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 the rules. Periodically we make enhancements to the rules online. Make sure you print off the latest version of the rules. The website version is the official version. The following rules override 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. Game times may be adjusted due to weather or tournament running early. Teams need to be prepared to start their games early to avoid delays.

 

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 40 minutes
13u - 18u	7 innings	1hr 50 minutes

 

**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.

All rain shortened games are official if 3 complete innings have been played.

 

 

PITCHING DISTANCE, BASE LENGTH & MISC. 

 

 

 

Age	Dimensions	Misc	Misc
9u	46' pitching 65' bases	Modified Stealing	Dropped 3rd Strike in effect
10u	46' pitching 65' bases	Leading & Stealing	Dropped 3rd Strike in effect
11u-12u	50' pitching 70' bases	Leading & Stealing	Dropped 3rd Strike in effect
13u-19u	60' pitching 90' bases	Leading & Stealing	Dropped 3rd Strike in effect

 

***Modified 9u stealing- runner can leave at the release of the pitch***

***Penalty for leaving early- DEAD BALL OUT***

 

 

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 of less than 9.

 

PRE-GAME WARMUP

 

All teams are encouraged to warm-up as much as possible before game time. No pregame infield practice.

 

COURTESY RUNNER

 

Courtesy runners are optional for both the pitcher and catcher at any time. Last batted out will run for the pitcher or catcher. If the player is the pitcher or catcher the next batted out in the line up will be the runner. If aby opposing team prior to the completion of his running. team uses an incorrect courtesy runner (illegal sub) the determined runner will be called out if protested 

 

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: (First factor is Win-Loss record)

Two Way Tie
1. Head to Head between tied teams
2. Runs Allowed
3. Runs Scored
4. Coin Flip

 

Three (or more) Tie
1. Runs Allowed
2. Runs Scored
3. Coin Flip

***There is NO head to head used in any scenario with 3 or more***

RA=Runs Allowed
RS=Runs Scored

Note: Ties will be counted as a .5 win and .5 loss.

 

Higher seed is awarded home team

 

 

AWARDS

 

Both Champion and Finalist teams win awards. Champion and Finalist players only, receive individual medals. If inclement weather force us to cancel parts of the tournament, no awards will be issued unless the Championship game is played.

 

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

 

ALL AGE GROUPS

 

15 runs after 3 innings

10 runs after 4 innings

8 runs after 5 innings.

 

 

 

BATS

 

***ALL BAT RULES ARE CURRENT AS OF 7/1/2024***

 

9U-12U    All bats must be stamped BPF 1.15 or  BBCOR or a USA stamped Bat. Must be a baseball bat – no restriction on weight, length or barrel size as long as bat has “BPF 1.15” stamp.  Wood bats allowed.    

 

13U-15U  Metal or wood is allowed. They must be -3 BBCOR rated. If using wood, it has to be solid wood, NO Wood Composite,  Bamboo needs the BBCOR label. 

 

***USA -3 stamped bats are also allowed***

 

16U-18U Wood Bats unless specified differently  ***Bat needs to be all wood NO Wood Composite allowed. Bamboo needs to be BBCOR labeled to be allowed***

 

Baum Bats are now allowed for any wood bat division or event.

 

***15U-16U COMBINED DIVISIONS- always play metal bats UNLESS it is a wood bat tournament for all divisions.***

 

 

***WOOD BAT TOURNAMENTS*** ALL teams are required to use wood bats. Bats need to be solid wood. NO composite at all. Bamboo is allowed but needs the BBCOR label. BOOMBAH Bats are not allowed (due to being composite).

 

 

EQUIPMENT

 

Skull caps (2 piece) for catchers are not allowed for 12u and under

 

 

 

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.

 

SLASH BUNTING - For the safety of players in age groups 12 and under there will be "no slash bunting." 

A player who attempts this will be called out and a bench warning issued on the first offense. Any subsequent offense will reult in the player and manager ejected.

 

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 can end in ties.

 

AGE ELIGIBILITY

 

AGE CHART

 

***NYEB Penalty for an over aged player***

 

1. Game is forfeited immediately

 

2. Head Coach is ejected for the remainder of the tournament