top of page
Baseball home (1920 x 540 px) (2).png

RSC Athletics - Baseball Tournament Rules (9U-14U)

These rules apply to travel baseball tournaments at RSC Athletics for age divisions 9U through 14U, aligned with standards from Five Tool Youth, USSSA Baseball, and Nations Baseball. Tournament directors reserve the right to modify rules for specific events, with changes communicated in advance.

​

1. General Tournament Rules

1.1 Team Eligibility

  • Age Divisions: 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U, 13U, 14U. Age is determined by the player’s age as of April 30 of the current year.

  • Roster Requirements: Maximum of 20 players per roster. Rosters must be submitted online 7 days before the tournament begins.

  • Check-In: Teams must check in at the tournament headquarters.

1.2 Game Format

  • Game Length:

    • 9U-12U: 6 innings or 1 hour 45 minutes (no new inning after time limit).

    • 13U-14U: 7 innings or 2 hours (no new inning after time limit).

    • Mercy Rule: 15 runs after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4 innings, or 8 runs after 5 innings.

  • Pool Play and Bracket Play: Tournaments will use pool play to seed teams for bracket play. Tiebreakers include record, head-to-head, runs allowed, run differential, and coin flip.

  • Field Dimensions:

    • 9U-10U: 46 ft (pitching), 65 ft (bases).

    • 11U-12U: 50 ft (pitching), 70 ft (bases).

    • 13U: 54 ft (pitching), 80 ft (bases).

    • 14U: 60 ft 6 in (pitching), 90 ft (bases).

  • Official Schedules: Available online no later than one week before the tournament. Teams must print their own rule sheets, as extras are not provided at the venue.

1.3 Conduct and Sportsmanship

  • Code of Conduct: Players, coaches, and spectators must exhibit sportsmanlike behavior. Ejections result in a one-game suspension; severe infractions may lead to tournament expulsion.

  • Protests: Only rule interpretations may be protested (not judgment calls). Protests must be made at the time of the incident and resolved before the next pitch.

​

2. Gameplay Rules

2.1 Batting and Lineup

  • Batting Order: Teams may choose to bat the entire lineup or use a standard 9-player lineup with substitutes. Extra Hitters (EH) or Designated Hitters (DH) are allowed.

  • Courtesy Runners: Allowed for pitchers and catchers anytime; mandatory with 2 outs, using the last batted out or a player not in the lineup.

2.2 Pitching Rules

image#1.png
5b33adcd-a98e-42c0-975c-e894eb50f3fa.png

2.3 Base Running

  • Lead-offs and Stealing:

    • Full base running per high school rules.

  • Slide Rule: Players must slide or avoid contact on close plays. Malicious contact results in ejection.

3. Equipment Rules

3.1 Bats

Bats must comply with USSSA, USA Baseball, or Nations/Five Tool standards.

  • General Requirements:

    • All non-wood bats must have a USSSA 1.15 BPF stamp, USA Baseball stamp, or BBCOR .50 certification.

    • Maximum barrel diameter: 2 ¾ inches.

    • Wood or composite wood bats are allowed without a stamp but must be single-piece and not laminated or altered.

  • Age-Specific Bat Restrictions:

    • 9U-12U: No drop weight restriction for USSSA 1.15 BPF or USA Baseball bats. Wood bats allowed.

    • 13U: Maximum drop -8 for USSSA 1.15 BPF bats; USA Baseball bats or BBCOR allowed.

    • 14U: Maximum drop -5 for USSSA 1.15 BPF bats; BBCOR or USA Baseball bats required. BBCOR bats must be -3 or heavier.

  • Bat Certification: Bats must be manufactured by a licensed USSSA or USA Baseball manufacturer and meet a Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.15 or less, or BBCOR .50 standards.

3.2 Banned Bats

The following bats are banned in RSC Athletics baseball tournaments following USSSA, USA Baseball, Nations, and Five Tool Youth guidelines, as well as Ripken Baseball’s banned bat list (aligned with USSSA).

  • USSSA Banned Bats:

    • 2017 DeMarini CF Zen - Balanced (-5) (banned in 2024 for all USSSA events).

    • 2017 DeMarini CF Zen Zero Dark 2 ¾ (-10).

    • 2017 DeMarini CF Zen SL 2 ¾ (-10).

    • 2018 DeMarini CF Zen (-10) 2 ¾ (decertified but later re-certified; confirm with tournament officials).

    • Any bat not bearing the USSSA 1.15 BPF stamp, USA Baseball stamp, or BBCOR .50 certification (unless a single-piece wood bat).

  • Additional Notes:

    • Bats banned by USSSA, USA Baseball, or Nations/Five Tool are also banned in RSC Athletics tournaments.

    • Check the official USSSA banned bat list (available at www.usssa.com) for updates, as bans may occur mid-season if bats fail to meet safety or performance standards.

    • Tournament officials may inspect bats before or during games. Non-compliant bats result in the bat being removed and potential player ejection.

3.3 Other Equipment

  • Helmets: Must meet NOCSAE standards, with face guards optional.

  • Cleats: Molded Cleats only for 9U-12U; Metal or Molded allowed for 13U-14U on appropriate fields.

  • Catcher’s Gear: Must include a helmet, mask, throat guard, chest protector, and shin guards.

4. Tournament-Specific Notes

bottom of page