HS Spring Training and Tournament Rules
NFHS baseball rules are in effect for all games.
With the exception of double headers involving the same two teams, all games will be 7 innings.
Home team will supply all game balls as needed.
The home plate umpire shall keep official game line-ups and substitutions.
If necessary, the home team shall designate a scoreboard operator.
Each team shall have an official scorer.
If there is no operational scoreboard, each team’s official scorer shall verify the score with the opponent after each inning.
Mercy Rule:
Ten run rule after 5 innings.
Halted Game:
All suspended games due to rain, darkness, field light failure, curfew or field lights/time restrictions, where 5 innings or more (4½ if the home team is ahead) have been completed, shall be declared an official game. Should a tie score regulation game (5 completed innings or 4½ completed innings if the home team is ahead) be suspended due to rain, darkness, field light failure, curfew or field lights/time restrictions, it may be resumed if the coaches agree to do so during pre-game ground rules.
Protest:
If a rules interpretation is questioned during the course of a game, the coach challenging the ruling should call time out and protest the game with the home plate umpire before the next pitch (protest cannot be heard if not made before the next pitch). The home plate umpire will stop the game and he or the site director will immediately call the tournament umpire assigner via cell phone and receive a binding ruling on the spot with the umpire assigner explaining the ruling to both coaches via cell phone. If the tournament umpire assigner cannot be reached, then another RussMatt spring break tournament umpire assigner will be contacted. If none of our three umpire assigners can be reached then the umpires on the field should consult the NFHS rule book and make a final and binding ruling.
Rain-outs:
Although we cannot guarantee rain-outs will be rescheduled, every effort will be made to make up those games based on availability of fields and opponents.
In the event that days are partially rained out, rescheduling will be done at the discretion of the tournament and/or site director.
Games not started due to rain will be refunded at the rate of $100 per team. Practices not started due to rain will be refunded at the rate of $75 per team. Any game/practice started but not completed due to rain will not be refunded.
Pre-Game Schedule
Home team batting practice: 30 minutes beginning 1 hour and 45 minutes prior to game time.
Away team batting practice: 30 minutes beginning 1 hour and 10 minutes prior to game time.
Home team infield: 12 minutes beginning 35 minutes prior to game time.
Away team infield: 12 minutes beginning 22 minutes prior to game time.
Field Prep: 10 minutes prior to game time.
Ground Rules: 10 minutes prior to game at home plate.
Please dispose of all trash before leaving the dugout after the game.
We request that teams leave the dugout area immediately after the game so that the next team can begin pre-game preparation without delay.
