• USSSA rules are in effect for each division.  Additional rules for each division are listed below.
• USSSA Rules 
  • 2024 USSSA Age Chart
    • Birth certificates MUST be available upon request. Copies accepted. If a birth certificate cannot be provided, the player will be removed from the game until a birth certificate for player is provided. 
• COACHES 
  • Two adult base coaches are allowed on the field. There MUST always be a coach in the dugout.  No more than 4 coaches are allowed. 
  • All coaches are to remain INSIDE dugout while the team is not batting. The only exception would be when time is asked for and granted by umpires. This does not apply to the coach that is pitching in the 7U/8U Division.
• BATTING ORDER 
  • Continuous batting order must be used; 9s and above may bat a) - with subs b) 9+ and extra hitter with subs or c) complete roster but this must be declared at the plate meeting. 
• COURTESY RUNNER
  • Courtesy runner for the incoming catcher and pitcher at any time, you must run for the catcher with two outs. Courtesy runner must be the player that recorded the last out or substitute on bench. 
• MANDATORY PLAY
  • No mandatory play is required. You may play with 8 players; less than eight players at any time is a forfeit. It is not an automatic out when the ninth player is supposed to bat. If the ninth player shows up during the game, he may be added to the bottom of the batting line-up, no matter where you are in that order at the time or his arrival 
• BRACKET PLAY SEEDING
  • The higher seed for Bracket Play will be determined by the points in pool play. Pool play will consist of two games. The higher seeded teams in Playoffs will be the home team. In the event of a tie in points in pool play, then the Tie Breaker System will be used to determine the higher seeded team for the Playoff game. 
• POINT SYSTEM/TIE BREAKERS

1. Best overall record 

2. Head-to-head

3. Runs Allowed 

4. Runs Scored 

5. Coin Flip 

6. If more than two teams are tied, there is no head-to-head. 

• RAIN OUT & REFUNDS
  • Be sure to prepare and inform your team to be able and ready to play both the original scheduled tournament date, and the original scheduled rain date, if necessary.  We will not refund any money to any team who cannot play on the original scheduled rain date (rain out date to be determined, see below).  If you pull out of the tournament without a replacement team to take your place less than (7) seven days before the scheduled start of the tournament, you will not receive a refund.
  • 2024 Rain Out Date: December 14th & 15th
• Awards
  • Awards will be given for 1st and 2nd place teams in each division 
• Pitching Rules
  • Pitchers in all divisions may pitch a total of 27 outs for the tournament, with no more than 18 outs in a single day or game. If you pitch 18 outs in a single day or game, you must have one calendar day rest before you can pitch your remaining outs. E.g. player A may pitch 9 outs in game 1 on Saturday. 9 outs in game 2 Saturday and may still pitch 9 more outs Sunday. 
  • The number of outs is charged against the pitcher only. If a pitcher is at the next to last out allowed to him and a double or triple play is made (continuation), only the 1st out will be charged to him, and he will have completed his allowed outs and must leave the mound after the play is completed. The pitcher will not be penalized for his team making an extra out or two. 
  • A pitcher may only pitch for one team (one age group) in the tournament. A player may participate on another team in different age groups provided he/she meets the age requirement, but this player may only pitch in one age group. 
  • Coaches/Managers are responsible for keeping up with the Pitch Log. Any violation of the pitching rules will result in a forfeit of the game during which the violation occurred. Protests must be made before the umpire leaves the field at the end of the game. 
  • Coaches/Managers are responsible for ensuring that umpires record the correct player and number of outs for each registered pitcher. The umpire cards will be turned in to the League Office and used to post the Pitch Log. All Score/Pitch cards are considered final once they are turned in to League Office. 
  • No long-sleeved white under-shirts exposed below the elbow for 8U and up. White short sleeves are acceptable if you wear vest uniform.

• 8U Coach Pitch Baseball

1. North Pole Knockout is being played under USSSA rules unless otherwise noted below. 

2. Home team will be assigned for Pool games. The HIGHER seed will be home on Sunday. 

3. Mandatory play is NOT required 

4. 10 defensive players. 4 players in the outfield no closer than 30 feet to the infield. You may play with 8 players; less than eight players at any time is a forfeit. 

Minimum 9 batting positions. It will be an automatic out once the 8th batter completes his at bat and base running if only 8 batters are on the line-up.

 If a team’s ninth player arrives late to the game, the manager of that team must make an announcement at the plate conference before the game begins and advise both the plate umpire and the opposing team that he or she has a player that will arrive late. When the player arrives, the player is announced to both the plate umpire and opposing team and is placed in the ninth position in the batting order. 

Until the player arrives, an out is recorded in the ninth position. 

5. Big barrel bats allowed with an approved USSSA BPF 1.15 stamp. Any bat on the USSSA banned list shall not be used. Bats with Little League approved USA stamps may be used. Any bat that is banned by Little League shall not be used. 

6. 8U Time limit, no new inning can start after 1hr 30 minutes.

7. Teams may score a maximum of 7 runs per inning. The game is over, when the opposing team is mathematically eliminated from scoring enough runs to win or tie the game. 

8. There is a 30-foot safety arc from the back tip of home plate and from the first-base line to the third-base line. The infield players must stay beyond the arc until the ball is batted into play. 

9. The pitching coach shall keep one foot on or straddle the pitcher’s line. The coach can pitch anywhere in between the 30’ safety arc and the 42’ pitching circle. 

10. The pitching coach shall position himself as not to be an obstruction to defensive team on any possible play once the ball has been hit. If a coach violates this rule after the ball is pitched, obstruction shall be called. If a coach violates this rule before the ball is pitched, First Offense: Warning: Second Offense: Removal of coach as the pitcher for the remainder of the game. 

11. The pitcher's circle shall be at least 12’ feet in diameter and no more than 18’ in diameter with the pitching rubber in the center. This is a safety area for the player in the pitching position. The defensive player listed as the pitcher cannot leave the pitching circle until the ball is hit. If the pitcher leaves the circle early, the play continues. After the play has ended, the offensive team has the option of taking the result of the play or accepting a no-pitch and ruling the play as over. If this occurs a second time by the same pitcher, that player is removed from the pitching position for the remainder of that inning. 

12. Each batter is allowed six pitches or three strikes. If a batter hits a foul ball on the sixth pitch, he or she is out. 

13. A fair batted ball hitting a coach pitcher is declared a dead ball, no pitch, if the umpire rules that the coach pitcher’s contact with the ball was unintentional. If, in the umpire’s judgment, a coach pitcher intentionally makes contact with a batted ball, or if the coach pitcher catches the ball, the batter is out, and no runner can advance. 

 14. Umpires call time after every play and declare the ball dead. Time should be called as soon as all three of the following occur: 

● The lead runner stops attempting to advance. 

● The ball is in the possession of an infielder in the infield. 

● No defensive play is imminent. Time does not have to be called by the defense for the purpose of this rule.

15. Continuous batting order may be used. Any injured or incapacitated players shrink the lineup with no out recorded for that batting slot. Plate umpire must be notified. Once skipped in the batting order that player is no longer allowed to re-enter that game. Other options are straight 9 (subs) or 9+1.this must be declared at plate meeting 

16. Because teams are roster batting, there is free substitution on defense. If teams are roster batting, 9 (subs) or 9+1 substitutes must be used. 

17. The catcher must be in the catcher’s box, no more than four feet behind home plate. The catcher must be in the catching position and provide a target for the coach pitcher to deliver a pitch. Use of a catcher mitt is not mandatory but is highly recommended. A catcher must be legally and properly equipped to play the catching position. This includes a helmet with full ear and back of head protection, a face mask, chest protector, shin guards and groin protection. It is the manager’s responsibility to ensure that any player in the catching position is legally and properly equipped. 

18. There are no: 

● Base on balls (walks)

● Base awards for hit by pitcher 

● Infield fly rule 

● Intentional walks 

● No Stealing of bases 

19. No Bunting.  If a player bunts or takes a half-swing, it is a foul ball.  The batter must take a full swing. 

20. Runners cannot leave their bases until the pitched ball crosses the front edge of home plate. A runner who leaves early is declared out, and the pitch is declared a no pitch. This is an appeal play 

21. A coach pitcher is prohibited from coaching while in the pitching position either physically or verbally. This includes any physical or verbal communication to the batter, any runner or any other coach. If in the umpire’s judgment, the coach pitcher is attempting to communicate while in the pitching position, he shall receive 1 warning and any subsequent infraction will result in him being removed as the pitcher for the remainder of the game. 

22. Courtesy runners are allowed for the catcher only and is mandatory with 2 outs.

23. The coach pitcher must immediately leave the playing field once the ball is batted into fair territory. The coach pitcher must leave in the opposite direction of which the ball was batted. Failure of the coach pitcher to leave the field of play and interfering with the play a dead ball will be called, batter is out, and the coach will be removed. This will be a judgment call by the home plate umpire. 

24. No infield warm up. You may warm up in the outfield.  Be ready to play, the next game will start 5 minutes after the previous game ends or on time scheduled. 

25. Each team is to pay at the plate a $50 umpire fee and provide two game balls for each game. 

26. There is no foul line in fair territory. A full swing hit one inch fair or settles on the plate is a fair ball. 

27. Only 4 coaches are allowed in the dugout on defense. On offense, three coaches are allowed on the field (one pitching) and one coach is required to remain in the dugout. 

• 9U - 13U Baseball

1. North Pole Knockout is being played under the Tournament Rules for USSSA.

2. Continuous batting order may be used. Any injured or incapacitated players shrink the lineup with no out recorded for that batting slot. Plate umpire must be notified. Once skipped in the batting order that player is no longer allowed to re-enter that game. Other options are straight 9 (subs) or 9+1.this must be declared at plate meeting 

3. Pitching limits are 18 OUTs per Day 27 Outs for the tournament 

4. Home team is determined by a coin flip on Saturday’s games. Higher seed will be home on Sunday. 

5. Mandatory play is NOT required 

6. Courtesy runner is allowed for the incoming catcher or Pitcher. Use the last player who made an out if using continuous. Substitute if not. If no out has been recorded while in the first inning, use the last batter in the lineup. 

7. Home team is responsible for keeping the Official Scorebook.  Visiting team is responsible for keeping Scoreboard. 

8. No infield warmups. You may warm up in outfield. Be ready to play, the next game will start 15 minutes after previous game ends.

9. Balks will be called. USSSA note: it is a balk if the pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first or third base and fails to complete the throw: Pitchers may still feint a throw to second. A second (2nd) visit to the same pitcher in the same inning will cause this pitcher's automatic removal from the pitching position. 

10. Big Barrel Bats Allowed. 

11. Time limit is no new inning can start after 1 hr 40 minutes all weekend in pool and bracket play. 

12. Run rules are 20 after 2, 15 after 3. 8 after 4. 

13 NO Slashing. If a player squares to Bunt and pulls back and swings away. The batter will be called out and TEAM will be warned. 2nd offense coach and player are ejected 

14. Teams may bat 9 with subs, 9+1 with subs or continuous. Declare at the plate meeting. see rule 2 

15.  Each team is to pay at the plate a $50 umpire fee and provide two game balls for each game.

• Game Time Limits Run Rules 
  • For 9U - 13U, No inning will start after 1 hour and 40 minutes or 6 innings.  
  • Championship games will not have a time limit. The run rule is in effect. A maximum of six (6) innings shall be played in a Championship game. 
  • A 15 run rule after 3 innings and an 8 run rule after 4 innings shall be in effect. Run Rule is in effect even though “runs allowed” and “runs scored” are used in Tie Breakers. 
  • If a game is suspended due to rain or any other reason. It will be considered an official game if; 3 innings have been completed or if 2-1/2 if the home team is ahead. In the event that an inning is not completed at the time of the cancellation, the game reverts back to the last completed inning so long as 3 innings have been completed
  • If an elimination game (Sunday games) goes into extra innings, then the International Tie Breaking (ITB) rule will be in effect for all extra innings. The last out of the previous inning will be placed on second with one out and the next batter in the line-up goes to the plate. There will be NO pinch runners for any players including catchers during extra innings.

• TOBACCO/ALCOHOL USE
  • Park is Tobacco & Alcohol Free.  No use of any kind of Tobacco will be allowed in the park; all tobacco use must be done outside of the main gates.  No alcohol will be allowed on the premises or parking lots.
• CONDUCT
  • Team Managers are responsible for the conduct of their coaches, players, and fans.
  • If Team Manager is ejected from a game for any reason, the player or coach must not be present at the game site for the remainder of the game and is also suspended from the next game.
• PROTESTS
  • All protests must be announced to the Umpire in Chief and resolved before the next pitch or before the umpire(s) leave the field if on the last out.  
    1. $50 protest fee paid to the Home-plate umpire.  
    2. Announce your protest
    3. Tournament Director will be called
    4. Protests will be handled by the tournament committee. 
  • In the event of a protest the game clock will be stopped until the protest is ruled upon. 
  • No protests will be allowed on judgment calls or line up errors (lack of numbers/positions/etc.) 
  • The Tournament Committees ruling is final. If protest is won, $50 will be refunded.
• SEEDING
  • In pool play, follow the posted schedule for Home and Away.  Once seeds are set, the higher seed will be home team.
• SCOREKEEPING
  • Home team will provide scorekeeper and keep the game book including pitch counts.  Visiting team shall operate the scoreboard.
  • Line-up cards must be provided to the opposing team, umpire and scorekeeper.
• WARM-UP
  • No hitting allowed on fields. 
  • All teams must have a minimum of eight (8) players ready to play at game time or you will forfeit. 
• ROSTERS
  • Only players submitted will be eligible to play in the tournament.
  • Roster cannot be changed once it has been turned in at Registration or to Tournament Director 
• SAFETY
  • Catcher must wear throat protector and protective cup, including when warming up pitcher on the field, or in the bullpen. 
  • Runners must go around or slide to avoid contact. Runner will be called out if he/she does not attempt to avoid contact 
  • Position players cannot block the bag without the ball (including home plate). This is a judgment call by the umpire and his decision is final. 
  • There will be NO fake bunt then swinging away. You MAY fake bunt but the player may NOT swing at the pitch. If a player does, he WILL be OUT!  On the first offense, the third base coach will be warned and the second time the manager and third base coach WILL be ejected. 
  • All games will be stopped if lightning is detected to be within 10 miles of the fields. Play shall resume once the area has cleared for at least 20 minutes between lightning intervals.