Sandlot Sports Tournament Rule Adaptations

Adapted from Southeast Region Rules
For a complete list of rules, please visit:

👉 www.sandlotsportsbaseball.com

Gate Fees & Coach Passes

• $10 per adult daily gate fee

• Teams receive 3 coach passes for the weekend

  
  

  
  

Player Eligibility & Birth Certificate Policy

All players participating in a Sandlot Sports Baseball event must meet the applicable age and player eligibility requirements for their respective division.

Proof of Age

A birth certificate must be available for every rostered player upon request. Proof of age may be provided in either of the following formats:

• A physical paper copy of the player's birth certificate
• A digital copy or photograph of the player's birth certificate

Birth certificates do not need to be submitted prior to the event but must be readily available during tournament play if requested by a Sandlot Sports tournament official within a reasonable amount of time deemed by the Sandlot Sports official.

Player Protest & Verification

If a player's eligibility is formally protested, the protested team must be able to provide the player's birth certificate for verification upon request.

If acceptable proof of age cannot be provided when requested, the protested player shall be deemed ineligible and immediately removed from participation for the remainder of the entire tournament/event.

The player will not be permitted to participate in any additional games during that event, regardless of the outcome or advancement of the team.

Coaches and team managers are responsible for ensuring that proof of age is available for every player on their roster throughout the event.

Roster & Insurance

• All team rosters and insurance must be uploaded and approved by Friday before the tournament.

• Several teams still have pending items — please finalize these to ensure smooth operations.

Roster Freezing:

• Rosters will be frozen at the start of pool play. Ensure all players are added before your first game.

  a. Rosters not loaded into the system on time can be protested.

  b. Protests for rosters are to be used exclusively for inclusion of a player on the roster or a missing roster as a whole. If a partial roster is only available and protested, the protested player(s) must be included in the initial protest or it is considered a separate protest.

  c. Protests for age, or grade exemptions cannot be combined with missing player(s) protest. This is considered a separate protest-able offense.

  d. Protests for roster inclusions must be done within the first 5 (FIVE) minutes after the game start time is established at the break of the plate meeting.

  e. Protests are $100 CASH paid to the umpire by the HEAD COACH to initiate the protest. If the protest is successful, The payment is returned to the initiating HEAD COACH. If the Protest is unsuccessful, Sandlot Sports Baseball retains the $100 payment.

  f. Any player removed from a game for eligibility issues, will also be ineligible for the remainder of the current tournament.

Player Pick-Ups:

• If a player needs to be added before Saturday due to injury or illness, contact the Tournament Director for approval.

• No pick-up players are allowed on Sunday.

• Saturday’s roster will be final for Sunday games.

Game Times

Mercy Rules

• 20-run rule: After 1 complete inning

• 15-run rule: After 2 complete innings

• 12-run rule: After 3 complete innings

• 8-run rule: After 4 complete innings

Note: 14u mercy and pitching rules will differ. A separate 14u rule sheet will be provided for those events.

Pitching Rules

All Kid Pitch Divisions (9u–13u):
These pitch rules SUPERSEDE the National NCS pitch rules.

• A player may not pitch more than 3 innings (9 outs) on Saturday and remain eligible to pitch Sunday.

• Weekend Total Limit: No team may exceed 21 total outs pitched (approx. 7 innings) across the event.

  • Sunday maximum = 4 innings (12 outs)... even if the pitcher did not pitch Saturday!

  • One-day events = 5 innings (15 outs) maximum (This is for ONE DAY tournaments only, not one day of a weekend event)

7u/8u Coach Pitch:

• The pitching coach must exit the field to foul territory once the ball is in play.

• Coaches may not remain positioned in the center of the field.

13u Division Rules

• Follows local middle school baseball standards for basic rules

• Allowed bats: -8, -5, or -3 (no -10 bats permitted after 12u).

• Metal cleats are allowed.

• 14u division rules will be distributed separately when applicable.

Grade Exemptions

• Teams may have up to 3 grade exemptions per roster.

• Documentation Required:

  • Provide current school paperwork (e.g., report card or school letterhead) showing player name and grade.

  • Without proper documentation, the player will be ruled ineligible.

Ejection Policy

It is the ultimate goal for all Sandlot Sports officials to NOT have any ejections during an event weekend. 

Unfortunately, there are times when it is necessary to regain control of the game and keep it moving. This is not limited to only players

1. All players and coaches ejected from a game are to leave the field of play, and the dugout area as quickly as possible. They are to be “Out of sight, and out of sound” of the field officials and umpires.

2. Any parent, or fan who is ejected from the game must leave the fan seating area and be “Out of sight, and out of sound” of the field officials and umpires.

          B:1 - If a parent should have to be ejected, the HEAD COACH of the team they are associated with shall                                      subsequently be ejected as well in conjunction with the Sandlot Sports Baseball Ejection Policy (B:1).

Note: If the head coach of the team the ejected parent is associated with is making an effort to quieten, or calm the parent down in a manner deemed acceptable by the umpire, they shall be permitted to remain in the game.

Weather Policy

Sandlot Sports will make every effort to manage weather disruptions, which may include schedule adjustments or format changes.

Communication:

• Updates will be posted via email and on our Facebook page as soon as possible.

• Follow: Sandlot Sports Baseball – Facebook

Weather-Affected Games:

• A game is considered complete after 2 innings.

• If halted early, scores revert to the last completed inning.

  • Example: If stopped in the 4th, score reverts to the 3rd inning.

Championship Weather Impact:

• If the Championship Game is rained out and cannot be played, seeding will determine placement.

  • Example: #1 seed vs #3 seed → #1 seed = Champions, #3 seed = Finalists.