7U / 8U Coach Pitch

Tournament Rules

• NOTICE: CRUSH Tournaments are open events but are best suited for AA/Minors/D3 teams.  If you are a AAA/Majors/D2/D1 caliber team, please request to play up 1 age division.
• Refund Policy: Refunds are credits towards future events.  If team drops 2+ weeks prior to event = full event credit.  If team drops within 14 days of event = 50% credit.  If team drops within 7 days of event while schedule is posting then not eligible for event credit.
• Due at Check-In: (1) Team Roster with First Name, Last Name, Jersey Number, Grade, Date of Birth, (2) Copy of Insurance, (3) Entry Fee in Full before scheduling (Venmo or Zelle). Please also have copies of Birth Certificates for each player on hand in case of player disputes.  Rosters are frozen after pool play begins.  Rosters and insurance must be sent to TD prior to first pool game.  Park waivers may also be required.
• Player Eligibility - CRUSH Tournaments are open format and will follow the same Age Based guidelines that are listed on NCS website rules (May 1st Cutoff).  Grade Based exceptions are discouraged and limited to only three max per team.  Grade Based exception players must be pre-approved by TD and highlighted on Roster with a copy of Birth Certificate plus Proof of Grade Enrollment (report card or other). 
• Illegal Players - A player proven to be illegal due to an age or grade violation during a tournament game shall result in the player and head coach being ejected from the tournament and forfeit of protested game.
• Teams will consist of no more than 15 players; and only 12 Awards per team will be provided. There will be a Head Coach and a maximum of 3 assistant coaches (the Max Allowed is 4 Coaches). 
• Awards for 1st Place and 2nd Place.  12 Awards per Team.  1 MVP Award for 1st Place.
• Pitching & Base Distances. 7U/8U uses 40' pitching and 60' bases.
• 1-Day Fall/Winter Tournaments (3GG) - Game Times & Innings:
  
  • All games will be 75 minutes, Finish the Inning (5 Min Rule applies), and 7 runs max per half inning.  No coin flip.  Higher seed is Home Team.
• 2-Day Spring/Summer Tournaments (3GG) - Game Times & Innings: 
  • Pool games will be 75 minutes, Finish the Inning (*2 Min Rule applies), and 7 runs max per half inning & will be used for seeding bracket.  No coin flip.  Each team will have 1 Home & 1 Away.
  • Bracket games will be 75 minutes, Finish the Inning (*2 Min Rule applies), Unlimited runs per half inning. No coin flip.  Higher seed is Home Team.
  • *5 Minute Rule may apply at umpire discretion in order to stay on schedule.  
• The game will continue until the allotted time expires, with the current inning being completed if necessary. Coaches are advised to confirm the start time and game duration with the umpire during the plate meeting prior to the game.  The 2 Minute Rule will be enforced by umpires and apply to all Games in order for fields to stay on schedule.  No new inning will start if less than 2 minutes on game clock.  *5 Minute Rule may be enforced if games are behind schedule.
• Make sure teams are prepared and ready to play 15 min prior to scheduled start time. We will start games early if previous game finishes early!
• If games are running more than 30 minutes behind schedule, TD and umpires will enforce 5 Minute Rule on all games; and have discretion to move to Drop Dead for Pool Play.
• Seeding is Automatically Calculated by the Quick Scores system based on teams Pool Play Record & Winning Percentage.  No challenges accepted.  If two or more teams are tied in the Standings, the following tie breakers will be applied in order by the Quick Scores system:   (1) Head to Head Ranking via QS Logic if applicable, (2) Runs Allowed, (3) Runs Scored, (4) Auto Coin Flip by Quick Scores system.   
• Run Rule = 15 after 3, 10 after 4, 8 after 5
• Tie Breaker (Extra Innings) – Runners at 2^nd and 3^rd with 1 Out.  Runners will be the last 2 batted outs from previous inning.
• In pool games, the game is over when the opposing team is mathematically eliminated from scoring enough runs to win or tie the game after time expires. 
• In pool games, the home team is not allowed to continue running up score after winning game after time expires, regardless of impact on seeding.  Runs Allowed is priority over Runs Scored.
• All 7U/8U CP teams must bat the entire roster, with free defensive substitution. The batting order never changes. 10 or more players make a full batting roster.  A team can begin a game with 8 or more players. If you are playing with 8 or 9 players, when the 9th and 10th batting spots come up and there is not a player in that spot, an automatic out will be charged. Any player that arrives after the game begins will be added to the bottom of the batting order. If at any time the lineup falls below 8, either by ejection, injury or illness, the game results in a forfeit. If a player is ejected, then each subsequent scheduled plate appearance by the ejected player results in an out. If a player is lost due to injury or illness during the game, then the lineup is compressed without an out being recorded (no penalty). When batting full roster = free defensive substitution.
• If a team Bats Out of Order, it is best for the opposing team to wait and appeal the result of play immediately after the improper batter has put ball in play and reached base.  It must be challenged immediately after the play.  Once the next batter takes a pitch, then no challenge will be accepted. 
• Improper batter still at bat – (1) Replace improper batter with proper batter, (2) Proper batter assumes existing count, (3) No Penalty
• Improper batter on base, but no pitch yet to next batter – (1) Umpire to send improper batter on base back to dugout, (2) Nullify all action from improper at-bat, (3) Identify the proper batter and call him out, (4) Next batter is player following the proper batter identified on lineup that was just called out.
• Improper batter on base and pitch made to next batter – No challenge/appeal accepted. Play stands.
• Courtesy Runners - A courtesy runner for the catcher of record in the previous inning may be used. The courtesy runner shall be the player that made the previous out. If no outs, the courtesy runner shall be the previous batter not on base, or the last batter.
• The Pitching Coach - The pitching coach must either straddle the rubber or stand on the rubber. The pitching coach shall act as a machine and not verbally or physically coach at any time while in the pitching position. If the pitching coach violates this rule the Head Coach will be warned. In the second violation, the pitching coach may be removed. The pitching coach shall position himself as not to be an obstruction to the defensive team on any possible play once the ball has been hit. If the pitching coach obstructs a defensive play, the batter (or lead runner) may be ruled out. If the pitching coach gets hit with a batted ball, the ball becomes dead and a no-pitch is declared.
• If any coach is hit with a thrown ball unintentionally, the ball is dead, and runners cannot advance. If in the umpire's judgment, the coach did not make a legitimate attempt to avoid a thrown ball, the batter is declared out and no runners shall advance (baserunners would be returned to their last legally occupied base).
• Defensive Player Positions - When a team is on defense, they will play with 10 players on the field. Four outfielders (they must be in the outfield grass). There will be four infielders (they must stay behind a 30-foot arc until the ball is hit). There will be a catcher who must be in a catching position in the catcher's box. There will be a player pitcher (they must stay in the pitching circle until the ball is hit - the pitching circle is defined as being within 3 feet of the rubber to either side).
• No Bunting Allowed; No Fake Bunting Allowed; No Slash Hitting Allowed
• The batter shall receive a maximum of six (6) pitches or three (3) swinging strikes. However, the at-bat may not end on a foul ball. For example, if the 6th pitch is fouled, then a 7th pitch is awarded, otherwise known as a continuation of the at-bat.
• Throwing Bat - Players will receive 1 warning for throwing the bat after a swing; & then may be declared out on any additional violations that present a safety risk to catcher or umpire.
• Intentional Walks are not allowed.
• Obstruction Calls are at sole discretion of Umpires.  
• Head First Sliding in to any base is highly discouraged in 8U for player safety of head & neck area.  It is prohibited at home plate where there is contact with catcher or another defensive player.  Runner may be called out at umpire discretion for head first slide at home.
• Umpire Challenges.  Head coach should call time and calmly speak to home plate umpire.  Respectful request can be made to "ask for help" to allow both umpires to discuss.  Once decision made, the call is final.
• In game protests should be directed to the Head Umpire during the game for interpretation of rules.  No game protests to head umpire, field director or TD granted after conclusion of game.  All game results are final.  
• Absolutely no aggressive behavior, gestures, or profanity from or directed towards umpires, coaches, players, parents, or fans will be tolerated.  Ejection and removal from the ball-park by security or police will be used if needed.
• Runners cannot lead-off or steal bases. Runners cannot leave the base until the ball is hit or reaches home plate. A runner is out if they leave the base before the ball is hit or reaches home plate and the ball is contacted. If the ball is not contacted the umpire will warn the baserunner. If the ball is put in play the runner will be declared out. If two or more runners leave the base early the lead runner will be declared out.
• Umpires shall call time after every play and declare the ball dead. Time shall be called as soon as the lead runner is not attempting to advance. A runner faking back and forth to try to entice a throw from a fielder shall be construed as no longer trying to advance and the umpire will call time.
• Uniforms – Matching uniforms preferred and must have unique numbers on back.  1 blank uniform can be recorded as #0 or #00.  No duplicate numbers allowed unless reported and approved by both home plate umpire and opponent before game during home plate meeting.  All players wear cap when playing the field.
• Equipment – No metal cleats. Catchers should wear full protection. 
• Walk-Up Songs & Speakers - Team batting can play music and portable speakers may be used for walk-up songs and between innings.  No music during game play.  All walk-up songs and music played must be clean version with no profanity or explicit content.  Complaints from guests with children will be respected and music will prohibited at discretion of head umpire and/or tournament director.
• Noise Makers - No artificial noise makers (horns, drums, rattlers, etc.) that interfere with fair game play or sportsmanship.  Umpire to issue 1 warning so head coach can address fans.  Next violation will result in head coach ejection.  
• Bat Limitations – No illegal or altered bats of any kind will be allowed.  No T-ball only marked bats.  All bats must be marked 1.15bpf, BBCOR, or USSSA / USA stamped.  No weight restriction.  The penalty is bat removal from tournament and batter out once pitch thrown.
• All other rules not listed above will generally follow same guidelines listed on NCS.
• Crush Tournaments powered by Texas Quality Umpires (TQU); Eugene Andrews UIC/Owner

• Any rain delay or rain out information will be communicated by the Tournament Director via text message to head coach and/or posted on the Crush Tournaments Facebook page.  Please have all parents and attendees Follow this page for event updates and alerts.  
• In most situations where there are significant delays or field closures, the Tournament Director will look first to condense the schedule by moving games to shorter time limits.  Pool play games will be shorter time and finish the batter aka "drop dead."  Bracket play will be shorter games but still remain finish the inning.  8U pool game minimum time limit is 55 min. drop dead.  Bracket game play minimum is 55 min. finish the inning (2 min rule applies).
• In rare situations where it cannot be avoided, Tournament Director may be forced to cut 1 pool game out of schedule in order to continue event.  This would then make event a 2GG vs 3GG.  $50 refund will be issued to all teams that only get 2 games of play in this situation.
• There may be times where we will continue to play baseball during light to moderate rains. However we will also delay games ~30 minutes if there is lightning detected within 6 miles.  We use Flash AI & Red Cross recommendations for lightning detection and safety protocols.
• In the event games are delayed due to lightning we do ask that teams leave the field and seek shelter from the rain somewhere other than the dugouts, as the dugouts are at more risk of being struck by lightning. 
• Any game that is delayed due to weather will be resumed from where the game left off once it is considered safe to return to play.
• Any game that is cancelled due to weather will be made up if possible from the beginning if no innings were completed.
• Any game that makes it past 1 complete inning of play will result to the last completed innings score and the winner will be determined as the team in the lead after the last completed inning.

• A game started is considered a game played based on our refund policy. 
• Rain out policy for 3 GG tournament with $195 entry fees are:
• If no games are played, you will receive a full $195 event credit if you paid in advance.
• If only 1 game is played, you will receive $100 event credit and no awards given out.
• If 2 games are played, you will receive $50 event credit and no awards given out.
• Once bracket play begins, there are no event credits given out.
• Scheduled teams that drop event prior to rain-out cancellation will forfeit the $195 entry.