2024 RISING STARS BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
PLAYING RULES FOR 12 & UNDER
1. Base paths are 70’ with a pitching rubber of 50’.
2. Any player turning 13 before May 1, 2024 is ineligible. Please be prepared to provide proof of age.
3. Nine (9) players in the field.
4. Infield fly rule will apply.
5. Player limit is 14. Your roster may be changed with the Tournament Director before your first game. After the first pitch of your first game, your roster is frozen.
6. Players registered with a Dubuque Independent League Baseball league team must play with the team they are registered under.
7. All batters, runners, and bat boys must wear helmets with ear flaps.
8. Bats must be USSSA or USA Baseball stamped, BBCOR is allowed – 2 ¾” IS ALLOWED.
9. Steel spikes are NOT permitted. Rubber cleats are allowed.
10. Games are five (5) innings in duration. No new inning may start after one hour 15 minutes. NO EXTRA INNINGS IN POOL PLAY. Ties are ties and are part of the strategy.
11. Championship bracket championship game is six (6) innings with a two (2) hour time limit.
12. If your team is ahead by 10 runs at the completion of three (3) innings, you are declared the winner.
13. Designated hitters are not allowed.
14. Bunting will be allowed. Once a batter squares away to bunt, he must bunt or take the pitch. If the batter takes a full swing, he will be called out.
15. Runner may score on a passed ball, wild pitch, or a ball returned to the pitcher from the catcher.
16. When a baserunner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who is attempting to make a tag with a ball or if he maliciously runs into a fielder and is not obstructed, he will be called out and removed from the game.
17. Teams must bat round robin with set batting order and free substitution in the field.
A. All players are in the game and they are batting.
Example: If a coach has 14 players at a game; all 14 bat in a set order for the whole game
B. A coach cannot elect to bat less than the number of players he has at the game.
Example: If a coach has 14 players, he cannot bat a lesser number of players
C. During round robin, coaches cannot have one player pinch run for another player
(all players are already in the game)
D. A courtesy runner is allowed for the pitcher and catcher at any time.
a. A courtesy runner must be used for the catcher when there are two (2) outs.
b. During round robin, the courtesy runner will be the player who made the last out.
18. A team can start with one less player than would constitute a full lineup. The spot would be an automatic out each at bat. If another player arrives late, he must bat in the last position (e.g. 12U would start with 8 players and the 9th at bat would be an automatic out.)
19. If weather interferes with play so that the game is called (ended) by the umpire or Tournament director, it is a complete game after 4 innings or 3 ½ innings if the home team is ahead.
20. Extra inning/tiebreaker rule (Championship/Consolation brackets only) – At the top of the next inning each team will start with a runner on second base. That runner will be the last official at bat from the previous inning. This rule will remain in effect until the game is decided. If the runner gets injured, he is replaced by the player who made the last out of the last inning.
21. No player or coach shall at any time touch or abuse an umpire. At no time will abusive language or harassing be tolerated. If a player or coach uses foul language he is to be suspended immediately.
22. CHANTING BY PLAYERS, COACHES OR FANS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED OR TOLERATED.
23. Pitching rules:
A. The number of innings a player can pitch will be determined by the following chart:
ONE DAY MAXIMUM TO PITCH THE NEXT DAY: 3 Innings
ONE DAY MAXIMUM: 6 Innings
TOURNAMENT MAXIMUM: 8 Innings
Innings are calculated based on the number of outs. 1 out is 1/3 of an inning.
B. Innings will be tracked on the score sheet which is signed by both teams at the end of each game. Coaches need to check in on day 2 to verify each player’s eligibility. Violation of this rule will result in forfeiture.
C. No more than four (4) warm-up pitches between innings or eight (8) after a change of pitcher.
D. Ball must be returned directly to the pitcher after an out is made.
E. Pitchers may walk a batter simply by advising the umpire of this fact.
F. There are balks. NO warnings. Runners may lead off. Batter can run on a dropped third strike.
Runner may steal any base including home.
G. Once a pitcher is taken out he cannot pitch again in that game. He may play any other position.
24. The Tournament Director reserves the right to modify game length, time and round completion as need for time and weather purposes.
NOTE: Absolutely no carry-in coolers are allowed in the complex. Individual water bottles are permitted.