Tournament Rules

National High School Federation Baseball Rules will be enforced with the following exceptions:

RULES & INFORMATION

All Five Tool Youth events in the Spring and Summer are 4 game guarantees with specific guidelines. (Fall Five Tool Youth events will follow a different structure.)

Pool Play:  

• All Pool Play games will be played with a strict game time limit. 
• Each game will finish the inning if the time expires with the visiting team hitting. 
• Home team will be determined by a coin flip. 
• Games can end in a tie. (A tie is equal to a ½ win and ½ loss for each team.)

Championship/Playoff Rounds:

• No two teams from the same organization will match-up in their first playoff game, unless the game is affected by a bye (Applicable to brackets with 9+ teams). 
• 1 hour 45 min. time limit for 9U-12U and 2-hour time limit for 13U & 14U will be used in all games except the Semi-final and Championship games. This rule is subject to change. 
• The home team in Championship Play will be the higher seed except when there is no seeding. When there is no seeding, the home team will be determined by a coin flip. This is the case even if the schedule reads otherwise. 
• Pool Play games will end in a tie after the allotted time or innings have been played. There are no extra innings or tie breakers. 
• Elimination Game Tie Breaker:  Bases will be Loaded with 1 Out. 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.
• Semi-Final & Championship Tie Breaker: Straight up baseball in extra innings.
  • 13U-14U: 9 Innings Max. The top of the 10th will be played with the previous tie breaker (Bases loaded w/ 1 out.)
  •  9U-12U: 8 Innings Max. The top of the 9th will be played with the previous tie breaker (Bases loaded w/ 1 out.)

Tie Breakers (Seeding):

• Head to Head
  • 3 way tie – If one team has defeated both other teams, that team advances.
• Runs Allowed
• Run Differential (8 max)
• Runs Scored
• Coin Flip

Consolation Games:

Teams that lose out of bracket play in the first round Sunday (3rd Game each) will be scheduled to play a consolation game as their 4th Game.  

Field Dimensions 

1. • 9U-10U: 46 – 65 fields
   • 11U-12U: 50 – 70 fields
   • 13U: 60 – 90 for Futures/Invite Tournaments, all other events 54 – 80
   • 14U: 60 – 90 for all Divisions

Hitting Lineups:

Lineups can consist of 9, 10, or 11 players. Teams are also permitted to bat the entire lineup. 

• The lineup must stay with the same number of batters for the entire game. 
• Once the first pitch has been thrown the lineup is locked, and the number of batters may not be changed. 
• The 10th and 11th hitter if used will be designated as an EH and XH on the lineup card. 
  • The EH and XH may bat at any spot in the order. 
  • The EH and XH is the same as any position on the field as far as substitutions are concerned. 
  • The starting pitcher is allowed to DH for himself and bat in any slot in the order but must be listed a P/DH on the lineup card.
    

Courtesy Runners (Pitcher/Catcher)

• Courtesy runners can be used for the Pitcher and Catcher at any time but must use substitutes on the lineup card (if available). 
• In addition, the same substitute CANNOT run for more than one position (Pitcher or Catcher) in the same game. 
• If a team is batting their entire lineup, then they will be able to use last batted out.
  

Rosters & Roster Changes:

All players should be listed on the official roster. 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. 

If there are multiple events going on at one time, players are permitted to play for one team in each event if so desired; pitching limitations still apply to the player. (Age divisions within a tournament count as separate events.)

1. • The team’s manager is responsible for all aspects of the eligibility of the players on his team and that they meet the requirements
   • A player who is in violation of the age eligibility shall be considered an illegal player.
   • If anytime during a tournament game, a player is discovered illegal due to an age violation or participating on more than one team in the same tournament, the team is subject to forfeit. The first team a player participates for is their official team.  *This does not apply to Pitch Smart violations.
   • Participating players shall have photocopies of their original birth certificates (US) or passports (International) in the possession of their team manager. Electronic copies of ID documents are accepted. Failure to have a copy of a birth certificate, in the event of a protest, could result in suspension for the remainder of the event until such a document can be produced. Driver’s License is permitted. For events classified by graduation year or grade level, transcripts/report card from a players most recent academic semester shall be in the possession of their team manager.

Mercy Rules:

• 13U-14U: 15 after 3, 12 after 4, &10 after 5.
• 9U-12U: 15 after 2, 12 after 3, & 10 after 4

Mound Visits:

• The members of the coaching staff (including the manager) can make one mound visit per pitcher per inning without needing to remove the pitcher from the game. 
• If the same pitcher is visited twice in one inning, the pitcher must be removed from the contest.
  

Official Scoring: 

The official scorebook and lineup card will be kept by Five Tool Staff.  An event link will be provided on the website so that families can follow on GameChanger.

• Line up cards must be fully filled out with players first name, last name, position, and accurate jersey numbers. 
• All substitutes should be listed with accurate jerseys numbers.
• Lineup cards are to be given to the official scorekeeper before the home plate meeting.

Judgements are the responsibility of the Five Tool Staff member on site.  There will be a ZERO TOLERANCE policy to any fans, coaches, or players that argue a ruling. (ie. Hit vs Error)

Forfeits:

All games must be started with at least 9 players (can be finished with 8 players)

• If there are no eligible subs, the player leaving the original lineup will be recorded as an out until he is able to return. 
• Any intentional forfeit could result in the forfeiting team being eliminated from the tournament. The tournament director will rule on all forfeits. No team should benefit from the result of a forfeit in an unfair manner.
  • All rulings by the Tournament Director are final
• Forfeit Score: average runs scored for the winning team to 0 for the losing team. 
• The Tournament Director will decide when a forfeit is declared.

Pre-Game Warmups:

• No infield will be allowed during the tournaments
• Please use facilities provided to prepare your team.  Cages, Warm Up Areas, and bullpens are subject to change based on the Complex.  
• Coaches are responsible for the preparation of their players. Five Tool Baseball will not be held accountable for players not being prepared to compete.
  

Bat Specifications: 

1. • 9U-12U: BPF 1.15 and USA Bats 
   • 13U: -5 BPF 1.15, or -3 BBCOR 
   • 14U: -3 BBCOR

Pitching: 

• MLB Balk rule will be enforced (When a balk is called it is NOT a dead ball.)
• The 3B to 1B pickoff move is legal.

Pitching Limitation will be enforced based on the MLB PitchSmart Recommendations

Age	Daily Max (Pitches in Game)	0 Days Rest	1 Days Rest	2 Days Rest	3 Days Rest	4 Days Rest	5 Days Rest
7-8	50	1-20	21-35	36-50	N/A	N/A	N/A
9-10	75	1-20	21-35	36-50	51-65	66	N/A
11-12	85	1-20	21-35	36-50	51-65	66	N/A
13-14	95	1-20	21-35	36-50	51-65	66	N/A
15-16	95	1-30	31-45	46-60	61-75	76	N/A
17-18	105	1-30	31-45	46-60	61-80	81	N/A
19-22	120	1-30	31-45	46-60	61-80	81-105	106

 

Protesting:

Protests will be heard and ruled on by the tournament director. The team protesting must make a 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)

• Judgment calls and pitching limitations are not eligible for protest. 
• The ruling made by the committee will be final. 
• Protests must be filed and ruled on before the next pitch (during game) OR before umpires leave the field (Game ends)

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. 

1. • Physical attack on an umpire, tournament official, associate director, associate officer, and/or any player or fan prior, during, or immediately following a game played under the authority of Five Tool. Assault on an official is a felony in some states.
   • Players, coaches, managers, fans, spectators, or sponsors threatening an umpire, tournament official, associate director, or associate officer with physical harm.
   • Any player, coach, manager, sponsor, fan, spectator, director or officer who engages in physical fighting.
   • Using unsportsmanlike conduct or abusive language, symbol tactics, or derogatory or unbecoming acts.
   • Destruction of property or abuse or failure to pay.
   • Competing under an assumed, false and/or altered name.
   • Tournament hosts have the authority to eject a player, fans or team anytime during a tournament of committing any of the above listed offenses.
   • A player, spectator, fan or coach ejection carries removal from that game only.
   • Any spectator, coach, manager or player who is ejected for the second time during the tournament will be eliminated from participating for the remainder of the tournament.
   • Any event that results in physical altercation (before, during or after a game) could result in a forfeit for both teams. Tournament committee reserves the right to remove teams from playoff contention.

Coaches need to be aware of all rules and rule changes. Five Tool will configure these rules at any time for specific tournament play for the betterment of the kids. 

Venue Parking:

• Please follow each venue’s parking instructions
• Five Tool Showcases is not responsible for any parking violations

Rain Out Policy:

In the event of rain, we will push game start times up to one hour to get the game started.

If the game is in progress, we will allow for a one hour delay. If it goes longer, we will postpone or cancel the game and then attempt to reschedule it.

If the game cannot resume or start within one hour of its original start time, then that game will be cancelled and we will look at ways to possibly reschedule it.

• 2 games completed = 50% refund
• There will be no refunds after the start of each team’s third game
• We will try and reschedule games with available field space

Waiver/Terms of Condition

In consideration of being allowed to participate in, or observe, the event or activity referenced above, I acknowledge, appreciate, and agree that:

1) The risk of injury from participating or observing the activities involved in this program is significant, including the potential for permanent paralysis and death, and while particular rules, equipment, and personal discipline may reduce this risk, the risk of serious injury does exist;

2) I KNOWINGLY AND FREELY ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS, both known and unknown, EVEN IF ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES or others, and assume full responsibility for my participation and/or observation;

3) I willingly agree to comply with the stated and customary terms and conditions for participation and/or observation. If, however, I observe any unusual significant hazard during my presence, participation or observation of the event, I will remove myself and bring such to the attention of the nearest official immediately; and

4) I, for myself and on behalf of my heirs, assigns, personal representatives and next of kin, HEREBY RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS V Tool Showcases, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, and their officers, officials, agents, and/or employees, other participants, sponsoring agencies, sponsors, advertisers, and if applicable, owners and lessors of premises used to conduct the event (“RELEASEES“), WITH RESPECT TO ANY AND ALL INJURY, DISABILITY, DEATH, OR LOSS OR DAMAGE TO PERSON OR PROPERTY,  WHETHER ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES, OR OTHERWISE, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Photography/Social Media Policy:

Five Tool strives to recognize outstanding performance by participants in all Five Tool Events. This recognition is delivered through social media outlets, the Five Tool website, and information delivered to scouts and coaches during events.

With regard to the V Tool statement above, I do hereby acknowledge and authorize V Tool Showcases, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“V Tool“), and its employees, affiliates, subsidiaries, and sponsors to utilize any and all photographs, videos or other likeness of my son/daughter within the Five Tool Event as they deem appropriate in promotional materials or social media. V Tool has permission to post player photos, videos and likeness to social media of players, coaches, and fans participating in any event organized or hosted by V Tool. Roster information provided by coaches, parents, and/or players may also be used within events, on social media, and in print material in relation to V Tool Events.