Tournament Rules

Read the Coach's Checklist for registration details. All rules below are a work-in-progress until this reads "FINAL"

General Rules: 

• NO tobacco use of any kind will be allowed on the field, all smoking must be done outside of the main gates.

• NO alcohol will be allowed on the premises 

• NO pets on premises. 

Conduct

1. Managers and Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players and spectators. 

2. If a player or coach is ejected from a game for any reason, the player or coach must not be present at the game site for the remainder of the game and is also suspended from the next played game and may not be present for that game in any capacity.

3. Anyone ejected from a game must leave the field area for that game. If the ejected person continues to cause difficulties he or she will be ejected from the park entirely. 

4. This is accomplished via the El Campo Police Department. This is done for the safety of all involved; we do not want this to escalate. Failure of an ejected parent or family member to promptly vacate the premises will lead to the ejection of the associated Manager. 

Protests

1. All protests must be announced to the umpire in chief and resolved before the next pitch or before the umpire(s) leave the field if on the last out. $100 protest fee to the Home-plate umpire. Announce Protest. Tournament Director will be summoned. 

2. Protests will be handled by the protest committee. 

3. In the event of a protest the game clock will be stopped until the protest is ruled upon. No protests will be allowed on a judgment call.

4. No protests on 

   • Judgment Calls.

   • Line Up errors (lack of numbers/positions/etc.) we are a friendly tournament.

5. Tournament Directors' ruling is final. If protest is won, $100 will be refunded.

Home & Away, Scoreboard & Book

1. In pool play, Team A will be Visitors and Team B will be Home. Once seeds are set, the highest (1) seed will be home. 

2. Home team will provide scorekeeper and keep the game book. Visiting team shall operate the scoreboard. Either team (or both) may announce

3. Line-up cards must be provided to the opposing team, umpire and scorekeeper.

Warm-Up

1. No in-field warm-up, you may warm-up in outfield or grass around fields. NO HITTING ON THE FIELDS, only ground balls and pop ups in outfield warm-up.

2. All teams must be ready to play at game time or you will forfeit. 

3. The Roster

3. • Only players listed on the Waiver Form Roster will be eligible to play in the tournament.

   • Roster cannot be changed once it has been turned in at Registration or to Tournament Director 

Safety

1. Catcher must wear throat protector and protective cup, including when warming up pitcher on the field, or in the bullpen. 

2. Runners must go around or slide to avoid contact. Runner will be called out if he/she does not attempt to avoid contact 

3. Position players cannot block the bag without the ball (including home plate). This is a judgment call by the umpire and his decision is final. 

4. There will be NO fake bunt then swinging away. You MAY fake bunt but the player may NOT swing at the pitch. If a player does, he WILL be OUT! On the first offense, the third base coach will be warned and the second time the manager and third base coach WILL be ejected. 

5.  Metal doughnuts are not allowed in any division. You may use bat sleeves. 

6. All games will be stopped if lightning is detected to be within 10 miles of the fields. Play shall resume once the area has cleared for at least 20 minutes between lightning intervals. 

Tournament Rules 

USSSA rules are in effect for each division. Additional rules for each division are listed below 

Age Requirements

• 2024 USSSA Age Chart

• Birth certificates MUST be available upon request. Copies accepted. If a birth certificate can not be provided, the player will be removed from the game until a birth certificate for player is provided. 

Coaches

• Two adult base coaches are allowed on the field. There MUST be a coach in the dugout at all times. No more than 4 coaches are allowed on the field / in the dugout. 

• All coaches are to remain INSIDE dugout while team is not batting. The only exception would be when time is asked for and granted from umpires. This does not apply to the coach that is pitching in the 7U/8U Division. 

Batting Order, Courtesy Runners & Mandatory Play

• Continuous batting order must be used; 9s and above may bat a) - with subs b)9+ and extra hitter with subs or c) complete roster but this must be declared at the plate meeting. 

• Courtesy runner for the incoming catcher and pitcher at any time, you must run for the catcher with two outs. Courtesy runner must be the player that recorded the last out or substitute on bench. 

• No mandatory play is required. You may play with 8 players; less than eight players at any time is a forfeit. It is not an automatic out when the ninth player is supposed to bat. If the ninth player shows up during the game, he may be added to the bottom of the batting line-up, no matter where you are in that order at the time or his arrival 

Bracket Play Seeding

The higher seed for Bracket Play will be determined by the points in pool play. Pool play will consist of two games. The higher seeded teams in Playoffs will be the home team. In the event of a tie in points in pool play, then the Tie Breaker System will be used to determine the higher seeded team for the Playoff game. 

Point System for Tournament 

TIE BREAKERS

1. Best overall record 

2. Head to head (if applicable) 

3. Runs Allowed 

4. Runs Scored 

5. Coin Flip 

6. If more than two teams are tied, there is no head to head. 

Rain Out & Refunds

Be sure to prepare and inform your team to be able and ready to play both the original scheduled tournament date, and the original scheduled rain date, if necessary. We will not refund any money to any team who cannot play on the original scheduled rain date (rain out date to be determined, see below). If you pull out of the tournament without a replacement team to take your place less than (7) seven days before the scheduled start of the tournament, you will not receive a refund.

2024 Rain Out Date: August 2, 3 & 4 *Per USSSA Rules, if a 3-day tournament is rained out and rescheduled, players ARE allowed to play in the same age group as originally set...so ages won't bump up for the make-up games.

Awards

Awards will be given for 1st and 2nd place teams in each division 

Baseball

Pitching Rules

1. Pitchers in all divisions may pitch a total of 27 outs for the tournament, with no more than 18 outs in a single day or game. If you pitch 18 outs in a single day or game, you must have one calendar day rest before you can pitch your remaining outs. E.g. player A may pitch 9 outs in game 1 on Saturday. 9 outs in game 2 Saturday and may still pitch 9 more outs Sunday. 

2. The number of outs is charged against the pitcher only. If a pitcher is at the next to last out allowed to him and a double or triple play is made (continuation), only the 1st out will be charged to him, and he will have completed his allowed outs and must leave the mound after the play is completed. The pitcher will not be penalized for his team making an extra out or two. 

3. A pitcher may only pitch for one team (one age group) in the tournament. A player may participate on another team in different age groups provided he/she meets the age requirement, but this player may only pitch in one age group. 

4. Coaches/Managers are responsible for keeping up with the Pitch Log. Any violation of the pitching rules will result in a forfeit of the game during which the violation occurred. Protests must be made before the umpire leaves the field at the end of the game. 

5. Coaches/Managers are responsible for ensuring that umpires record the correct player and number of outs for each registered pitcher. The umpire cards will be turned in to the League Office and used to post the Pitch Log. All Score/Pitch cards are considered final once they are turned in to League Office. 

6. No white long-sleeve under-shirts exposed below the elbow for 8U and up. White short-sleeve is acceptable if wearing vest uniform. 

7U & 8U Coach Pitch Baseball

1. The Hook Tournament is being played under USSSA rules unless otherwise noted below. 

2. Home team will be assigned for Pool games. The HIGHER seed will be home on Sunday. 

3. Mandatory play requirements are NOT required 

4. 10 defensive players. 4 players in the outfield no closer than 30 feet to the infield. You may play with 8 players; less than eight players at any time is a forfeit. 

• Minimum 9 batting positions. It will be an automatic out once the 8th batter completes his at bat and base running if only 8 batters are on the line-up.

•  If a team’s ninth player arrives late to the game, the manager of that team must make an announcement at the plate conference before the game begins and advise both the plate umpire and the opposing team that he or she has a player that will be arriving late. When the player arrives, the player is announced to both the plate umpire and opposing team and is placed in the ninth position in the batting order. 

• Until the player arrives, an out is recorded in the ninth position. 

5. Big barrel bats allowed with an approved USSSA BPF 1.15 stamp. Any bat on the USSSA banned list shall not be used. Bats with Little League approved USA stamp may be used. Any bat that is banned by Little League shall not be used. 

6. Time limit is that no new inning can start after 1 hr 30 minutes.

7. Teams may score a maximum of 7 runs per inning. The game is over, when the opposing team is mathematically eliminated from scoring enough runs to win or tie the game. 

8. There is a 30-foot safety arc from the back tip of home plate and from the first-base line to the third-base line. The infield players must stay beyond the arc until the ball is batted into play. 

9. The pitching coach shall keep one foot on or straddle the pitcher’s line. The coach can pitch anywhere in-between the 30’ safety arc and the 42’ pitching circle. 

10. The pitching coach shall position himself as not to be an obstruction to defensive team on any possible play once the ball has been hit. If a coach violates this rule after the ball is pitched, obstruction shall be called. If a coach violates this rule before the ball is pitched, First Offense: Warning: Second Offense: Removal of coach as the pitcher for the remainder of the game. 

11. The pitcher's circle shall be at least 12’ feet in diameter and no more than 18’ in diameter with the pitching rubber in the center. This is a safety area for the player in the pitching position. The defensive player listed as the pitcher cannot leave the pitching circle until the ball is hit. If the pitcher leaves the circle early, the play continues. After the play has ended, the offensive team has the option of taking the result of the play or accepting a no-pitch and ruling the play as over. If this occurs a second time by the same pitcher, that player is removed from the pitching position for the remainder of that inning. 

12. Each batter is allowed six pitches or three strikes. If a batter hits a foul ball on the sixth pitch, he or she is out. 

13. A fair batted ball hitting a coach pitcher is declared a dead ball, no pitch, if the umpire rules that the coach pitcher’s contact with the ball was unintentional. If, in the umpire’s judgment, a coach pitcher intentionally makes contact with a batted ball, or if the coach pitcher catches the ball, the batter is out, and no runner can advance. 

 14. Umpires call time after every play and declare the ball dead. Time should be called as soon as all three of the following occur: 

● The lead runner stops attempting to advance. 

● The ball is in the possession of an infielder in the infield. 

● No defensive play is imminent. Time does not have to be called by the defense for the purpose of this rule.

15. Continuous batting order may be used. Any injured or incapacitated players shrink the lineup with no out recorded for that batting slot. Plate umpire must be notified. Once skipped in the batting order that player is no longer allowed to re-enter that game. Other options are straight 9 (subs) or 9+1.this must be declared at plate meeting 

16. Because teams are roster batting, there is free substitution on defense. If teams are roster batting, 9 (subs) or 9+1 substitutes must be used. 

17. The catcher must be located in the catcher’s box, no more than four feet behind home plate. The catcher must be in the catching position and provide a target for the coach pitcher to deliver a pitch. Use of a catcher mitt is not mandatory but is highly recommended. A catcher must be legally and properly equipped to play the catching position. This includes a helmet with full ear and back of head protection, a face mask, chest protector, shin guards and groin protection. It is the manager’s responsibility to ensure that any player in the catching position is legally and properly equipped. 

18. There are no: 

● Base on balls 

● Base awards for hit by pitcher 

● Infield fly rule 

● Intentional walks 

● No Stealing of bases 

19. No Bunting. If a player bunts or takes a half-swing, it is a foul ball. The batter must take a full swing. 

20. Runners cannot leave their bases until the pitched ball crosses the front edge of home plate. A runner who leaves early is declared out, and the pitch is declared a no pitch. This is an appeal play 

21. A coach pitcher is prohibited from coaching while in the pitching position either physically or verbally. This includes any physical or verbal communication to the batter, any runner or any other coach. If in the umpire’s judgment, the coach pitcher is attempting to communicate while in the pitching position, he shall receive 1 warning and any subsequent infraction will result in him being removed as the pitcher for the remainder of the game. 

22. Courtesy runners are allowed for the catcher only and is mandatory with 2 outs.

23. The coach pitcher must immediately leave the playing field once the ball is batted into fair territory. The coach pitcher must leave in the opposite direction of which the ball was batted. Failure of the coach pitcher to leave the field of play and interfering with the play a dead ball will be called, batter is out, and the coach will be removed. This will be a judgment call by the home plate umpire. 

24. No in-field warm-up. You may warm-up in the outfield. NO HITTING ON FIELD...Only ground balls and pop ups in outfield practice. Be ready to play, the next game will start 5 minutes after the previous game ends or on time scheduled. 

25. Each team is to pay at the plate a $50 umpire fee and provide two game balls for each game. 

26. There is no foul line in fair territory. A full swing hit one inch fair or settles on the plate is a fair ball. 

27. Only 4 coaches are allowed in the dugout on defense. On offense, three coaches are allowed on the field (one pitching) and one coach is required to remain in the dugout. 

9U - 13U Baseball

1. The 2022 El Campo Tournament is being played under the Tournament Rules for USSSA 2022 Games provision. 

2. Continuous batting order may be used. Any injured or incapacitated players shrink the lineup with no out recorded for that batting slot. Plate umpire must be notified. Once skipped in the batting order that player is no longer allowed to re-enter that game. Other options are straight 9 (subs) or 9+1.this must be declared at plate meeting 

3. Pitching limits are 18 OUTs per Day 27 Outs for the tournament 

4. Home team is determined by a coin flip on Saturday’s games. Higher seed will be home on Sunday. 

5. Mandatory play requirements are NOT required 

6. Courtesy runner is allowed for the incoming catcher or Pitcher. Use the last player who made an out if using continuous. Substitute if not. If no out has been recorded while in the first inning, use the last batter in the lineup. 

7. Home team is responsible for keeping the Official Scorebook. Visiting team is responsible for keeping Scoreboard. 

8. No in-field warm-up. You may warm-up in outfield. Be ready to play, next game will start 15 minutes after previous game ends.

9. Balks will be called. USSSA note: 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. A second (2nd) visit to the same pitcher in the same inning will cause this pitcher's automatic removal from the pitching position. 

10. Big Barrel Bats Allowed. 

11. Time limit is no new inning can start after 1 hr 30 minutes all weekend in pool and bracket play. 

12. Run rules are 20 after 2, 15 after 3. 8 after 4 . 

13 NO Slashing. If a player squares to Bunt and pulls back and swings away. the batter will be called out and TEAM will be warned. 2nd offense coach and player are ejected 

14. Teams may bat 9 with subs, 9+1 with subs or continuous. declare at plate meeting. see rule 2 

Game Time Limits Run Rules 

1. For each division, No inning will start after 1 hour and 30 minutes or 6 innings.  

2. Championship games will not have a time limit. The run rule is in effect. A maximum of six (6) innings shall be played in a Championship game. 

3. A 15 run rule after 3 innings and an 8 run rule after 4 innings shall be in effect. Run Rule is in effect even though “runs allowed” and “runs scored” are used in Tie Breakers. 

4.  If a game is suspended due to rain or any other reason. It will be considered an official game if; 3 innings have been completed or if 2-1/2 if the home team is ahead. In the event that an inning is not completed at the time of the cancellation, the game reverts back to the last completed inning so long as 3 innings have been completed 

5. If an elimination game (Sunday games) goes into extra innings, then the International Tie Breaking (ITB) rule will be in effect for all extra innings. The last out of the previous inning will be placed on second with one out and the next batter in the line-up goes to the plate. There will be NO pinch runners for any players including catchers during extra innings. 

Softball 

Time Limits from the time the Coaches meeting ends. Plate Umpire will announce.

60 minutes finish the BATTER in Pool. Each team will play as Away and Home, all runs count for seeding.

60 minutes finish the INNING in Bracket.

Run Rules 12 after 2. 10 after 3. 8 after 4. 1 after 5 🙂

8U Coach Pitch Softball

1. 6 runs or 3 outs per ½ inning. Following the 3rd out or 6th run scored, all play is stopped in order to prevent injury. 

2. There will be 10 defensive players allowed on the field. The outfielders must play at least 10 feet beyond the bases. If a team has 10 defensive players, they must also bat 10. 

3. 5 pitches or 3 swinging strikes, 5th and consecutive fouls will not be counted against the 5-pitch count.

4. If the coach pitcher is hit by the ball, it is a do over no pitch. The batter will return to the batter’s box and assume the count that was on them before the pitch.

5. The Player-Pitcher must remain in the pitching circle until the ball is pitched. The Pitcher-Player may not interfere with Coach-Pitcher. 5B) Due to use of the high school softball field, and the inability to move the high school pitching plate, pitching is allowed from anywhere inside the standard pitching circle as long as both feet start inside the circle and pitcher is in line with the plate.

6. While the ball is in play, all runners are free to advance at their own risk. Play is stopped on defense by stopping the lead runner. Once the lead runner has been stopped and an infielder has the ball, the ball is no longer in play and the umpire will call TIME OUT

7. Balls must be approved. (COR 0.47 - 375 Compression 11 inch. Optic yellow) 

8. Two coaches can stand in the outfield in foul ball area only 15 feet beyond the bases, one on each side of the field. 

9. Runners may leave the base when the coach releases the pitch.

10. Run rule is 12 runs after 3rd inning, 10 runs after 4th inning, and 8 runs after 5th inning. 

11. Unlimited number of players on the roster. 

12. Teams can bat up to 13 players. Lineup may consist of 10 players with up to 3 EPs. 

13. If the Coach Pitcher interferes with a defensive player trying to make a play on the ball, it will be considered a dead ball out and no runners can advance. 

14. There will be no base stealing. Throwing down in back of a runner is allowed but if the catcher throws down behind a runner then the catcher is making a play on the runner and ALL runners may advance. 

15. Bunting and Slapping are allowed. 

16. NO SMASH Hitting (Squaring to bunt and then hitting away) Batter will be called OUT.

17. There will be no “Infield Fly Rule” or “Intentional Walk” for 8-Under.

18. All Infielders MUST wear a face shield.  

10U and 12U Softball

Pitcher’s delivery: 

1. Windmill or Slingshot style is acceptable. 

2. Arm movement must be an underhand motion. 

3. El Campo Softball Association has made the decision to allow pitchers to use the Start Back, Step Back, or Traditional (start with both feet touching the rubber).

4. The hand shall be below the hip and the wrist not farther from the body than the elbow. 

5. Leaping is Legal. 

6. Pitcher cannot stop her motion before the ball leaves her hand.

7. Infield Fly = Yes

8. Drop 3rd = Yes

9. Batting

   • Line ups are continuous, UNLESS you announce at plate meeting the options of 9, DH/EH, etc. 

   • If batting continuous free substitution is allowed.

   • If batting any lineup with subs, subs may be used and announced to plate umpire, MANDATORY play is not enforced.

10. Base runners may attempt to steal only after the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand during her delivery of the pitch. Leaving early is an Out.

11. Courtesty Runners

    • If all players listed on the lineup sheet are currently in the batting order then the courtesy runner will be the last Completed at bat. The last completed at bat is determined by the last girl scheduled to enter the dugout. If the last out is a pitcher or catcher, the courtesy runner will revert to the batter immediately preceding her in the batting order. 

    • If subs, courtesy runners are a sub.

    • Courtesy runners can only run for either the Pitcher or Catcher per half inning. They cannot run for both.

12. Base runner should avoid contact with the defensive player at any base if there is a defensive play being made. This is for the safety of the girls. Any aggressive act will result in the base runner being called out or at the umpires dissection the runner may be ejected from the game

13. $40 cash at plate and a softball from each team for umpires. Home team may send their pitcher out with softball after the home plate umpire approves it.