The Official
Tournament Rules of Game 7 Baseball will follow the National Federation Rules
with the exceptions listed in the rules below.
Teams should check
with your State Director for any rules that may apply specifically to your
geographic area.
COVID-19 Baseball Guidelines and Modifications - Click Here
Tournament/Rainout/Cancellation/Refund
Policies: Teams should check with their local tournament director on their
specific policies. You can also click on "Select a Region" at the top of the Home page for Rules/Policies for each region.
2022 Rule Updates: Highlighted in yellow
TEAM
SANCTION: A $40 (non-refundable) team registration/sanction fee shall be paid each season to
participate in Game 7 Baseball events. The Game 7 Baseball tournament season
begins on August 1st and ends on July 31st. Sanction your
team online at www.game7baseball.com
TEAM INSURANCE: All teams must have a team liability insurance policy to participate in Game 7 sanctioned events.
CLASSIFICATIONS: Game 7 offers four (4)
classifications of play for tournament teams:A – Recreational level teamAA – Middle level travel teams, limited travel scheduleAAA – Upper level travel teamsMajor – Elite travel team
Game 7 reserves the right to reclassify
a team up or down at any time based on tournament finishes, skill level, and/or
ability.*Note: During tournaments, some age divisions/classifications may be combined if there is not a minimum of 4 teams in a division.*
During Fall Tournaments (August 1 - November 15), age divisions/classifications may be combined.
AGE
ELIGIBILITY: Age cut-off date is April 30th. See Age calculator to
determine roster age.Grade Level Exceptions for ALL Divisions. *Maximum of 3 players per team*6U Division - Players who turn 7 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in Kindergarten. Also, any player turning 8 prior to September 1st will not be eligible. Players who are 6U are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.7U Division - Players who turn 8 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 1st grade. Also, any player turning 9 prior to September 1st will not be eligible. Players who are 7U are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.8U Division - Players who turn 9 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 2nd grade. Also, any player turning 10 prior to September 1st will not be eligible. Players who are 8U are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.9U Division - Players who turn 10 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 3rd grade. Also, any player turning 11 prior to September 1st will not be eligible. Players who are 9U are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.10U Division - Players who turn 11 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 4th grade. Also, any player turning 12 prior to September 1st will not be eligible. Players who are 10U are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.11U Division - Players who turn 12 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 5th grade. Also, any player turning 13 prior to September 1st will not be eligible. Players who are 11U are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.12U Division - Players who turn 13 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 6th grade. Also, any player turning 14 prior to September 1st will not be eligible. Players who are 12U are eligible for this division regardless of their grade.
13U Division – Players who turn 14
prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 7th grade. Also, any player turning 15 prior to September 1st will not
be eligible. Players who are 13U are eligible for this division regardless of
their grade.14U Division – Players who turn 15
prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 8th grade. Also, any player turning 16 prior to September 1st will not
be eligible. Players who are 14U are eligible for this division regardless of
their grade.
15U Division – Players who turn 16
prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 9th grade. Also, any player turning 17 prior to September 1st will not
be eligible. Players who are 15U are eligible for this division regardless of
their grade.16U Division – Players who turn 17
prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 10th grade. Also, any player turning 18 prior to September 1st will not
be eligible. Players who are 16U are eligible for this division regardless of
their grade.
17U Division – Players who turn 18
prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 11th grade. Also, any player turning 19 prior to September 1st will not
be eligible. Players who are 17U are eligible for this division regardless of
their grade.18U Division – Players who turn 19
prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the 12th grade. Also, any player turning 20 prior to September 1st will not
be eligible. Players who are 18U are eligible for this division regardless of
their grade.
It is the Team Managers responsibility to have photocopies of all his
players birth certificates or accepted proof of age with him at all times. Upon
protest, failure to have a photocopy of birth certificates or an accepted
proof of age immediately available upon demand will result in a forfeit.
The Official
Tournament Rules of Game 7 Baseball will follow the National Federation Rules
with the exceptions listed in the rules below.
Teams should check with your State Director for any rules that may apply specifically to your geographic area.
COVID-19 Baseball Guidelines and Modifications - Click Here
Tournament/Rainout/Cancellation/Refund Policies: Teams should check with their local tournament director on their specific policies. You can also click on "Select a Region" at the top of the Home page for Rules/Policies for each region.
2022 Rule Updates: Highlighted in yellow
TEAM
SANCTION: A $40 (non-refundable) team registration/sanction fee shall be paid each season to
participate in Game 7 Baseball events. The Game 7 Baseball tournament season
begins on August 1st and ends on July 31st. Sanction your
team online at www.game7baseball.com
CLASSIFICATIONS: Game 7 offers four (4) classifications of play for tournament teams:
During Fall Tournaments (August 1 - November 15), age divisions/classifications may be combined.
AGE ELIGIBILITY: Age cut-off date is April 30th. See Age calculator to determine roster age.
ROSTERS: All Teams MUST submit their Official Game 7 Roster online prior to participating in any Game 7 Event. All players must be listed as "APPROVED" to be eligible to participate. If they are not APPROVED, they won't show up on the team's viewable roster on the website. Players are approved when their parent/guardian accepts the roster addition and completes the online waiver for their child.
FIELD DIMENSIONS:
AGE DIVISION |
Base Distance |
Pitching Distance |
6U – 8U Coach
Pitch |
60 feet |
42 feet |
7U/8U Machine Pitch |
60 feet |
42 feet |
8U Player Pitch |
60 feet |
40 feet |
9U – 10U |
65 feet |
46 feet |
11U – 12U |
70 feet |
50 feet |
13U |
80 feet |
54 feet |
13U |
90 feet |
60’ 6” |
14U – 18U |
90 feet |
60’ 6” |
TIME LIMITS:
8U Player Pitch = 6 innings or 1 hour 30 minutes, whichever comes first
Game 7 Baseball reserves the right to alter, change or abbreviate
tournament formats, when necessary, in order to complete the tournament.
OFFICIAL GAMES:
RUN RULES:
10 runs after 4 innings
HOME TEAM: In pool play, the Home Team
will be determined by coin toss. The highest seeded team will be the Home Team
during Bracket Play and the Championship Game, with the exception being in a
Double Elimination Bracket where the undefeated team in the championship game
will be the Home Team regardless of seed. A coin toss will be done in the “IF”
game in a Double Elimination Bracket to determine the Home Team. The Home Team
will keep the official scorebook. The official scorebook must be a scorebook in
writing, not on a mobile device.
LINE-UPS: Each team MUST prepare a written line-up, listing first and last names
and numbers of all players/subs that are available prior to each game. Players’
numbers on the line-up card submitted at ground rules MUST match the players’
numbers participating. Team must also
choose their line-up option and note it on line-up card. Line-ups must be given
to the home plate umpire at ground rules. Note: Once the line-up
is submitted at ground rules, no additions/changes can be made.
Batting Order
Options: (9U – 18U)
Note: When batting a continuous
batting order, if a player has to leave the game due to an injury/illness and
cannot return to the game, he will not be penalized by taking an out in his
spot in the batting order. Once that player leaves the game, the player is not
eligible to return to the game in any capacity. If the line-up drops below nine
(9) players, teams will take an out for the ninth player each time he is
scheduled to bat.
Teams may start and finish a game with eight (8) players, but will
take an out for the ninth spot in the line-up.
If the line-up drops below 8 players, the game will be considered a
forfeit.
RE-ENTRY Rule: Starters may re-enter one time in their original spot in the batting order. Players listed as substitutes removed from the game are ineligible to return to that game.
TIE
BREAKERS:
In Pool Play, if all regulation innings have been played or the imposed
time limit has expired and the score is tied, the game will end in a tie.
Pool Play - Tie Breaker Criteria:
•
Runs Allowed
•
Runs Differential
(max +/- 7)
•
Game 7 Points
•
Coin Toss
BASEBALLS: Game 7 will provide up to 4
baseballs for each game. ALL Teams are
responsible for retrieving foul balls. Baseballs must be returned to the
home plate umpire during and after each game. Teams MUST have tournament quality baseballs on hand to throw in if the
original game balls are lost or not returned to the umpire.
PITCHING LIMITATIONS:
Age Division |
1 day maximum to
pitch next day |
1 day maximum |
3 day maximum |
8U – 12U |
4 innings |
6 innings |
8 innings |
13U – 18U |
5 innings |
7 innings |
10 innings |
Pitching
Limits 8U – 12U
- One (1) day maximum
to pitch the next day = 4 innings. The maximum number of innings a player can
legally pitch and be available to pitch the next day.
- One (1) day maximum
= 6 innings. The maximum number of
innings a player can legally pitch in one (1) day.
Days of Rest:
- - A player that
pitches more than four (4) innings in one (1) day MUST rest the next day.
- - A player that
pitches eight (8) innings in two (2) consecutive days MUST rest the next day.
- - A player that
pitches three (3) consecutive days, regardless of total number of innings
pitched, MUST rest the next day.
Once the pitcher is removed from the pitching position, he cannot
return to pitch in the same game.
Pitching
Limits 13U and older
- - One (1) day maximum
to pitch the next day = 5 innings. The maximum number of innings a player can
legally pitch and be available to pitch the next day.
- - One (1) day maximum
= 7 innings. The maximum number of
innings a player can legally pitch in one (1) day.
Days of Rest:
- - A player that
pitches more than five (5) innings in one (1) day MUST rest the next day.
- - A player that
pitches ten (10) innings in two (2) consecutive days MUST rest the next day.
- - A player that
pitches three (3) consecutive days, regardless of total number of innings
pitched, MUST rest the next day.
**Pitching will
be recorded by thirds of an inning**
BAT RESTRICTIONS:
All -3 bats must be stamped BBCOR.
Illegal Bat (Penalty): If
discovered by the defensive team upon appeal during the at bat, the batter will
be declared out. Any subsequent outs made on a play will stand. All other
actions caused by the use of the illegal bat shall be nullified. (Runners
return to their last legally occupied base at the time of the pitch). The
appeal must occur before the next pitch or attempted play. If improperly
appealed, bat will be removed from play with no penalty assessed.
COACHES: A maximum of four (4) coaches per team are allowed in the dugouts. Only one (1) coach is permitted to stand outside the dugout in LIVE BALL territory defensively. All interference rules will apply should a coach choose to stand outside the dugout in LIVE BALL territory. The coaches must stay within the vicinity of the dugout entrance.
COURTESY RUNNERS: (9U – 18U)
INTENTIONAL WALKS:
UNIFORMS:
Catchers: Catchers should wear all appropriate protective gear including chest protector, shin or leg guards, catchers helmet with facemask and throat guard. Catchers 7U – 13U must wear hockey style mask.
PROTESTS: Any PROTEST requires a $100 cash protest fee at the time of the protest.
Any team that records a forfeit will be ineligible to participate in Bracket Play. Team will be placed last in the standings and will forfeit any awards, points and entry fees.
9U A/AA RULES (prior to June 1):
9U A/AA Division will play regular baseball rules after June 1st.
9U AAA/MAJOR/Open RULES:
7U/8U MACHINE PITCH RULES:
PENALTY: Ball is declared a foul ball and counts as a pitch
PENALTY: A strike will be called and if it’s the third (3rd) strike, the batter will be declared out.
PENALTY: Runner(s) will be called out for leaving the base early. Teams will get 1 warning.
Batting Order:
Pool play games can end in a tie.
Base Distance = 60'
Maximum of 5 runs scored per half inning. Sixth (6th) inning = unlimited runs. Mercy rule still in effect.
Nine (9) defensive players shall play in the field
- NO infield fly rule, NO dropped third strike
- No lead-offs or stealing, runners must hold their base until the ball is hit.
PENALTY: Runner(s) will be called out for leaving the base early. Teams will get 1 warning.
- During play, runners can advance on a live ball until the ball is controlled by an infielder on the infield within the base paths. Runners will be sent back to last touched base if the umpire determines the runners were not more than halfway to the next base. This is a judgment call by the umpire.
Batting Order Options:8U Player Pitch Division will use a Continuous batting order, with free defensive substitutionNote: If a player has to leave the game due to an injury/illness and cannot return to the game, he will not be penalized by taking an out in his spot in the batting order. Once that player leaves the game, the player is not eligible to return to the game in any capacity.If only 8 players are available, teams may start and finish a game with eight (8) players, but will take an out for the ninth spot in the line-up.If the line-up drops below 8 players, the game will be considered a forfeit.Each team MUST prepare a written line-up, listing first and last names and numbers of all players that are available prior to each game. Line-ups must be given to the home plate umpire at ground rules. Note: Once the line-up is submitted at ground rules, no additions/changes can be made.
COURTESY RUNNERS: (8U Player Pitch)
6U/7U/8U
COACH PITCH RULES:6 innings or 1 hour 20 minute time limit.Pool play games can end in a tie.Field Dimensions
– 42’/60’ (12 ft. circle with center measured at 42 ft. from home plate)- The pitching
coach must pitch with one foot inside the circle.- The pitching coach must leave the field immediately when the ball is put in
play.- The pitching coach shall not verbally or physically coach while in the
pitching position.- The pitching coach shall position himself not to be an obstruction to the
defensive team on any possible play once the ball is hit. In the umpire’s
judgement, if the coach violates this rule after the ball is pitched,
obstruction will be called.Maximum of 7 runs scored per half inning. Sixth
(6th) inning = unlimited runs. Mercy rule still in effect.Ten (10)
defensive players shall play in the field with four (4) outfielders-Outfielders (4)
must stay in the outfield until the ball is hit.Note: Teams may start with 9 players. However, they must play all the infield
positions including the pitcher and 3 outfielders.-The batter will
get six (6) pitches or three (3) swinging strikes. If the sixth (6th) pitch is
a foul ball, the batter
shall receive an additional pitch or pitches until the ball is hit fair or the
batter’s turn at bat is
completed.– No intentional
walks allowed.- No Bunting or
half-swings at the pitch.
PENALTY: Ball is declared a foul ball and counts as a pitch- Batters may not
indicate a “fake bunt” then pull back and swing.
PENALTY: A strike will be called and if
it’s the third (3rd) strike, the batter will be declared out.- No infield fly
rule- No lead-offs or
stealing, runners must hold their base until the ball is hit.
PENALTY:
Runner(s) will be called
out for leaving the base early. Teams will get 1 warning.- During play,
the umpire will call “Time” and declare the ball dead when the ball is
controlled by an infielder
on the infield within the base paths. Runners will be sent back to last touched base if the
umpire determines the runners were not more than halfway to the next base. This is a judgment
call by the umpire.-The defensive
player listed as the pitcher shall not leave the pitching circle until the ball
is hit.PENALTY: The play
continues and after the play has ended, the offensive team has the option of taking the
result of the play or no pitch.
-Whenever a batted ball hits the pitching coach, the ball becomes dead and a
no-pitch is declared.
Batting Order Options:Coach Pitch Divisions will use a Continuous
batting order, with free defensive substitution.Note: If a player has to leave the game due to an injury/illness
and cannot return to the game, he will not be penalized by taking an out in his spot in the
batting order. Once that player leaves the game, the player is not eligible to
return to the game in
any capacity.
If only 9 players
are available, teams may start and finish a game with nine (9) players, without taking an out for
the 10th spot in the line-up.If only 8 players are available, teams may start and finish a game with eight (8) players, but will take an out for the ninth spot in the line-up.
Each team MUST
prepare a written line-up, listing first and last names and numbers of all
players that are available prior to each game. Line-ups must be given to
the home plate umpire at ground rules. Note: Once the line-up
is submitted at ground rules, no additions/changes can be made.
COURTESY
RUNNERS: (Coach Pitch)
PENALTY: Ball is declared a foul ball and counts as a pitch
PENALTY: A strike will be called and if it’s the third (3rd) strike, the batter will be declared out.
PENALTY: Runner(s) will be called out for leaving the base early. Teams will get 1 warning.
-Whenever a batted ball hits the pitching coach, the ball becomes dead and a no-pitch is declared.
Batting Order Options:
If only 9 players are available, teams may start and finish a game with nine (9) players, without taking an out for the 10th spot in the line-up.
COURTESY RUNNERS: (Coach Pitch)
EJECTIONS:
All player ejections will be reviewed by the tournament director to
determine eligibility for the remainder of the tournament.
Coaches, parents, or spectators ejected from a game may be suspended for 1 game or for the
remainder of the tournament. Any coach, parent or spectator ejected from a game
must leave the area and cannot be within 300 feet of your game. It is the sole
discretion of the tournament director or UIC.
SPORTSMANSHIP: All
players, coaches, managers, sponsors and spectators are expected to conduct
themselves in a sportsmanlike manner at all times. Remember, rule
interpretations may be disputed. Judgement calls, especially balls and strikes
may NOT be disputed. All ejections will result in banishment from that game and
may also result in banishment of the tournament. This is youth baseball, bad
sportsmanship will not be tolerated.
Thank You for choosing Game 7 Baseball.