Washington BPA Tournament Rules
(Specific directors may deviate from this only if granted exceptions by the State Director)
2009 Season began 8/1/08

Specific BPA Tournament Rules

*If a Team pulls out of a tournament after pool play (unless this is arranged with BPA of Washington prior to the start of the tournament), the team is not eligible to participate in future BPA events until a penalty equal to the tournament fee is paid to BPA of Washington.  Exceptions at the discretion of the State Director - Only extreme circumstances will be considered for waiving this penalty.

*No infield may be taken prior to or between each game.

*Teams may play with 8 players, games may start and end with 8 players, exception, if there is an ejection of a player, that takes a team from 9 to 8 players, the game is forfeited at that point.

*PITCHING Rules.   Per BPA “Official Rules”, In 9s, 10s, 11s, and 12s - No player can pitch more than 3 innings per game and 10 innings in two days. For 13s and 14s inning limit is 12 (no per game limit).  Note: Any appearance in an inning counts as a full inning - there are no partial innings.  On the third day, day ones innings no longer apply.  For a one or two day tournament, the rule applies as written.  A starting pitcher once removed from the mound can return to the mound one time. 6 warm-up pitches, including new pitchers, are allowed

*Scores and pitching record  will be documented by “home team, which keeps the official scorekbook”.  Both managers are to meet the home plate ump at home plate immediately after the game to initial the pitching record and to turn into the home plate ump.  Next game can not start until pitching sheets are in the umpires hands.

*Balks: Balks will be called at the umpire’s discretion, these are not protestable.

*Mercy Run Rule: 12 after 3 (2 ½ if home team leading) 10 runs after 4 innings (31/2 if home team leading) 8 runs after 5 (41/2 if home team leading)

*Recommended Game Length:  In POOL Play,  At 12U and below, Game is 6 innings  - Complete game after 4 innings (31/2 if home team leading).  For 13U+, Game is 7 innings  - Complete game after 5 innings (41/2 if home team leading),   In the tournament game length is 1 hour 45 min. for 9s,10s,11s,12s.  And, standard 1 hour 55 min for 13s and 14s (54/80). Individual Tournament Directors Game Lengths may vary. 

*Bottom half of last inning will NOT be completed solely for tie-breaker purpose once home team has more runs than visiting team in that inning.

*Dugouts are on first come basis.

*Profanity will not be tolerated. The use of tobacco or alcohol is not allowed.

*Poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated. At umpire(s) discretion, coaches, players and fans may be ejected from game(s). If this occurs, tournament officials will review the incident and determine if ejection from tournament will warranted.

*Base Running: Runners may lead off. Batters may advance on dropped third strike. For 12U divisions and below Head first sliding is not allowed except diving back to a base - OK for 13U and above divisions. Slide or avoid contact rule is in effect. (penalty: runner is out)

*Metal Cleats are allowed for 13U and up. Metal Cleats are not allowed for 12U and below.

*Protests-$75 refundable (if protest is upheld) – Cash for player eligibility only– All other protests umpires will decide all incidents on the field.  *No Judgment Calls will be protested!  Head Umpire and the Tournament Director will decide protests.  Protests must be declared before the next pitch is delivered and no protest after a game is completed.    All decisions final!

 * Game Specifications (if park can accomodate):

            65 ft bases –  9U & 10U,  70 ft bases- 11U & 12U, 80 ft bases 13U,  80 or 90 ft bases 14U

            46 ft pitching- 9U & 10U,  48ft or 50ft - 11U & 12U, 54 ft - 13U, 54 or 60.5 ft - 14

*Pool Play Seeding:  Win/loss/tie, head to head (only if tied between 2 teams, if 3 - way tie, move to next tie-breaker), run differential  (+/- up to 7 runs per game only), runs allowed, runs scored.  If still tied, seeds will be awarded based on highest point team, if tied at that point the a coin toss will determined seed.

*Process will NOT backup to a prior option once moved to next option.  In other words, 3 way tie, negates head to head being applied.

*Tiebreaker - THE INTERNATIONAL TIE BREAKER WILL BE USED FOR ONE INNING  DURING POOL PLAY, ALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES WILL USE THE INTERNATIONAL TIEBREAKER AT THE END OF THE TIME LIMIT OR AT THE END OF REGULATION DEPENDING ON WHICH COMES FIRST.

*Per BPA Rules, A Courtesy runner may be used for pitcher and catcher at any point in the inning, courtesy runner is determined by who made the previous out, or can be a substitute if one is available.

*During Pool Play, Home team will be decided at the plate during the official umpire/coaches meeting prior to the start of the game with an official coin toss.

*During Tournament Play, Home team will be decided by the highest seed from pool play, if game is between equal seeds, Home team will be determined by a coin toss.

*Home team is to provide an official score keeper and time will be kept on the field by the umpires.

 *Pitcher must be removed on second visit to mound in that inning.

 *Team may bat all players on the roster if they choose to do so.  Free substitution applies if a team bats all players on the roster.

*Team coach must also be able to provide a copy of every player’s birth certificate upon request during the tournament.

Bats - The official bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2 ¾ inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. *NOTE: All legal bats are permitted to be used which includes the use of the big barrel bats in all divisions of BPA play. No laminated or experimental bats shall be used in the BPA Baseball Program, until the manufacturer has secured approval from the BPA Baseball National Office of its design and methods of manufacture. CUPPED BATS: An indentation in the end of the bat up to one inch in depth is permitted and may be no wider than two inches and no less than one inch in diameter. The indentation must be curved with no foreign substance added. The bat handle, not more than 18 inches from its end, may be covered or treated with any material or substance, which improves the grip. Any such material or substance, which extends past the 18 inches limitation, shall cause the bat to be removed from the game. *Penalty: If the umpire discovers that a bat does not conform to the above until a time during or after which the bat has been used in play, it shall not be grounds for declaring the batter out, or ejected from the game.

Batting Helmets - A batting helmet bearing the NOCSAE stamp is mandatory for each batter, on-deck batter, players and youth coaches in the coaches boxes and all runners. a) The batting helmets worn by each of these individuals must have extended ear flaps which cover both ears and temples. b) It is recommend at the 12 and below age divisions, players will wear the protective face mask at all times, while at bat and running the bases. *PENALTY: When an umpire detects a player deliberately removing a batting helmet during playing action, a dead ball will be declared immediately. The violator is declared out immediately with all runners returning to the last base touched at the time of the infraction. Preceding runners, scoring before the infraction, will score and are not required
to return to the last base occupied.

All other rules will follow BPA Official Rules, then HS Federation Rules.

*You can go to  www.playbpa.com to get a copy of the Rule Book.  

REFUND POLICY:  IF A TEAM PULLS OUT OF A FULL TOURNAMENT AND NO REPLACEMENT CAN BE FOUND, THAT TEAM FORFEITS ITS REGISTRATION FEE.   IF A TEAM PULLS OUT AFTER THE TOURNAMENT BRACKETS HAVE BEEN DRAWN UP, THAT TEAM FORFEITS ITS REGISTRATION FEE.

RAIN OUT POLICY:  IF TOURNAMENT SHORTENED OR CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER, THE FOLLOWING REFUND POLICY IS IN AFFECT:

For a 4 game guarantee tournament  No games played: 100% refund (less $25.00 admin fee) ,1 game played: 75% refund, 2 games played: 50%  refund, 3 games played: 25%  refund, 4 or more games played: no  refund

For a 3 game guarantee tournament  No games played: 100% refund (less $25.00 admin fee) ,1 game played: 66% refund, 2 games played: 33%  refund, 3 games or more games played: no  refund