SoNV USSSA Tournament Rules

7U - 8U

USSSA NATIONAL RULES APPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS

Game

• 7U-8U - No new inning after 1:30 or 6 innings, whichever comes first. In pool play game can end in a tie.

• Championship Game has no time limit . The mercy rule will be in effect.

• Mercy Rule, 6 inning game : 15 after 3 innings, 8 after 4 innings

• If a game is called due to rain, weather, or other acts of nature and cannot be resumed it is a regulation game if: 3 innings have been played or : after 2 1/2 innings the home team is ahead. All games that for any reason cannot be declared a regulation game pursuant to USSSA Rule 7.03.C shall be suspended.

• a half inning is complete when 3 outs are recorded

• Tie Breakers: 1. Winning Percentage 2. Number of Wins 3. Number of Loses 4. Tied Teams (vs each other) Winning Percentage ( not valid if all teams have not played each other) 5. Avg Runs allowed 6. Avg Run Differential with a max of 8 7. USSSA Points 8. Date Team entered USSSA Database ( Once advanced past a tie-breaker no going back to previous tie-breaker)

• Championship Day: For all playoff and Championship games . If a game is still tied after end of regulation innings, or time limit in playoff games, the batter preceding the 1st batter of the inning shall be placed on 2nd base to start that inning. This will continue til there is a winner. 

• There will be only 1 manager and 3 coaches allowed in the dugout at SoNV USSSA games. Coaches are allowed outside the dugout, but one coach must be in the dugout at all times. NO BUCKETS allowed on the field of play. Any interference during a play by coaches will result in a penalty determined by the Umpires.

Mound and Base Distances

7U-8U    Mound 40 ft    Bases 60ft

Pitching Limitations

•  7U-8U : 6 innings in a day, including multiple games in a day: 8 innings total for Tournament.

• One (1) pitch in an inning equals one (1) inning. 

• A player that pitches more than three (3) innings in one day MUST rest the next day.

• Once a pitcher is removed from the mound, they cannot return to pitch in that game again.

• Warning on Balks in the 7U-8U division.

• In a one weekend tournament pitching does not recycle for the playoffs.

• It shall be the responsibility of each team to challenge pitching violations by notifying the Umpire and then filing a Protest. A protest may be  filed at any point after the pitcher in violation records any innings beyond their legal limit AND while pitcher in violation is in the game as the pitcher of record. If the violation is the last out of the game, the protest must be filed prior to the Umpires and the Protesting team leaving the field.

• For purposes of pitching limitations rule, a pitcher is in violation of the rule if, the pitcher records an inning above the legal pitching rules.

PENALTY: for violation of the pitching limitation rule: the pitcher shall be removed from the mound and not allowed to pitch the remainder of the tournament, the Manager shall be ejected and also required to sit out the next scheduled game.

NOTE: These pitching rules pertain only to Southern Nevada USSSA tournamants. World Series pitching rules are governed by the USSSA Bylaws.

BATTING

Teams may play an official game with an 8 player lineup. If a team plays with an 8 player lineup, an out shall be declared for the ninth (9th) position in the lineup. Any player(s) arriving after the start of the game shall be added to the bottom of the lineup.

Teams may bat nine (9) player, or nine (9) players with a DH, or nine (9) players with a EH (extra hitter), or nine (9) players with a DH and an EH. Or a continuous lineup.  hence,  the batting lineup can contain 9, 10 or entire team.  Only players listed in the batting lineup may play a defensive position. Lineups become official once the home plate umpire receives the lineup at the plate meeting.

A team that must shorten their batting lineup due to lack of eligible players shall have an out declared every time that spot in the lineup comes up.

Starters may re-enter the lineup one time,  only in their original spot.

The DH may bat for any defensive player or that players substitute. If a pinch hitter or pinch runner for the DH is used , that player becomes the new DH. A starting DH may re-enter the game one time since the DH is considered a starting player. The DH and thge defensive player being batted for are locked into their batting spot in the order. The DH is terminated for the rest of the game if : (1) the defensive player, or previous defensive player for whom the DH batted for, subsequently bats, pinch hits or runs for the DH. (2) The DH or any previous DH, assumes a defensive position.

The EH (extra hitter) may be used freely on defense. 

Bunting is allowed: No Bunt Slashing is allowed.. Penalty : Ball is dead, batter shall be called out.

DROPPED THIRD (3rd) STRIKE : Batter is automatically out

To Intentionally walk a batter, a coach or fielder just needs to inform the Umpire at any time during the Hiter's at bat

RUNNER

No lead-offs: Players cannot leave the base til the pitch crosses the plate.  If a runner leaves early and is thrown out , the runner is out. If the runner is safe: 1st offence, they must return to the previous base:  2nd offence in the same inning, the runner shall be declaired out. If the ball is hit, the Defensive team has the option of the result of the play, or it is considered a no pitch: runners will return their previous base and the hitter hits again with any previous ball/strike count.

Once the ball is thrown back to the pitcher by the catcher or any fielder at the conclusion of a play, at the umpire's judgment, all runners must return to their last touched base if they are not at least halfway to the next base.   

STEALING HOME is not allowed. Runners are only allowed to score on a hit, or forced to adavance by a walk, a Hit by Pitch, or an award by an Umpire. Runners shall not advance from 3rd base to home on a pass ball, wild pitch, a dropped 3rd strike/missed third strike or any attemp to throw out by the catcher. 

The Force Slide Rule: A runner may legally slide directly into a base, or slide any direction away from the fielder to avoid contact or altering the play of the fielder. Runners are never required to slide, but if a runner elects to slide, the slide must be legal. A legal slide means a head first slide or a slide with one leg and buttock on the ground before the base.

Illegal Slide: a slide is illegal if: raising the foot above the fielder's knee: sliding past a bag making contact or altering the fielders attempt to make a play: making intentional act while sliding such as throwing arms, kicking, slashing or roll block.  An illegal slide may also grounds to call Interference . On a Force Slide play the runner will be declared out, and the batter runner shall also be declared out.

MALICIOUS CONTACT: runner called out AND Ejected

ANY MALICIOUS CONTACT OR INTERFEENCE CALL SHALL BE A DEAD BALL CALL. NO RUNNERS MAY ADAVANCE.

COURTESY RUNNER:  At any time , the offensive team may use a courtesy runner for the Pitcher or Catcher of record. The Courtesy Runner must be a player not presently in the line-up. If no players are available , the Courtesy Runner shall be the player making the last batted out. The re-entry status of the Courtesy Runner, pitcher or catcher shall not be affected by this rule. If, at any time, a Courtesy Runner is determined to be ineligible, a proper replacement shall be used WITHOUT penalty.

A runner may not jump over a defensive player, unless the defensive player is completely flat on the ground in the runners basepath. PENALTY: The runner will be declared out, whether contact is made or not. The ball shall be declared dead, and no other runners may advance. 

EQUIPMENT

No Metal Cleats are allowed in the 7U-8U division

The catcher shall wear all appropriate gear including a catcher's helmet with facemask and either a built-in extended throat guard or a separately attached throat guard, chest protector, shin guards and a protective cup. In 7U-8U the catcher's helmet SHALL be a one-piece.

BATS: Must be USSSA Certified or wood. Max Barrel 2 3/4 . No Max drop weight.

Electronic devices: A coach may utilize exclusively one-way communication devices from the dugout-bench area only (when on defense) to communicate with the catcher.  Two-way communication devices: cell phones, walkie talkies, smart watches (including Apple iWatch) : may not be used to send or receive messages during the game.  

SPORTSMANSHIP and EJECTIONS

All players, coaches, managers sponsors and spectators are expected to conduct themselves in a positive sportsmanship manner at all times. The Tournament Director/Staff has the authority to remove anyone from the event at any time for un-sportsmanship conduct. In cases of a player, coach or manager being ejected from the game, it shall be the decision of the Tournament Director as to the Penalty imposed besides the ejection from the current game. Additional penalties may be assessed by the Tournament Director/Staff. Additional Penalties could include an additional 1 or 2 game suspension, or a Tournament suspension.

ITEMS NOT SPECIFICALLY COVERED IN POLICY'S OR TOURNAMENT RULES SHALL BE REFERRED TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR/STAFF FOR RESOLUTION