Tournament Policies

The 2023-2024 season starts on Aug. 15, 2023. The age of your oldest player on April 30th, 2024 will determine your 2023-2024 team age (USSSA Baseball Age Calculator). All teams need to re-register for 2023-2024 beginning August 1, 2023. You can register your team at www.usssa.com and for assistance check out (Team Information).

Insurance

All teams participating in USSSA Leagues and tournaments must have a team insurance policy.

Classification

For 2 day tournaments, we need at least 4 teams and for 3 day tournaments we need at least 5 teams in each classification (AA, AAA, MJ) to keep them separate from one another. When those numbers aren't reached, we combine the classifications into an "open" division. Usually, the AA's are able to be kept separate from the others and the AAA's and Majors are combined.

Time Of Play

Our tournaments can start play as early as 7:45 AM and on all days of the tournament and may go as late as a 9:00 PM start time. Teams are to be prepared to play at any time during the day. No entries will be taken contingent on playing only at a certain times, no changes will be made to posted schedules because you are playing later or earlier than you would like, and no refunds will be given based on game times.

Tournament Registration

For all tournaments, any team may register, regardless of the # of registrations. Registration will get you listed in our "Who's Playing" section. Only those teams who submit payment and are marked in GREEN are guaranteed a spot on the schedule. We will look at our field space to determine the amount of teams we can take per division. Once that number has been reached, we will close down the division and start a waiting list.

Refunds

When entering a tournament you need to know that no refunds will be given to a team that drops out of the tournament after the brackets are published.  There will be a $200 drop out penalty for any team dropping out within 14 days of the tournament.

Every effort will be made to complete the tournament, but in the event the tournament cannot be completed we will refund on the following criteria.  A full rainout and no game has started, a full refund; 1 game played a 1/2 of entry fee refund will be issued; 2 games played no refund will be given.  The tournament director has the right to alter schedules, adjust time limits, or adjust the number of playoff participants in order to complete the tournament. The tournament director also has the right to alter the amount of the refund.

Field Locations

Registering for a tournament does not guarantee that you will play your games at Big League Dreams Park (BLD).  Field restrictions and size of various age groups make it impossible to schedule all games at BLD.

The Director reserves that right to change sites/locations without notice due to field availability.  Also, tournaments may play Sunday games at alternate locations due to field restrictions.  If a tournament is cancelled for any reason, USSSA and Vegas Valley Baseball have no financial responsibility other than to refund the entry fee for the cancelled tournament.

Players Eligibility

Players may play up in age but may not play down.

Players may only play on one team during a weekend tournament, regardless of age group.

Any manager knowingly or NOT KNOWINGLY using illegal players will be ejected from the game and may be ejected from the tournament. The team will forfeit all games the illegal player(s) participated and shall not advance into bracket play.  Upon further investigations the manager and player may be suspended from all USSSA sanctioned leagues and tournaments for up to a one year period.

Game Days

All teams are to report to their fields or registration desk one hour before their scheduled game times.  When circumstances arise, we will start games early throughout the day of the tournament. Teams are to be prepared to start at least one half hour before their scheduled game time.

Conduct

Managers and coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players and fans.

Any manager or coach ejected from a game is subject to a one game suspension at the tournament director's discretion.  An ejected manager or coach must not be in the area of the field after being ejected or during the pre-game or play of the suspended game.  Any manager or coach caught continuing to coach after being ejected or suspended will be suspended for an additional period of time.  Any player ejected from a game is subject to a one game suspension at the tournament director's discretion.

Pre Game

Absolutely no pre-game infield on any of the fields.  Warm-up may only be conducted in foul territory and the outfield!!!

Officials

All conversations with an umpire should be conducted after time out has been called and be held in a calm and professional manner.  Verbal abuse of an umpire will not be tolerated and may result in ejection from the game.  

Seeding

Seeding will be determined by:
1. Winning Percentage (Desc) 2. Number of Wins (Desc) 3. Number of Loses (Asc) 4. Tied Teams (vs each other) Winning Pct. (Desc) (Not valid if all tied teams have not played each other) 5. Avg Points Allowed (Asc) 6. Avg Run Differential with a max of 8 (Desc) 7. USSSA Points (Desc) 8. Date Team Entered USSSA Database (Once advanced past one tie breaker, you don't go back to a previous tie breaker.)  9. Coin Flip

Metal Cleats

**NO METAL CLEATS** ARE TO BE WORN AT BLD, ARROYO GRANDE 5-8, OR DESERT BREEZE, AND NO METAL CLEATS WILL BE ALLOWED IN DIVISIONS 12U AND BELOW.**

Game Play

Any team forfeiting a game may not advance to playoff rounds if it is determined that it is beneficial to that team with regards to that team with regards top Runs Allowed / Run Differential / Pitching etc.

All protests will be ruled on immediately and all decisions are final and once the next pitch is thrown, team loses the right to protest.

Teams that win a "AAA" Division 3-Day Tournament owe a play-up tournament at the major level. A team that wins a "AA" Division 3-Day Tournament must play a tournament at the AAA level. The play up should be in the next available tournament that the higher division is offered.

Home team is determined by a coin flip in pool play.  In playoffs, highest seeded team will be the home team.  Each team will provide a scorekeeper with all changes going through the home plate umpire.

No mechanical noise makers are allowed at USSSA tournaments.

National Event Birth

Any team winning a tournament from Veteran's Day 2023 to May 1, 2024, will receive a World Series berth. Team rosters and players are not frozen until May 1. The only exception to this is players and teams with Elite World Series berths. Note that players frozen to a major team can be released, but they must go to another major team. They cannot drop down in class to a AAA or AA team.

The 2023-2024 season starts on Aug. 15, 2023. The age of your oldest player on April 30th, 2024 will determine your 2023-2024 team age (USSSA Baseball Age Calculator). All teams need to re-register for 2023-2024 beginning August 1, 2023. You can register your team at www.usssa.com and for assistance check out (Team Information).

All teams participating in USSSA Leagues and tournaments must have a team insurance policy.

For 2 day tournaments, we need at least 4 teams and for 3 day tournaments we need at least 5 teams in each classification (AA, AAA, MJ) to keep them separate from one another.  When those numbers aren't reached, we combine the classifications into an "open" division.   Usually, the AA's are able to be kept separate from the others and the AAA's and Majors are combined.

Please Note:  Our tournaments sometimes begin play as early as 7:45 AM on all days of the tournament and may go as late 9:00 PM starts.  Teams are to be prepared to play at any time during the day.  No entries will be taken contingent on playing only at a certain times and no changes will be made to posted schedules because you are playing later or earlier than you would like.

For all tournaments, any team may register, regardless of the # of registrations. Registration will get you listed in our "Who's Playing" section. Only those teams who submit payment and are marked in GREEN are guaranteed a spot on the schedule. We will look at our field space to determine the amount of teams we can take per division. Once that number has been reached, we will close down the division and start a waiting list.

When entering a tournament you need to know that no refunds will be given to a team that drops out of the tournament after the brackets are published.  There will be a $200 drop out penalty for any team dropping out within 14 days of the tournament.

Every effort will be made to complete the tournament, but in the event the tournament cannot be completed we will refund on the following criteria.  A full rainout and no game has started, a full refund;  1 game played a 1/2 of entry fee refund will be issued;  2 games played no refund will be given.  The tournament director has the right to alter schedules, adjust time limits, or adjust the number of playoff participants in order to complete the tournament.  The tournament director also has the right to alter the amount of the refund.

Registering for a tournament does not guarantee that you will play your games at Big League Dreams Park (BLD).  Field restrictions and size of various age groups make it impossible to schedule all games at BLD.

The Director reserves that right to change sites/locations without notice due to field availability.  Also, tournaments may play Sunday games at alternate locations due to field restrictions.  If a tournament is cancelled for any reason, USSSA and Vegas Valley Baseball have no financial responsibility other than to refund the entry fee for the cancelled tournament.

Players may play up in age but may not play down.

Players may only play on one team during a weekend tournament, regardless of age group.

Any manager knowingly or NOT KNOWINGLY using illegal players will be ejected from the tournament, the team will forfeit all games the illegal player(s) participated and shall not advance into bracket play.  Upon further investigations the manager and player may be suspended from all USSSA sanctioned leagues and tournaments for up to a one year period.

Teams are to have non-duplicating numbers on their jerseys at least 4 inches in size.

All teams are to report to their fields or registration desk one hour before their scheduled game times.  When circumstances arise, we will start games early throughout the day of the tournament. Teams are to be prepared to start at least one half hour before their scheduled game time.

Managers and coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players and fans.

Absolutely no pre-game infield on any of the fields.  Warm-up may only be conducted in foul territory and the outfield!!!

All conversations with an umpire should be conducted after time out has been called and be held in a calm and professional manner.  Verbal abuse of an umpire will not be tolerated and may result in ejection from the game.  

NO METAL CLEATS ARE TO BE WORN ON BLD MOUNDS, ARROYO GRANDE 5-8 MOUNDS, OR DESERT BREEZE MOUNDS, AND NO METAL CLEATS WILL BE ALLOWED IN DIVISIONS 12U AND BELOW.

No mechanical noise makers are allowed at USSSA tournaments.

Home team is determined by a coin flip in pool play.  In playoffs, highest seeded team will be the home team.  Each team will provide a scorekeeper with all changes going through the home plate umpire.

Seeding will be determined by:
1. Winning Percentage (Desc) 2. Number of Wins (Desc) 3. Number of Loses (Asc) 4. Tied Teams (vs each other) Winning Pct. (Desc) (Not valid if all tied teams have not played each other) 5. Avg Points Allowed (Asc) 6. Avg Run Differential with a max of 8 (Desc) 7. USSSA Points (Desc) 8. Date Team Entered USSSA Database (Once advanced past one tie breaker, you don't go back to a previous tie breaker.)  9. Coin Flip

Any manager or coach ejected from a game is subject to a one game suspension at the tournament director's discretion.  An ejected manager or coach must not be in the area of the field after being ejected or during the pre-game or play of the suspended game.  Any manager or coach caught continuing to coach after being ejected or suspended will be suspended for an additional period of time.  Any player ejected from a game is subject to a one game suspension at the tournament director's discretion.

All protests will be ruled on immediately and all decisions are final and once the next pitch is thrown, team loses the right to protest.

Any team forfeiting a game may not advance to playoff rounds if it is determined that it is beneficial to that team with regards to that team with regards top Runs Allowed / Run Differential / Pitching etc.

Teams that win a "AAA" Division 3-Day Tournament owe a play-up tournament at the major level. A team that wins a "AA" Division 3-Day Tournament must play a tournament at the AAA level. The play up should be in the next available tournament that the higher division is offered.

Any team winning a tournament from Veteran's Day 2022 to May 1, 2023, will receive a World Series berth. Team rosters and players are not frozen until May 1. The only exception to this is players and teams with Elite World Series berths. Note that players frozen to a major team can be released, but they must go to another major team. They cannot drop down in class to a AAA or AA team.