Baseball Game Rules

 Our tournaments are governed by High School rules with certain overrides. The Tournament Directors reserve the right to change these rules at any time.  Please note the version of rules. Periodically we make enhancements to the rules online. Make sure you print off the latest version of the rules. The web site version is the official version. The following rules override the High School Rules where appropriate:

 

 

START TIME

Starting time is forfeit time unless the delay is caused by New York Elite Baseball. Game time starts at the completion of the plate meeting.

 

PROTEST (on rule interpretation only)

Protests will be heard and ruled on by the tournament committee. The team protesting must make cash payment of $100 at the time of the protest. If the protest is ruled in the protesting team’s favor the $100 will be refunded. The ruling made by the committee will be final. Protests must be filed and ruled on before the next pitch if during game, or before umpires leave field if after a game.

 

TIME LIMITS

Championship play does not have time limits, but the following time limts are in effect for all other games:

 

Age	Game Length	Time Limit
9u - 12u	6 innings	1hr 45 minutes
13u - 18u	7 innings	2 hours

 

* No new inning may start after the time limit

In the inning where a time limit is reached the Home Team bats if the game is tied or they are behind. The game immediately ends if the home team gains the lead or 3 outs are made. If the Home Team has the lead when the visiting team makes 3 outs the game immediately ends. The game ends immediately if the home team is ahead and is batting when the time limit is reached.

Games cannot end in a tie during bracket play.

 

 

PITCHING DISTANCE & BASE LENGTH

Age	Dimensions
9u - 10u	46' pitching 65' bases
11u-12u	50' pitching 70' bases
13u-19u	60' pitching 90' bases

 

 

LINEUPS

All age groups can have an EH (Extra Hitter) if they choose to bat more than 9. Both a DH and EH may be used at the same time. Teams may also choose to bat their entire roster and have free defensive substitution.  An out will be recorded if any batting spot is vacated during the course of the game and no eligible substitute is available. An EH is considered a postion player and can enter the game defensively at any time, while staying in the same spot in the batting order.

 

PLAYER MINIMUM

A team can start with a minimum of 8 players but cannot finish with less. They will take outs in vacated batting positions.

 

PRE-GAME WARMUP

All teams are encouraged to warm-up as much as possible before game time. NO PREGAME INFIELD.

 

COURTESY RUNNER

There are no courtesy runners

EJECTIONS

 All ejections carry a mandatory 1 game suspension regardless of the offense. If a spectator is ejected, they will be removed from the premises and unable to return for the remainder of the event. If a coach gets ejected, they will be sent to the parking lot, and will serve their one game suspension during the next scheduled game for their team. If a player gets ejected from the game, they will serve the remainder of that game in the confines of the dugout and will serve their one game suspension during their next scheduled game. The ejected player may not enter the field of play for any reason until the game is completed. This rule is strictly enforced and will not be waived.

 

SEEDINGS

Seedings are determined by the following:

1- A team's overall record

2- Head to head record

3- If two  teams have identical records and have not played one another head to head, runs allowed will determine the higher seed. If that is identical it will then be determined by runs scored.

4- If three or more teams are tied with identical records, runs allowed will serve as the first tie breaker to determine seedings. Head to Head will not be used in this case. If that is identical it will then be determined by runs scored

***If runs scored is tied a coin flip will decide the higher seed.

 

HIGH SCHOOL FORCE-PLAY SLIDE RULE

Any runner is out when he:  Does not legally slide and causes illegal contact and/or legally alters the actions of a fielder in the immediate act of making a play, or on a force play, does not slide in a direct line between the bases. A runner may slide away from the fielder to avoid contact or alter the play of the fielder. Runners are never required to slide, but if a runner elects to slide, the slide must be legal.

MERCY RULE

15 runs after 3 innings

10 runs after 4 innings

8 runs after 5 innings.

 

BATS

13U and under only restriction is the bat needs either the 1.15 BPF label or the BBCOR label.

14U and up  (-3 BBCOR approved) are the only bats allowed.  Wood/Composite bats and Bamboo also need the BBCOR label.

 

 

 

RE-ENTRY RULE

The high school re-entry rule is adopted. Starters may be replaced by a legal substitute and re-enter the game once, at any time, provided the re-entered player occupies the same position in the batting order.        Players in the starting lineup may not pitch after re-entering the game IF they made an official pitching appearance prior to being substituted for.

 

 

PITCHING RESTRICTIONS

New York Elite Baseball does not have specific limitations at our tournaments. The responsibility ultimately lies with coaches and parents to ensure that each player's health and development is maintained properly.

 

INTERNATIONAL TIE-BREAKER RULE (playoff games only)

Each team puts the batter who is scheduled to bat last in their offensive half of the inning on second base and plays out a full inning. This happens until the tie is broken and the game is complete. After two complete innings with the runner starting on second base and still no winner, the runner will move from second to third and the inning will be played out. POOL PLAY GAMES WILL END IN TIES.

 

AGE ELIGIBILITY

 

 

Spring-Summer 2013 Age Calendar		Fall 2013 Age Calendar
18u	Born on or after May 1, 1994	18u	Born on or after May 1, 1995
17u	Born on or after May 1, 1995	17u	Born on or after May 1, 1996
16u	Born on or after May 1, 1996	16u	Born on or after May 1, 1997
15u	Born on or after May 1, 1997	15u	Born on or after May 1, 1998
14u	Born on or after May 1, 1998	14u	Born on or after May 1, 1999
13u	Born on or after May 1, 1999	13u	Born on or after May 1, 2000
12u	Born on or after May 1, 2000	12u	Born on or after May 1, 2001
11u	Born on or after May 1, 2001	11u	Born on or after May 1, 2002
10u	Born on or after May 1, 2002	10u	Born on or after May 1, 2003
9u	Born on or after May 1, 2003	9u	Born on or after May 1, 2004