Baseball & Softball Rules

1. Age Requirements & Eligibility

Age division is determined by a player's date of birth, per the 2026 Spring/Summer age chart below.

• 10u–12u: Eligibility is based strictly on the age chart above.
• 13u–18u: Teams may qualify a player using either the age chart or their current grade in school (7th grade for 13u, 8th for 14u, 9th for 15u, 10th for 16u, 11th for 17u, 12th for 18u).
• Any player who graduated high school in 2026 is not eligible to play in any Salt City Sports tournament.

2. Registration, Rosters, Insurance, Payment, Cancellation, & Hotel Booking

Registration & Rosters

• All rosters are managed through LeagueApps. Roster size is unlimited, and up to three coaches per team are admitted to the tournament free of charge.
• Players may be added to a roster at any point up until the team's first game.
• If a coach needs to add a player after the tournament has begun due to unforeseen circumstances, they must submit a request in writing to the tournament committee, who will approve or deny it.
• A player may appear on rosters for two different age divisions, but not on more than one team within the same age division. If a player's name appears on multiple rosters within one division, that player must declare a single team.
• Any player who takes the field without being listed on the official roster will be ejected from that game and the remainder of the tournament. Play will not be reversed — the game continues from the point of ejection.
• A team must have a submitted roster on file before playing its first game.

Insurance

• Every team must carry proof of insurance on-site at all times, and must also upload it to their LeagueApps account at least 30 days before the tournament.
• Coverage must meet a minimum of $2,000,000 general aggregate and $1,000,000 per occurrence.
• The certificate must list "Salt City Sports, LLC, and their affiliates" as certificate holder and additional insured, at 528 Plum St #250, Syracuse, NY 13204.

Payment

• A non-refundable deposit is required to register for any tournament. Space is limited.
• Full payment is due 30 days before the event and will be automatically charged to the card used for the deposit. See each event's registration page for specifics.
• We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover online or by phone, or checks mailed to Salt City Sports LLC, 528 Plum St #250, Syracuse, NY 13204.

Refunds & Cancellations

• Refund requests must be submitted in writing at least 30 days before the event start date.
• Deposits are non-refundable if a team cancels. No refunds are issued for cancellations made within 30 days of the tournament.
• Teams on a waitlist will be contacted if a spot opens; we recommend leaving a card on file to speed up that process.
• No refunds will be given after an event has concluded, for any reason.

Hotel Booking

• Any team staying overnight is required to book through one of our official host hotels to participate. Visit our Hotel Accommodations page for booking instructions.

3. Check-In

• Coaches must arrive at least one hour before their first scheduled game to check in their team.
• Come prepared with your roster, proof of insurance, and birth certificates for all players. Having these ready in advance keeps check-in moving smoothly for everyone.

4. Admission & Parking

• For detailed admission and parking information, please visit our Facilities page.
• Spectators pay a daily admission fee, purchased at the main gate.
• Both complexes have lots adjacent to the fields; if the main lot fills, follow posted signage to the auxiliary lots.
• Do not park along the road — vehicles double-parked or parked outside marked spots are subject to towing at the owner's expense.
• Buses and RVs must park in the auxiliary lots.

5. Park Rules & Fan Code of Conduct

On-Site Rules

• No smoking, alcohol, or tobacco use.
• No outside food or coolers — one team cooler is allowed per team and must stay with the coach.
• No portable heating or cooling units.
• No bikes, scooters, roller skates, skateboards, or hoverboards.
• No personal music players or noisemakers in the stands, dugouts, or fields.

Fan Code of Conduct
Salt City Sports is committed to a safe, welcoming environment for everyone at our events. All fans, coaches, and players are expected to:

• Treat staff and other attendees respectfully — fans can expect the same in return.
• Avoid obscene, abusive, or discriminatory language, gestures, or signage directed at officials, opposing players, coaches, or fans. Indecent clothing or signage will not be permitted inside the venue.
• Refrain from verbal or physical confrontation of any kind.
• Stay off the playing surface and out of restricted areas — this includes throwing objects onto the field.
• Follow all directions from event staff regarding safety and operations.

Anyone showing signs of alcohol impairment, or who otherwise violates this code, is subject to removal, arrest, and/or prosecution.

6. Equipment & Uniform Requirements

Bats

Decertified bats (not permitted regardless of division): 2017 USSSA DeMarini 2¾" Drop 10 (blue/white); 2017 USSSA DeMarini 2⅝" Drop 8 (green/white); 2018 USA Easton Ghost X 30"; 2020 BBCOR Slugger Meta 33 33"; 2018 USSSA Dirty South Bats KAMO; BBCOR Mattingly Balistk; BBCOR Nike CX2; BBCOR Slugger TPX Dynasty; BBCOR Marucci CAT 5²; BBCOR Reebok TLS; BBCOR Marucci Black.

Cleats

• Metal cleats are not permitted on our turf fields, for player safety. Players must wear turf shoes, molded plastic cleats, or sneakers.
• Some off-site fields are natural dirt/grass and metal cleats are permitted there.
• A player caught wearing metal cleats will be asked to remove them, and both teams receive a warning. A second violation results in ejection of that player, and their coach will be restricted to the bench for the remainder of the game.

Uniforms

• Players must be in full uniform, with an assigned number, any time they're on the field.
• Coaches aren't required to wear a full uniform but are expected to dress appropriately. Coaches don't need a helmet while coaching 1st or 3rd base, but any player who coaches those bases must wear one.

Jewelry

• No metal jewelry may be worn during games, and no stickers may be worn on the hat.
• Non-metal necklaces and bracelets are allowed, except pitchers may not wear a bracelet while pitching.

Balls & Other Equipment

• Salt City Sports supplies game balls. Teams should bring their own practice balls for warm-ups and the batting cage, along with helmets, bats, gloves, catcher's gear, first aid supplies, and any other equipment their team needs.
• Salt City Sports is not responsible for lost, stolen, or unattended personal items or equipment — please keep your belongings with you at all times.

7. Game Day Logistics

• Umpires: Assigned umpires are provided for all games.
• Batting Cages: Our outdoor cages are first come, first served, one batter per cage at a time. Batters must wear a helmet and pitchers must throw from behind a screen. There is no pre-game infield/outfield warm-up, and please be mindful of other teams waiting. During high-volume periods, the tournament committee may cap cage time at 20 minutes per team.
  • At Carrier Park, batting cages may not be used before 9:00 AM, per town ordinance.
• First Aid & AED: First aid equipment is on-site for every tournament.
• Concessions: Our stand is open from 7:00 AM until the last game starts (weekday hours may vary). To pre-order breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, or drinks for your team, pick up an order form at the concession building and we'll have it ready at your requested time.
• Allergen Notice: Our concession products may contain or have contacted eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat.
• Foul Balls: With multiple games running simultaneously, please stay alert for foul balls from neighboring fields. Return any foul balls you retrieve to the umpire or tournament director.

8. Playing Rules

Games follow National High School Federation (NFHS) Baseball Rules, with the modifications below.

1. Pool Play Time Limit: Games are capped at 1 hour, 50 minutes. No new inning may begin after that mark, tracked by the scoreboard starting from the first warm-up pitch. If the home team is batting and leading when time expires, the game ends immediately (the batter at the plate may finish their at-bat).
2. Warm-Up Pitches: Pitchers get 6 warm-up pitches before their first inning and 4 between subsequent innings.
3. Innings: 9u–12u games run 6 innings; 13u–18u games run 7 innings.
4. Tie Games: Pool play games tied after regulation or at the time limit are recorded as ties — no extra innings are played in pool play.
5. Forfeits: A forfeit called before the game starts is scored 6–0 (9u–12u) or 7–0 (13u–18u). A forfeit or concession mid-game ends play immediately, with the score standing as-is. Intentional forfeits, as determined by the tournament committee, may carry additional penalties.
6. Mercy Rule: A game ends when one team leads by 12 runs after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4, or 8 runs after 5.
7. Pitching Restrictions: Salt City Sports tournaments have no pitch count restrictions.
8. Mound Visits: A pitcher must be removed after a second mound visit in the same inning (see Rule 14 for re-entry).
9. Balks: No balks are called for 9u–10u. 11u–18u is a dead ball with no warning.
10. Infield Fly Rule: Not enforced for 9u; standard rules apply for 10u–18u.
11. Dropped Third Strike: For 9u, the batter is automatically out. Standard rules apply for 10u–18u.
12. Starting the Game: A game requires at least 8 players to begin, or it's recorded as a forfeit. A team playing with 8 records an automatic out each time the 9th lineup spot comes up. A 9th player who arrives during the game must be inserted into that spot immediately, even if the team is on defense; any players arriving after that may only enter as a standard substitution. The tournament director has discretion to delay a start time. All teams should be ready to begin play 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. If the preceding game finishes with more than 15 minutes remaining before the next game's scheduled start, the umpire may begin the next game early. The tournament director will keep you informed of any changes to game start times.
13. Hitting Lineup: Teams may bat 9, 10, or 11 players (using a DH, EH, or XH) or their full roster. At the pre-game plate conference, each team must designate its head coach — the only person authorized to address the umpires or contest a call during that game — and must tell the opposing coach and umpire how they intend to bat their lineup. Confirming the accuracy of the opposing lineup before first pitch is each team's own responsibility; any issues should be raised with the tournament director immediately. A DH may bat anywhere and hit for any player; an EH or XH may also bat anywhere and counts as a defensive position for substitution purposes. Teams batting their full lineup receive free defensive substitution; if a player batting in a full lineup is injured, their spot becomes an automatic out. Lineup protests must be raised with the tournament director at the time they occur.
14. Re-Entry: Teams not batting their full lineup follow standard NFHS re-entry rules — a starter (including DH, EH, or XH) may re-enter once, provided they return to their original spot in the batting order. A pitcher removed after throwing a pitch may return to pitch after sitting out one batter or recording one out at another position, as long as they weren't substituted for while on defense. A pitcher substituted for while on offense who then re-enters before taking the field remains the pitcher of record and may continue pitching.
15. Courtesy Runner: Available at any time for the pitcher and catcher. Use a substitute if available, or the last player who made an out. If both the pitcher and catcher are on base simultaneously, they need two separate courtesy runners.
16. Intentional Walk: A coach may call for an intentional walk at any age level without requiring pitches to be thrown — the ball is simply declared dead.
17. Weather-Shortened Games: A 9u–12u game stopped for weather is official after 4 complete innings (or 3½ if the home team is leading); 13u–18u games are official after 5 complete innings (or 4½ if the home team is leading). A tie at that point remains a tie in pool play. The tournament committee has final say on suspending or canceling games for weather, and no individual rescheduling requests will be granted. Coaches should keep tournament contact numbers on hand for updates. If non-playoff games are canceled, playoff qualification follows the standard tiebreaker procedures below; if playoff games themselves are interrupted, the committee will determine how a champion is crowned.
18. Scoring: We recommend both teams keep a scorebook, though the plate umpire is the official scorer. Teams are responsible for confirming the score with umpires after every inning.
19. Leading & Stealing: For 9u–10u (46'/60' field), runners must wait until the ball crosses the plate before leaving the base; a first violation draws a warning, and the runner is called out after that. Standard leading and stealing rules apply for 11u–18u.
20. Dugout Rule: Players and coaches must remain inside the dugout at all times, except for one on-deck batter positioned at the end of the dugout farthest from home plate — either side of the field may be used for on-deck warm-ups. Coaches are responsible for player safety around the dugout. No buckets or chairs are allowed on the turf.
21. Technology: Electronic devices may be used by any position or coach to relay information or call pitches, but not for sign-stealing. Anyone caught using a device to steal signs is ejected immediately.
22. Anything Not Covered: For any situation not addressed by these rules, the tournament committee will make a final ruling.

Playoff Format: Playoff format varies by tournament, and not every tournament advances all teams to the playoffs. The specific format for each event is posted on that tournament's home page before it begins. In playoff games, the higher seed is always the home team. Head coaches will receive playoff details ahead of the tournament, and on-site, only the head coach may raise playoff-related questions with the tournament director.

9. Field Ground Rules

• A ball lodged in the padding, resting on top of the padding, or caught in the netting is dead immediately, with runners placed accordingly.
• A ball entering the dugout is a dead ball, with runners placed accordingly.
• A ball that strikes the protective netting, the blocks, or the trim above the dugout without entering it stays live.
• If a gate is open and a ball passes through the opening, it's dead immediately, with runners placed accordingly. All gates should remain closed at all times.
• A ball hit over the yellow cap on the outfield fence is a home run. A ball that bounces off the turf and over the yellow cap is a ground-rule double. Balls may not be played off the netting above the outfield fence in fair territory.
• A fair ball that bounces into foul territory stays live, unless it becomes lodged in netting, padding, or fencing, in which case it's dead immediately.
• Where portable fences are used, a ball that rolls under the fence, or crosses the imaginary line extending the left or right field fence, is a ground-rule double.

10. Playoffs & Tie-Breaker Rules

Championship Games: There's no time limit for the championship. If the score is tied after regulation (6 innings for 9u–12u, 7 for 13u–18u), the game moves into the playoff tiebreaker procedure below.

Playoff Tiebreaker Procedure:

• Base runners are placed as follows: the last batter from the previous inning at 1st base, the second-to-last batter at 2nd base, and the third-to-last at 3rd base (normal substitution rules apply to these runners).
• The batting team starts the inning with one out already recorded.
• Play continues until one team leads at the end of a full inning.

Pool Play Tiebreakers (common opponents): Ranked in order until resolved —

1. Overall winning percentage
2. Head-to-head result (2 teams tied) / team that beat both others (3 teams tied — if none, proceed to #3)
3. Total runs allowed in pool play
4. Total runs scored in pool play
5. Highest single-game run differential
6. Lowest single-game runs allowed
7. Highest single-game runs scored
8. Coin flip

Pool Play Tiebreakers (no common opponents):

1. Overall winning percentage
2. Team that beat all other tied teams (3+ teams — if none, proceed to #3)
3. Head-to-head result (2 teams, if they played each other — otherwise proceed to #4)
4. Team that beat all other tied teams (3 teams — if none, proceed to #5)
5. Total runs allowed in pool play
6. Total runs scored in pool play
7. Highest single-game run differential
8. Lowest single-game runs allowed
9. Highest single-game runs scored

Tiebreakers (no pool play):

1. Overall winning percentage
2. Head-to-head result (2 teams) / team that beat all others (3+ teams — if none, proceed to #3)
3. Total runs allowed in pool play
4. Total runs scored in pool play
5. Highest single-game run differential
6. Lowest single-game runs allowed
7. Highest single-game runs scored
8. Coin flip

Playoff Seeding (advancing out of pool play):

1. Overall winning percentage
2. Total runs allowed in pool play
3. Total runs scored in pool play
4. Highest single-game run differential
5. Lowest single-game runs allowed
6. Highest single-game runs scored
7. Coin flip

If teams have played an uneven number of pool games, seeding is based on winning percentage; among teams with a 100% winning percentage, more total wins is considered the better seed (e.g., 3-0 outranks 2-0).

A team that notifies the tournament director they don't intend to play in the playoffs will be marked "opting out" on the website, though pool play continues normally for them. If that team ends up winning their pool anyway, they're removed from playoff advancement and the remaining teams re-seed using the standard tiebreaker rules.

Winning Percentage: Wins ÷ Total Games Played, with a tie counted as 0.5 win. (Example: a 2-0-1 record equals an 83% winning percentage, or 2.5/3.)

11. Inclement Weather & Event Interruption

• If rain affects play, we'll do everything possible to stay close to the original schedule — our turf fields help minimize delays and rainouts. Any necessary schedule changes will be posted at the complex and on LeagueApps as soon as they're available; keeping track of updates is each team's responsibility.
• Rained-out games are not guaranteed to be made up, depending on time constraints.
• Weather Hotline: 315-430-5832

Circumstances Beyond Our Control: In rare cases where play is halted by events outside our control (natural disasters, government-ordered shutdowns, power outages, etc.):

• If we cancel the tournament 30+ days before its start, you'll receive a full refund or credit.
• If canceled within 30 days of the start, or if play is stopped during the event, the following weather-related credit schedule applies (no cash refunds):

12. Protests

Playing Rule or Illegal Equipment Protests

• A protest requires a $250 cash payment to the tournament director at the time it's filed, refunded if the protest is upheld. The committee's ruling is final.
• Protests must be filed and resolved immediately — a play can't be protested once the game has resumed. If an equipment protest is upheld, the equipment is removed from play immediately and the game continues (prior results stand as-is).

Age Eligibility Protests

• The protesting team must present convincing evidence to the tournament committee, who will then review the roster in question. From there:
  1. If the roster is in compliance, play continues as normal.
  2. If the roster is not in compliance and the tournament is still in pool play, the player is ejected immediately, opponents receive a forfeit win (or may choose to play the game as an exhibition), and advancement proceeds as normal. If already in the playoffs, that game becomes a forfeit and the playoffs continue as scheduled.
  3. If the roster appears compliant but the protesting team has evidence it's inaccurate, the protesting team must pay $250 cash to fund verification of the player's documents. The player then has until the end of the current game to produce those documents; if they can't, the committee will issue a final ruling based on the best available information.

13. Player & Coach Conduct

• Any player or coach ejected from a game is subject to committee review for possible suspension.
• If a team behaves in an unruly or unsportsmanlike manner, Salt City Sports may remove that team from the current tournament and, in some cases, ban them from the facility for a set period.
• The tournament committee reserves the right to remove any individual from the venue for unruly or unsportsmanlike conduct, in the interest of a positive event for everyone.

Revised 9/10/2026

1. Age Requirements & Eligibility

Age division is determined by a player's birth year, per the Fall 2026–Summer 2027 age chart below. League age is based on the player's age as of September 9, 2026.

• Any player who has graduated high school in 2026 is not eligible to play in any Salt City Sports tournament.

2. Registration, Rosters, Insurance, Payment, Cancellation, & Hotel Booking

Registration & Rosters

• All rosters are managed through LeagueApps. Roster size is unlimited, and up to three coaches per team are admitted to the tournament free of charge.
• Players may be added to a roster at any point up until the team's first game.
• If a coach needs to add a player after the tournament has begun due to unforeseen circumstances, they must submit a written request to the tournament committee, who will approve or deny it.
• A player may appear on rosters for two different age divisions, but not on more than one team within the same age division. If a player's name appears on multiple rosters within one division, that player must declare a single team.
• Any player who takes the field without being listed on the official roster will be ejected immediately from that game and the remainder of the tournament. Play is not reversed — the game continues from the point of ejection.
• A team must have a submitted roster on file before playing its first game.

Insurance

• Every team must carry proof of insurance on-site at all times, and must also upload it to their LeagueApps account at least 30 days before the tournament.
• Coverage must meet a minimum of $2,000,000 general aggregate and $1,000,000 per occurrence.
• The certificate must list "Salt City Sports, LLC, and their affiliates" as certificate holder and additional insured, at 528 Plum St #250, Syracuse, NY 13204.

Payment

• A non-refundable deposit is required to register for any tournament. Space is limited.
• Full payment is due 30 days before the event and will be automatically charged to the card used for the deposit. See each event's registration page for specifics.
• We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover online or by phone, or checks mailed to Salt City Sports, LLC, 528 Plum St #250, Syracuse, NY 13204.

Refunds & Cancellations

• Refund requests must be submitted in writing at least 30 days before the event start date.
• Deposits are non-refundable if a team cancels. No refunds are issued for cancellations made within 30 days of the tournament.
• Teams on a waiting list will be contacted if a spot opens; we recommend leaving a card on file to speed up that process. 
• No refunds will be given after an event has concluded, for any reason.

Hotel Booking

• Any team staying overnight is required to book through one of our official host hotels to participate. Visit our Hotel Accommodations page for booking instructions.

3. Check-In

• Coaches must arrive at least one hour before their first scheduled game to check in their team.
• Come prepared with your roster, proof of insurance, birth certificates, and any other required documentation. Having these ready in advance keeps check-in moving smoothly for everyone.

4. Admission & Parking

• For detailed admission and parking information, please visit our Facilities page.
• Spectators pay a daily admission fee, purchased at the main gate.
• Both complexes have lots adjacent to the fields; if the main lot fills, follow posted signage to the auxiliary lots.
• Do not park along the road — vehicles double-parked or parked outside marked spots are subject to towing at the owner's expense.
• Buses and RVs must park in the auxiliary lots.

5. Park Rules & Fan Code of Conduct

On-Site Rules

• No smoking, alcohol, or tobacco use.
• No outside food or coolers — one team cooler is allowed per team and must stay with the coach.
• No heating or cooling units of any kind.
• No bicycles, scooters, roller skates, skateboards, or hoverboards.
• No personal music players or noisemakers in the stands, dugouts, or on the fields.

Fan Code of Conduct
Salt City Sports is committed to providing a secure, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for every fan at our venues. As a supporter of Salt City Sports programs, we ask you to help us maintain a positive game-day experience by following these guidelines:

• Fans can expect to be treated in a consistent, professional, and polite way by all staff and team personnel — and we ask the same in return.
• Obscene, abusive, or racist language, gestures, signage, or behavior directed at officials or a visiting team's fans, players, or coaching staff is prohibited. Obscene or indecent clothing will not be permitted inside any venue.
• Verbal or physical confrontation, including dangerous, abusive, or profane behavior, is prohibited.
• Disruptive, unruly, or illegal behavior — including throwing objects onto the playing surface or entering restricted areas — will result in immediate removal from the event.
• Signs of alcohol impairment that lead to irresponsible behavior will result in denial of entry, or may lead to arrest or ejection.
• Interfering with, or failing to follow, security procedures, emergency procedures, or staff requests concerning athletic operations will result in immediate removal from the event.
• Fans who don't follow this Code of Conduct are subject to ejection, and may also face arrest and prosecution.

6. Equipment & Uniform Requirements

Cleats

• Metal cleats are not permitted on our fields. Players must wear turf shoes, molded plastic cleats, or sneakers.
• Some off-site fields are natural dirt/grass and metal cleats are permitted there.

Uniforms

• Teams must be in full uniform once on the field, and every player must have a uniform number.

Jewelry

• All jewelry must be removed before play, with the exception of medical-alert bracelets.

Balls & Other Equipment

• Salt City Sports supplies game balls for every game. Teams should bring their own practice balls for the batting cage and warm-ups, along with helmets, bats, gloves, catcher's gear, first aid supplies, and any other equipment their team needs.
• Salt City Sports is not responsible for lost, stolen, or unattended personal items or equipment. Please keep your belongings with you at all times.

7. Game Day Logistics

• Umpires: Assigned umpires are provided for all games.
• Batting Cages: Our outdoor cages are first come, first served, with one batter per cage at a time. Batters must wear a helmet, and pitchers must throw from behind a screen. We ask that each team stick to one cage and be mindful of other teams waiting their turn. There is no pre-game infield/outfield warm-up; defensive warm-ups may be run in the outfield. At Carrier Park, batting cages may not be used before 9:00 AM, per town ordinance.
• First Aid & AED: First aid equipment is on-site for every tournament.
• Concessions: Our stand is open from 7:00 AM until the start of the last game (weekday hours may vary). To pre-order breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, or drinks for your team, pick up an order form at the concession building and we'll have it ready at your requested time.
• Allergen Notice: Our concession products may contain, or may have come into contact with, eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat.
• Foul Balls: With multiple games running at once, please stay alert for foul balls from neighboring fields. Return any foul balls you retrieve to the umpire or tournament director.

8. Playing Rules

Coaches are responsible for staying current on all rules and rule changes. Salt City Sports reserves the right to amend these rules at any time for specific tournament play. USA Softball Rules will be enforced, with the following exceptions.

1. Starting the Game: A game requires at least 8 players to begin, or it's recorded as a forfeit. A team playing with 8 records an automatic out each time the 9th lineup spot comes up. A 9th player who arrives during the game must be inserted into that spot immediately, even if the team is on defense; players arriving after that may only enter as a legal substitute. The tournament director has discretion to delay a start time. All teams should be ready to begin play 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled start time.
2. Lineup & Substitutions: Free defensive substitution is allowed, and teams may bat their entire roster both Saturday and Sunday. However you start your batting order is how you must finish it — if a player can't bat in their spot and no substitute is available, it's recorded as an out. Offensive substitutions should be announced to the umpire and the opposing team. Batting order and each team's designated head coach are established at the pre-game plate meeting.
3. Innings: 10u games run 6 innings; 12u–18u games run 7 innings.
4. Time Limit: Games are capped at 1 hour, 30 minutes — finish the inning in progress, with no new inning starting once that mark is reached. We won't finish an inning if the home team is winning and batting when time expires. Game time begins at the close of the plate meeting, and the official clock stops only for lengthy delays, at the umpire's discretion.
5. Tie Games: Non-playoff games tied after the full innings or the time limit are recorded as a tie — no extra innings are played in non-playoff games, even if time remains.
6. Warm-Up Pitches: Pitchers get 5 warm-up pitches in their first inning and 3 between each inning after that; a new pitcher entering the game also gets 5. Infield/outfield ball work is permitted between innings.
7. Mercy Rule ("Run Rule"): In effect for every game, including the championship — a 12-run lead after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4, or 8 runs after 5 ends the game.
8. Home Team: Determined by a coin flip at the plate meeting for non-playoff games. In playoff games, the better seed is always the home team.
9. Courtesy Runner: A courtesy runner may be used for the pitcher and/or catcher at any point in the game, though the same runner can't cover both at once. Courtesy runners must be players not currently in the game; if none are available, the last batted-out player may be used.
10. Scoring: Umpires report the final score to the tournament booth and serve as the official scorer. It's the responsibility of both the winning and losing team to confirm they have the same score.
11. Pitching Distance: 10u pitches from 35 ft, 12u from 40 ft, and 14u–18u from 43 ft.
12. Dropped Third Strike & Infield Fly: Both rules are in effect for all age divisions.
13. On-Deck Batter: Teams are allowed one on-deck batter outside the dugout, positioned at the end farthest from home plate.
14. Technology: Electronic devices may be used by any position or coach to relay information or call pitches, but never for sign-stealing. Anyone caught using a device to steal signs is ejected immediately.
15. Anything Not Covered: The tournament director may adjust rules, schedules, brackets, and field locations as needed to complete the tournament. We'll make every effort to honor the stated game minimum for each event; however, if a team forfeits or the weather doesn't cooperate, the tournament director may reschedule, shorten, or cancel games in order to finish the tournament in a timely fashion.

9. Field Ground Rules

• A ball lodged in the padding, resting on top of the padding, or caught in the netting is dead immediately, with runners placed accordingly.
• A ball entering the dugout is a dead ball, with runners placed accordingly.
• A ball that strikes the protective netting, the blocks, or the blue trim above the dugout without entering it stays live.
• All gates must remain closed at all times. If a gate is open and a ball passes through the opening, it's dead immediately, with runners placed accordingly.
• A ball hit over the yellow cap on the outfield fence is a home run. A ball that bounces off the turf and over the yellow cap is a ground-rule double. Balls may not be played off the netting above the outfield fence in fair territory.
• A fair ball that caroms into foul territory stays live, unless it becomes lodged in netting, padding, or fencing — in which case it's dead immediately, with runners placed accordingly.
• Where portable fences are used, a ball that rolls under the fence, or crosses the imaginary line extending the left or right field fence, is a ground-rule double.
• The home plate umpire announces the starting time, or starts their stopwatch, at the end of the pre-game conference.

10. Playoffs & Tie-Breaker Rules

International Tie Breaker (ITB)

• There is no ITB in pool play — tied pool play games are recorded as ties.
• In elimination-round games, the ITB begins once the time limit has expired or the full innings have been played, whichever comes first.
• The last batter from the previous inning is placed at 1st base, the second-to-last batter at 2nd base, and the third-to-last batter at 3rd base. The batting team starts the inning with one out already recorded. Play continues until one team is ahead at the end of a full inning.

Playoff Seeding
Seeding is determined in the following order until resolved:

1. Overall record (winning percentage)
2. If still tied: total runs allowed in pool play
3. If still tied: total runs scored in pool play
4. If still tied: highest single-game run differential
5. If still tied: lowest single-game runs allowed
6. If still tied: highest single-game runs scored
7. If still tied: coin flip

If teams haven't played the same number of pool play games, seeding is based on winning percentage. Among teams with a 100% winning percentage, more total wins is considered the better seed (for example, 3-0 outranks 2-0).

If, at any point, a team tells the tournament director they don't intend to play in the playoffs, that team is immediately removed from advancement procedures, and the remaining teams proceed using the standard tie-break rules above.

11. Inclement Weather & Event Interruption

• If rain affects play, we'll do everything we can to stay close to the original schedule — our turf fields help limit rainouts and delays. If the schedule needs to change because of weather, we'll do our best to preserve the original tournament format.
• Rained-out games are not guaranteed to be made up, depending on time constraints.
• Tracking schedule changes is each team's responsibility, not the tournament committee's. Updates will be posted at the complex, and on LeagueApps, as soon as they're available.
• Weather Hotline: 315-430-5832

Circumstances Beyond Our Control: In rare cases where play is halted by events outside our control (natural disasters, government-ordered shutdowns, power outages, and similar circumstances):

• If we cancel the tournament 30 or more days before its start, you'll receive a full refund or credit.
• If we cancel within 30 days of the start, or if play is stopped during the event, the credit schedule below applies (no cash refunds).

12. Protests

Playing Rule or Illegal Equipment Protests

• A protest requires a $250 cash payment to the tournament director at the time it's filed, refunded if the protest is upheld. The committee's ruling is final.
• Protests must be filed and resolved immediately — a play can't be protested once the game has resumed. If an equipment protest is upheld, the equipment is removed from play immediately and the game continues (prior results stand as-is).

Age Eligibility Protests

• The protesting team must present convincing evidence to the tournament committee, who will then review the roster in question. From there:
  1. If the roster is in compliance, play continues as normal.
  2. If the roster is not in compliance and the tournament is still in pool play, the player is ejected immediately, opponents receive a forfeit win (or may choose to play the game as an exhibition), and advancement proceeds as normal. If the tournament is already in the playoffs, that game becomes a forfeit and the playoffs continue as scheduled.
  3. If the roster appears compliant but the protesting team has evidence it's inaccurate, the protesting team must pay $250 cash to fund verification of the player's documents. The player then has until the end of the current game to produce those documents; if they can't, the committee will issue a final ruling based on the best available information.

13. Player & Coach Conduct

• Any player or coach ejected from a game is subject to committee review for possible suspension.
• If a team behaves in an unruly or unsportsmanlike manner, Salt City Sports may remove that team from the current tournament and, in some cases, ban them from the facility for a set period.
• In the interest of a quality event, the tournament committee reserves the right to remove any individual from the venue for unruly or unsportsmanlike conduct.

Revised 9/10/2026