Official BCS tournament rules
printable version (pdf file)
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Coaches: Be
sure you are aware of all rules and rule changes. Perfect Game reserves the right to amend these rules at any
time for specific tournament play. National
High School Federation Baseball Rules will be enforced with the following
exceptions.
(Updated 11/6/06)
IMPORTANT
RULES and INFORMATION
1.
All games except the SEMI-FINAL and CHAMPIONSHIP games will be played with a
strict two hour time limit. No inning can start after two hours. Time will be
kept by the umpires and staff. For
each team's pool games the home team will be predetermined. In SEMI-FINAL play,
games will go to tie-breaker after 7 complete innings. In CHAMPIONSHIP game,
teams will continue normal innings until game is completed.
2.
All pool games that are tied after 7 innings or the 2 hour time limit will be
recorded a tie. A tie is equal to a ˝ win and ˝ loss for each team.
3.
Forfeits: All games must be started with at least 9 players. A game can
be finished with 8 players. Once a team establishes it has 8 players it must
finish the game with 8 players. The player leaving the original lineup can not
return and his spot in the hitting lineup will be recorded as an out. Any
intentional forfeit will result in the forfeiting team being eliminated from the
tournament. The tournament committee will rule on intentional forfeits. No team
should benefit from the result of a forfeit in an unfair manner. This rule could
result in a dispute and the tournament committee reserves the right to look at
and rule in the fairest possible way. The committee’s decision will be final! Note:
Any team not on the field and prepared to start the game, at game time will
give cause for immediate forfeit.
4.
Taking Infield: Due to possible time constraints, before game infield
will be allowed only when time allows for it.
If time allows, teams will be allowed to take infield. It is possible
teams will be allowed to take a very short infield in some cases if time allows,
but the games must remain on schedule. If fields are soft and/or soggy infield
may not be allowed due to facility requests.
5.
Mercy Rules: 1. The game will end if the visiting team is behind by 12 or
more runs after 3 ˝ innings or the visiting team is ahead by 12 or more runs
after 4 complete innings. 2. The game will end if the visiting team is
behind by 8 or more runs after 4 ˝ innings or the visiting team is ahead by 8
or more runs after 5 complete innings. 15 run rule after 3 innings as well.
6.
Trips to the mound: The pitcher must be replaced on the 2nd trip to the
mound in any inning.
7.
Hitting lineup: Can consist of 9, 10, or 11 batters. The lineup must stay
with the same number of batters for the entire game. The 10th and 11th
hitter if used will be designated as an EH and XH on the lineup card. For BCS
events, only 9 or 10 batters are allowed, with one EH.
8.
In case of rain: All rain out games may not be made up depending on time
constraints. In case of scheduling changes it is the team's responsibility,
not the tournament committee, to make sure they are aware of the new schedule or
any scheduling changes. This information will be posted at the site when it
becomes available. Note: No special requests will be honored if
rescheduling becomes necessary. All coaches should make sure they have the
tournament phone numbers to call for information. If games are cancelled Pool
winners and championship qualification will be determined by the tie breaking
procedures (listed below). In the event play is stopped for any reason before or
during the Championship round, first place, second place third place, etc will
be awarded using the tie breaker rules (see tie breaker rules below) In
case of weather problems. Games called because of rain by umpires that can not
be resumed within 1 hour will be considered complete after 5 innings or 4 1/2
innings if the home team is ahead. After 5 complete inn. a tie score will be
recorded a tie in pool play.
9.
Protests: 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.
10.
Roster and Roster changes: Teams may change their rosters up until
they start their first game. After that time there will be no roster changes. If
a player is listed on more than one roster, the player listed will make a
decision as to which roster he is legally on. This decision is up to the
individual player. No player can appear in a tournament game for more than one
team.
11.
Scoring: We recommend that all teams (home and visitor) keep a scorebook.
The actual scorebook of the game will be kept by tournament staff, in case of
emergency where staff can't keep book the home team will be the official scorer.
To eliminate scoring disputes scorekeepers should check with the official scorer
during and after the game.
12.
Sportsmanship: In the interest of maintaining a quality event, the
tournament committee reserves the right to eject any person from the site for
unruly or unsportsmanlike behavior. Any coach or player who is ejected for the
second time during the tournament will be eliminated from participating for the
remainder of the tournament.
13.
Bat Specifications: For
BCS Tournaments, there are no bat restrictions in ages 12-14.
In ages 15-18 we will use -3 weight differential. For WWBA, wood bats
must be used. This includes composite bats as well.
14. Finals and Open Finals Lodging (BCS only):
All teams coming to the BCS Finals must stay in a hotel that Perfect Game has
secured.
15. Not
covered in the Rules: In the event any item is not covered in the rules, the
tournament committee will make the fairest possible ruling and that ruling will
be final!
16.
TIE BREAKER RULES
Pool Play- If the score is tied after 7 innings or 2 hour time limit the
game will be recorded a tie for both teams.
System used for advancing
and seeding out of pool play.
1. Pool play overall record (winning percentage)
2. If two teams are tied - Head to Head winner
3. If three teams are tied – If one team has defeated both other teams,
that team advances. If not go to #4.
4. Total runs allowed in pool play.
5. If still tied – Total runs scored in pool play
6. If still tied – Total runs allowed subtracting game with most runs
allowed in pool play
7. If still tied – Total runs allowed minus two games with most runs
allowed in pool play
8. If still tied – Runs scored inning by inning starting with first
game until one team has more runs after a complete inning starting with pool
games
Championship Play
1. 2 hour time limit will be used in all games except the
Semi-final and Championship games. In the semi-finals, games will go 7 full
innings regardless of time.
After 7 innings, the game will go to the tie-breaker. In the Championship game,
there is no tie-breaker. This rule is subject to change.
2. The higher seed will be home team in Championship Play. This is the
case even if the schedule says otherwise.
TIE
BREAKER RULES (for Playoffs only)
1.
If after 7 innings the two teams are still tied the following tie breaker rules
will go into effect except for the Championship Game.
2.
The last three hitters from the previous inning will load the bases.
The
base runners will be placed as follows
• Last
hitter from previous inning @ 1st Base
• Hitter
before him in the lineup @ 2nd Base
• Hitter
before that in the lineup @ 3rd Base
• Normal
substitution rules apply to these runners.
• The
hitting team will start the inning with one out.
• Play
continues until one team is ahead at the end of an inning.
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National High
School Federation Baseball Rules apply in all other cases
17.
AGE DIVISIONS (For BCS tournaments, the age divisions are strictly born on/after
May 1, 19XX.)
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18u-
2007 Graduate OR born on/after May 1, 1988.
15u- 2010 Graduate OR born
on/after May 1, 1991.
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17u-
2008 Graduate OR born on/after May 1, 1989.
14u- 2011 Graduate OR born
on/after May 1, 1992.
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16u-
2009 Graduate OR born on/after May 1, 1990.
13u- 2012 Graduate OR born
on/after May 1, 1993.
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For
fall WWBA tournaments, age requirements are strictly grad year.