General

·      Monroe On Deck and Monroe Parks and Recreation Department are not liable for injuries that may occur during the tournament.

·      NO CARRY-INS – Concessions will be available and is a fundraiser for the Monroe On Deck Baseball Organization.  A cooler is allowed in the dugout with water/Gatorade for the
        team.  Teams carrying in, ordering in food or setting up team meals will not be allowed back to future tournaments. 

·      All players must be 8 years old or younger as of April 30, 2027

·      Bats must be USA or USSSA stamped with a max barrel width of 2 ¾“.  No bats on  the banned bat list will be allowed. 

·      No metal spikes allowed.

·      Tie breakers will be determined in the following order: head to head (if only two teams tied with the same record), runs allowed, run differential (max 10 per game), coin flip.

-          Games are six (6) innings in length or 1 hour. No new inning may start after that time.  Preliminary play games that are tied at the time limit will end in a tie and will count toward standings and determination of the bracket play. If the home team is ahead at the time limit and is at bat, the game is over. The score at that time is the final score. If the game is tied and has not yet reached the time limit, teams will play until the time limit. If an inning starts before reaching the time limit, that inning will be completed unless the home team wins.  The championship game will be played to completion if daylight and weather permit.  Run rule applies for championship game.

o   15 run rule applies after 4 innings (3 ½ if home team is winning) or 10 run rule after 5 innings. (4 ½ if home team is winning)

o   If at the end of 6 innings or the game time limit a tie exists, pool games will end in a tie.  Bracket play games will play California Rule (last out of previous inning starts on 2nd base with one out).

·     A coin flop will decide home team.  The team that traveled the furthest will call the toss.  The higher seed is the home team for bracket play.

·     6 runs allowed per inning.  No run limit for the last inning.

·     All umpire calls are final.  If there is a rule interpretation required, the umpire may call time to consult the tournament director.

·     No game field will be used for fielding or batting practice before the game.

·     Please be prepared to play earlier than normal should we see bad weather coming in.
·     Please clear dugout immediately following the game – no outfield team talks

·     Preliminary Play Protection: When seeding teams for bracket play, if two teams have previously played each other in preliminary play we will preliminary play protect.  This means
      we will provide both teams with a new opponent for their first bracket game.  For example, in a six team bracket the #3 seed would play the #6 seed and the #4 seed would play the
      #5 seed.  In this example, if the #6 seed has already played the #3 seed, the #6 seed would flip with the #5 seed.

 Fielding

·     A maximum of 10 players will be allowed on defense.  The infield will consist of a pitcher and catcher and 4 infielders.  The outfield will consist of 4 outfields in traditional positions
      (no rovers).

·     The player pitcher must start with at least one foot on the pitching circle.

·     The pitching coach must have one foot on the line at the time the pitch is released.  No underhand pitching is allowed.

·     If the pitching coach is hit by a batted ball it is a dead ball and counts as a pitch.  If it is on the 6th pitch the batter will receive an extra pitch.

·     Outfielders must start each at bat on the grass.

·     Once the player pitcher attains control of the ball within the CIRLCE they do not need to call timeout.  The player pitcher may choose to immediately make a play on an advancing
      runner at their own risk and only if the runner is beyond the halfway point to the next base.

·     No infield fly rule.

·    Catchers must wear full catching gear.  In addition, they must assume the normal catchers stance behind the batter.

·     All players on the team must bat with a continuous batting order.  If a player is removed due to injury, their turn in the batting order is skipped, without penalty (an out) unless the
      batting order drops to 8 or less batters.

·     Each batter will get 6 pitches or 3 swinging strikes (whichever comes first).  If the batter fouls off the 6th pitch, it will be considered a foul ball and the batter will get another pitch.

·     The batter cannot advance on a dropped 3rd strike.

·     No bunting is allowed and there are no walks.

Baserunning

·     Players may not leave the base until the ball is hit or the batter has swung.

·     A player may not intentionally create contact with another player at anytime.

·     If a defensive player is in the base path without the ball and makes contact with or impedes the path of the offensive player, interference may be called on the defensive player at
      the discretion of the umpire.

·     Baserunners may advance as many bases as they can on their own risk on an over throw.  If the ball leaves the field of play, only one base will be awarded to the runner.

·     Baserunners may advance as far as possible until the player pitcher is in control of the baseball within the CIRCLE.  If a runner is less than halfway to the next base when   
      the player pitcher has control of the baseball within the base baths, the runner must return to the prior base.  There cannot be a play made on them returning to the base.  If they
      are more than halfway to the next base at the time the player pitcher attains control of the ball within the base paths, they will be allowed to continue to advance to that base at
      their own risk and a play may be made on them.

·      There will be chalk lines on the field of play showing the halfway point between the bases.  The umpire will make all calls if a player was or was not halfway. Those calls are final.

·      A courtesy runner may be used for the pitcher and catcher with less than 2 outs and is required to be used for the catcher when there are 2 outs.  The courtesy runner is the player
        who made the last out.  No other courtesy runners are allowed.

Coaches

·      On defense - two coaches may be used in the outfield and one coach may be used to stand behind their catcher to gather balls and get them back to the opposing coach pitcher.

Refund Policy

Team-Initiated Cancellation
        - Cancellations made within 14 days of the tournament start date are non-refundable.

Weather-Related Cancellations:
        - No games played: 100% refund
        - 1 game played: 50% refund
        - 2 or more games played: No refund