2015 Cleveland Indians Continental Cup
Official Rules & Regulations
1. Registration / Rosters
a. Player Waiver Form / Roster: Rosters: The Player Waiver form must be completed in full and
submitted at check-in. This will serve as the team’s official team roster and no players may be
added after the first game has begun. Maximum roster limit is 18 players.
b. Age and Birth Certificates/Passports: A player cannot turn the next age prior to May 1, 2013.
Copies of birth certificates or passports must be in the possession of the manager at all
times. If a manager is not able to produce acceptable documentation during a game, that
player’s team will forfeit that game.
2. The Cleveland Indians Continental Cup tournament format will consist of teams in the 11u 12u, 13u and
14u age divisions. Each team will play four (4) pool games.
a. At the conclusion of pool play (6) teams will be seeded based on the following criteria, as
necessary, in the order they appear:
i. Overall record
(based on points: win = 3 points ; tie = 2 points ; loss = 1 point.)
ii. Head to head
iii. Runs allowed
iv. Runs scored (10max)
v. Run differential (max of +/- 7 runs per game)
vi. Coin flip
3. The tournament will be played by National Federation High School (NHSF) rules only, except as stated
below. The Continental Cup reserves the right to modify rules prior to the start off and during the
tournament, if any item is misrepresented in this document.
4. Game length
a. Pool Play: Seven (7) innings for all age divisions. In pool play, no new inning may start after a 1hr
55 minute time limit. Games may play extra innings provided they are within the 1 hr 55 minute time
limit.
b. Playoffs: The time limit will be waived for playoffs. If a Home team is batting and leading at the ‘time
limit’, the game is over with no further batters.
c. Championships: Rules will be set by tournament director prior to start in accordance with facility
polices
5. Mercy Rule: 10 after 4 innings, 8 after 5 innings
6. Complete game shall be recorded after four (4) innings or three and a half (3½) innings when the home
team is ahead, due to inclement weather, run rule, game time limit, or any uncontrollable situation which
ceases game play. Games not reaching an official game will be continued from point of suspension.
7. Field Dimensions:
11U- 50’ mound & 70’ bases
12U - 50’ mound & 70’ bases
13U – 54’ mound & 80’ bases
14U – 60’ mound & 90’ bases
8. Bat Restrictions
a. 11u 12u & 13u: None
b. 14u: (-5)
9. Spike Restrictions:
a. 11-12u: No Metal Spikes
b. 13-14u: No restrictions in pool play and quarter final and semifinal games. Championship games
TBD.
10. Lineup
a. An “Additional Hitter” Lineup and Roster Batting are options for all divisions.
b. Teams can bat a 9-player lineup, a 10-player lineup using an additional hitter (AH), or roster bat all
present uniformed players. The lineup must be declared before the start of the game and used the
entire game.
i. If a team uses a lineup that contains 10 players, the player in the AH position, while not
actually playing a defensive position, is treated as such for substitution purposes. The “AH”
hitter can be placed placed anywhere in the line-up. The “AH” can be substituted for and the
re-entry rule will apply.
ii. If a team chooses to roster bat, then all players other than the nine defensive position
players are additional hitters and can move freely in defensive positions.
iii. If a team is batting all present, uniformed players, with no eligible substitutes listed on the
lineup card, and the number of players is 9 or 10, that team is considered to be roster
batting for the purposes of defensive substitutions and courtesy runners, unless the coach
has specifically declared otherwise at the pregame plate conference. If additional players
arrive after the game has started, those players are placed at the end of the batting order. If
the coach declares at the pregame plate conference that he is not roster batting, the late
players are listed on the lineup as eligible substitutes.
11. Uniforms: All players must have a visible number on the back of the uniform and that number is to be listed
on the team roster. Coaches do not have to wear full uniform.
12. Game Balls: The Continental Cup will provide all game balls to be used during tournament play.
13. Home Team: For playoffs, the team with the higher seed will be considered the home team in all instances.
14. Mound Visits: A second visit to the same pitcher per inning will result in that player being removed as
pitcher for the duration of the game. However, he may play another position. Once a player is removed as
pitcher, for any reason, he may not return to that position.
15. Pitching Rules: There are NO pitching rules for this event.
16. Malicious Contact: The runner may attempt to avoid the tag. Runner will be called out and ejected from the
game if malicious contact is deemed by the umpire.
17. Speed-up Rule: An optional courtesy runner may be used for the pitcher/catcher anytime. The runner must
not be in the current batting order. If no bench players are available, the player who made the last out will
be the courtesy runner.
18. Behavior: A player, coach or fan may be ejected for foul language, abusive behavior, and malicious
contact. The ejection is for the remainder of that game. A second ejection will result in dismissal of that
person from the tournament. If ejected, that person must leave the field area. Failure to comply will result in
forfeit of the game. Managers are responsible for the conduct of themselves, their coaches, players and
fans. Only the manager should communicate with the umpires during the game.
19. Umpires will make the final decision on the field for all judgment calls.
20. Protests: There are no protests. Continental Cup representatives will be available at all game sites.
21. Forfeit
a. Team that fails to show up for a game will forfeit that game. Their opponent will receive a win 7 – 0
and 3 points toward standings. Their opponent will also receive a run differential of +7, which is the
maximum run differential for a game. Any team forfeiting a game will NOT be permitted to make the
Playoffs
22. Weather
a. If a game that has not reached complete game status has been stopped due to weather, every
attempt will be made to resume or reschedule the game.
However, Continental Cup
representatives reserve the right to determine the course of action that will be taken.
b. In the event that playoffs are cancelled due to weather, the rankings going into the bracket rounds
will determine the final standings.
23. Refunds
a. There will be no refund if an opposing team does not show up for the game.
b. Tournament cancellation due to weather or other conditions will not result in a refund of the entry
fee.
c. Due to circumstances or conditions beyond its control, the Continental Cup will not be responsible
for the loss of any funds due to the cancellation of all or any part of this tournament.