Tournament Rules

 Dearborn Baseball Community Cup Rules

June 15, 2026

The official rules of Major League Baseball are followed, except as noted below.

1 . The primary objective of this tournament is to teach good sportsmanship and the

game of baseball.

2 . Managers control of players and player parents i s essential. The umpire has the

authority to eject any unruly players, managers, coaches, or fans, and/or to call a

forfeit because of unruly behavior. Any player or coach ejected from a game will be

suspended for the following game.

3. The tournament will provide game balls to the umpire prior to each game.

4. Dugouts - The first team to arrive may pick the dugout. The home team is

determined by the umpire via coin toss prior to start of the game unless it's a seeded

game - the higher seed has the choice to be home or away.

5. Team bench is for the coaches and players in uniform. No batboy or batgirl.

6. Forfeiture time i s ten (10) minutes after game time and i s the decision of the

umpire. A game may start and/or end with eight (8) players. Games may start thirty

(30) minutes early due to mercy or other factors, so please arrive to the fields at least

thirty (30) minutes before start of game. Teams must exchange batting lines ups.

7 . A regulation game consists of 7 innings unless extended by a tie score time

permitting.

8. There is a 1 hour and 45 minutes time limit. Pool play games can end in a tie. No

new inning can start after the designated the time limit, but once an inning starts

the home team (if behind) will get to bat in the bottom of the inning regardless of

how long that inning takes. An extra inning may be played if there is additional time,

but ties are allowed.

9 . A game called by the umpire because of rain, darkness, etc. i s a regulation game if

four (4) complete innings have been played or three and one-half (3-1/2) innings if the

home team is ahead. If fewer than four (4) complete innings have been played, the

game will/may be rescheduled and pick up where it is at.

10. The mercy rule shall be enforced after three and one-half (3 -1/2) innings i f the

home team is ahead or after four (4) innings if the visiting team is ahead by fifteen

(15) runs or more. Mercy rule is 10 runs after 5. Losing team may elect to continue if

the game has not lasted a full hour. The official game score will be the score at the

time of the mercy.

11. Free substitution i s allowed with the following exception: The pitcher cannot be

removed and returned as a pitcher.

12. Only one base is allowed on a walk (base on balls) - the base runner may not

continue to second base unless a play at another base or home plate.

13. All players present at game time will bat. A player who shows up after the game

started will be used or not used at the discretion of the manager.

14. If a player leaves a game for any reason (except injury), his spot is vacated in the

batting lineup and is an automatic out for subsequent at bats unless both coaches

agree to waive this rule.

15. If there are two outs and the catcher for the team at bat or is on base, a courtesy

runner is required. This is for the purpose of saving time. The courtesy runner will be

the player who made the last out. Please work hard to get your catcher ready prior to

the end of the inning. Let your kids know who i s catching the next inning. The goal i s

to decrease the amount of wasted time between innings.

16. Pitching Rules: There are no set rules. Best to comply with your league rules, if

any. Pitchers are allowed up to 4 warm up pitches between innings.

17. Base runners must slide or avoid contact with defensive players on close plays.

Failure to follow this rule the first time in a game will result in the baserunner being

called out and a warning being issued to the base runner by the umpire. Failure to

follow this rule a second time in a game by the same base runner will result in the

base runner being called out and ejected from the game (see Rule 2).

18. The home team is required to keep the official score book and should check their

scorebook with the opposing team every inning. If a discrepancy is found, it must be

brought to the umpire's attention before the next inning.

19. After each game, the coach o f the winning team must report the final score to the

tournament director.

20. Coaches must stay in the dugout while game i n play, unless coaching a

base. Please call time-out from umpire to request to come onto the field.

21. Items which should be in the dugout once games begin unless being used and not

laying outside the dugout or backstop areas. Bats, balls, bat weight, buckets.... This

creates a safety issue and potential interference of a play.

22. Catchers must be in full gear - catcher's helmet, chest protector, and shin guards.

The catcher's mask must always include a throat guard.

23. There are no specific bats certification rules. Wood bats are allowed. Bats with

excessive dings or any modifications, whatsoever, are not allowed.

24. All boys are strongly encouraged to wear a protective cup.

25. No jewelry. Please have players remove all prior to the game.

26. Tiebreaker rules Overall record, Head-to-head, run differential, runs allowed, runs

scored, coin flip. In situations where there are three teams tied, head-to-head still

can play a role if there is a clear way to determine the 3 teams' placement via head-

to-head. Many times, in a three-way tie or more, runs will factor into the equation. A

forfeit will have a tournament score recorded as 7 - 0 and will be included in tie-

breaker score situations.

27. We appreciate your team's assistance in keeping the parks clean. Please pick up

your dugout and spectator areas after your games are completed.

12U Division

1. Mound 50 feet. Bases 70 feet.

2 . Infield Fly - Yes

3 . Courtesy Runner - If there are two (2) outs a courtesy runner shall be used for the

catcher. The player who made the last out.

4. Intentional Walk - Yes

5. Leadoffs and Steals - Leadoffs and steals are allowed, including home.

6. Balks - 1 warning

7 . Scoring - No limit of runs per inning.

8 . Pitching- no set pitching limit rules.

9 . Dropped 3rd Strike - Batter is not an automatic out.

11U Division

1. Mound 50 feet. Bases 70 feet.

2. Infield Fly - Yes

3 . Courtesy Runner - If there are two (2) outs a courtesy runner shall be used for the

catcher. The player who made the last out.

4. Intentional Walk - Yes

5. Leadoffs and Steals- Leadoffs and steals are allowed, including home.

6 . Balks - 1 warning

7 . Scoring - No limit of runs per inning.

8 . Pitching- No set pitching limit rules.

9 . Dropped 3rd Strike- Batter is not an automatic out.

10U Division

1. Mound 44 feet. Bases 60 feet.

2 . Infield Fly - No

3. Courtesy Runner - If there are two (2) outs a courtesy runner shall be used for the

catcher. The player who made the last out.

4 . Intentional Walk - None. Must pitch to batter.

5. Leadoffs and Steals - Leadoffs and steals are allowed, including home.

Note: Home plate limit is 1 per inning for a passed ball. Home may be earned by

continuous play from a batted ball or a walk.

6 . Balks - No balks will be called.

7. Scoring - Maximum of 7 per inning, except last at bat.

8 . Dropped 3rd Strike - Is an out.

9 . Game is played with 3 outfielders.

No refunds for team cancellation within 4 weeks before tournament, or 80% refund if a replacement team is found. Weather cancellations: 100% refunds for 0 games played due to weather, 50% refund if only 1 game played, no refund for 2 or more games played. Game is considered played if/when umpires take the field.