2008 OFFICIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TOURNAMENT RULES

• Designated Hitter – The Designated Hitter will be for the pitcher only. You may choose to play with a straight line-up and the pitcher hit for him self. This must be established when you turn in your line up to the umpires.

Exceptions:

• Home Team – is pre-determined in Pool Play. Refer to the Schedule for game times. Elimination Play – The home team will be the higher seed.
• Dugouts – first come basis.
• Game Length – All games will be 7 innings and played until a winner is determined.
• Time Limits – There will not be time limits.
• Lineups – Lineups must be turned in to the press box and the official scorer 30 minutes prior to your scheduled game time. Please print First and Last Names along with uniform numbers and position. Also include all available subs.
• Team Arrival at The Field – Teams need to be at their scheduled field at least 1 hour prior to your scheduled start time. Any team not taking the field for play after umpire starts the game will forfeit that game after a 15 minute waiting period if they have not taken the field ready for play. Infield will be allowed prior to your first game only. After that, no infield will be allowed.
• Slide Rule – The NCAA Slide Rule will be in effect. (It is the same as the Federation Rule)
• Run Rule – There will be a 8 run rule in effect after 5 complete innings or 4 1/2 if the home team is ahead.
• Courtesy Runners – The Courtesy Runners can be for the Pitcher & Catcher only. The runner must be anyone that has not officially entered the game. A runner may not run for the pitcher and catcher in the same inning.
• Substitutions – There will be no re-entry.
• Inclement Weather – In the event of inclement weather, we will make every effort to complete the game. Games will be considered suspended until ruled different. A game can be considered complete after 5 complete innings or 4 1/2 if the home team is ahead. The decision to determine a game complete will be up to the tournament director. There will be a strong effort to complete all games. The Tournament Director’s decision is final!
• Protests – Protests will be heard and ruled on by the tournaments protest committee. The team protesting must make cash payment of $100 at the time of the protest. If the protest is ruled in the protesting teams favor the $100 will be refunded. If the protest is not made prior to the next pitch, then the protest will not be allowed. Protests will be on rule interpretations only; judgment calls by the umpires will be final.
• Ejections – Any player or coach ejected from two games will be ejected from the entire tournament on the second ejection. The tournament director has the option to remove a coach or a player from the tournament for unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Fighting - Any player ejected for fighting, (starts the fight-first punch) will be ejected for the remainder of the tournament. Any player that fights back (takes an aggressive posture) will be ejected for the remainder of the tournament. All players that leave the bench will be ejected for the remainder of the tournament. Encourage your players to refrain from the type of behavior that creates a negative situation. Players and Coaches should exhibit good sportsmanship and bench conduct.
• Dugout Maintenance – It is each team’s responsibility to clean up following your games. Please pick up all trash and leave the dugout just as you have found it.