GameTime Showcase Series - Tournament Rules

Coaches, Players and Parents: Be sure you are aware and follow all rules and rule changes. 

GameTime Showcase Series reserves the right to revise these rules at any time.

Game Time Showcase will follow the National High School Federation Baseball Rules with the following exceptions:

Pool Play: A strict two-hour time limit will be adhered to in all Pool Play games. The game clock will begin on the first official pitch. No new inning will begin after two hours have elapsed. The umpires will keep the official time. A new inning starts when the last out of the previous inning is made. Each team’s pool play schedule will be predetermined. During all pool games, the team listed SECOND will be the HOME team. ALL teams must adhere to this predetermined designation. If your pool game(s) are tied after the 2-hour time limit or after, whatever comes first will be recorded as a TIE. If your games end in a tie the TIE equals a ½ win and ½ loss for each team. 

Championship Round/Playoffs: A two-hour time limit will be used in all games except for the Championship. The Championship games will have 2 hour and 30 minute time limit. In all rounds leading up to the Championship game, if the game is tied after 7 innings, the game will go to the tiebreaker procedures listed below.  Semifinal no new inning after 2 hours, we must have a winner. If game is tied, the next full inning begins the tie breaker. Championship game 2 hours and 30 minutes - no new inning, must have a winner. If the game is tied after 7 innings or after the 2 hour 30 minute time limit, the next full inning begins the tie breaker.

***Teams from the same organization will not play each other in first round of the playoffs. If any organization has 3 or more teams make a playoff in a division, no protection will be considered***.

Tie Breaker: If your game is tied after the time limit or 7 innings then following tiebreaker rules will go into effect:

The last three hitters from the previous inning will load the bases, and the base runners will be placed as

follows:

• Last hitter from previous inning @ 1st Base

• Hitter before him in the lineup @ 2nd Base

• Hitter before that in the lineup @ 3rd Base

• Normal substitution rules apply to these runners.

• The hitting team will start the inning with one out.

• Play continues until one team is ahead at the end of an inning.

Forfeits: All games must be started with at least nine players. A game can be finished with eight players and no less. Once a team establishes it only has 8 players, then it must finish the game with that amount of players. The player or players leaving the original lineup will not be able to return and his spot in the hitting lineup will be recorded as an out. Any team not on the field at their designated gamete and is not prepared to start the game, at game time, will give cause for immediate forfeit. Any intentional forfeit will result in the forfeiting team being eliminated from the tournament without refund. In the event of forfeit, the score is recorded as 1-0.

Taking Infield/Outfield or I/O: Teams will not be allowed to do pregame I/O during the tournament.

Run Rule - These rules apply in all rounds of the tournament including Playoffs/Championship Games.

12 after 3

10 after 4

8 after 5

Trips to the mound: Coaches will be allowed to visit 1 time after the 2nd trip in the same inning that pitcher must be removed.

Hitting lineup: Coaches MUST have their lineup cards filled out no less than 15 mins before their game. Please make sure to include first & last name (or at least a first initial) and their jersey # & positions. Your lineup can Lineups can consist of 9, 10, or 11 hitters. The lineup must stay with the same for the entire game. The 10th and 11th hitter, if used, will be designated as an EH and XH on the lineup card. XH is a 2nd EH. The EH and XH are the same as any position on the field.

Courtesy Runners will be allowed at any time for the catcher and/or pitcher. The runner must be a player that has not previously entered the game. If no one is available, then it is the last batted out. *You may NOT pinch run for the last batted out, if all bench players are exhausted. In that situation, it must be the last batted out.

In case of rain: Time constraints will determine that status of all rain out games. It is solely the team’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of any scheduling changes. All information will be posted on and social media platforms as soon as it becomes official. Note: No special requests will be honored if rescheduling becomes necessary. If games are cancelled, pool winners and championship qualification will be determined by the tie breaking procedures (listed below).

Stop in Play: If a game is halted due to weather, the game must resume within 1 hour of the stop in play. If the field/complex is lost for the remainder of the day OR there is a significant delay, then a game may be considered Official after 4 innings of play (3 ½ if home team is winning). After 4 complete innings, a tie score will be recorded as a tie in pool play. A suspended game will resume where the game was stopped.

* In the event a game is called due to weather, the following will occur IF

• The game is called in the bottom ½ of an inning with the home team winning or tied, any runs scored during the bottom half will count towards final score, if game cannot continue.
• The game is called in the top ½ of an inning, then the score will revert back to the last full completed inning.
• The home team is winning at the END of the top 1/2 and the game is called in middle of the bottom half, then the game will end where it is called & runs will count.

Protests: If a coach wishes to protest a situation, there is a $100 fee. The protest must be made prior to the next pitch, play, or attempted play in the game. If a team would like to protest a game ending play, the team has until the umpires leave the field to protest the call. GameTime Showcase Administration will rule on protests immediately, if at all possible. If the protest is upheld, the $100 will be returned.

Roster and Roster changes: Mandatory for coaches to turn in rosters prior to the start of the event! GameTime Showcase Series WILL NOT allow teams to add any players to a roster once POOL PLAY is complete for that team. The only exception is if injuries would prevent the team from being able to field a lineup of at least 9 players. In this scenario, GameTime Showcase Series may allow the addition of an extra player.

*RULE - DOUBLE ROSTERING PLAYERS*

As long as a player meets the age requirements, they may be rostered on more than one team, as long as they are not in the same Age Division. For example, if a player is 16 years old, he can be rostered on a 17 or 18U team, and still be ok to play for a 16U team. They could not play for two different 16U teams. The teams just cannot be within the same division. In order for a player that is double rostered to participate in the playoffs for both teams, the player must have appeared in at least 2 pool play games for both teams. For the safety of the player, GameTime Showcase Series will not allow a team to roster anyone in 3 divisions.

Age Classification: Division of play can be determined by grad class or age cut off. The age cut off is whatever the player's age is on May 1st of the current year. For example, a 17-year-old sophomore is eligible to participate in 16U tournaments. This is determined by the athlete’s graduating class. Valid proof of age includes: Driver’s License/Permit, Passport, Birth Certificate, or most recent Academic Transcripts to verify Graduation Year.

Pitch Counts: GameTime Showcase Series events will strictly follow the Pitch Smart guidelines, unless otherwise noted.  We encourage proper care for all participants.

Pitches: 

1-30: 0 Days Rest

31-45: 1 Day Rest

46-60: 2 Days Rest

61-75: 3 Days Rest (13U/14U)

61-80: 3 Days Rest (15U-18)

76+: 4 Days Rest (13U-14U)

81+: 4 Days Rest (15-18U)

Scoring: We recommend that all teams (home and visitor) keep a scorebook. The official scorebook and lineup card for the game will be kept by tournament staff, in case of emergency where staff can't keep book the home team will be the official scorer. In a situation in which tournament staff and the home team are unable to score the visitor would become the official book. All subs should be reported to the umpires. To eliminate scoring disputes scorekeepers should check with the official scorer during and after the game.

• Line up cards must be fully filled out with players first name, last name, position, and accurate jersey numbers. All substitutes WILL NEED be listed with accurate jerseys numbers. Failure to produce a complete lineup card can result in games not starting on time. Line up cards are to be given to the official scorekeeper before the home plate meeting.

Sportsmanship: In the interest of sportsmanship, the tournament director reserves the right to remove any person(s) from the tournament at any time for unruly or unsportsmanlike behavior. If a player or coach is ejected for any reason within the normal scope of a baseball game (snap reaction, throws a helmet or bat, gets tossed) that player may return for the next game, if there is one. Same with a coach. If the ejection is deemed “offensive” or “over the top” then the player will miss that game and the next game played in the tournament. These situations will be discussed between the umpire & tournament director, with possible discussion with both coaches. If a player or coach is ejected a 2nd time during an event, then they are ineligible to return for the remainder of the tournament, regardless of the severity of the ejection. Coaches are responsible for their team’s parents. If a parent is out of hand and disruptive to the game, the umpire has the right to eject the head coach, and assistants if order cannot be kept. If the fans/playes cannot be kept under control, an umpire may make the decision to forfeit the game in favor of the other team.

Not covered in the Rules: In the event an item is not covered in the rules, the tournament committee will make the fairest possible final ruling.

Seeding and Tie Breaker Rules:

1.) Head to Head

• If 3 or more teams tie with same record, head to head is NOT used, unless the following scenario occurs:

• SCENARIO: There are 3 teams with identical pool play records and one of those teams beat the other 2 head to head. In this scenario, head to head is still used.

2.) Runs Allowed (In the event a format requires a team to play an extra pool game, AVG Runs Allowed may be used)

3.) Runs Scored (In the event a format requires a team to play an extra pool game, AVG Runs Scored may be used)

4.)Runs Allowed, subtracting the game with the highest runs allowed

5.) Runs Scored, subtracting the game with the lowest runs scored

6.) Best out of 3 Coin Flip

*If a pool winner chooses not to participate in bracket play, the next best team within the pool will be declared the pool winner and advance as such. This process will be continued down through the entire pool. If no teams from a particular pool are available for bracket play, an additional wild card team will be chosen to replace them and will advance to bracket play as a wild card team.

Bat Specifications: Penalties for illegal bats will be assessed as per the NFHS rule book. 1st violation - Batter is pronounced out (if discovered before a pitch to next batter) & head coach is restricted to the dugout for the remainder of the game. 2nd violation (Same Game) - Batter is pronounced out (if discovered before a pitch to next batter) and head coach is ejected. Subsequent violations: batter is pronounced out (if discovered before a pitch to next batter) and head coach is ejected. When a batter is pronounced out for violation of bat rules, the defense may take the penalty or result of the play. The head coach penalties apply in either case.

13U Division

Metal bats: -5 or -3

All bats must have a branding, label, or stamp proving BPF 1.15, and length/weight ratio vary by division.

USABat, BBCOR and Wood bats ARE allowed.

USSSA Bats are NOT allowed

Wood bats must be composed of a single piece of wood.

13U/14U Division

 -5 or -3 BBCOR or Wood

USABat, BBCOR and Wood bats ARE allowed.

USSSA Bats are NOT allowed

Wood bats must be composed of a single piece of wood.

14U Division

-3 BBCOR or Wood

Wood bats must be composed of a single piece of wood.

Please see the specific event home page for the bat type being used.

15U-18U Divisions

WOOD BATS

All players must use wood or wood composite bats only. No metal bats are

allowed. Baum bats are allowed.

National High School Federation Baseball Rules apply in all other cases.

***Gate Fees are Non Refundable: - GameTime Showcase Series will do everything we can to play all scheduled games.***

SPECTATOR SAFETY

GameTime Showcase Series welcomes spectators of all ages to our events. With that in mind, please keep the following safety tips in mind:

• Spectators should always be self aware of their surroundings. Many facilities have fields that back up to each other, so foul balls are consistently flying around from other fields. Please try to take necessary precautions to protect yourself in the event a foul ball comes in your direction. GameTime Showcase Series will always try to help warn spectators when we see the ball and have time to give a verbal warning.

• Please be aware of any players who are warming up & swinging bats or throwing baseballs. Sometimes, players may overthrow a teammate and the ball travels out of play. Please be aware when walking around areas that have players either warming up or playing in the game.

• If you have young children, please make sure you are aware of their locations and their surroundings. It is a parent or guardian's responsibility to protect their children from any potential hazards that may be present.

• Please observe any posted signage or warnings provided by the facilities that GameTime Showcase Series rents for our events.

• GameTime Showcase Series is not responsible for any injuries caused to spectators from batted balls leaving the field of play, as well as thrown baseballs leaving the field of play. It is the responsibility of all spectators to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves in the event a ball leaves the field of play.