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Rules are up to date as of March 1, 2012.
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1.
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Competition is open to boys and girls who are 10 and under years of
age and eligible to play VFW Baseball. A boy or girl who has reached
his or her 11th birthday by May 1st of the current year is not eligible
for the 10 and under programs. There will be three classes AA Travel,
A, and B. Starting in 2010, tournament sites will be chosen by the State
Baseball Chairman and State VFW Officials during the annual VFW Baseball
Committee Meeting. These dates will be chosen one year in advance. The
number of teams that register, skill level of team players, and high
school enrollments will be factors when teams are placed in a class.
Considerations that best fit the situation for each team will be taken
to place a team in a certain class.
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2.
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A 10 and under Baseball team to be eligible for any tournament play
must submit a $125.00 entry Fee and 12 and under Entry Form to Department
Headquarters, 3601 South Minnesota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57105 postmarked
on or before June 10th and 10 and under roster on or before June 10th.
If the team entry fee and other information are received after June 10th
or are postmarked after June 10th the team entry fee will be increase by
$25.00 and be $150.00 per team.
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3.
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Team entry forms and team rosters must be postmarked by June 10th and sent
to VFW Department Headquarters. Team roster forms must include the name of
the player, complete address of the player, name of the school attended the
last year and date of birth. If this information is incomplete, it can affect
the eligibility of the player. You may list up to (20) twenty players per
roster for the team.
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4.
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VFW baseball rules will apply to all games unless a change is listed below.
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5.
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Bases will be (60) sixty feet apart. Pitching distance is forty-five (44-46 ft.).
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6.
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All games in the 10 and under division will be (6) six innings. No new
inning after 1hour 45 minute, however the 10-run rule will be in effect
after 4 innings and the 15-run rule will be in effect after 3 innings. In
Pool Play - Games may end in a tie. Championship Bracket Games will go extra
innings if needed to determine the winner.
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7.
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Pitching limits: 2 inning in one game, 7 innings for the tournament. No balks,
if a pitcher leaves the mound he/she cannot pitch again in that game. No curve
balls, curve ball will be called a ball . If curve ball is put in play the offense
can choose to accept the play or take a ball.1 pitch constitutes 1 inning. Coaches
will be provided with official Pitching Sheets. The Opposing coaches will exchange
pitching statistics prior to each game. Upon completion of each game, coaches will
be required to verify and sign opposing coaches pitching sheet. Coaches will be
required to produce current and valid pitching sheets upon request of the tournament
officials. Inability to produce this document could result in elimination from the
tournament.
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8.
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Batters, base runners, batboys, any players acting as base coach, and any players
out of the dugout must wear a helmet that covers both ears.
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9.
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Catchers must wear a protective headgear, chest protectors, throat protectors,
catcher’s cup and shin guards. This includes catchers warming up a pitcher.
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10.
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Metal cleats are not allowed.
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11.
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Bats may be no more that 2¼” in diameter and no more than 32” in length. No barrel bats
will be allowed. Any illegal bats will be removed from the game and the batter is out.
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12.
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Base running. No leading off. Players may steal after the ball crossed home plate.
If a player leaves early, he will be out. No stealing home or advancing home on a
passed ball or wild pitch. A runner may not steal home on an overthrow back to the
pitcher nor can a runner advance home by enticing the catcher with an extended lead
to throw to 3rd.
In 1st and 3rd Situations: A runner (at third base) may not advance home
if the catcher has attempted a throw down to second base in a steal situation. If an
error occurs on the throw, the runner at third may not advance.
NOTE: This rule will only apply in 1st and 3rd situations. Rationale:
The VFW desires to facilitate the development of catcher’s and their ability to throw
to 2nd. In other instances of a runner attempting to steal 2nd or 3rd, the runner may
advance at his own risk on an overthrow/error.
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13.
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A courtesy runner is encouraged but not required for a catcher with two outs and it
is also optional for a pitcher with two outs, but must be a bench player. The courtesy
player must be a player who is not currently in the game and does not count as entry
into the game. This rule is to keep time between half innings to a minimum.
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14.
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Slide rule is in effect if a fielder has the ball before the run reaches 2nd, 3rd, or
home. The runner is out if contact is made, umpire discretion will be applied and
decision is final. A player may not intentionally create contact with another player
at any time. If the defensive player has the ball and a play is being made, the
offensive player must either slide or make every effort to avoid contact with the
defensive player. Should a player run over or crash into another player, he or she
will be ejected from the game and the out is awarded to the offensive team. If a
defensive player is in the base path without the ball and makes contact with, or
impedes the path of the offensive player, interference may be called on the defensive
player. Any runner obstructing a throw to attempt a double play will result in a
double play being called.
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15.
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A minimum of eight (8) players is required to start a game. When batting, the
ninth (9) positions will be an out. Any fewer players will require a forfeit.
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16.
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ALL players will bat through the lineup. This lineup will be exchanged prior to
the first pitch and final after the first pitch. (i.e. Team X has 12 players 9
in the line-up and 3 sub players, all 12 players are listed on the lineup card
and all 12 players will bat.)
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17.
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Free substitution for all players except pitchers. This will not affect batting order.
Batting order will stay intact and in order as per rule 16.
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18.
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No dropped third strike.
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19.
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Infield fly rule will be used. *See complete rule below.
INFIELD FLY RULE: An infield fly ball (not including a line
drive nor an attempted bunt), which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary
effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied
before two are out. The pitcher, catcher, and any outfielder who stations himself
in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this
rule. When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the umpire
shall immediately declare “Infield Fly” for the benefit of the runners. If the ball
is near the baselines, the umpire shall declare “Infield Fly, if Fair”. The ball
is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch
and advance after the ball is touched, the same as any fly ball. If the hit becomes
a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul. If a declared Infield Fly is allowed
to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul before passing first or third base,
it is a foul ball. If a declared Infield Fly fall untouched to the ground outside the
baseline, and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an Infield Fly.
On the Infield Fly rule, the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have
been handled by an infielder – not by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass,
or the baselines. The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if
handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpire’s judgment, the ball could have been as
easily handled by an infielder. The infield fly is in no sense to be considered an
appeal play. The umpire’s judgment must govern, and the decision should be made
immediately.
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20.
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In the event of weather related delays, tournament officials reserve the right to
alter tournament format to complete the tournament in a condensed amount of time.
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21.
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Pool Play Tie Breakers Formats for all VFW Baseball Tournaments.
- Win-Loss record in pool play.
- Head-to-head competition provided all teams have played each other.
- Fewest runs allowed (overall).
- Best run differential in all pool play games (maximum per game run differential of +10 or -10).
If, in the event of a 3-way tie or more, the 3-way tie is broken either before step #4 or upon
completion of step #4 and a 2-way tie still remains, the two remaining tied teams will revert back
to step #2 and repeat the tie-breaker criteria from that point in order to break the tie.
In the event of forfeit in Divisional/Pool Play, the non-forfeiting teams will be credited with a
10 run differential victory. Teams that forfeit a game cannot advance in tournament play.
- Coin Toss
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