BERTHOUD BLAZE INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT RULES

USSSA FAST PITCH WORLD QUALIFER

 

1.        This is a USSSA sanctioned tournament.  All USSSA rules will be followed unless otherwise

         Noted. This is a World Qualifier Tournament. The top 2 teams from each age group will get a        

         Birth to the USSSA World Series. There will also be a Tournament MVP for each age group.   

 

2.        This is a Non-Protest tournament. Any disputes will be settled by the Umpires and/or UIC before        

         play resumes. THEIR DECISION IS FINAL!

 

3.        Coaches must check-in 1 hour prior to the start of your first game.

 

4.        Pool Games:  ONE HOUR FIFTEEN MINUTE TIME LIMIT.  No inning will start after the 1

               hour 15-minute time expires.  An inning begins immediately after the third out of the preceding

inning.  Games that are tied when time expires or 7 innings are complete will END IN A TIE. For 10U see note 21

 

5.        Championship bracket games:  ONE HOUR FIFTEEN MINUTE TIME LIMIT.   No inning will   

        start after the 1 hour 15 minute time expires.  An inning begins immediately after the third out of   

       the preceding inning.  Games that are tied when time expires or 7 innings are complete will use the

International Tie Breaker to complete the game.  For 10U see note 21.

 

6.        Championship Games:  ONE HOUR THIRTY MINUTE TIME LIMIT.

 

7.        Run Rules:  10 after 3, 8 after 4, and 6 after 5.  These run rules will be used in ALL games.

 

8.        If a game is called before 4 innings (3 ½ if the home team is ahead) are completed, the game will be resumed at the point if interruption. Otherwise interrupted games will be considered a complete game at the point of interruption.

 

9.        Teams may be required to show copies of Birth Certificates to answer questions of eligibility. Eligibility questions must be done before the start of the game. The use of an ineligible player will result in the forfeiture of all games in which the ineligible player played.

 

10.     No warm-up practices inside the baselines of the infield before a game.

 

11.     Game time is forfeit time unless a team is delayed by a late running game. NO EXCEPTIONS! No additional time will be given to allow teams to field a team. Teams that play back to back will be allowed reasonable time to change fields if necessary.

 

12.     Home team will be decided by coin flip at Umpire’s conference at home plate.

 

13.     The On Deck Batter will occupy the On Deck Circle of their team’s dugout.

 

14.     AT NO TIME WILL PLAYERS BE ALLOWED TO WEAR JEWELRY OF ANY KIND.  THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS MEDICAL ALERT BRACELETS OR CHAINS.  AT NO TIME WILL PLAYERS BE ALLOWED TO TAPE OVER JEWELRY.  IF A PLAYER WILL NOT REMOVE THEIR JEWELRY THEN THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PLAY.  PLAYERS CAUGHT BREAKING THIS RULE WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE GAME.

 

15.     Any player or coach ejected from a game will be suspended for the next game.  If  

A player or coach is suspended from the team’s last game of the tournament; the suspension will carry over into the next USSSA tournament. 

 

16.     The team listed first in all pool games will occupy the third base dugout.  The team on top of the

        Tournament bracket will occupy the third base dugout.  If a team plays back-to-back games, that

        Team will stay in the original dugout and the opponent will occupy the other dugout for that game.

 

17.     Home team will provide an official scorekeeper for the game.  The winning team is responsible for notifying a tournament official of the score immediately after the game.  Scores not reported in a timely manner will result in a zero-zero score.

 

18.     In case of bad weather, every effort will be made to complete the tournament.  However, the tournament official reserves the right to change the tournament format and number of games if necessary.  If bad weather occurs, it is your responsibility to contact the tournament directors for rescheduling or for updated information.

 

19.     Any team member or spectator who conducts themselves in an unsportsmanlike manner will be removed from the ball park and subject their team to suspension from the tournament at the discretion of the tournament director.  Profanity will not be permitted.

 

20.     Ties after pool play will be broken by the following criteria:

1.       Head to Head

2.       Runs allowed (Max run Differential is 7 for tiebreaker purpose.)

3.       Runs scored (Max run Differential is 7 for tiebreaker purpose.)

4.       Coin Flip ( All coaches must be present)

 

21.     For the 10U, we will bat through the approved line-up or 3 outs, whichever comes first. This will                       

        be done in Pool play and Championship bracket play.

 

22.     By entering this tournament, you agree to participate at your own risk and will not hold the local          

Park, recreation department, sponsoring group, or anyone else responsible for any injury.

 

       24.  To decide 3rd & 4th place, in the semi-finals games, team to allow least runs will get 3rd place.  If

               that is a tie, team who scores most runs win. If that is a tie we will flip a coin.