Brackets make with a 4 Team Pool and Pools can consist of a minimum of 3 teams. Pool games do not have pre-determined Home and Away teams. All Pool games are determined by a coin toss and the winner of the toss can select Home or Visitor. In Bracket play, the Home team is determined by the higher seed. This is Single Elimination as every team will be entered and seeded in a Single Elimination Bracket.

For 1-day tournaments, all teams will play 2 games guaranteed. Teams will play 2 pool play games and the top 2 seeds will advance to the championship games. If we have 8 teams in one age group, then bracket play will have Gold and Silver brackets.

Pool games are typically on Saturday, could start Friday.  Bracket play always starts on Sunday (NO Saturday Bracket Play unless impacted by weather).

Rings will be the primary award and team plaques provided to 1st and 2nd place teams in each age group. RBI Tournaments will have special events where awards can change such as championship belts awarded to 1st place teams.

Teams will provide their own game balls per game. Any leather 5.9 ball is allowed.

Updated Jan 29, 2022

(NOTE: Pool games, flip a coin to determine home team. Winner of coin toss has the right to pick Home or Away). Bracket play the Home team is the higher seed.

Bracket Play:

-Head to Head (IF applicable – if more than 2 teams are tied with the same record, head to head is not considered)

-Runs Against (allowed)

-Run Differential (7-Run Max),
-Runs For (scored)
-Coin Toss

No game will be played out after time limit or inning limit.  When time limit is up and the home team is batting, the home team is ahead, the game is over regardless of score. We will NOT complete the inning. The Final score is the score at the end of the time limit

On rule interpretation and player eligibility only, protests must be made to the umpire and to one of the Tournament Directors during the inning the event takes place. Protests will be resolved prior to play being resumed. The umpire may charge a visit to the mound to the protesting team. There will be a $300 protest fee in cash for any protest.

Game time starts after completion of coin toss. Based on demand and popularity, the director can start games on Thursday. Game schedules will be released Tuesday or Wednesday of game week.  In the event a team is “no show” for whatever reason, a 1-o victory will be awarded to the team that is present onsite.  Note: Game times could start as early as 8:00AM on Saturday and Sunday; Friday game times start as early as 6:00PM.

Home team is determined by flip of the coin at the home plate meeting as the home team as the option of selecting to Home or Away for Poll games. For Elimination games, the home team will be the HIGHEST SEEDED TEAM unless they choose to be the visiting team. The home team may have their choice of dugout, unless, the other team is currently occupying that dugout in a preceding game.  The home team will furnish the official scorekeeper and the visiting team will furnish the scoreboard operator. NO game will start until there is an official book and scoreboard operator.

Higher seed will be home team unless they choose to be the visiting team.

Ties will count for Pool Play games – extra innings will not be played in pool play. In the event of a tie after 6 inning and/or time limit for elimination games – The next inning will start with one out and the last batted out will start at 2nd base. This will be the structure for each new inning that is required until the game is won. DURING POOL GAMES, TIME RUNS OUT WITH TEAMS TIED, GAME ENDS IN A TIE.

HOME TEAM FINISHES LAST AT BAT IF TIME RUNS OUT AND VISITING IS AHEAD. Run Rule is still in effect. Home team will be determined by higher seed. Tourney Director can change the game time to the regular time limits from pool games if delays were caused during the day pushing game times back. So for example, 8PM Championship game is pushed back to 10PM based on inclement weather, then Championship game times can be changed.

In the event of natural occurrences to include weather, field conditions, or any other situation that causes a game to be STOPPED and it cannot be physically or reasonably continued, the game will be considered an official game if the teams have played 3 1/2 innings with the Home Team winning or 4 complete innings if the Home Team was losing after 3 1/2 innings. For all games, no game will be played out after time limit or inning limit.

No game will be played out after time limit or inning limit. When time limit is up and home team is batting and home team is ahead, the game is over regardless of score. We will NOT complete the inning. The Final score is the score at the end of the time limit

In elimination play, games have to be played out until there is a winner. When time limit is up & home team is batting & home team is ahead, the game is over regardless of score. If stoppage is required after the 4th inning, the winner will be determined based on the last inning both teams completed an equal number of times at bat. For example, if the Visitors are batting in the top of the 5th and they score 3 runs to go up 5 to 4, if the game is stopped, the Home Team will be declared the winner because at the bottom of the 4th, they were winning, 4 – 2. This is based on a Stopped game that cannot be completed for various reasons to include time constraints, not a Postponed or Delayed game that can be continued. If stoppage is required before a game can be considered “official”, and the game cannot be continued: During pool pay, the team winning after the last complete inning, that was played, will be considered the winner, regardless of the inning. During bracket play, the winning team will be the highest seeded team in this scenario. Only Site Directors can Stop a game and consider it an official game. Umpires and coaches cannot.

8U – 20 runs after 2 innings, 15 runs after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4 innings, 8 after 5 innings
9U – 20 runs after 2 innings,15 runs after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4 innings, 8 after 5 innings
10U – 20 runs after 2 innings,15 runs after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4 innings, 8 after 5 innings
11U – 20 runs after 2 innings,15 runs after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4 innings, 8 after 5 innings
12U – 20 runs after 2 innings,15 runs after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4 innings, 8 after 5 innings
13U – 20 runs after 2 innings,15 runs after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4 innings, 8 after 5 innings
14U – 20 runs after 2 innings,15 runs after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4 innings, 8 after 5 innings

In the event of a rain out where the games cannot be made up, winners will be declared based on highest seed from pool play that advanced the furthest, either in pool or bracket play. No refunds after 2 games have been played. In the event of rain where 2 pool games cannot be played, 1 pool game will determine seeding into bracket games. In the event of inclement weather where pool games are impacted and all scheduled games cannot be played, the top 1st and 2nd seeds of each bracket will be assigned to the championship games (assuming bracket games are to be played). As a last resort if where Sunday games cannot be played at all, trophies will be awarded to the top 2 seeds or the top 2 remaining teams. For example, if the 1st seed played a bracket game and was upset by the 4th seed, however  the next round of games are rained out, the 4th seeded team became one of the top two teams remaining and would be awarded a trophy. Another example is if age groups have more than one bracket, Gold, Silver, Bronze and bracket games cannot begin, then the top seeds will be declared winners. To further clarify, an age group with 2 brackets will result with Seeds 1 and 2 at the Gold and Silver Winners and Seeds 3 and 4 will be declared runner-ups even if the brackets show otherwise. The format may be changed to lesser time limits or fewer innings to complete the tournament. Coaches and players accept these conditions when entering the tournament. RAIN: In the event of rain, lightning or light failure a game is considered complete after 3 innings have been played (or 2½ if the home team is ahead at that time). If pool games are not completed, awards will be not be issued.

In case of inclement weather and game formats are changed to get the games in, then RBI Tournaments reserves the right to implement the following:(A) Reduced game times(B) Implement 1 pool game to seed then move to bracket play. If for some reason a team played 2 games, then the first game will count toward the bracket play and second game will not count. Based on how many teams are participating in particular age group, a team that has already played their pool game(s), may be asked to play an additional pool game to ensure all teams play at least one game. The team being asked to play this additional pool game, it will not count toward their bracket and/or standings.(C) RBI Tournaments reserves the right to implement drop dead time limits. This means once the time limit runs out, the game is over. Home team will not bat last. No new inning may start after the time limit elapses. The time begins from the time of the first warm-up pitch of the game to the last out of an inning. Games can go into extra innings as long as the time limit has not expired. Pool play games can end in a tie. If we do play with a drop dead time limit, the game will end at the designated time and the result will be the score regardless of where we are in the game. We will not revert back to any previous full inning. Intentionally delaying a game is considered unsportsmanlike conduct and will not be tolerated. No pitching changes during the last inning as the new pitcher must enter at the top of the inning. No coach or mound visits during the last inning. If the umpire perceives the game is being delayed, he will add the time back on the clock and the coach will be subject to ejection for the game as well as the next game.

Numbers are mandatory, matching uniforms are recommended.

Teams cannot use more than one batting cage at a time. NO STEEL SPIKES IN BATTING CAGES: STEEL SPIKES are allowed in 13U and 14U age groups on the field. NO steel spikes are allowed on the portable mounds or any of the batting cages. If a team is wearing steel spikes in the cages, they will lose cage privileges.

It is highly recommended only 1 coach outside the dugout for both teams, however no more than 2. If more than 2 coaches are outside the dugout, then the umpires need to be alerted to address.  If more than 2 coaches remain outside the dugout, the Head Coach will be given a warning. A second warning will result the ejection of the Head Coach.

RBI Tournaments reserves the right to combine age brackets. (Example: 9U with 10U All Stars). This decision will be based on the number of teams that enter into each age group division.

It is the responsibility of each team’s manager to challenge pitching violations by notifying the Umpire and then filing a protest with the tournament director.  A protest may be filed at any point after the pitcher in violation records any out beyond his legal limit AND while the pitcher in violation is in the game as the pitcher of record.  If such violation is the last recorded out of the game, the protest MUST be filed prior to the Umpire and the teams leave the field of play.

1 Day Tournament Pitching Limits

2-3 Day Tournaments Pitching Limits

RBI Tournaments does not track thirds of an inning or total pitches.  If a player enters the game as a pitcher, that is counted as 1 (one) inning pitched.

A) Scorecards must be signed by both team managers to eliminate inning validation problems. (Managers are responsible for meeting the umpires immediately following the game at the pitcher’s mound.) B) If pitching rules are violated and the infraction is detected, the situation will be reviewed. Consequences may include elimination of a team from the event and suspension for the following year, coaches and/or players ejection. C) Tournament director shall have final decision on all tournament questions. VISITS TO THE MOUND Two (2) trips per inning, per pitcher will disqualify that pitcher from the game for pitching only. On the 2nd trip in the same inning, the pitcher must be removed from the game as a pitcher only. Any pitcher removed from the game on the 1st trip of an inning may reenter the game as a pitcher after one batter is retired if needed. Removal from the mound on the 2nd trip in the same inning disqualifies the pitcher from returning to the mound as a pitcher only in that game. Pinch Hitting for the pitcher is allowed and the pitcher may reenter the game, as a pitcher if deemed so, as long as a team has eligible substitutes.

As per NFHS rules, each team is allowed three charged visits to the mound within a game. A charged visit is a trip in which the manager or coach does not remove the pitcher. After the three charged visits are used, every trip to the mound will result in the pitcher being removed. A visit is not “charged” when the manager removes the pitcher from the mound. Remember, charged visits are cumulative for the entire game (visits are not tracked “per pitcher”). No restrictions on visits per inning.

Updated as of September 15, 2021. A legal slide can be either feet first or head first. If a runner slides feet first, at least one leg and buttock shall be on the ground. If a runner slides, the runner shall be within reach of the base with either a hand or a foot when the slide is completed. Illegal slides include: the runner uses a rolling, cross-body or pop-up slide into the fielder. The runner’s raised leg is higher than the fielder’s knee when the fielder is in a standing position and the runner goes beyond the base and makes contact with or alters the play of the fielder. If the runner is sliding into home plate and the umpire’s judgement contact was not avoided by the runner, then the runner will be called out. If the runner is deemed to purposely run into the catcher maliciously, the runner will be ejected from the game.

All ages, 9U through 14U, base runners are permitted to lead-off. The younger age groups, umpires will give balk warnings unless the balk is obvious such as starting a motion and not finishing or dropping the ball. One warning per team, per the type of balk for ages 9U and 10U.

Any player not apart of the continuous batting line-up as well as not in the game, must be used to run for the catcher or pitcher. If using a continuous batting line-up, then the last batted out will run for the pitcher and/or catcher.

No player is allowed to participate on more than one team for each event.  For example, organization rosters have to designate players on one specific team in conjunction with their submitted rosters.  In addition, no player is allowed to play on more than one team even if those teams are in different divisions, or age groups. PENALTY FOR THIS VIOLATION IS TEAM FORFEIT OF ALL GAMES IN WHICH THE PLAYER PARTICIPATED IN WITH SAID TEAM.

Coaches have various batting order options, however if mismanaged could lead to an out if not done correctly. Teams can bat 9-straight, bat 9 with DH, bat 10 and play 9 with EH,  bat 10 or 11 with a EH and a DH or the most common method is bat a “continuous” line-up which is betting the entire roster. Continuous batting order allows “free” defensive substitutions.  If using substitutions, then a coach must know how add and remove players from the batting order, inform the other team’s score keeper/coach and if not added correctly, the player(s) will result in an out once they enter the batter’s box. Any player not apart of the continuous batting line-up as well as not in the game, must use used to run for the catcher or pitcher. If using continuous batting line-up, then the last batted out will run for the pitcher and/or catcher.

Updated January 29, 2022

April 15th or before will be the designated date to determine ages. Failure to provide documentation, upon request, could result in an age/rules violation. The coach could be ejected from the game or tournament, the player will not be allowed to play, however the team can remain in the tournament. If a coach would like to protest a player’s age, then a formal protest must be with the umpire, which will then alert the Site Director. A protest fee will apply. All coaches are strongly encouraged to bring copies of birth certificates of each player, and players born after the April 15th cutoff that are in the same grade, supporting documentation from the player’s school should also be made available. If no school documentation can be provided during the tournament to show the correct grade exemption, then the player is not eligible to play. If it was determined a player was used that did not meet the grade exemption, then games won will count as a forfeit and the team that lost will be awarded a 7-0 victory. If this issue does occur at a tournament, the umpire(s) will need to alert the Site Director, however play can continue until age exemption or age discrepancy is determined.

Any age exemption or age discrepancy will need to follow the protest guidelines and pay a protest fee. Coaches, parents and players cannot just make a claim to the umpires or Site Director until the protest fee is paid. Once paid, an investigation will follow.

Coaches, to avoid any issues, make sure you bring supporting documentation.

5-6U Division Players who turn 7 prior to April 15th of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the same grade level this age group is in, Kindergarten.

7U Division Players who turn 8 prior to April 15th of the current season are not eligible unless unless they are in the same grade level this age group is in, 1st grade.

8U Division Players who turn 9 prior to April 15th of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the same grade level this age group is in, 2nd grade.

9U Division Players who turn 10 prior to April 15th of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the same grade level this age group is in, 3rd grade.

10U Division Players who turn 11 prior to April 15th of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the same grade level this age group is in, 4th grade.

11U Division Players who turn 12 prior to April 15th of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the same grade level this age group is in, 5th grade.

12U Division Players who turn 13 prior to April 15th of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the same grade level this age group is in, 6th grade.

13U Division Players who turn 14 prior to April 15th of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the same grade level this age group is in, 7th grade.

14U Division Players who turn 15 prior to April 15th of the current season are not eligible unless they are in the same grade level this age group is in, 8th grade.

When a team discovers that a team does not have a player on their On-Line Roster as being Active prior to their game (pool or bracket). A Protest must be filed. The Ineligible Player when discovered will be ejected from the Game at that time, Ejected Players spot would become an OUT in the Batting Order and Remain an OUT, for the remainder of the game. No Substitutions will be allowed for the Ineligible Player that has been ejected. The Head Coach will also be Ejected for that game and carry an Additional One (1) Game Penalty. The Ineligible Players may be added to the Team’s Roster at the Completion of that Team’s Game. That player WOULD BE ALLOWED to play in his team’s next game if properly added. The intent of this Rule is not to eject the Entire Team or Players from tournaments. This error is a coaching or administrative error and not a player error. Teams can pick up rec players, but they must on on the roster prior to the game and the player taking the field or batting. (Note: some players may not show on the online roster but be on the master roster which means the waiver for the players was not signed as of yet. If this occurs, have the Site Director bring the master roster under the team’s profile up to confirm).

A Fake Bunt and then Swing in age divisions 9-U through 13-U is NOT ALLOWED! Penalty for a fake bunt and then swing will result is an OUT. No contact with the ball is required for an out to be called.

9U and 10U age divisions play on fields with 46 foot pitching rubber and 65 foot bases. 11U and 12U age divisions play on fields with 50 foot pitching rubber and 70 foot bases. 13U age division play on 54 and 80 foot bases. 14U and up play on 60 foot pitching rubber and 90 foot bases which is the same for High School

In the event if the tournament is cancelled while in progress, final standings will be determined in the following way:

1) For there to be any final standings, all teams in a specific division MUST finish at least one pool play game. The final standings will be based on the first completed game for every team, utilizing the criteria section for seeding to bracket play

2) If all pool play games are completed, the division will be seeded in the normal fashion prior to bracket play, and the bracket seeding becomes the official final standings. If not bracket round is completed, awards will only be given to the #1 and #2 seeded teams in each age group. Therefore, a team that may be 1st in the silver or bronze brackets will not be rewarded over a team that went 2-0 and is 3rd seed as an example. The top 2 seeds are rewarded.

3) If the event is stopped during bracket play, the last fully completed round for the bracket will determine the official standings based on the seeded teams that would advance to the next round from the fully completed bracket round.  If no bracket round is completed, awards will only be given to the #1 and #2 seeded teams in each age group.

If a tournament is cancelled due to rain prior to any games being played, all teams will receive a credit to be applied to a future tournament. If one game is started or completed and the tournament cannot continue, then the team receives ½ of the team entry. If a team second game is started or completed, there is no refund. There will be a $75.00 administration fee charged for complete rain outs

If you communicate 15 days before the tournament start date, a full refund will be given. If you communicate 10 to 14 days before, 50 percent of your fee will be returned. If you call 9 or fewer days before, no refund will be given. Online payment service charges are non-refundable.

In case of an Ejection in the lineup and you have No Eligible subs are available that position will be an Out each time at bat.

If any manager or head coach is thrown out of any game by the umpire, that manager WILL NOT be eligible to coach/manage in the team’s next scheduled game. The Tournament Director override this rule by letting the manager coach in next game based on extenuating circumstances.

After the Game is over the final score must be approved by each teams Head Coach and the teams Official Score Keeper, and the Umpires. Both Signatures of the Teams Head Coach and Official Scorekeeper are now required of both teams on the Score Card. This is to verify the correct score, pitching, home runs of that game. Once the Score Card is signed by both the Head Coach and Scorekeeper, that Score is now the Official Score of that game. Failure to sign the Score Cards by either team or teams is consenting that the Score Card is Correct and that no revisions will be made.

If the director deems cheating of any nature occurs such as using illegal players, the use of radio signals on the field, the use of any electronic device to steal signals or gain an advantage, will result in the immediate rejection of the head coach for the tournament. The team will be allowed to continue unless the team violates the rules again, which at that point will result in the team being expelled.

NOTE: pitching communications between the catcher, pitcher and coach are allowed. Pitching coms are used in High School, College and professionally and is also apart of the National Federation High School rules. Coms used outside of pitching will be considered cheating.

Dropped 3rd Strike is in affect for all age groups with the exception of 8U. Drop dead 3rd strike allows the batter to advance to first base on a dropped 3rd strike in 2 scenarios: first base is unoccupied, or there are 2 outs. All runners may advance at their own risk.

Infield Fly – occurs when there are less than 2 outs, a force play can be made at 3 or more bases, and a fielder drops a fly ball that could have been caught with routine effort. The batter will be called out, and the force play is removed. Runners may advance at their own risk, and must be tagged to be called out. The umpire’s judgment will determine “routine effort”.

8u – 40’ Pitching Mound; 60’ Base Length

8u – 1 hour 30 minutes, or 6 innings (Championship: 1 hour 45 minutes)

1:30 Game times, no drop dead. Championship game is also 1:30.

No drop-dead strike.

No fake bunts.

6 innings per game,

Max runs per inning is 7.

Mercy rule is mathematical elimination.

No leadoffs.

Advancement on passed balls including Home plate is allowed.

Cannot take a secondary lead after the ball crosses Home plate.

The only balk is start and stop motion.

Infield fly is in effect.

No stealing. Base runners can advance on past balls.

-7/8u – 1 hour 30 minutes, or 6 innings (Championship: 1 hour 30 minutes

-Teams can use either nine or 10 defensive players. One player must play the pitching position, and one player must play the catching position. For teams using 10 defensive players, four players must play outfield positions.

-Teams can place one coach on the right field area outside of the fair/foul pole in foul territory and one coach on the left field area outside of the fair/foul pole in foul territory.

-Teams must have a minimum of eight players to start and finish a game but must take an out for the ninth player. If the lineup drops below eight players, the game is declared a forfeit at that point with the final score being the score at the time of the forfeit UNLESS the team that has to forfeit is winning the game at the time, in this case, the final score becomes 6-0 in favor of the team that did not forfeit.

-There is a 30-foot safety arc from the back tip of home plate and from the first-base line to the third-base line. A ball must pass this line to be considered as a ball in play (fair ball)

-Fielders must stay beyond the arc until the ball is hit.

-There is a pitching plate 40 feet from the tip of home plate from which the coach may pitch from or a coach can choose to pitch inside the pitchers circle as long as one foot remains inside circle when pitch is thrown.

-There is a circle drawn with a 10’ radius with the pitching rubber in the middle. This equates to the front of the circle being at 30-foot, the pitchers plate at 40-foot and the back for the circle at 50-foot from home plate This is a safety area for the player in the pitching position. The defensive player listed as the pitcher cannot leave the pitching circle until the ball is hit. If the pitcher leaves the circle early, the play continues. After the play has ended, the offensive team has the option of taking the result of the play or accepting a no-pitch and ruling of the play as over. If this occurs a second time by the same pitcher, that player is removed from the pitching position for the remainder of that inning. If it occurs any time after that by the same player, then he or she is removed from the pitching mound the remainder of the game.

-Each batter is allowed six pitches or three strikes. If a batter hits a foul ball on the sixth pitch, he or she is allowed to continue batting until he or she either does not make contact with the ball or puts the ball in play.

-No intentional walks.

-MAX RUNS PER INNING – UPDATED OCTOBER 17TH: there are a maximum of seven runs or three outs per inning.

-A fair batted ball hitting a coach pitcher is declared a foul ball if the umpire rules that the coach pitcher’s contact with the ball was unintentional. If, in the umpire’s judgment, a coach pitcher intentionally makes contact with a batted ball, the batter is out, and no runner can advance.

-Bunting is NOT allowed.

WHEN UMPIRES CALL TIMEOUT: umpires call time after every play and declare the ball dead. Time should be called as soon as all three of the following occur:

• The lead runner stops attempting to advance.
• The ball is in the possession of a fielder in the infield.
• No defensive play is imminent.