CFAS World Classic: Tournament Rules
Sunday, May 42008 CFAS World Classic Rules and Regulations
The CFAS World Classic is governed, in large part, by Major League Baseball (MLB) American League rules. The Tournament Rules and Regulations supersede comparable MLB rules. All players, managers, coaches and League officials are required to abide by the letter and the spirit of these rules.
1. The CFAS World Classic is a wood bat, composite bat, and Baum bat only Tournament.
2. Every team must have a representative at the Managers Rules & Regulations meeting. If a representative does not attend the meeting the offending team will be assessed a $20.00 fine. The fine must be paid prior to the team’s scheduled game or the game will be forfeited. (See rule # 16 regarding forfeits.)
3. The use of alcohol and tobacco will not be tolerated on Dodgertown ballfields or on city property. Failure to comply with this rule will result in automatic expulsion from the Tournament.
4. A team dismissed from the Tournament for breaking rules and regulations will not recoup the Tournament entry fee.
5. Fighting WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! If a player, coach, or manager throws a punch an automatic 3-game suspension will be imposed on that individual. The individual throwing the first punch will be expelled for the remainder of the Tournament.
6. Teams must submit all Tournament documents, including rosters and waiver forms signed by all players, before the first game of the Tournament. If a player's paperwork is incomplete the player may not play. Managers and/or coaches must have copies of their team’s roster and waivers at all Tournament games.
7. If a team fields an illegal player (a player not on the roster or an under-aged player) the game will be ruled a forfeit and the “win” will be awarded to the opposing team. NOTE: If it is determined that a team has knowingly fielded an illegal player the manager may be expelled from the Tournament.
8. Any manager, coach, or player ejected from a scheduled Tournament game will receive an additional one (1) game suspension. The suspension must be served during the next scheduled Tournament game, including playoff games.
9. The minimum number of players on a team’s roster is 18. By CFAS World Classic rule, a team manager may play in any scheduled Tournament game.
10. All scheduled Tournament games will consist of 9 innings or a 3-hour time limit. All games will start promptly at the designated time. There will be a 15 minute “window” to ensure that any potential forfeits are averted. This does not, however, stop the clock. Example: At the official start time Team A can field 9 players and Team B can only field 7 players. A player for Team B arrives 10 minutes after the official start time. The game starts as though 10 minutes have already been played, i.e., there will be 10 minutes less for actual play. If both teams have at least 8 players the game will start at the designated time with no 15 minute “window” allowed.
11. Teams may start and complete any game with only 8 players and may do so without the penalty of a forfeit. The Tournament scorekeeper will record an “automatic out” (a strikeout) for the 9th position in the batting order. If another player(s) arrives, the player(s) may enter the game only after the end of the current half inning, and must bat at the end of the batting order. Teams must finish a game with the same number of players listed on the line-up card except as explained above. Example: Team A has 10 players listed on the line-up card and no one on the bench. In the 7th inning an outfielder for Team A injures himself and can not continue to play. Team A forfeits the game because the team can no longer field the original number of players on the line-up card.
12. Line-up cards: Each team is required to provide a line-up card to the opposing manager and the Umpire-In-Chief (UIC) prior to the start of a scheduled Tournament game. Any line-up changes must be reported to the opposing manager and the UIC.
13. The Tournament’s “run rule” (a.k.a. “knock-out” / “mercy” rule) is 10 runs or greater after 7 innings of play.
14. Offensive line-up: A team may elect to bat as many as fifiteen (15) players. The line-up may include a Designated Hitter (DH). The DH must bat for the pitcher. The DH may play a defensive position. Once the DH assumes a defensive position the DH role is terminated for the remainder of the game and the pitcher must then bat in the substituted player's position in the batting order. An Extra Batter (EB) – up to six (6) – may bat in the line-up and may only be added to the line-up card either at the start of the game, or before that team’s offensive half of an inning. All EBs must be announced to the UIC and the opposing manager. The EB is an offensive player only and may not take a defensive position except as explained below. All EBs must appear on the line-up card after the 9th place batter. Example: Team A decides to have only 9 batters, one of whom is a DH. Team B decides to have 12 batters, one of whom is a DH; batters 1 through 8 are position players and the 9th batter is the DH. The 10th, 11th, and 12th batters (EBs) each make a plate appearance. In the 7th inning Team B decides to add another 2 EBs to their lineup. This is legal as long as the change occurs at the start of Team B’s current at-bat and has been announced to the UIC and the opposing manager. If, due to an injury, a team is unable to field the original defensive team listed on the line-up card, and there are no substitute players on the bench, an EB may replace the injured player in the field. The opposing manager must select the substitute player. In this case the injured player’s time at bat must be recorded as an automatic out (SO).
15. A courtesy runner (CR) may only be used for the catcher and/or pitcher. The player making the LAST BATTED OUT (LBO) must be the CR. A CR may be used anytime during an inning. At the start of a game, if a catcher or pitcher reaches base safely before another player is the LBO, the CR will be the last player on the line-up card. If the catcher or pitcher is the LBO in an inning, the manager may elect to use the prior LBO as the CR. NOTE: For the purposes of this rule, a batter-runner recording a Fielder’s Choice (FC) may not be considered the LBO.
16. Teams forfeiting games will incur a $25.00 penalty fee. This fee must be paid prior to the team's next scheduled Tournament game.
17. If, during a game, there is a dispute between a player and an umpire or between a manager and an umpire, ONLY MANAGERS AND / OR COACHES are allowed to approach an umpire. Players may not get involved under any circumstance. If the dispute is not settled on the field and the game is protested it will be reviewed by the Tournament Director. A determination will be made utilizing MLB rules unless the Tournament rules supersede them. If a game is being played under protest the UIC and the opposing manager must be informed prior to the end of the game. A written notification must be submitted to the League within 24 hours and a $25.00 fee will be assessed. This fee will be returned to the protesting team if the decision is ruled in their favor. The protesting team shall forfeit the fee if the protest is denied.
18. During a scheduled Tournament game, a player participating in that game may not sit in the stands.
19. Tie Breakers / (Point System): A- head to head competition, B - Runs allowed, C- Run differential -EXAMPLE - (Team A scores 36 runs and gives up 16, the run differential is 20. Higher team run differential advances), D - Runs Scored, E - Tournament Committe will decide if no other tiebreaker. Team Point system:
Win = 2 points / Loss = 0 points / Tie = 1 point
20. A must slide rule is in effect. There will NOT be barreling into any defensive players. Players who committ such act will be immidiatley ejected from the game and could face suspension from the rest of the tournament and there will be NO REFUND of tournament fee. Defensive players cannot deek or fake tag runners into sliding with no play. It is to the umpire discretion to enforce the rules and make a determination on the field of play.