Baseball Rules
In pool play each team will receive one game as the home team and one game as the visiting team in a 2 pool play game format. In bracket play higher seed will be the home team unless they elect to be the visitor. Both teams are encouraged to have a scorekeeper, keeping score in a scorebook or on an app designed for score keeping. Teams not keeping score this way will have difficulty defending their score in the event of a score discrepancy.
Age Requirements
A player’s age is based on a April 30 cutoff date (i.e. If a player will turn 9 on or before April 30, 2025 he
must play 9u or above). A player may “play up,” but cannot “play down.”
Rosters
Each tournament, all participating teams will be required to submit a signed roster ONE HOUR prior to
the start of their first game to the tournament director located at the Velo City tent. (Maximum of 15
players)
If a team is found to be playing with an illegal player, the player(s) will be removed immediately, and the
team will forfeit any game(s) an illegal player participated in. The reason there is no disqualification is
because that would affect other teams in the tournament, costing them games.
Players may not play for or be on the roster for two teams in the same division.
Repeated violation of the age requirements could result in the team being banned from future Velo City
Tournaments.
In addition to the roster, every team needs to have copies of birth certificates for all rostered players.
These will be used to verify players’ ages. Failure to produce a birth certificate will lead to the player in
question being ruled illegal and shall not be allowed to play.
Field Dimensions
Bases: 7u: 60′, 8u: 60′, 9u: 60′ or 65′, 10u: 60′ or 65’, 11u: 70’, 12u: 70’, 13u: 80′, 14u: 90′, 16u: 90′, 18u:
90′
Pitcher’s Mound: 7u: 40′, 8u: 40′, 9u: 46′, 10u: 46’, 11u: 50’, 12u: 50’, 13u: 54′, 14u: 60′ 6″, 16u: 60′ 6″,
18u: 60′ 6″
Game Length
No new inning will begin after 1:30 for 7u-12u ; after 1:40 for 13u, after 1:50 for 14u and after 2:00 for
16u and 18u.
There is NO drop dead time. Any inning started will be played to completion, or until a winner is
determined (i.e. home team is leading, is at bat, and time limit has passed).
Games will be a maximum of 6 innings in pool play (7 innings for 13u, 14u, 16u and 18u).
No extra innings will be played in pool play, even if time remains. The game will result in a tie.
Championship game lengths will be as follows: No new inning after 1 hour 45 minutes for 8u-12u; No new inning after 2 hours for 13u; No new inning after 2 hours 15 minutes for 14u: No new inning after 2 hours 30 minutes for 16u. These times do not apply to Silver or Bronze Bracket Championships. Those will have the same time limit as Pool Play and non-Championship playoff games.
In playoff games, a winner must be determined. If a playoff game is tied after time expires, or the
designated number of innings have been played, a California tiebreaker will be used beginning with the
first extra inning…a runner (the last batted out of the previous inning) will be placed at 2nd base to
begin the inning and the inning will be played out from there. This will be done each inning until a
winner is determined.
Lineup
Once line-ups are exchanged at home plate, the lineup is LOCKED and no changes or alterations will be
allowed. Players’ number and last name must be utilized in the correct areas on the lineup sheet. A
players’ number will be deemed as the official record for that player (PLEASE CHECK YOUR LINEUP TO
ENSURE UNIFORM NUMBERS ARE CORRECT). Batting out of order or having an incorrect number
submitted WILL result in an out.
Teams may bat 9, 10 (with one extra hitter) or the entire roster. Anyone in the batting lineup is
considered “in” the game and can be inserted or removed from any defensive position. If any player
(starter or extra hitter) is removed from the batting lineup for a substitute, for any reason, that player
may re-enter at any time, as long as it is in the same spot in the batting order. If a substitute player is
entered into the game and then removed for another player, the substitute CANNOT re-enter the game.
If batting the entire lineup and a player is removed due to injury, there is no penalty when the spot
comes up. However, the player may not return to the game. If the injury occurs during an at-bat in
progress and the team is batting the entire lineup, the last out will finish that at bat. If not batting the
entire lineup and there is no substitute to replace the injured player, an out will be recorded. If the
umpire deems that a team is faking an injury to gain an advantage, he can call an out when the injured
spot comes up.
If a spot is made vacant due to ejection, and there is no substitute to fill it, an out will be recorded each
time it comes up.
While a substitute is tied to another player and that spot in the lineup, a sub may fill a defensive position
for an injured player that has no sub to take his/her spot.
A team may play with any number of players; however, outs will be recorded for any missing players, up
to nine (i.e. play with seven players, two outs will be recorded each time through the lineup). Note: The team playing short may designate on the lineup card where the outs will fall. Players arriving late will be
permitted to enter one of the “out” spots. We want to avoid forfeits, if at all possible.
Pitching
There are no pitching limitations in Velo City Tournaments, however, coaches are expected to use
common sense in protecting the arms of their young players.
A pitcher cannot be removed and return to the mound in the same game. A pitcher is considered “in
the game” if that player throws one warm up pitch from the mound.
Balks: There are no balks in 7u & 8u. At the 9u and 10u levels, balks will only be called after ONE
warning has been given to that pitcher. A balk will always be called if it leads to an out for the hitting
team (i.e. stopping motion and throwing out base stealer).
11u, 12u, 13u, 14u, 16u and 18u levels, umpires will exercise strict adherence to balk rules (No
warnings).
Third to first pickoff move by a pitcher IS ILLEGAL.
Protests
Protests are only allowed for an umpire’s rules interpretation, not for judgment calls. Protests cost
$100, due at time of protest, and will be resolved immediately by tournament director. $100 is returned
following successful protest only.
Special Pinch Runners
Special pinch runners are allowed at any time for the pitcher currently in the game or the next inning’s
catcher. Special pinch runners are mandatory for next inning’s catcher with two outs.
Special pinch runner may be any player not currently in the lineup. If batting entire roster, special pinch
runner must be last out recorded.
Intentional Walks
To intentionally walk a hitter, no pitches need to be thrown. A manager simply needs to notify the
umpire. An intentional walk can take place at any point during an at-bat.
Slide and Avoid
Base runners are expected to slide or avoid collisions. If, in the view of the umpire, a base runner does
not slide or avoid a collision when there is a play on him, he will be called out. Intentional contact of a
defensive player will result in ejection from the game and could result in suspension of the offending
player for the next game.
Bats
13u and below, all bats must have a BPF ratio of 1.15, or be BBCOR or wood. If a bat has a 1.15 BPF, but
is not stamped, clear and concise evidence from manufacturer will be required to be shown. 2 5/8″ or 2
3/4″ are allowed, as long as they meet the other requirements. 14u, 16u and 18u, only BBCOR or wood
bats are allowed.
Note: ALL 2017 -10 and -8 Demarini Zen bats are NOT allowed, unless retooled by the manufacturer,
containing the new orange cap.
Penalty for use of an illegal bat is an out, as soon as the batter steps in the box with the bat. If the
batter is allowed to hit, the result will stand. There is no “going back.” Teams should bring the illegal bat
to the attention of the umpire as soon as the batter steps in the box.
Special Rules
There will be 90 seconds between half innings. Repeated violation of this rule can result in penalties of
balls or strikes issued to first hitter, depending on offending team. This is to ensure games remain on
schedule and allow as much game time as possible.
Visits to the mound will be limited to two for any given pitcher per game, without removal of the
pitcher. On the third visit for any given pitcher, the player must be replaced.
Stalling will not be permitted. If, in the umpire’s opinion, a manager is stalling, the umpire may refuse to
allow a visit, make a player step in the box, etc. to keep the game moving. Please attempt to get in as
many innings as possible and maintain integrity to the game.
Metal spikes are prohibited in 8u, 9u, 10u, and 11u. They are allowed in 12u, 13u, 14u, 16u and 18u. In
divisions that metal spikes are prohibited, a player coming to bat (stepping in the batter’s box) with
metal spikes will immediately be called out. A player taking the field with metal spikes will have to be
immediately replaced until spikes are removed. If no substitute is available, team will play short until
spikes are changed. No metal spikes are allowed to be used while pitching on portable mounds.
Rules Specific to 7u & 8u
Stealing of home is not allowed. Home plate is “dead” and runners may only score from third on a
batted ball or if forced home on a walk or hit batter. If a runner attempts to take home when not
allowed, that player will be sent back to third. However, that player is able to be tagged out until the
umpire calls time to send the runner back. After multiple violations, the umpire may warn the coach
that subsequent violations will result in an automatic out.
Lead-offs are not allowed. Runners may steal 2nd or 3rd only after the pitch crosses home plate. Players
who leave early will be sent back. After multiple violations, umpire can call runners out.
The ball is dead when the pitcher has the ball, in the area, of the pitcher’s mound and runners are on
their bases.
Mercy Rules
20 runs after 2 innings
13 runs after 3 innings
10 runs after 4 innings
8 after 5 innings
This is applicable to all games, including championships.
Tiebreaking Procedure
Head-to-head Record among all tied teams (only applies for 2-way ties or multiple-team ties when all
tied teams played each other)
Runs allowed for all games
Run differential for all games (8 run maximum limit per game)
Coin Flip
If a tie is among more than two teams, winner will be determined, then remaining tied teams will return
to tiebreaker #1 to determine second-place team.
Alterations to Tournament Format
If, for any reasons beyond Velo City’s control, the tournament needs to be altered to finish in a timely
manner, the Tournament Director reserves the right to change schedule, game lengths, etc. as
necessary. Refunds or credits for future tournaments will be given to teams who do not play guaranteed
games. Refunds will be $75 per game not played (i.e. with 3-game guarantee…$75 refund if you play 2
games; $150 if you play 1 game). A full refund/credit will be given if no games are played.
Dropping From Tournament
If a team drops from a tournament after the schedule has been posted on the website/app, only 50% of
the tournament registration fee will be refunded.
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