Rules of Play
Rules are applicable to all divisions except where noted.
General Information
Entry Fee
The entry fee per team is a non-refundable $425 if paid on or prior to April 29th, 2012. After April 29th, 2012, but prior to registration close on May 11th, 2012, the fee will be $475. Please note that your registration is not complete until we have received your tournament roster form and registration fee.
Number of Teams
50 teams total, taken on a first-come, first-serve basis. A team is not considered registered until the full registration fee is received.
Waiting List
Teams attempting to register that were not among the first 50 will be placed on a waiting list in the order in which their information was received. As of April 30th, 2012, any registered teams that have not sent in their entry fee may forfeit their spot, if teams on the waiting list submit their registration fee first.
Registration Deadline
The deadline for registration is May 11th, 2012.
Divisions Offered
Competition will be offered in Open Divisions B, C, D, and Womens, and All players according to the ratings rules will be placed into the division at the discretion of the tournament directors.
Rosters
Team rosters may not exceed 18 players (Open Division), and or 20 players (Womens Division) along with one manager/coach, and one scorekeeper. Final rosters must be submitted at the time payment is made.
All teams are required to have & submit their ASA registration cards to the tournament directors.
Ratings
Player ratings, using the NAGAAA rating system, must be submitted for each player on the roster. A player must submit their new rating for the 2012 season.
The following team rating guidelines apply:
- Open B Division - total team rating (sum of the 10 highest rated players on the team) must be 186 or less. No player on the team may have an individual rating higher than 22.
- Open C Division - total team rating (sum of the 10 highest rated players on the team) must be 145 or less. No player on the team may have an individual rating higher than 15.
- Open D Division - total team rating (sum of the 10 highest rated players on the team) must be 105 or less. No player on the team may have an individual rating higher than 11.
NAGAAA Player Ranking Guidelines
Awards
Trophies will be given to the top 3 teams for all divisions.
Games
Game time is forfeit time - if not ready to play when called, your team may be forced to forfeit.
To start a game, a minimum of 9 players on a team is required. If you have fewer than 9 players, you will be required to forfeit the game. If you have exactly 9 players, your line-up card must include a 10th batter slot, which will be an automatic out each time it comes up. If an eligible 10th player becomes available during the course of the game, that player can take the empty batter slot during the game.
All batters will start with a 1-1 count in Round Robin Play, as well as all seated games, including Semifinal and Championship play.
The home team in each game will be determined by a coin toss.
The home team must act as the official scorekeeper for the game.
Line-up cards for each game must be completed in triplicate and given to the home plate umpire prior to the start of the game.
There is no stealing allowed.
Run rule in effect as follows:
- 20 runs after 3 innings
- 15 runs after 4 innings
- 10 runs after 5 innings
Two (2) extra players are allowed in the batting line-up.
Courtesy Runners
Prior to the start of the game, up to two (2) players may be identified as requesting a courtesy runner. They must be identified on the line-up cards prior to the start of each game. Use of the courtesy runner is not mandatory, but if requested, the courtesy runner must enter the game prior to the next pitch.
- The courtesy runner will be the last completed at bat.
- A person designated as requesting a courtesy runner may have the courtesy runner every time up, even if they bat more than once in the same inning.
- A non-starting player may be designated as requesting a courtesy runner, in which case the above rules would take effect once the player enters the game.
Home run (over the fence) limits are as follows:
- B Division: 3 homeruns per team per game; every additional home run will be considered outs.
- C Division: 1 homerun per team per game; every additional home run will be considered outs.
- D Division: no homeruns are allowed; all will be considered inning ending outs.
Uniforms
All team players shall properly wear numbered uniforms, cargo shorts are acceptable, but bandanas do not qualify as headbands and can not be worn around the head or neck at anytime.
Round Robin Play
No new inning after 50 minutes.
All games can end in a tie.
Double Elimination Play
A random draw of teams with the same record will determine each team's seed according to the following record priority: 2-0-0, 1-0-1, 1-1-0, 0-0-2, 0-1-1, and 0-2-0.
No new innings after 50 minutes.
Tiebreaker rule applies after 50 minutes or 7 innings.
All championship games will be 60 minutes or 7 innings, though the run rule will still apply.
Bats & Bases
Any bat used during the tournament must be ASA approved.
All team's bats will be checked prior to the game and must be made available to the umpire in front of the dugout. The ASA illegal bat rule will be in effect with one exception: teams will receive a first warning when an illegal bat is found. If an illegal bat is found a second time, the designated manager will be ejected from the tournament and the team will forfeit that game.
If there are two bags at first base, the ASA double bag rule is in effect.
Protests
Judgement calls by the umpire cannot be protested.
Protest of rules:
- There is no fee involved if the game umpire resolves the protest.
- If the game umpire is unable to resolve the protest, the UIC will resolve it. If the protesting team's protest is not upheld, they will be required to pay a $50 cash fee prior to the start of their next game.
Protest of ratings/eligibility:
- A protest of ratings/eligibility will only be allowed during round-robin play.
- The UIC, along with the protest committee, will resolve the protest before the team's next game.
- A $100 cash fee must accompany a protest of ratings/eligibility and be given to the game umpire prior to the end of the game. The fee will be refunded if the protest is upheld.
Player Ejection
If a player is ejected from a game, that player is ineligible to play in their team's next game. If that player does play in the next game, the team shall forfeit that game.
