Northwest Baseball Association: My Site News

                          NWBA TOURNAMENT RULES 

Play governed by Official Baseball Rules (Sporting News), unless modified by Nations Baseball Official National By-Laws and Rules, unless modified by Texas NationsTournament Rules shall apply unless otherwise specified herein or amended byTournament Director. Please ask for clarification of any rule/situation prior to gametime. Rulings and/or interpretations by Tournament Director shall be final once anysituation is addressed during a game.

**Slashing is allowed for ages 9-14** but in the event that a runner is on 3rd base the batter must bunt or take a pitch. If the batter swings and the runner is coming home. The batter is out and the 3rd base coach is removed from the game.

Championship Game - Home team is decided by Higher Seed.

. · Park rules will be strictly enforced. No scooters, skateboards or other wheeled riding devices of any kind will be allowed. Violators will be asked to leave the park. Service vehicles will be allowed.· Teams will not be scheduled if team is not registered and paid, by 12 Midnight on Sunday prior to the start of the event. Teams that withdraw prior to scheduling will be refunded in full. A team that withdraws after schedules have been posted will receive NO refund.· Schedules will be posted no later than the Wednesday prior to the tournament unless delayed by situations beyond our control.· Game balls will be provided.· Metal spikes may be worn only by players competing in age groups 13U and higher.· Spikes of any kind are not allowed to be used on any portable pitching surface inuse. The Tournament Director will notify any team scheduled to compete on a portable mound prior to the start of the tournament.· Tournament games, schedules and brackets may be modified at the Tournament Director’s sole discretion due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.Games may be scheduled to start as early as 5pm on Friday and 7:30am on Saturday and Sunday. ALL GAMES ARE DROP DEAD 10:30PM  Earlier start times (if necessary) will be posted prior to tournament scheduling to allow for teams to withdraw or place no play requests.·  The umpires will not begin a team’s first game if they have not checked in.· Soft toss is allowed only in designated areas of the park. Warm up areas areprovided on a first come basis. There will be no soft toss of any kind allowed into any fences and there will be no soft toss of any kind allowed in the infield or outfield grass at any park.· All protests will be handled on the field at the time of the infraction. The Umpire and Tournament Director will resolve any disputed rules violations immediately.The decision of the Tournament Director is FINAL. There will be NO games played under protest at any time.· Coaches are responsible for the behavior of their fans and will be expected to address any inappropriate behavior IMMEDIATELY. Negative comments, or heckling of any opponent is prohibited and may result in ejection and/or suspension from the remainder of the tournament. SPORTSMANSHIP PENALTY: The umpire may begin to call balls or strikes every 10 seconds on the team not complying, and will continue until the problem is corrected.PROFANITY WILL BE CAUSE FOR EJECTION· Ejections: Any manager, coach, player or fan ejected from the game must leave the park immediately and will be permitted to return only after a ruling of theTournament Director AND posting of a $100 CASH Sportsmanship deposit. The deposit will be returned at the end of the tournament if there are no further incidents with the same individual. A second ejection will result in the immediate forfeiture of the deposit and will result in the individual being banned from any NWBA facility or event until a written request is received and approved by the NWBA Tournament Director and the NWBA Baseball Board. Failure to comply will result in a forfeit for the team at question.· Team and Individual awards for 1st and 2nd place will be provided. Consolation awards may be provided should circumstances warrant. Consolation play may be included for any division exceeding 8 teams, however a minimum of 50% of all teams in a division will advance to the Championship Bracket· Teams may register at www.nations-baseball.com for all tournaments. Payment for all tournaments is due no later than 14 days prior to the start of the event. Age groups that exceed the capacity of our fields will allow teams to be added to await list. Any unpaid spots remaining less than 14 days prior to the start of theevent will be filled on a first paid basis. All teams registered for any age group that does not make will be refunded in full.· Tournaments that are canceled or shortened due to weather will be refunded on the following schedule:o No games played – Entry fee less $50 1 game played – Entry fee less $50 divided by 3 equals the cost per game,times 2 games equals the refund amounto 2 games played – Entry fee less $50 divided by 3 equals the cost per game times 1 game equals the refund amounto 3 or more games played – NO refund. If the outcome is recorded in the standings then the game is considered as completed. Return check fee is 35.00 per transaction. Example- check ran through twice - 70.00 fee added to check amount.

NEW NWBA BAT RULE

Bat manufacturers have begun certifying bats with a bat performance standard 1.15 using a new testing procedure. All bats that meet the new BPF testing procedures have a stamp affixed by the manufacturer in the barrel to handle transition area.

Rule Change for Approved Bats

In ages 13U and below bats with the new BPF 1.15 stamp (on the transition area between the barrel and handle) is legal, regardless of weight and composition

Bats with the old Little League approved stamp (2 ¼” barrel, no composite) on the barrel under the manufacturer’s model name, will be legal until July 31, 2012.

14U bats must either be a BPF 1.15 -5 bat OR a BBCOR bat (BESR -3 bats are not legal)

!15U and above must use a NFHS (high school) legal BBCOR bat