue to utilize the August 31st cutoff.  To determine your team's age for the Spring-Summer season in the high school age divisions determine the age of your oldest player as of  August 31, 2008.  For the 2008 Fall-Winter season, all teams move UP in age effective September 1st.  To determine your team age for the fall-winter season - use the same month and dates mentioned above, but use 2009 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:  Home team will be decided by a coin-flip during pool 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.

• 7 INNING GAME:  No inning will start after 1 hour 45 minutes.  Drop dead after 2 hrs. 

• RUN RULE:  15 runs after three innings, 10 after four innings, and 8 after five innings is considered to be a complete game in all pool play and playoff rounds.  

• 9 INNING GAME:  No inning will start after 2 hours 45 minutes.  10 run rule after 7 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.  This process will continue as long as there is still time (drop dead at 2hrs).   If neither team has scored within regulation, then the  game will be counted  as a tie (1/2 win, 1/2 loss).

• RUN FOR THE PITCHER AND CATCHER:  You can run for the pitcher or catcher any time by any player NOT IN THE GAME.  This is known as the speed up rule so make sure the runner knows prior to each inning that they are running for the pitcher or catcher.  If a team has only 9 players then a runner for the pitcher or catcher will be the last out.

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

• DESIGNATED HITTER:  The designated hitter is optional, you may DH for any position player.  The player being DH for will be listed on the line up card in the 10 spot, the actual DH will be placed on the line up card where you wish to have him hit, ensure that you mark in the position DH. 

• SUBSTITUTIONS:   If you wish to bat the line-up then you may make substitutions freely throughout the game.  In case of injury there will be no automatic outs unless the batting line up drops below 9 hitters. 

• RE-ENTRY:  Starters can re-enter the game only once during a game, and MUST be placed in the same batting order. Non-starters may not re-enter the game.  Pitchers may not re-enter as a pitcher in the same 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, who has the authority to impose additional game suspensions, will review all ejections.

• PITCHING RULES:  There are no specific pitching rules during a tournament, however, please use proper discretion with your pitching rotation.  Re-entry of the pitcher is not allowed in the same game.

ELIMINATION ROUND

    SEEDING: 

• Seeding is determined by overall records.

• Higher seed will be home team.

TIE BREAKERS:

• Head to head

• Least runs allowed

• Most runs scored

• Run differential

• Flip of a 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 restrictions, 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.

• GAME TIE BREAKER:  During Championship Game there is no game tie breaker, all games will be played till we have a winner.

• TIME LIMIT: No inning will start after 1 hour 45 minutes, drop dead at 2 hrs.  The 8 run rule after 5 innings is considered to be a complete game.  No time limit in the Championship Game (run rule still applies).

• RUN RULE:  15 runs after three innings, 10 after four innings, and 8 after five innings is considered to be a complete game in all pool play and playoff rounds.  

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