Rules

On Deck Tournament Policy & Procedures

The tournament director reserves the right to alter the tournament format in the event of inclement weather, unplayable conditions or any other events that may arise.
Management reserves the right to alter Tournament Rules with advance notice to teams
Rainout Info:
1. If Zero Games are played 75% of entry fee will be returned as a credit for a future event run by PBR Tournaments
2. If 25% of your guaranteed tournament games are played 50% of entry fee will be returned as a credit for a future event run by PBR Tournaments.
3. If 33% of your guaranteed tournament games are played 40% of entry fee will be returned as a credit for a future event run by PBR Tournaments.
4. If you play 2 or more of your scheduled games, that is considered a full tournament.
Use of tobacco, E-Cigarettes, Vapors, and alcoholic products is prohibited on all fields and in dugouts. Failure to comply will result in dismissal from park and possible team suspension from tournament with no refund.
Coach/Fan Ejection Rule
1. 1st Offense: Coach/Fan is removed from remainder of current game. Coach/Fan may return for next game (if Tournament Director deems appropriate)
2. 2nd Offense: Coach/Fan is suspended from next game that team is scheduled for.

PLEASE BE WARNED -- Our tournament has "zero tolerance" for any physical confrontations by players, coaches, fans or anyone else. Upon the first violation, the violating party shall be removed from the facility for the remainder of the tournament.

Tournament Rules

The following base length and pitching distance will be used for each age group below:
1. 9u and 10u: 46/65
2. 11u and 12u: 50/70
Coin Flip: In Pool Play, home team is determined by a coin flip. Teams with the higher seed will be the HOME team during the single elimination tournament. The home team will be the official book and will record game start time when announced by the umpire. The home team will compare scores each inning with the opponents scorekeeper and confirm scores with the home plate umpire.
MANDATORY that both coaches share lineup card in writing prior to first pitch (this should help avoid GameChanger issues)
Scorecards: Managers must sign off on the umpire scorecards with signature confirming the score of the game and the INNINGS pitched by each individual player that pitched. It is the coaches responsibility to make sure the information on the score card is correct. Once the card has been signed it is official.
Dropped third strikes and infield fly rule are in effect at all levels except 9U.
A full-use batting helmet which covers the top/back of the head and covers both ears must be worn by every player while in the on-deck circle, when at bat and while on the bases.
The catcher must wear protective gear: Mask, chest protector, shin guards, protective cup, catcher’s helmet. Catchers must wear a helmet that fully covers their ears.
9U ONLY:
1. No Leadoffs: A player can’t leave the base until the ball has crossed the plate. If a player leaves the base before the ball crosses the plate he will be declared out. 1 Warning.
2. A batter shall be automatically out on a dropped / missed third (3rd) strike by the catcher
3. No infield fly
4. No balks
Intentional walks: no pitches need to be thrown. Allowed at all ages.
Forfeits:
1. Game time is forfeit time. Forfeits will be listed as NO SCORE, and the winning team will receive the Win.
2. If a team forfeits for any reason other than pitching, they are removed from the event and placed in last place.
3. If a team forfeits for a pitching violation in pool play, the game is forfeited, and the team will be the last seed based on teams with the same record for bracket play. The violating pitcher will not be allowed to pitch for the remainder of the event.
4. If a team forfeits in a winner’s bracket game, they will be moved to the loser’s bracket. If a team forfeits in an elimination game, they will be removed from the event.
All teams must be ready to play 20 MINUTES PRIOR to their scheduled start time. This rule is in effect to help keep games on time.
Tie Breakers: These Tie Breakers will be used for all events:
1. Winning Percentage – Descending
2. Number Wins – Descending 5
3. Number Loses – Ascending
4. Tied Teams (vs. each other) Winning Pct. – Descending (more than 2 teams tied, skip this tie breaker)
5. Avg. Runs Allowed – Ascending
6. Avg. Run Differential with a maximum of (8) – Descending
7. USSSA Points – Descending
8. Date Team Entered USSSA Database
9. Coin Flip
Game length: 9U = 6 innings, 1 Hour 30 minute time limit; 10U– 12U = 6 innings, 1 Hour 40 minute time limit. An inning can be finished, but a new inning cannot be started after the time limit has expired. When the last out is completed determines the time limit. The game time limits may be changed by the tournament director to get the tournament concluded.
Championship game time limits: 9U= 1 hr 45 minute; 10U-12U = 2 hours
Mercy Rules:
1. 6 inning game = 15-run rule after 2 ½ or 3 innings and 8-run rule after 3 ½ or 4 innings.
2. If the home team is winning by mercy rule at the half inning or during the bottom half of the inning the game is over.
Game called because of weather or unplayable field conditions: 6-inning game = 3 innings or 2 ½ if home team is ahead. Games suspended will begin where it left off if not an official game as described above.
Extra innings: All Pool Play games will end in a TIE. If a pool play game ends in a tie after completing a full game length of innings with time remaining on the game clock the game still ends in a TIE. No extra innings are added to pool play regardless if time is left on the game clock.
1. Bracket play will use a tie breaker rule. The last batted out from the previous inning will be placed at 2nd base. No Outs in the inning and the batter will begin with a 1-1 count. This rule will stay in effect until a winner is declared. IT IS NOT SUDDEN DEATH. EACH TEAM GETS A CHANCE TO BAT.
The on-deck batter must stay on their teams dugout side of the field.
Slashing Rules: Slashing will NOT be allowed. Fake bunting and swinging away will result in AUTOMATIC OUT no matter if ball is contacted or not.
Slide Rule: Whenever a tag play is evident, a runner must slide or seek to avoid contact with the fielder and/or catcher. Malicious contact shall supersede all obstruction penalties. Malicious contact is solely up to the discretion of the Umpire and the runner shall be called out and may be ejected from the game at the discretion of the umpire.
Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated: any player or coach ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct will serve the remainder of that game out and the Tournament Director will make the decision if that player or coach is eligible for the next game based of off severity of the ejection. Managers and coaches are responsible for the behavior of the entire team, parents included. At the umpire and site supervisor’s discretion, unruly fans will be warned once, and then suspended from the ballpark for the remainder of the tournament.
Infield warm-up is not allowed. Warm-ups must be done outside the playing field due to time restrictions. Teams can play catch in the outfield if time allows before their scheduled game. No soft toss into fences.
Coach Mound Visits: USSSA rule limits will be followed. This allows a manager or a coach to make one visit to a pitcher in any one (1) inning. A second visit to the same pitcher in the same inning will cause this pitcher’s automatic removal from the pitching position. A coach is prohibited from making a second visit to the mound while the same batter is at bat, but if a pinch-hitter is substituted for this batter, the coach may make a second visit to the mound, but must remove the pitcher. A manager or a coach is considered to have concluded his visit to the mound when he leaves the eighteen (18) foot circle surrounding the pitcher’s rubber.
Balks: Balks will be called at 10U and up. 10U pitchers are allowed one warning per game. 11U-12U will get no balk warnings. It is a balk if the pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first or third base and fails to complete the throw. Pitchers may still feint a throw to second.
Courtesy runners: At any time the team at bat may use a courtesy runner for the pitcher or catcher of record the previous inning on defense. The courtesy runner must be a player not presently in the lineup. If no players not presently in the line-up are available, the courtesy runner shall be the player making the last batted out.
Pitching Restrictions: Tournament Directors will not be involved in counting pitches or innings pitched during the tournament. The responsibility of managing pitch counts and innings rests with each team’s Head Coach. On Deck endorses the Pitch Smart program, developed by USA Baseball and Major League Baseball. This program is a series of practical, age appropriate guidelines to help parents, players and coaches avoid overuse.
Disrespect for the Game: a team caught intentionally giving up runs, losing on purpose or otherwise playing the game to change the outcome of pool play or the finals in favor of another team will be dismissed from the Tournament and reported to their League and other appropriate sanctioning bodies. The dismissed teams won/lost record shall stand and teams seeded below them will all move up and play, if qualified, based on tournament seeding rules and tie-breakers.