SUMMER SLAM TOURNAMENT

 

"Tournament Rules"

 

 

1.  Winning Team - report score text to 585-509-4357

 

2.  Mercy Rule

 

6 inning games:

•  15 runs after 3 innings, or two and one half innings if home team is ahead  
•  8 runs after 4 innings, or three and one half innings if home team is ahead

*  At any point if the home team is behind, you must complete the inning.

** If Weather or Darkness end a schedule game, that game will be considered complete if 4 innings have been played, or 3 1/2 if the home team is ahead.

 

3.  Pool Standings sorted on the following:

 

1. Winning Percentage - Descending
2. Number Wins - Descending
3. Number Losses - Ascending
4. Tied Teams (vs. each other) Winning Pct - Descending (Not valid if all teams have not played each other)
5. Avg Points Allowed - Ascending
6. Avg Points Differential with a maximum of (8) - Descending

*Any team that forfeits a game before or once a game has started WILL NOT be permitted to advance to the playoff rounds. Teams that forfeit any games will not receive their tournament game guarantee.

 

**If a Tie-Breaker comes into play in the play-offs to see who advances due to weather or similiar incident, the higher seed (the 1 seed is higher than 2 seed) will advance.  If both teams have the same seed, the tie-breaker system above will be used.

 

4. Time Limit and Extra Innings:

 

Pool Play Games:  Mercy Rule and 2 hour time limit.  The 2 hour time limit will start as soon as the Manager Meeting is completed at Home Plate.  The Home Plate Umpire will announce the starting time.  In Pool Play, there will be NO EXTRA INNINGS - the game will be recorded a tie.  

 

Single Elimination Bracket Play and Championship Games:  Mercy Rule and 2 hour time limit - no new inning will start after 2 hour time limit.   If the last out is made before the time limit, the next inning will start and be completed.  When the time limit is up and a new inning is about to start, the game will go to a Shoot-Out to determine the winner.  Shootout:  Each Inning will start with the last batted out of the inning at 2nd base with 0 outs.  The batter will be the next batter due up in the inning and will start with a 2 balls and 1 strike count.  

 

5. Speed up Rule: A courtesy runner can be used for the catcher (mandatory with 2 outs). This player must be someone not in the game (either has not gotten in the game yet or was removed from the game) OR the teams last batted out.  

 

* Unlimited Defensive Substitutions.  ONLY EXCEPTION: A Pitcher can not re-enter the game as a pitcher once he is removed from pitching.  An EH is considered a position player.  

 

* Teams must be at the field 45 minutes before their game start time.   Games may start early if previous game ends early and field is ready.

 

*  USSSA Rules apply to the 10u, 11u and 12u Divisions with the exceptions below.

 

* 10u - fields will be 46/60.  3rd Strike Rule - a batter may not take 1st base on a dropped 3rd strike pitch.  A 3rd strike is an out regardless if the ball is caught by the catcher.  Leading is not allowed.  Player may not steal until the ball crosses home plate.  Per USSSA, there is no delayed Stealing in 10u.  10u plays with 3 Outfielders.

 

* 11u and 12U - fields will be 50/70.  3rd Strike Rule - a batter may take 1st base on a dropped 3rd strike if 1st base is unoccupied.  With 2 outs, the batter make take 1st base on a dropped 3rd strike.  Leading and stealing is allowed.

 

* A regulation game consists of six (6) innings for the 10U, 11U and 12U Age Divisions, unless the game is shortened due to time limit or mercy rule,  or if the game is extended by extra innings due to tie in Single Elimination or Championship Games. 

 

* Home Team  For Pool play, coin flip will determine home team.  For Single Elimination and Championship Games, the lower seed (ie #2 is a lower seed than #3) will be the Home Team.  If seeding is tied, flip of coin will determine Home Team.

* Games suspended by rain will be handled by the umpire. Each coach will be told how much playing time is remaining and when the game will resume.  If a game is suspended due to weather or darkness and can not be completed, the game will be considered a complete game if 4 innings are completed, or 3 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead.  If the game is suspended prior to an inning being complete, the score will revert back to the previous inning unless the home team is ahead.  If possible, the game will be made up at another time.  IF either team has a 5 or more run lead after the last completed inning and at least 2 innings have been completed (1 1/2 if home team is ahead), but the game has not gone 4 innings, the team with a 5 or more run lead will be the winner and the team down by 5 or more runs will get the loss.

 

Weather delays will be dealt with by the Tournament Director on an ICB.

* Emergency contact number - Each team must have at least one (1) emergency contact number where they can be easily reached during the tournament. 

* The tournament will follow the "USSSA" rules with the following exceptions: 

* BATS. USSSA Standard rule.

 

* 3rd to 1st pick-off move is allowed.

 

* No metal cleats.
 

* Unlimited Defensive Substitutions.  ONLY EXCEPTION: A Pitcher can not re-enter the game as a pitcher once he is removed from pitching.  An EH is considered a position player.  

 

6.  Pitching:  There will be an Innings Pitch limit on all Age Divisions.  One Pitch in an inning constitutes 1 inning pitched.

 

10u Division

• 7 innings for the tournament  (1 pitch constitutes 1 inning - including rain shortened games)

11u and 2u Divisions

• 8 innings for the tournament  (1 pitch constitutes 1 inning - including rain shortened games)

IMPORTANT: Teams must keep track of their own pitcher's innings pitched.  If you believe a team has used a pitcher more than the allotted innings allowed below, you may Challenge a team by submitted a protest.  Protest cost $50 and will be returned to the team if the protest is upheld.  If a team is protested against for pitching violations, that team must show the innings pitched of the pitcher being questioned in their scorebook.

 

Bottom Line - we are using the honor system.  Coaches, protect your kids arms - they shouldnt be throwing more than what is allowed for a weekend anyways.   Violations will be dealt with by the tournament director on a case by case basis.  Depending on the severity - penalties could lead to the coach being suspended from the tournament, the team having to forfeit a win, or a team/org not allowed back in Summer Slam in future years.

 

These Pitching limits are put in place to help protect our kid's arms.  It is still the responsibility of the Manager to protect your kid's arm.  Please do not go to the maximum innings pitched if your kid's arm is tired or sore.  

 

 

* Sliding Rule: at NO time can you knock over the catcher. This WILL NOT be tolerated and players will be automatically ejected and the Tournament Director will issue a 1 game suspension.  

* BATTING ORDER:  Each Team may choose to bat as many players as the like.  Any hitter in the line-up who does not start the game in the field will be considered an Extra Hitter (EH).  (You must end the game with the same number of players in the batting order as you started - Unless Injury).   Extra Hitters are considered defensive positions for substitution purposes and may hit anywhere in the line-up.  The number of players you start hitting must remain the same for the remainder of the game.  If a player is removed from the game and there is no one to substitute for them, unless they are removed for an injury, the position in the batting order is an out in the batting order.   If a player is injured and removed from the batting order, a player who has not played in the game yet will take the injured players spot in the line-up.  If no players available, that position in the batting order will be skipped and no out is recorded.  The injured player may not return to the line-up for that game.  You may use 1 DH in your batting order - can be used for any position.

* Stealing for 10U:   USSSA Rules - if a player leaves early and the ball is not hit, the runner is sent back to the base (unless the defensive team throws the runner out - then the runner is out).  If a runner leaves early, and there is a hit, the runner can not advance more than the batter.  For example, if there is a runner at 1st base and the batter hits a single, the runner must stay at 2nd base.  If the batter hits a double, the runner must stay at 3rd base.  *** The ball is dead once the Pitcher has control on the mound.  There is NO delayed Stealing.

*  Baseballs:  Keep the games moving; on deck batters must retrieve all balls to the backstop.   Penfield Summer Slam will provide game baseballs, but each team is required to have game balls available if game balls are used up.
 

* PLEASE CLEAN YOUR DUGOUT AFTER GAME

 

* In the event of rain or other matters beyond the control of the Tournament Director, the Tournament Director reserves the right to change the tournament format as he sees fit in order to complete the tournament in the scheduled time period. 
 

REFUND POLICY IN CASE OF RAIN
0 Games – 50% Refund
 1 Game – 25% Refund 
 2 Games & up = NO REFUNDS

 

 Note: Refund/rebate policy regarding forfeit games - No refund or rebate will be made to any team receiving a forfeit game, either in pool games or championship play. 

* Physical confrontation - This 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 and the tournament. Once again, absolutely no physical confrontations will be permitted, tolerated and/or found to be acceptable.
 

* All decisions made by the umpire are final. Any player or coach who abuses an umpire will be ejected from that game only. A second ejection of a player or coach means removal from the tournament! Team forfeiture in the event an ejection is made and the ejected party refuses to leave the playing facility, the Tournament Director, at his sole discretion, may elect to declare a forfeiture of the game and/or tournament. The tournament director shall have final decision on all tournament ejections.

* Winning Team must report scores to on-site contact after game is complete.  All forfeits scored 7-0. The official score book is to be kept by the Home Team. It is the responsibility of both teams to verify game score at the end of each inning. If a discrepancy occurs, bring it to the attention of the umpire immediately.  

 

* EACH INDIVIDUAL AGE GROUP AND/OR DIVISION MAY HAVE SPECIFIC RULES REGARDING HOW PLAYOFF ROUND TEAMS AND FINAL SEEDING WILL BE DETERMINED. PLEASE VIEW THE SCHEDULES PAGE FOR EACH SPECIFIC AGE GROUP FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. THESE RULES WILL BE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING TEAMS IN EACH AGE GROUP/ DIVISION.

 

 

"Tournament Policies"

 

All teams staying in Hotels for Summer Slam must contact Travel Team USA for room reservations:

 

INSURANCE  USSSA will cover all teams and players.  Teams may require to list additional insuranced on their own, and you can do so by naming the following entities as Additionally Insured:  Penfield Summer Slam, 3100 Atlantic Ave, Penfield, NY 14526

 

* Each team is required to e-mail their Roster prior to the Tournament.  Players may be added or dropped prior to the first game via e-mail notification.  Managers are also required to have all player birth certificates with them during tournament.  A player can only be on 1 roster at Summer Slam.

 

*Right to modify and amend: Penfield Little League retains exclusive right to modify and/or amend these Rules and Regulations for the Summer Slam Tournament. Each team is required to review the Rules and Regulations prior to and during the tournament. 

*Refund Policy: If team cancels on or before May 31, 2018, team will receive full refund less $50 administrative fee.  If team cancels after June 1, 2018, no refund will be given.

*Rules and Tournament Schedule - In the event there are any changes and/or modifications to the Rules and/or Schedule, said changes/modifications – the Manager will be notified asap and it is the responsibility of all coaches to regularly check for any changes and/or modifications.

*Change in tournament format - Due to any last minute changes in teams, weather or any other reasons, the Summer Slam Director reserves the right to modify the format of this event. Any changes of the format will be posted as soon as possible, and announced to the teams during the tournament. 

*Tournament admissions - Admissions will NOT be charged at any field. " NO GATE FEES". 

*Outside food and beverage - NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR BEVERAGE PERMITTED IN THE BALLPARKS. Please request that your families and friends comply with this rule. Anyone caught not adhering to this rule will be asked to remove said food and beverage from the park. Beverages may be brought in for ballplayers only.

*NO ALCOHOL PERMITTED in the parking lots or fields at any time.

 

 

1. $50.00 cash protest fee.  Protest decided on the field by umpire and Tournament Director.  Protest fee returned if protest upheld.  After next pitch is thrown, no game protest is allowed.