Here is our complete list of rules and how each tournament at RBI will be played

RBI Tournament Rules

It is the responsibility of each coach to know the tournament rules. The home team will be determined by a coin flip prior to the game, except for the Championship game, where the higher seed will be considered the home team.

1. Time Limit. All games except the Championship game will be played with a strict one hour 50 minute time limit.  No inning will start on or after the 1 hour 40 minute time frame.  Official time will be kept by the Tournament Director or his designee.  If during a semi-final game there is a tie game at the time limit, the game must be finished.

2. Tie Games. All pool games that are tied after 7 innings or the two-hour time limit will be recorded as a tie.  A tie is equal to ½ win and ½ loss for each team.  Seeds will be determined after pool play by the fewest runs allowed.

3. Wood Bats.  For tournaments that are specified as Wood Bat:  All players must use wood or wood composite bats only.  Metal bats are not allowed during wood bat tourney events.  Part wood and part metal bats are not allowed.

4. Game Forfeiture.  All games must be started with at least 9 players.  A game can be finished with 8 players.  Once a team establishes that it has 9 players, it must finish the game with at least 8 players.  The player leaving the original lineup can not return and his spot in the hitting lineup will be recorded as an out.  In case of forfeit, the winning team will be awarded a winning score of the average runs they scored in all of their pool games vs. “0” runs allowed.  If the winning team scored no runs in its other pool games, the game will be scored 1-0 for the winner.  The loser will be recorded a 10-0 loss.  Any team not on the field and prepared to start the game at game time, will give cause for immediate forfeit.

5. Taking Infield.  Due to possible time constraints, pregame infield will not be allowed on the field.

6. Mercy Rule.  A game will end anytime that a team is 8 or more runs behind and has completed 6 or more turns at bat OR 10 or more runs behind and has completed 5 or more turns at bat OR 15 or more runs behind and has completed three or more turns at bat.

7. Trips to Mound.  The pitcher must be replaced on the second trip to the mound by any coach in any inning. 

8. Hitting Lineup.  Lineups must consist of only 9 players if no Extra Player (EP) is used.  A Designated Hitter (DH) may hit for any of the 9 defensive players.  An EP may also be used.  If a DH hits for the pitcher and then enters the game, the pitcher is lost for the remaining part of the game.  If an EP is in the lineup, he may enter the game at any position at any time.  The player that comes out of the game will then become the EP.

9. Inclement Weather. Any time there are unplayable conditions or mechanical malfunctions, these rules shall apply.

(a) The umpires may halt play for up to two hours when conditions do not allow play to continue.

(1) The two-hour interruption(s) is cumulative.

(2) The game must be terminated when the two-hour time has elapsed. If the first game of a doubleheader is terminated, the second game will be postponed.

(3) The two-hour period does not include time needed to prepare the field for the resumption of play.

(b) Umpires must wait for at least thirty (30) minutes before terminating a game for unplayable field conditions, including but not limited to, lightning or rain.

Note: If we experience rain on or before any of the dates scheduled and the conditions prevent game play for certain games, every effort will be made to make the games up that were affected by the rain.  Each coach should stay in contact with the Tournament Director.  It is the team’s responsibility, not the Tournament Director to make sure everyone is aware of changes to the schedule. 

10.   Baseballs.  Two new baseballs will be provided for each game by RBI.  Each team needs to bring game ready balls to use in the games as well.  We ask that each team help in chasing foul balls during their games.  Failure to help on foul balls may require each team to add baseballs into play for the game to continue.

11. Insurance. Within two weeks of the start of the tournament, teams need to show proof of insurance. Failure to do so will cause the team to forfeit its games.

12. Player Data. Every coach must have, for each player, Birth Certificates or Driver’s Licenses available for any umpire, coach, or Tournament Director to view in the event a player’s age is challenged. Failure to do so will institute the Forfeiture Rule.

13.   Speed up Rules.  Each team will be allowed to use a courtesy runner for both the catcher and pitcher. Use of a courtesy runner is the only “speed up” rule that is allowed.

14.   Scoring.  We recommend that all teams (home and visitor) keep a scorebook.  The home team will be considered the official book.  The home team must report the final score to the Tournament Director within one hour of the completion of its respective game.  If the home team does not report the score within one hour, the game will be considered a forfeit.

15.   Sportsmanship.  In the interest of maintaining a quality event, the Tournament Director reserves the right to eject any person from the field and its surroundings for unruly or unsportsmanlike behavior.  Any coach or player who is ejected for the second time during the tournament will be eliminated from participating for the remainder of the tournament.

16.   Interpretations. In the event any item is not covered in the rules, the Tournament Director will make the fairest possible ruling and that ruling will be final.

17. Complete Game. Games will be “complete” with 4.5 innings of play during a scheduled 7 inning game.

18. Suspended Game Rules. When a game is stopped before it becomes a complete game, it will resume from where it was interrupted after the delay. When a game is stopped after it becomes a legal game and a winner can not be determined, any replay will begin from the point of interruption. In any terminated game, pitching innings will count.

19. Pitching Restrictions. Pitchers are limited to a maximum of eight innings in a calendar day. Pitchers are limited to a maximum of twelve innings in four consecutive calendar days. Entry into the game as a pitcher constitutes an inning pitched. After the initial inning pitched by that individual, one pitch constitutes an inning pitched. Innings will count when pitching in a game that is cancelled/terminated. When a pitcher exceeds the pitching limits, he becomes an ineligible pitcher for the remaining game/day/tournament.

20. Medical Release. Each team shall maintain a medical release form for each player that is on site at every game. Failure to do so will constitute cause to forfeit the game.

21.   Fees. All tournament entry fees are non-refundable unless RBI cancels the tournament prior to the event beginning.

All Gate fees are non-refundable unless the tournament is cancelled.