Tournament Rules

13U & 14U Division Official Rules • National Parks Baseball Resort

National Parks Baseball Resort Tournament Rules

Rules Agreement

The National Parks Baseball Resort is committed to providing a first-class baseball experience emphasizing player development, sportsmanship, safety, and competitive excellence. All participating teams, players, coaches, and spectators are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively on the game of baseball and the Resort.

Participation in any National Parks Baseball Resort event constitutes acceptance of these Tournament Rules.

Section 1. Player and Team Eligibility

Team Eligibility

  • Teams must register and be accepted by National Parks Baseball Resort.
  • Each team must submit an official roster prior to the start of tournament play.
  • Rosters become frozen 14 days prior to tournament check-in.
  • Only players and coaches listed on the official roster who are paid in full are eligible to participate.
  • A player may appear on only one team’s roster during the tournament.

Player Eligibility

Players must meet the age requirements for their division.

13U Division

  • Players must be eligible under the established 13U age classification and must turn 13 on or after May 1.  Up to 3 grade exemptions for players born January 1 to April 30. However, homeschooled, online-schooled, or charter-schooled players cannot use a grade exemption unless their educational program has a physical location where classmates attend in-person classes.

14U Division

  • Players must be eligible under the established 14U age classification and must turn 14 on or after May 1. Up to 3 grade exemptions for players born January 1 to April 30. Language around home school students. However, homeschooled, online-schooled, or charter-schooled players cannot use a grade exemption unless their educational program has a physical location where classmates attend in-person classes.

Tournament officials reserve the right to verify player eligibility at any time.

Teams shall provide proof of age (birth certificate or passport) and grade exemption (report card or official enrollment document) 14 days prior to tournament check-in.

Failure to provide acceptable documentation may result in player disqualification.

Section 2. Field Dimensions

13U Division

  • Pitching Distance: 54 feet
  • Base Paths: 80 feet
  • Fences: 300-340-300

14U Division

  • Pitching Distance: 60 feet 6 inches
  • Base Paths: 90 feet
  • Fences: 300-340-300 and 325-365-325

Section 3: Uniforms

Uniforms

All players shall wear matching team uniforms.

Uniforms must include:

  • Matching jerseys
  • Matching baseball pants
  • Matching hats or approved headwear
  • Uniform numbers permanently affixed to the back of each jersey

Duplicate numbers are not permitted.

Coaches are expected to present a professional appearance.

National Parks Baseball Resort may provide commemorative or specialty jerseys or uniforms during designated tournament events. When provided, those uniforms shall be considered the official game uniform for designated games.

Footwear

Metal cleats are prohibited on all artificial turf surfaces.

Players may wear:

  • Molded plastic cleats
  • Turf shoes
  • Athletic shoes

Metal spikes are prohibited.

Section 4: Equipment

Baseballs

Official tournament baseballs supplied or approved by National Parks Baseball Resort shall be used for all games.

Bat Requirements

13U Division

Permitted bats include:

  • USSSA certified (-5 maximum) bats bearing the required certification stamp
  • Wood bats
  • Wood composite bats

14U Division

Permitted bats include:

  • USA - BBCOR or BBCOR Baseball certified bats bearing the certification mark
  • Wood bats
  • Wood composite bats

Altered or damaged bats are prohibited.

Any illegal bat discovered during play shall be removed immediately from the game.

Catchers Equipment

Catchers must wear NOCSAE certified gear where applicable:

  • Protective helmet
  • Face mask
  • Throat protector (integrated or attached)
  • Chest protector
  • Shin guards
  • Protective athletic cup

Section 5: Rules of Play

Game Length

Games will be 7 innings with the following exceptions.

Pool play and bracket games shall have a No New Inning time limit of 2 hours  with the exception of semifinal and championship games. 

An inning that begins before the time limit expires shall be completed unless terminated by the mercy rule or other applicable rule.

The Tournament Director may modify game length because of weather, field conditions, scheduling concerns, or other circumstances affecting tournament operations.

Mercy Rule

A game shall end when a team leads by:

  • 10 runs after five (5) complete innings, or
  • 10 runs after four and one-half (4½) innings if the home team is ahead.

Extra Innings

Pool play games may end in a tie.

Bracket games tied after regulation shall continue using international tiebreaker procedures until a winner is determined.

  • Start of the Inning: Beginning in the 8th inning (or after the time limit expires), the offensive team begins its turn at bat with the player who made the last out (or the player scheduled to bat last in that half-inning) placed on second base.
  • Substitutions: Normal substitution and courtesy runner rules apply to the runner placed on second base.
  • Continuation: Play continues using this format in subsequent innings until one team scores more runs than the other in a complete inning.

Home Team

Pool play home teams shall be determined by schedule.

Bracket play home teams shall be determined by the higher tournament seed unless otherwise designated by Tournament Administration.

Lineups

Teams may use:

  • Nine-player lineup
  • Designated Hitter
  • Extra Hitter(s)
  • Continuous Batting Order 

A team using a continuous batting order must continue using that lineup throughout the game. 

  • If a player is injured and cannot continue, the player is removed from the batting order and the order closes up with no out recorded for the injured player. 
  • If a player is ejected, an out will be recorded each time that player is scheduled to hit in the lineup.

Courtesy Runners

Courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher and catcher at any time.

The courtesy runner shall be the player who made the last recorded out.

Mound Visits

Coaches shall be limited to the allowable number of mound visits under applicable playing rules.

Coaches are allowed three charged defensive conferences per 7-inning game. These can be used at any time, but if a team exceeds the 3-conference limit, the pitcher must be removed from the pitching position for the duration of the game.

In addition to the game limit, specific inning rules apply:

  • Extra Innings: Teams are granted one additional charged conference per extra inning. Unused extra-inning conferences do not carry over to subsequent innings.
  • No Roll-over: Conferences not used during regulation play do not carry forward into extra innings.

Exceptions where a conference is NOT charged:

  • Pitching Changes: A visit made solely to replace the pitcher does not count as a charged conference, provided the new pitcher begins pitching before play resumes.
  • Injuries: A visit to check on an injured or ill player will not be charged as long as the player is attended to or removed promptly.
  • Between Innings: A coach may speak to the pitcher between innings without it being charged as a conference, provided it does not delay the start of the next inning. 
  • Player-Only Visits: Conferences exclusively between infielders and the catcher (without the coach crossing the foul line) are generally permitted and do not count as charged conferences.

Section 6: Safety Rules

Safety

Player safety is the highest priority.

The following safety requirements apply throughout the tournament.

  • Batting helmets shall be worn whenever batting, on deck, or running the bases.
  • Catchers shall wear full protective equipment while receiving pitches.
  • Protective cups are strongly recommended for all players and required for catchers.
  • Intentional collisions are prohibited.
  • Malicious contact shall result in immediate ejection.
  • Head-first slides into home are permitted only where otherwise legal under playing rules.
  • Jewelry that presents a safety hazard shall not be worn during games.

The Tournament Director may suspend or terminate play whenever weather or field conditions present an unsafe environment.

Section 7: Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship

National Parks Baseball Resort expects exemplary sportsmanship from players, coaches, parents, and spectators.

The following conduct is prohibited:

  • Unsportsmanlike behavior
  • Fighting
  • Profanity directed toward opponents, officials, or spectators
  • Taunting
  • Intimidation
  • Throwing equipment
  • Cheering/yelling from the dugout directed at the opposing players or team
  • Arguing of judgment calls

Ejections from the umpire may result in, at the Tournament Director’s discretion:

  • Removal from the current game and subsequent game and must leave the field and cannot stay as a spectator
  • Removal from the remainder of the current day and must leave the field and cannot stay as a spectator
  • Suspension from subsequent series of pool and/or bracket games and must leave the resort
  • Removal from the resort 

The Tournament Director retains authority to impose additional disciplinary action as warranted.

Teams are responsible for the conduct of their players, coaches, parents, and spectators.

Spectators who fail to comply with tournament expectations may be removed from Resort property.

Section 8: Umpires

Umpires

Tournament umpires are the sole authority for enforcing playing rules during games. Umpires, are NOT required, but may review a rule with the head umpire or rule interpretations with the tournament director.

Judgment calls are not subject to protest.

Rule interpretations may be discussed only by the head coach.

Only the head coach may request clarification of a rule.

The Tournament Director shall resolve any rule interpretation not specifically addressed during play.

All umpire decisions regarding judgment are final.

Section 9: Alcohol, Tobacco and Tobacco-Related Products

Alcohol, Tobacco and Tobacco-Related Products

The use of alcohol and tobacco products are prohibited:

  • On all playing fields
  • In dugouts
  • Bullpens
  • Batting cages
  • Team bench areas
  • During pregame and postgame activities

Prohibited products include:

  • Any alcoholic beverage
  • Cigarettes
  • Cigars
  • Smokeless tobacco
  • Chewing tobacco
  • Electronic cigarettes
  • Vaping devices
  • Nicotine pouches
  • Any other tobacco or nicotine delivery products

Violations may result in removal from the facility or disciplinary action.

Section 10: Protests

Protests

No protests shall be permitted regarding:

  • Balls and strikes
  • Safe or out calls
  • Fair or foul calls
  • Other umpire judgment decisions

Rule interpretation protests must be made before the next pitch, play, or attempted play.

The Tournament Director’s decision shall be final.

Section 11: Tournament Administration

Tournament Administration

The Tournament Director has the authority to:

  • Modify schedules
  • Change field assignments
  • Shorten games
  • Suspend or cancel games
  • Adjust tournament format due to weather or unforeseen circumstances

All decisions made by Tournament Administration are final.

Section 12: Items Not Specifically Covered by These Rules

Any situation not specifically addressed within these Tournament Rules shall be governed by the current National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Baseball Rules.

The Tournament Director shall have final authority to interpret and apply these rules and to resolve any situation necessary to preserve the safety, integrity, and orderly operation of the tournament.