USA Premier uses American League Rules, Sporting News Edition (with modification listed)
These rules are the official rules under which all USAPB tournament and league games will be played. In the event of any confusion, conflicts or disagreement of any rules or regulation include herein, the decision of the Rules Committee is final and binding.
NOTE: By registering, paying and/or playing in the USA Premier Sports event, the Team Organization and Head Coach acknowledges and assumes all responsibility to ensure compliance with the Tournament and League Rules. We will not be able to follow-up with teams and therefore ask you to manage to the following terms and conditions. We greatly appreciate your compliance and support in making USA Premier Sports well run tournaments for all to enjoy!
Official Tournament Terms and Conditions
- FEES: Deposit must be received by specified date to secure team spot. Waiting list will be activated after that period or when notified – 1st paid, 1st secured. Full payment must be received two weeks prior to league or tournament or what email notification due date indicate if sooner – teams not fully paid will be dropped and deposit non-refundable. Use our Online Payment Option or MAIL CHECK OR MONEY ORDER (PREFERRED) TO:
- ELIGIBILITY TOURNAMENT AND LEAGUE and/or PLAYOFFS:
2.1 INTEGRITY OF TEAMS AND PLAYERS:
Each coach takes full responsibility to ensure compliance of players (age and amateur status) and the tournament rules are met. If there are questions, please consult with the tournament director and have resolved prior to the tournament. If there are any issues, Team will forfeit game and will be ineligible for playoffs.
2.2 TEAM INSURANCE:
Each team must provide proof of insurance two weeks prior to league or tournament or what email notification due date indicated. Note: Recommended team insurance can be purchased through USA Premier and coverage will be good for a year where ever team is playing. Insurance to be underwritten by “A” rated or above insurance underwriters with liability and excess accident insurance is mandatory to participate in any USA Premier event. It is the responsibility of the head coach to ensure compliance. Non-receipt of proof of insurance will result in team being dropped and deposit non-refundable.
2.3 SUBMISSION OF ROSTERS:
MUST have roster submitted to be eligible to be in the Playoffs (Enforced) (“Open Roster” can be updated throughout tournament – more info below) Electronic submission using the official Tournament Rosters “Coaches Dugout” Rosters are able to be updated throughout the tournaments as needed. To help promote the players, these will be available to the public and special features our national network of College Coaches, Professional Scouts, and others interested parties.
2.4 NOTIFICATION OF SCORES:
The Winning team to submit scores immediately after game using by the using the official “Coaches Dugout.” If absolutely unable to access, then submit online score tracker, or email: scores@usapremierbaseball.com (note: teams, age, field, time and scores) NOTE: If scores are not received within 1 hour – the game will be considered a LOSS for BOTH teams. This is important as the standings are live and winners need to be determine for next rounds.
2.5 TEAM SCOREBOOK:
For those levels that are receiving a CABA Regional or World Series berth, a Scorebook must be kept along with potential special rules that may apply to the winning team.
2.6 WORLD SERIES PLAYOFF ELIMINATION:
There is a 6 game minimum, with 5 pool play games and advance to single elimination playoff or to single consolation game. The 1st and 2nd place teams for each division will proceed to the playoffs. Playoff games are single elimination.
- USA Premier Sports
15592 Producer Lane
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Phone: 714-373-0130 or 714-292-6936
USA PREMIER – Official Game Rules
- ROSTER LIMITATION RULES (World Series)
Considered open rosters to showcase talent with the ability to add players at any time during the tournament. - PLAYOFF ELIGIBILITY
Rosters must be added by tournament roster deadline or team will be INELIGIBLE for Playoffs – NO EXCEPTIONS/ENFORCED – Required 9 players to have roster show active… Again, CAN UPDATE THROUGHOUT tournament. Note: These are available real time to public and are closely followed by other teams / fans on whether due dates were met and also on player eligibility. We do enforce and have had escalation to validate non-compliance. Thank you for your support with this. - OPEN Roster
* No Player Limit – CAN UPDATE THROUGHOUT tournament. Want to get visibility for as many players as possible.
* Player Age – Players must be the appropriate age on or before May 1st, e.g., player was 16 years old on May 1st and turned 17 on May 2nd – He would be eligible to play on the 16U, 17U and 18U
* Player MUST be on roster BEFORE game starts – If any player is not on the roster before the game, and is protested, will be an automatic forfeit.
* Share Player across DIFFERENT Age Levels Teams- CAN have player on DIFFERENT age level teams – CANNOT share WITHIN SAME age level teams e.g., a 16 year old can be on an 17U team AND a 16U team, however, can NOT be on two different 16U teams.
* Should any player appear on duplicate rosters (which should not happen), the team he first plays for, either offensively or defensively, is the team he must play with for the remainder of the tournament.
* College Coaches and Scouts – Will be sending out emails to 3,000 College Coaches and Scouts before and during tournament – Please keep updated
* Recommendation – Print updated Rosters and put in fence for each game for the College Coaches and Scouts. Thank you! - PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:
All players must be of legal age to compete in the tournament, which is the age level playing by May 1st of the current calendar year, e.g., 17 years old or younger on or before May 1st current year would be eligible for the 18u level and 17U level. NO EXCEPTIONS. - BASEBALLS:
Each team is required to provide 2 new game balls to the Umpire in Chief at the exchange of line-up cards – Official high school quality or better. It is your responsibility to return foul balls from your side of the field. If the umpires need more baseballs, each team is required to provide one each, beginning with the home team first, until the foul balls are returned. For the World Series tournaments, baseballs will be provided at the mandatory Coaches Meeting. Note: Due to travel and potential games being played prior to the meeting, please ensure you have balls to potentially play the earlier games and also have a representative at the Mandatory coaches meeting to receive baseballs provided. - MINIMUM PLAYERS:
If a team has at least 8 players, the game will start at game time. The 9th position in the batting order will be left blank, and when the spot comes up in the batting order it will be an automatic out. If the 9th player arrives prior to the 5th inning, he/she will be placed in the batting order as the 9th batter and will complete the game under standard game rules. If a team cannot field 9 players by the completion of 4-1/2 innings the game will be considered forfeiture. - HOME TEAM:
A coin flip prior to the game shall determine home and visiting team. If same teams play twice, then they will switch being home and visiting team. If a team with less than 9 players is listed to be the home team, then home team will revert to the team with a minimum of 9 players. For elimination rounds, the higher seeded team will be home unless the two teams are of equal seeding, then the coin flip will be used. - INNINGS PER GAME:
All Pool games 7 inning maximum, 2-hour time limit. No new inning may start after the time limit has been reached. Ties count as 1/2 win and 1/2 loss. Playoff round games may go extra innings. No time limit in playoff round games.
Eight Run Mercy Rule ENFORCED.
* 1st Rule – You must play 7 or 9 innings, no time limit
* 2nd Rule – Extra Innings – No new inning will start after 2 hours 40 min.
* NO MERCY RULES ENFORCED - SPEED UP RULE:
A runner is allowed for the pitcher or catcher at any time with any player on your roster who is not already in the game. If a team has only 9 players then a runner for the pitcher or catcher is not authorized. - INTENTIONAL WALKS:
Tell the Plate Umpire that you want to walk the batter – NO PITCH TO THE BATTER IS NECESSARY. - DESIGNATED HITTER:
The designated hitter is optional but can only be used for the pitcher; refer to rule 6.10 of Sporting News Official Baseball Rules. - EXTRA HITTER:
Optional extra hitter (EH) will be allowed for any amount in the batter line-up, but he must be on the line-up card exchanged at the pre-game plate conference. He may not be added once the game commences. The EH may enter defensively at any time, in any position, but must remain in the same spot in the batting order. The line-up must stay for all batters for the entire game. - RE-ENTRY:
High School Re-entry rule is allowed. - EJECTION:
In the event a player, coach or manager is ejected from the game, the individual must leave the dugout and playing complex for the remainder of that game. The Rules Committee, who has the authority to impose additional game suspensions, will review all ejections. - PITCHING RULES:
There are no maximum innings during a tournament. - TIE BREAKER RULE:
Head to Head > Runs Allowed > Runs Scored - UNIFORM CODE:
All players, coaches, and managers must be in uniform while on the field for this event. Note: We strongly suggest that coaches are in full uniform as we strive to produce the best quality events and high standard baseball reputation. If absolutely required to wear shorts (again, strongly discourage), then ensure to wear Team Jersey and Hat. Appreciate your compliance with provide the most professional representation of your team to large following of college coaches, scouts and fans. - BATS:
USA Premier Sports is a WOOD bat organization for leagues and tournaments. NOTE: ANY Type of “WOOD” bat is acceptable. For World Series games, aluminum bats will be allowed. - FORFEITURE:
Forfeiture will have occurred if a team cannot field 9 players from its official team roster by completion of 4-1/2 innings. The forfeiture score awarded will be 7 to 0. We encourage the coaches to play sharing team players as needed, but the game will be considered a forfeiture. - RAIN/GAME MODIFICATIONS:
We will do our best to make sure all games are played according to schedule. In case of rain, games will be shortened to 5 innings or 1 hour 45 minutes. If a game still cannot be completed within that time limit, the game will be cancelled and not rescheduled. Scores for partially played games will be based on the last completed inning. Games cancelled due to weather will count as a 1-1 tie score for each team. – No refund for rained out games. - HOME/VISITOR ASSIGNMENT:
Home Team will be 3rd base dugout and Visitor will be 1st base dugout. Coin Toss to determine. Playoff Games would have the highest seed team to be Home. Exception, Host Field Team will remain in their home base dugout regardless of coin toss. - IN THE EVENT OF ANY CONFUSION, CONFLICT OR DISAGREEMENT OF ANY RULE OR REGULATION INCLUDED HEREIN, PROTESTS NEED TO BE MADE DURING THE GAME, ACCOMPANIED BY A $50 FEE. PROTESTS THEN WILL REVIEWED AND THE DECISION OF THE RULES COMMITTEE IS FINAL AND BINDING. IF THE PROTEST IS RULED IN FAVOR OF THE PROTESTER, THE $50 FEE WILL BE REFUNDED. PAY THE PROTEST FEE VIA PAYPAL TO INFO@USAPREMIERBASEBALL.COM – INCLUDE YOUR PROTEST IN THE COMMENT AREA.
Thank you for playing in the USA Premier World Series!
“If You Don’t Play With the Best, Why Play At All…”