USSSA Blast at the Beach  -  June 13-15, 2008  -  Tournament Rules & Information

1. Directions and maps to all parks can be found under the “Parks” section of www.usssa1.com.

2. If there’s inclement weather, a message will be sent to the phone number(s) that we have on file for each team.  Managers only may also try calling 410-439-2255 (Regional Youth Office).  With 143 teams entered in the tournament, it’s imperative that only the manager make the call in order to not tie up the phone line.  If a team is still unclear as to their game situation, the manager only may also call one of the following site directors based on the following parks:

Pyle Center – Jim Mullan – 410-984-4833                  Backup – Bill Dowell – 410-206-8363           

Showell  – Gary Frye, Jr. – 443-520-9379                   Backup – Brent Lounge – 410-370-7585

No. Worcester – Stephanie Smith – 443-756-3435      Backup – Bill Dowell – 410-206-8363

Winterplace – Ben Waples – 215-801-8730                Backup – Andy Wisk – 443-235-3674

E. Wicomico – Keri Lounge – 410-206-6006              Backup – Stephanie – 443-756-3435

Parker – Louie Richardson – 410-708-9959                Backup – Andy Wisk – 443-235-3674

Willards – Gary Frye, Sr. – 410-491-7153                   Backup – Andy Wisk – 443-235-3674

Decatur – Tommy Thompson – 410-294-1091           Backup – Brent Lounge – 410-370-7585

Northside – Jeff Kittle – 610-216-9287                       Backup – Brent Lounge – 410-370-7585

Please note that we do not individually contact each team in the event of adverse weather conditions.  Rather, it is the team’s responsibility to check the lines of communication listed above.  Also, do not leave a message on these phones.  If your call goes to voice mail, then simply try again in a few minutes.

3. The tournament staff will be staying at The Grand Hotel at 410-289-6191 or 410-289-7480.

4. Teams should report in to the tournament director 1 hour before the start of their first game, letting the director know that they have arrived and to receive any last minute instructions.

5. Forfeit time is game time; however, the director’s discretion may be used under unique circumstances.

6. Teams must be prepared to play 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of a game, or 1 hour ahead of schedule if we were to have bad weather.  Otherwise, a forfeit may be declared.

7. In pool play, the winner of a coin toss prior to the start of a game will have choice of being home or visitors.  In championship play the higher seeded team will have the choice.  If both teams are equally seeded in championship play then a coin toss will be used.

8. All pool games will be subject to a time limit of 1:20.  All championship and consolation games will have a 1:30 time limit. There is NO drop dead rule.  No new inning may begin after the time limit has elapsed.  The clock begins immediately from the time that the pre-game conference ends.  Also, if the time limit is up and the home team is leading and at bat, then the game ends at that point.

9. All games will be subject to the International Tiebreaker Rule.  In pool play, the tiebreaker will be in effect only after 7 innings have been completed and if the time limit hasn't elapsed.  In pool play, only one tiebreaker inning will be held.  Once the time limit has elapsed and the game is tied, then the game is considered final and a tie will be awarded to both teams.  In championship and consolation play, the tiebreaker will be in effect when 7 innings have been completed or the time limit has expired, whichever comes first.  Games in championship and consolation play cannot end in a tie, unless the tournament is cancelled due to weather issues.

10. 18U will pitch from 40’.

11. In 10U, the dropped 3^rd strike rule will be in effect.

12. Two additional players (AP’s) may be used in the lineup.  USSSA Rule 6, Section 3 clarifies the AP rule.

13. Protests on any issue other than an umpire’s judgement will require a $75 cash fee.  Protests on an umpire’s judgement will not be allowed and no fee will be accepted.  Protests on rule or procedural interpretations during a game must be made before the next pitch and will be decided upon before the game is allowed to continue.  Protests on rule/procedures that occur at the end of the game must be made before the next game begins on that field.  Protests on player eligibility must be made before either team starts their next game and will be decided upon before either team continues play.  The protest committee will be made up of any part of the following: tournament director, site director, tournament UIC, site UIC or any of their designees.  If the protest is upheld the $75 will be refunded.  If the protest is denied the fee will be forfeited.

14. If an ineligible player participates at any time during the event, the player and team manager will be ejected from the remainder of the tournament and all games in which that player participated will be forfeited.  Participation is defined as either actively playing in the game or appearing anywhere on the official lineup that’s presented prior to the start of a game.  Examples of ineligible players include, but are not limited to, playing on two teams in the same event, not being listed on the team roster that was presented prior to the tournament, violating the age requirement, playing under an assumed identity, use of a fraudulent birth certificate, not presenting a birth certificate when requested to do so, etc.

15. Once pool play is completed, the order of finish within each pool is determined by an average point system, whereby two points are awarded for each win, 1 point for each tie and no points for a loss.  Teams are ordered by the average points earned per game played.  To break ties, the following are used in order: 

1) head-to-head (only applies when 2 teams are tied)

2) lowest average runs allowed per game played

3) head-to-head (only if two teams remain after 2)

4) highest average runs scored per game played

5) head-to-head (only if two teams remain after 4)

6) number of wins   7) coin toss.

Notes:

(a) In a three-way tie, once one team is selected as the best team by the tiebreaker process, then head-to-head is applied to the remaining two teams. If the two teams did not play each other or if there are more than two teams remaining, then the process continues from the point at which the first team was selected.  For example, assume Teams A, B & C have given up 5, 4 & 3 runs, respectively, have all earned the same average points and A beat B, B beat C and C beat A.  Then Team C would be the top seed based on least average runs allowed.  Team A would then be the 2^nd seed due to head-to-head between Teams A and B.

(b) A team will receive two points as a result of winning by forfeit.  The points awarded for the forfeit will count toward the average points, but the forfeit will not count in the runs allowed or scored tiebreakers. A team will not be allowed to improve their seeding position by virtue of forfeiting any of their pool games, whether done intentionally or not.

(c) If a team has to play 1 more pool game than other teams, then one pre-chosen pool game for that team will not count toward their point total or run averages.  The team playing the extra game shall be notified in advance which game will not count for them, although it does count for their opposing team. 

(d) Games in which neither an official winner nor a tie has been declared do not count toward any of the tiebreakers above.

16. It is the manager’s responsibility to find out if, when and where their team is playing in Championship play.  That information will be posted at each tournament site immediately at the conclusion of pool play.

17. If inclement weather or other conditions impede the normal progress of the tournament, the director reserves the right to change the tournament format in order to achieve the maximum number of games played or to declare an order of finish