Rules do NOT apply to any World Series events, out of area, or tournaments run in conjunction with other leagues.
3.01.B: All grade based players must have a copy of their current report card, or official school ID with grade, or any official government document stating the grade.
3.02: A player that is found to be illegal due to an age or grade violation during or after a league or tournament game, shall result in the offending team losing the game(s) team and player being ejected from the tournament, team being placed last in the standings and forfeiting all awards, points, sponsors travel money, and berths that would have been or have been awarded. The illegal player shall be removed from the offending team’s Official Online Roster and additional penalties may be applied to the illegal player and / or team manager / coaches.
3.03: A player shall be eligible to compete in the USSSA Baseball program as long as he abides by the USSSA Constitution and the Official Baseball National By-laws & Rules when his first name, last name (no middle names, nick names, shortened names, slang names, initials, prefixes or suffixes are allowed) and date of birth (in proper format – mm/dd/yyyy) are listed EXACTLY as they appear on his original birth certificate, as a member on an eligible team’s Official Online Roster. Failure to comply with this rule shall result in your team being prohibited from participating in USSSA.
3.05.A.1: A Player can only play on one team in any given tournament and can only play in one tournament at any given time.
3.05.A.2: Players shall only physically play for one (1) team per day, event, tournament, week or weekend, regardless of location, venue, age division and / or classification.
3.05.B.1: Players shall only appear on one (1) Official Online Roster.
3.05.B.2: Players shall only physically play for one (1) team per day, event, tournament, week or weekend, regardless of location, venue, age division and / or classification.
3.05.C.1: Teams that earn a berth with Guest Players on their roster will be deemed qualified. The Guest Players will NOT be frozen to the team’s roster, only players on their permanent roster will be considered for freezing at the appropriate time.3.05.C.2: Guest Player Application System will be disabled for an event 3 hours prior to the Start Date of the event based on Eastern Standard Time.3.05.C.3: Players that are NOT on a current season USSSA roster will NOT be eligible as a Guest Player. Anyone that is not on a current USSSA roster simply can be added to your team roster to be eligible as long as the player’s classification does not change your team’s classification.3.05.C.4: Guest Players are only eligible to participate as a Guest Player for one team at a time. Players will be blocked from being used as a Guest Player for an additional team for the duration of their guest playing event (Start Date to End Date).3.05.C.5: If a Guest Player’s original team registers for an event after being approved as a guest player, the player will. be deleted as a guest player and the Original Team will be required to de-activate the player before the player can be used as a guest player3.05.C.6: If the Pick-Up Team moves divisions and moves to a division that would deem the Guest Player illegal, the player will be removed.3.05.C.7: For leagues, teams are allowed unlimited numbers of guest players. Players who guest play in leagues can also guest play in tournaments with overlapping dates3.05.C.8: Guest Player eligibility is determined by the age and class of the event the team is playing in. See link below for more information. http://usssa.com/baseball/bb-guest-player-help-documents
3.06.B: All teams shall maintain an Official Online Roster.
3.06.F.1: The intentional or unintentional act of adding ineligible players to the team’s Official Online Roster shall be grounds for team manager suspension and disqualification of the team.
3.06.F.2: The intentional or unintentional act of incorrectly spelling a player’s name on the team’s Official Online Roster shall be grounds for team manager suspension and disqualification of the team.
3.06.F.3: The intentional or unintentional act of incorrectly entering a player’s date-of-birth on the team’s Official Online Roster shall be grounds for team manager suspension and disqualification of the team.
1) Winning Percentage – Descending
2) Number Wins – Descending
3) Number Loses – Ascending
4) Tied Teams (vs. each other) Winning Pct. – Descending (more than 2 teams tied, skip this tie breaker)
5) Avg. Runs Allowed – Ascending
6) Avg. Run Differential with a maximum of (8) – Descending
7) USSSA Points – Descending
8) Date Team Entered USSSA Database
9) Coin Flip
Rule 6.07 Example: A 10U AAA team can participate up in the 11U AAA or 11U Major division but cannot participate down in the 11U AA division.
Chart 7.01.A-17U-8U: 60′ Base Paths, 40′ Pitching Distance9U-10U: 65′ Base Paths, 46′ Pitching Distance11U-12U: 70′ Base Paths, 50′ Pitching Distance13U: 80′ Base Paths, 54′ Pitching Distance13U & up: 90′ Base Paths, 60′ 6″ Pitching Distance
7.01.C Local: All bats for age divisions 13U and younger must be permanently stamped with the new USSSA 1.15 BPF Mark (Chart 7.01.C), or BBCOR.50 Certified Mark or made of wood and manufactured by a licensed USSSA manufacturer.
7.01.C.1: Effective January 1st, 2020, all 13U players must use a maximum drop 8 (-8) bat with the official USSSA 1.15 BPF Mark permanently stamped.
7.01.C.2 Local: All 14u players must use BBCOR or wood bats only and must conform to the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS) bat standards including a length to weight ratio no greater than negative three (-3) ounces.
These bats must be permanently stamped with the BBCOR.50 Certified Mark or made of wood and manufactured by a licensed USSSA manufacturer.
7.01.C.3: All bats for scholastic divisions (High School Events) must conform to the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS) bat standards including a length to weight ratio no greater than negative three (-3) ounces.
These bats must be permanently stamped with the BBCOR.50 Certified Mark or made of wood and manufactured by a licensed USSSA manufacturer.
Rule 7.01.C Penalty: (First Offense) – If the Umpire discovers that a bat does not conform to USSSA Rule 7.01.C until a time during or after which the bat has been used in play, it shall not be grounds for declaring the batter out and/or ejection from the game. If the Umpire discovers that a bat has been used to put a ball in play and before the next legal pitch, the defensive team shall have the choice of the result of play or the batter being called out and all runners returning to the base occupied at the time of the pitch. (Second Offense) – If a team is found in violation of this rule a second time, then the manager shall be ejected in addition to the First Offense penalty.
7.01.F: In age divisions 4U – 12U, non-metal cleats shall be worn. In age divisions 13U and older, traditional metal baseball spikes shall be permitted.
Rule 7.01.G Comment: In age divisions 4U – 12U, the catcher’s helmet shall fully cover both ears.
7.02.B: In League, Qualifying Tournament and State Championship play, time limits may be used with approval of the League / Tournament / State Director.
- Teams are prohibited from warming up or conducting their pre-game on any of the infields. Warm-up is permitted in foul territory only!
- The Home Team will occupy the 3rd base dugout.
- Time limits will be applied to all pool play and Non-Gold Division Championships Games.
- We will make every attempt to play Gold Division Championship Games in full, run-rule still applies.
- Each team must provide a scorekeeper but all changes must go through the home plate umpire, who is the official scorekeeper.
- 06U: 5 innings or no new inning after 1 hour 15 minutes.
- 07U – 08U: 6 innings or no new inning after 1 hour 30 minutes.
- 09U – 12U: 6 innings or no new inning after 1 hour 45 minutes.
- 13U & up: 7 innings or no new inning after 2 hours.
- Game Time starts after the home plate meeting.
- In the event a team cannot make it’s scheduled time the Tournament Director will first attempt to condense the schedule. If the schedule cannot be condensed a forfeit win will be awarded.
- Once an inning begins, it must be completed. However, if the home team is ahead and batting when time expires, the game is over and the inning is not completed.
- In an effort to keep games on time and to conserve pitching, no extra innings are played during pool play.
- If time expires in a tie game during pool play, the game is called a tie.
- A win awarded by forfeit will be scored as 1 run for each scheduled inning. (example, a 12u game scheduled for 6 innings will be scored 6-0 for the winning team).
- Every effort will be made to finish the tournament but in cases of rain, darkness or other acts of God, the Tournament Director reserves the right to shorten games or modify schedules in order to finish the event.
- Mechanical noise makers, including PA systems and loudspeakers are not allowed at any USSSA Southern California events.
- USSSA reserves the right to modify the length of games due to issues involving limited visibility or park curfew.
a ten (10) player line-up with an Extra Hitter (EH), or a 10 player line-up up with a DH and EH, or
a continuous line-up of all present, eligible, uniformed players. Such line-up must be declared before the start of the game and used the entire game.
A Designated Hitter (DH) can be used for ages 9u thru 14u.
7.02.D.1(a): If a team uses a line-up that contains substitute players, all starting players may be removed and re-enter the game once but must re-enter in their original position in the batting order.Non-starters are not allowed to re-enter. When a starter re-enters, the player in the starter’s batting position in the batting order must be removed from the game and is ineligible for the remainder of the game.
7.02.D.1(b): If a team uses a line-up that contains ten (10) players, the player in the Extra Hitter position has free defensive substitution.
7.02.D.1(c): If a team uses a continuous line-up, all players other than the nine (9) defensive position players are Extra Hitters and may move freely in defensive positions with the exception of the pitching position.
7.02.E.2: The DH would normally bat for one player and any of that player’s substitutes on defense for the original player.
7.02.E.3: The DH must be listed next to or under the player he is batting for in lineup.
7.02.E.4: The DH and the player he is batting for are both locked into the same batting slot; neither of these two players can ever bat in another batting position.
7.02.E.5: If the DH enters the game on defense, the player he was batting for must come out of the game.
7.02.E.6: A replaced DH can re-enter the game one time since he was considered a starter. The defensive player being hit for can also re-enter the game one time if subbed for. Both must always stay in the same batting spot.
7.02.E.7: The DH role for a team is terminated for the rest of the game if:
7.02.E.7(a): A replaced DH re-enters the game on defense (the acting DH is disqualified from further participation.
7.02.E.7(b): The player for whom the DH was batting pinch hits or pinch runs for the DH.
7.02.E.7(c): The DH assumes a defensive position.
7.02.G: Teams may play an official game with an eight (8) player line-up. If a team plays with an eight (8) player line-up, an out shall be declared for the ninth (9th) position in the batting line-up each turn at bat. A ninth (9th) player and all subsequent players may be added to the bottom of the batting line-up as soon as they become available.
7.02.H: A team may continue a game with a minimum of eight (8) eligible players.
7.03.A.1 Local: In bracket play, extra innings or the next inning after time expires will begin with a runner on second base and no outs.
The runner at second base will be the player in the batting order position previous to the lead-off batter of the inning (or a substitute for that player).
By way of example, if the number five hitter in the batting order is due to lead off the next inning, the number four player in the batting order shall begin the inning on second base.
In the event the runner is the pitcher or catcher of record a courtesy runner will be allowed.
7.03.A.2: Shortened because the home team needs none of its half of the last inning or only a fraction of it to win.
7.03.A.3: Shortened because an imposed Time Limit expires; or
7.03.A.4: Shortened because any applicable part of USSSA Rule 7.03.B has been met.
7.03.A.5: Shortened because any applicable part of USSSA Rule 7.03.C has been met.
7.03.A.6: Pool play games can end in a tie if the time limit is up or a complete game has been played.
Chart 7.03.B-16 inning game, 15 run lead after 3 innings, 8 run lead after 4 innings7 inning game, 15 run lead after 3 innings, 12 run lead after 4 innings, 8 run lead after 5 innings
7.03.C.1(a): In bracket play if a game is tied after 4 or more innings, the score will revert back to the previous inning. If still tied, the game will be a suspended game.
7.03.C.2(a): In bracket play if a game is tied after 5 or more innings, the score will revert back to the previous inning. If still tied, the game will be a suspended game.
7.04.B: At any time, the offensive team may use a courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher of record from the previous inning on defense. The courtesy runner must be a player not presently in the line-up.
Rule 7.04.C Penalty: The runner shall be called out and may be ejected from the game at the discretion of the Umpires.
7.04.D: A runner who jumps over a player will be called out whether or not contact is made with the defensive player.
7.05.B: (Chart 7.05.B-1) The end of the day for the purpose of this rule shall be the time of day or night when the ballpark is shut down and the teams go home for the night break. Games that for any reason extend past midnight (12:00 AM) or start late at night, past midnight (12:00 AM) and are completed before the teams take the night break, shall count as being played on the scheduled day. A game not completed before the night break pursuant to USSSA Rule 7.03.D shall be a suspended game. Suspended games, when resumed (the next day or another day), shall count as being played on two different days. The outs recorded during the portion of the game played prior to suspension shall count as being played on the regularly scheduled day and the outs recorded during the portion of the game played once resumed, shall count as being played on the resumed day.
Chart 7.05.B-1:AGE DIVISION: 7U – 12UONE DAY MAXIMUM TO PITCH THE NEXT DAY: 3 InningsONE DAY MAXIMUM: 6 Innings
(TWO)/THREE DAY MAXIMUM: 8 InningsAGE DIVISION: 13U – 14UONE DAY MAXIMUM TO PITCH THE NEXT DAY: 3 InningsONE DAY MAXIMUM: 7 Innings(TWO)/THREE DAY MAXIMUM: 8 InningsAGE DIVISION: 15U-18UONE DAY MAXIMUM TO PITCH THE NEXT DAY: UnlimitedONE DAY MAXIMUM: Unlimited(TWO)/THREE DAY MAXIMUM: Unlimited
Rule 7.05.B.1 Example: In the 7U – 14U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of three (3) innings in one (1) day and still legally pitch the next day.
7.05.B.2: ONE DAY MAXIMUM- The maximum number of innings a player can legally pitch in one (1) day.
Rule 7.05.B.2 Example: In the 7U – 12U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of six (6) innings in one (1) day.
7.05.B.3: THREE DAY MAXIMUM- The maximum number of innings a player can legally pitch in three (3) consecutive days.
Rule 7.05.B.3 Example: In the 7U – 14U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of eight (8) innings in three (3) consecutive days.
7.05.B.4: MANDATORY DAYS OF REST-
7.05.B.4(a): A player that pitches more than three (3) innings in one day MUST rest the next day.
7.05.B.4(b): A player that pitches eight (8) innings in two (2) consecutive days MUST rest the next day.
7.05.B.4(c): A player that pitches three (3) consecutive days (regardless of total quantity of innings pitched) MUST rest the next day.
7.05.B.6: Outs recorded during a game that ends in forfeit shall count towards a pitchers’ innings limits.
7.05.B.7: For purposes of pitching limitations rules, a pitcher is in violation of the rule if he records any out above the legal pitching limits pursuant to these rules.
Rule 7.05.C.7 Exception: Exceeding the maximum innings allowed in the case of a double or triple play shall not be counted against the pitcher for the purpose of this rule but shall be counted towards the pitcher’s limits with regards to the eligibility to pitch the next day, etc.
7.05.B.8: It shall be the responsibility of each team to challenge pitching violations by notifying the Umpire and then filing a Protest with the League / Tournament Director.
Rule 7.05.B.1 – 7.05.B.7 Local Penalty: Any violation shall result in the automatic ejection of the offending Manager and offending pitcher.
7.05.C: Pitching mound visits will remain 2 coaches visits per inning, with the second coaches visit to the same pitcher in the same inning resulting in a pitching change.
COACH/MACHINE PITCH SPECIFIC RULES
7.02.B: Length of Game: 5 innings or no new inning after 1 hour 30 minutes
7.03.B (Local Run Rule): 5 inning game, 15 runs after 3 innings or 10 runs after 4 innings
8.01: Fair Ball Arc: There shall be a twenty (20) foot arc drawn from first (1st) baseline to third (3rd) baseline in front of home plate. A batted ball must go past this line to be a fair ball.
8.02: Safety Arc: There shall be a thirty (30) foot arc drawn from first (1st) baseline to third (3rd) baseline in front of home plate. Infielders must stay behind this line until the ball is hit.
8.03: Pitching Circle: There shall be a ten (10) foot diameter circle with the front edge at forty-two (42) feet from the rear point of home plate.
8.04: Pitcher’s Line: There shall be a line drawn from the pitcher’s circle to the safety arc.
8.04 Local: Distance between bases will be 50 Feet. A 2-foot vertical line will be drawn halfway between each base to assist the umpire in determining where to place the runner when a batted ball is dead.
Runner must have both feet completely over this line to be entitled to the next base. Ten foot horizontal lines will be drawn 15 feet from the base lines and second base to determine where the outfield begins and the infield ends.
8.04.A: 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.
8.04.B: The pitching coach shall not verbally or physically coach while in the pitching position
8.04.C: The pitching coach shall position himself as not to be an obstruction to the defensive team on any possible play once the ball has been hit.
Rule 8.04.C Local: If a batted ball strikes the pitching coach, the ball is dead, the pitch counts as a strike and no runners shall advance.
Rule 8.04.C Local Penalty: If a coach violates this rule, First Offense: Warning; Second Offense: Removal of coach as the pitcher for the remainder of the game.
9.04: Pitching Machine: The front leg(s) shall be set at a distance of forty-two (42) feet from the rear point of home plate.
9.04.A Local: If a batted ball strikes the pitching machine and remains in fair territory, the ball is in play.
9.04.B Local: If a batted ball strikes the pitching machine and goes into foul territory, the ball is dead, the batter is awarded first base and all runners advance one base.
9.05: Recommended pitching machine speeds:
9.05.A: 36 M.P.H. – 39 M.P.H. out of the machine for the 7U age division.
9.05.B: 39 M.P.H. – 42 M.P.H. out of the machine for the 8U age division.
8.05/9.06: Pitching Coach/Pitching Machine Operator: The Pitching Coach/Pitching Machine Operator shall be an adult at least eighteen (18) years of age.
8.06: The catcher shall receive the pitch in the catcher’s box in a normal baseball manner. If in the Umpire’s judgment, the catcher is not receiving the ball in a normal baseball manner, there shall be a warning issued.
If the act continues after the warning, the offending teams’ manager shall be ejected.
8.07: Ten (10) defensive players shall play in the field with four (4) outfielders. The fourth (4th) outfielder shall not assume an infield position. All outfielders shall stay behind the baseline.
8.08: The defensive player listed as pitcher shall not leave the pitching circle until the ball is hit.
Rule 8.08 Penalty: The play continues. After the play has ended, the offensive team has the option of taking the result of the play or no-pitch.
Rule 8.08 Additional Penalty: First Offense: Warning; Second Offense: Removal of player from the pitching position for the remainder of the game.
8.09: Defensive coaches shall not be allowed on the field of play and shall coach from the dugout.
8.10: The Infield Fly Rule shall not be in effect at any time.
8.11: The batting order shall constitute all present players on the team roster at the beginning of the game. Late arrivals shall be inserted at the bottom of the batting order.
All players on the roster shall bat before returning to the top of the batting order.
8.11.A: Teams may start a game with eight (8) players. The ninth (9th) & tenth (10th) positions in the batting order shall be declared an out each turn at bat.
Rule 8.11.A Approved Ruling: A ninth (9th) & tenth (10th) player and all subsequent players may be added to the bottom of the batting line-up as soon as they become available.
8.12: Teams may use free substitution on defense, but the batting order shall remain the same.
8.13: Bunting shall not be allowed.
8.14: The batter shall receive a maximum of six (6) pitches or three (3) swinging strikes.
8.15: A player may only be Intentionally Walked once per game by announcement from the defensive team.
8.16: Runners shall not lead-off or steal bases. A runner is out for leaving the base before the ball is hit or reaches home plate.
8.17: A courtesy runner for catcher of record only the previous inning may be used. The courtesy runner shall be the player that made the previous out.
If no outs have been recorded in the game, the courtesy runner shall be the previous batter not on base.
If the team batting has not played defense yet and a courtesy runner is used for a player, the player that was run for must assume the catching position the next inning.
This scenario only applies in the first inning for the visiting team.
8.18 Local: A team may score a maximum of five (5) runs per inning for the 1st 4 innings.
8.19: The game is over, when the opposing team is mathematically eliminated from scoring enough runs to win or tie the game. (Run Rules still apply)
8.20 Local: “Time” will be called when an infielder has control of the ball in the infield. Umpires shall call “Time” after every play and declare the ball dead.
Rule 8.20 Comment: When a runner stands off a base and “jukes” or “feints” back and forth, this is to be interpreted as “not attempting to advance” and “Time” shall be called.
8.21: When a batted ball hits the Pitching Coach, the following shall apply:
8.21.A: If in the Umpire’s judgment, the coach did not make a legitimate attempt to avoid contact, the batter is declared out and no runners shall advance.
8.21.B: If in the Umpire’s judgment, the coach did make a legitimate attempt to avoid contact, the ball becomes dead and a no-pitch is declared.
7.02.B: Length of Game: 6 innings or no new inning after 1 hour 30 minutes
Chart 7.03.B-1 (Run Rule): 6 inning game, 15 run lead after 3 innings, 8 run lead after 4 innings
Local: In the 7U Division, a team may score a maximum of five (5) runs per inning for the 1st 3 innings.
11.01: Nine (9) defensive players shall play in the field
11.02: Balk rules shall not apply.
11.03: A batter shall be automatically out on a dropped / missed third (3rd) strike by the catcher.
11.04: Runners shall not advance when the pitcher is on the pitching rubber with the ball in his possession and the catcher is in position to receive a pitch. On a base on balls, the batter may attempt to steal second prior to the pitcher and catcher coming set at his own risk, but if a runner is on third, he may not advance home even if the defense attempts to throw the runner out at second base.
11.05: Runners shall not lead-off but may advance at their own risk (steal) once a pitched ball has passed home plate. When a runner tries to advance prior to the pitched ball passing home plate, the following shall apply:
Rule 11.04 Approved Ruling: If the runner advances safely, the Umpire shall call “Time” and the runner shall return to the base last legally occupied at the time of the pitch. If the runner is called out, the call shall stand, and the runner is out. If the ball is hit, the defensive team shall have the option of the result of the play or a no pitch.
11.06: Runners shall not advance from third (3rd) base to home unless the runner is batted home or forced by a base on balls, hit batsman, or award from the Umpire. Runners shall not advance from third (3rd) base to home on passed balls, wild pitches or dropped / missed third (3rd) strikes by the catcher.
14.01: All players, coaches, managers, sponsors and spectators are expected to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner at all times.
14.02: Any player, coach, manager, sponsor or spectator leaving their position or base, in the field, on the bench, in the dugout area or grandstands to participate in a fight, brawl or altercation shall be immediately ejected from the game and may be disbarred / suspended.
14.04: If necessary, a team may be forced to forfeit a game and / or be removed from the league / tournament.
16.01: Umpires shall work to settle all situations on the field. Protests shall be allowed for age and pitching violations or rule interpretations only. Uniform numbers cannot be protested.
Schedules may be changed, games may be shortened and a two day tournament may become a one day tournament.
- If one game was played, a team will receive credit for ½ of the entry fee
- If two games are played, no credit will be given
- All credits must be used in Southern California USSSA Tournaments
If a tournament is rained out while in progress and a make-up is scheduled, there will be no refund or credit for teams that do not play the make-up.
The tournament director has the right to alter schedules, adjust time limits, or adjust the number of playoff participants in order to complete the tournament.
The tournament director also has the right to alter the amount of the credits issued.
Schedules are not final until 12pm the day before the tournament start date.
If the umpire or defensive player is hit by a carelessly thrown bat, he is almost certain to warn the batter that such action must be stopped.
On the second offense, the player is told he will be ejected if he continues.
On a third offense, the umpire should eject the offender.