Teams and Roster
3.00: TEAMS: A team's roster may consist of a maximum of three players and a minimum of two players (all-female teams are allowed a maximum of four players). All players must be aged 21 or over. Only two players may play at any time, one pitcher and one fielder. Players will appear on one roster only. Roster changes may be made up to the midnight before the first day of play.
3.01: BATTING ORDER: A team may choose to bat a maximum of three players. If a player is injured during the game and cannot continue to bat, his turn at bat will be considered an out if there is no substitute remaining. A batting order will not be changed during the game and if a team bats out of order that batter is ruled out.
3.02: SUBSTITUTION: There is no re-entry. If a player is substituted in that game, he is unable to re-enter and play. A pitcher must face one complete batter before changing positions defensively. Each player who plays at least 2 innings, must pitch at least one inning per game (3 outs), unless the team is all-female. Switching pitchers will be allowed at any time between full at-bats (no switching during an at-bat unless due to injury). Any player who plays less than two innings must switch hit every other at-bat until he has made at least three at-bats opposite handed, except for female players.
3.03: INJURY SUBSTITUTION: If a player is injured and a team has an additional player available, he may be substituted and considered to be the “same” player for purposes of the pitching and switch-hitting rules, even if the re-entering player has already played and been substituted for. However, the injured player may not play again for the rest of the day or tournament. If a team has no other players available, the team may continue with the remaining single player, however, any remaining opposite-handed at-bats the injured player has not taken, will be considered outs at the opposing pitcher’s discretion. In addition, any required innings that the injured player has not pitched may be pitched by the remaining player, but will begin with the bases loaded. This will continue for the remainder of the current game and any other games to be played in tournament play.

The Game
4.00: THE GAME: Five innings equal a normal game. A 10 run rule is in effect after four complete innings, a 15 run rule after three innings, and a 20 run rule after two complete innings.. If time allows, teams must complete pitching and hitting requirements for a mercy rule to be an official game. There is NO mercy rule in the championship game.
4.01: OUTS: Three outs per inning for each team.
4.02: THE COUNT: All at-bats begin with a 1 ball and 1 strike count. Four (three additional) balls to a walk, three (two additional) strikes is an out, fouls are unlimited. A foul tip or popup hitting the target on the fly will result in an out WITH TWO STRIKES ONLY.
4.03: THE STRIKE ZONE: A solid fixed target made out of almost any solid material is acceptable. The target will be no less than 20 inches wide and 30 inches high. Strike zones will start at no less than 10 inches above the ground and no more than 12 inches above the ground.
4.04: BASERUNNERS: There is no base running or base stealing. All runners will be imaginary. Baserunners will advance the same number of bases as the batter on a base hit. Baserunners will advance only if forced on a walk to the batter.
4.05: INFIELD FLY RULE: No infield fly rule will be called.
4.06: BUNTING: Bunting is illegal and will not be permitted. An attempt to bunt shall be considered a strike.
4.07: EXTRA INNINGS: In extra innings, both teams will begin the inning with the bases loaded.
4.08: PROTESTING A GAME: In a protested game, the decision of the Tournament Director is final. Judgment calls cannot be protested. A protest will only be recognized when the team protesting notifies the Tournament Director before the next pitch is thrown. If a game is in protest, the following information shall be recorded; the score, the number of outs, the batter, the position of any runners, and the count. If a replay of the game is ordered, the game shall resume at the point of the protest. The Tournament Director will meet with their staff and make a decision within one hour of the protest. All decisions made by the Director are FINAL.

Game Situations
5.00: All batted balls must reach the fair play line to be playable, otherwise it is a foul ball.
5.01: A ground ball fielded before rolling past the infield line is an out. Juggling or deflecting to the fielder in the air is an out, as long as the ball does not hit the ground. A player's position to the infield line does not matter, the ball is the key, it must go completely past the line to be ruled a hit. If the ball touches the line and is caught, it is still an out.
5.02: If a batted ground ball is dropped by a fielder and the ball falls on the ground, it will be ruled a hit and one base will be awarded. If a batted fly ball is dropped by a fielder and the ball falls to the ground, it will be ruled a hit and bases will be awarded based upon where the ball is originally touched, unless if falls over the home run fence, in which case, it will be ruled a home run. If the ball is initially touched in fair territory, the ball is considered fair, even if it is dropped in foul territory.
5.03: Any fair ball that goes past the infield line will be ruled single. Any fair ball that goes past the doubles line on the fly will be ruled a double. Any fair ball that goes past the triples line or hits the fence without going over on the fly shall be ruled a triple.
5.04: A ball hitting a cone is foul. A batted ground ball must pass inside the cones to be fair.
5.05: Any ball that initially touches beyond the infield line in foul territory is a foul ball, even if it bounces back into fair territory.
5.06: A ground ball that comes to a complete stop in the infield is ruled an infield single.
5.07: A fly ball hitting the outfield wall first and then being caught by a fielder is ruled a triple.
5.09: A fly ball clearing the wall or fence is a home run. If a fielder touches a fly ball, and the ball goes over the wall it will be ruled a home run.
5:10: A fly ball hitting the top of the wall and continuing over the wall will be a ruled home run.
5.11: A fly ball hitting the foul pole above the wall is a home run.
5.12: A defensive player who breaks the outfield wall or fence in the course of making a defensive play will be considered a penalty. The batter shall be awarded a home run and no out will be recorded regardless whether the defensive player has caught the ball or the ball is foul.
5.13: In tournament situations, any other field’s fair territory shall be considered out of play. A fielder can catch a foul ball with both feet in play. If both feet are not in play, than the ball shall be ruled out of play, and no out shall be recorded.
5.14: At Harvard Yards, the landscaping and the road on the upper field are out of play. Ball hit into either of these areas is out of play. A fielder whose momentum carries him into these areas is dead. No out shall be recorded.
5.15: Any player whose swing or hitting of the backstop should cause the backstop to crack or break shall be called out on strikes. As an additional penalty, his next at-bat will also automatically be recording also as a strike out and he shall be fined the sum of $10.00 as replacement cost.
5.16: A batter MUST move out of the way of any pitched ball with potential to hit the strike target. Offending batters may be warned. Subsequent violations may result in a called strike. Any batter moving into a pitch will have the pitch called a strike.

Defensive Players
6.00: Defensive players will consist of the pitcher and one fielder.
6.01: The fielder may be positioned anywhere in fair territory so long as he does not distract the hitter or come between the pitcher and the hitting area. He may not make any motions or distracting movement towards the batter.
6.02: No defensive player may wear gloves of any kind or use any tools, hat or equipment to assist himself in making plays.

Base Runners
7.00: Base runners move as follows: One base on a single, two bases on a double and three bases on a triple.
7.01: On ground outs, the lead runner is always forced out. No other runners shall advance.
7.02: SACRAFICE RULE: With a runner on third base and less than two outs a team may try and score the runner on third base on a fly ball. When the ball is in the air, the offensive team can yell, "TAG" or “SAC” to activate the runner. The fielder must catch the ball and throw home attempting to hit the backstop in the air, bounce or roll. If the throw hits the backstop the runner is out, if it misses, the runner scores. All other base runners advance one base if the defensive player attempts to throw out the runner tagging up. The defensive team may choose not to contest the runner and keep all other base runners from advancing. The fielder has two seconds and one step to make the throw after the catch (i.e.: in one natural motion).
7.03: DOUBLE PLAY RULE: If the offensive team hits a ground ball in the infield with less than two outs and runners on first, first and second, first and third, or bases loaded, the defensive team may attempt a DOUBLE PLAY. In doing so, the fielder must field the moving ball cleanly (not juggle) and throw the ball hitting the target. If the throw hits the target in the air the two lead runners are out. If the throw misses the target, only the lead runner is out. No other runners advance. A double play is NOT possible on an infield single.
7.04: DEFENSIVE INTERFERENCE: A batter or offensive player MUST move out of the way on any double play or sacrafice fly attempt. An attempted defensive play that strikes a batter, who is in any way in front of the target, shall be ruled to have hit the target.

The Batter
8.00: SWITCH HITTING: Each batter who plays at least two innings shall take at least three full at-bats (appearances) per game swinging from either side of the plate (opposite-handed). If a player plays less than two innings, then every-other at-bat will be opposite handed until three at-bats have been taken opposite. A hitter may NOT switch sides during an at bat. Female players are not required to swing opposite-handed.
8.01: LEGAL POSITIONING: A batter must have both feet completely in the batter's box or mat. The "white lines" or edges of a mat are part of the batter's box and if the batter has one or booth feet on the white lines this is considered a legal stance. It is legal for a batter's feet to leave the batter's box during as long as the batter was legally positioned when the pitch was thrown. If a batter intentionally steps out of the batter's box during a pitch, the pitch is ruled legal and a ball or strike will be call accordingly.
8.02: BATTER'S INTERFERENCE: Once the batter has legally positioned himself within the batter's box, so long as he is not blocking a portion of the strike zone, he may take his normal swing, but IS required to move out of the path of the pitch if there is potential for the pitch to hit the target. A warning must be given first, the warning remains with that particular batter for the remainder of the game, after which the pitch may be called a strike. If the batter is ruled by the pitcher to have intentionally moved into the path of the pitch (leaning in) in an attempt to block the pitch from contacting the strike zone, he shall be called for batter's interference, and the pitch will be called a strike.
8.03: HITTING THE BATTER: There is no hit batsman rule. A ball that hits the batter will be ruled a ball and no base will be awarded. The batter must attempt to get out of the way of a pitched ball. If the batter swings at the pitch, but is struck by the ball, the pitch shall be called foul so long as it lands in foul territory or fair if it lands in fair territory.
8.04: BATTER'S HANDS: The hand's of the batter are considered part of the bat. A ball hitting the batter's hand(s) and landing in foul territory is ONLY a strike if the batter is in the act if swinging, if not the pitch is ruled a ball. If a ball hits a batter's hand(s) while swinging and lands into fair territory, the ball will be ruled a fair ball.
8.05: FOUL BALLS: The batter will not touch foul balls until they come to a complete stop. Foul balls have been known to spin back into fair play and are NOT to be touched until they stop spinning or moving in any way.
8.06: Batting gloves may be worn by the batter only when batting. Any batter wearing gloves is subject to ridicule.

The Pitcher
9.00: A pitcher entering the game must face one complete batter before leaving the mound.
9.01: A pitcher may not wear any type of distracting jewelry or clothing, such as a white long sleeve shirt under his uniform top.
9.02: A pitcher must start his wind-up from the pitching rubber or line. The pitcher must have at least one foot touching the rubber when he releases the ball. If a ball is pitched in violation of this rule, the pitch will be ruled a ball.
9.03: BALKS: There are no balks.
9.04: WARM-UPS: A pitcher will get ten warm-up pitches before the start of the game once he takes the mound and five between innings. If a relief pitcher comes into the game due to a result of an injury to the active pitcher, a reasonable amount of time will be allowed for the relief pitcher to warm-up.
9.05: INHERITING THE COUNT / SITUATION: Only if a pitcher is replaced during an at-bat due to injury, the relief pitcher will inherit the count and / or base runners.
9.06: PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS: All players in the lineup will be required to pitch a minimum of one inning (3 outs) in a five inning game. No player may pitch more than three innings (9 outs) in a five inning game. If a game goes to extra innings, a player may pitch more than three innings, but is not required to pitch more than the one inning already completed. Any entirely-female team is exempted from this rule.

Officiating and Scorekeeping
10.00: FAIR AND FOUL CALLS: Will be the responsibility of the batter because he is looking down both foul lines.
10.01: LINE CALLS: (Single, Double and Triple) Will be made by the fielder closest to the ball because he has the best view of the play.
10.02: CHECK SWINGS: Will be the responsibility of the pitcher.
10.03: FOUL OFF THE HANDS: Will be the responsibility of the batter.
10.04: BATTER'S INTERFERENCE: Will be the responsibility of the pitcher.
10.05: DEFENSIVE INTERFERENCE: Will be the responsibilty of the defensive player.
10.06: TAG RULE: If the offensive team yells "TAG" too late it - i.e: after the catch - will be the responsibility of the defense to make the decision.
10.07: OFFICIAL SCORE: Will be the home team's responsibility, although spectators may be recruited to keep the scorebook and statistics.

Tournament Play
11.00: All tournaments will be double elimination throughout the entire schedule. An undefeated team must lose twice to be eliminated.
11.01: COIN TOSS: A coin toss in the beginning of each game will decide the Home team and the Visiting team. The coin toss is worked out between the two teams at the start of each game.
11.02: There is absolutely NO refund on tournament fees once a team is registered.
11.03: Once a schedule is made, there will be absolutely NO changes in game times. Games may be shortened at the descretion of the Tournament Director to maintain pace of play. Game play will be a maximum of 55 minutes. No inning will begin after time is called.
11.04: WEATHER CONDITIONS: Games will be played in all weather conditions unless the Commissioner or Tournament Director indicates otherwise. Games may be shortened or postponed in severe weather.
11.05: Tournament Director will make ALL final decisions relevant to tournament play.
11.06: STARTING TIME: Games will begin no earlier than 7 a.m. and no later than 10 p.m..
11.07: Rules not stated herein, will follow the rules in accordance with Major League Baseball. The Tournament director reserves the right to announce any ground rules or changes before commencement of a tournament or game.
11.08: Any other disputes, disagreements, or questions not addressed within these rules will be decided in a reasonable manner by the Tournament or League Director whose decision will be final.
11.09: UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT will not be tolerated and is grounds for dismissal and ban at the discretion of the League or Tournament Director.

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