Tournament Game Rules

The rules on this page are COYBL's own summary. These are the sheets handed out at the tournament, hosted here so the links keep working.

• Honoring America's Veterans tournament rules (PDF)
• Five Tool weekend tournament rules (PDF)

Tournament play differs from league play in a few ways that cost teams games every year. Read this page before your first pool game.

Everything else follows OHSAA rules unless it is noted on this page.

Teams must be at their assigned field and ready to play 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time in case the game before them finishes early. Failure to do so could result in a forfeit.

Both teams and the umpires agree on the official start time at the home plate meeting and record it. The home team is the official scorer and the official timekeeper.

The official start time must also be written at the bottom of the score card at the start of the game, and agreed upon by both head coaches and the home plate umpire.

Doug's standing advice: as the time limit approaches, both teams and the umpires should communicate so there are no surprises.

Who is home team

Every game card must have:

• Pitcher names, no nicknames
• Pitch counts recorded for each pitcher
• Team names, home and away
• Age of the teams
• Game time
• Field number

These limits apply to all pool games and all bracket games except the semi-finals and the championship game.

WE DO NOT PLAY DROP DEAD. When the limit is reached, the inning already in progress is played out. No new inning starts.

Championship games have no time limit.

The game clock stops for an injury to a player on the field, and for any stoppage to sort out a rules interpretation.

Pool play: any game tied at the end of regulation innings or at the end of the time limit is recorded as a tie in the standings. No extra innings are played in the pool rounds.

Bracket play: every bracket game is played until there is a winner. If the game is tied at the end of regulation or at the time limit:

1. Play one extra inning.
2. If still tied, go to Ohio Sudden Death.

This applies to all bracket games, including the semi-finals.

Ohio Sudden Death method

The last two batters of record in the batting order from the previous inning are placed on the bases in order:

• The second to last batter from the previous inning goes to 2nd base
• The last batter from the previous inning goes to 1st base
• The offense starts with no outs
• No pinch runners are allowed for the two batters being positioned

Tournaments and the COYBL league tournament use pitch counts, under the same USA Baseball Pitch Smart rules as the regular season. Outs recorded are no longer used.

Once a pitcher is removed from the mound in a game, he cannot return to pitch in that game.

Daily maximum: 9U and 10U = 75 · 11U and 12U = 85 · 13U and 14U = 95.

Pitch counts are written on the game card for every pitcher, and each team enters them on the site so the pitcher eligibility tracker stays current.

If there is a rule interpretation issue, and not a judgment call, play stops, the game clock stops, and the UIC and tournament director are contacted to make a ruling.

If an umpire deviates from the posted rules, do not wait until the game is over and complain. Get it taken care of at that time.

The protest fee is $200, paid in cash, before the protest will be heard.

• If the protest is upheld, the $200 goes back to the team that paid it.
• If the protest is not found to be valid, the $200 is donated to Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Umpires have the UIC number.

Doug Hare: 614-778-1391

These are current COYBL rules and they still apply at tournaments:

• Footwear. Metal spikes are permitted at 13U and older. Metal spikes are prohibited at 12U and below, where rubber spikes are recommended.
• Age eligibility. A player's age on April 30 sets his division. In each division, a player who turns the next age up before May 1 is ineligible unless he is in that division's listed grade (7U/1st, 8U/2nd, 9U/3rd, 10U/4th, 11U/5th, 12U/6th, 13U/7th, 14U/8th). A player who turns two ages up before May 1 is never eligible. Players may always play up in an older division.

• The home team fills out the score card.
• The winning team turns the card in.
• The card goes to the tournament tent, which sits near the maintenance building. On the park map the tent is marked with a yellow star.
• The card must be complete when you hand it in.

Weather updates and other tournament announcements come by text or call from (833) 491-4721. This number is used for tournaments only.

That number cannot receive texts or calls back. Replies and callbacks sent to it do not reach anyone at the league. Use your age group director for anything you need answered.