Tournament Information
Crown Sports Tournament Rules
Use this page for official tournament rules, rain policies, roster requirements, game procedures, and sportsmanship expectations.
Official Rules
Crown Sports Tournament Rules
All Crown Sports tournaments follow NFHS Rules unless otherwise specified below.
Registration
- All teams registered for any Crown Sports tournament must submit a completed roster form.
- Teams must provide verification of proof of insurance listing Crown Sports as additional insured.
PA Kings Baseball, LLC
dba Crown Sports
4750 Scott Dr.
Hermitage, PA 16148
Start Times
Special Start Requests
- Teams must be prepared to start as early as 8:00 AM.
- Crown Sports cannot accommodate special game requests.
Game Status
Forfeits
- Forfeit time is scheduled game time.
- Games can start with 6 players.
- Teams that forfeit cannot advance to championship play.
- Forfeited games are scored 5-0.
Rosters
Eligibility
- Age cutoff is April 30.
- Players may not be double rostered in the same division.
Game Clock
Time Limits
- 7U-12U games: 1 hour 45 minutes.
- 13U-19U games: 2 hours.
- No new inning may begin after the time limit expires.
- If both teams are tied at the end of regulation and the time limit has not expired, extra innings will be played.
- If playoff games are tied after the time limit expires, the California Tie Breaker will be used. Each team starts the inning with their last batted out on 2nd base with a 0-0 count.
- No tie-breakers or time limits in championship games.
Game Play
Game Rules
- Mercy rule: 15 runs after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4 innings, and 8 runs after 5 innings.
- An official game is complete after 3 innings.
- Free defensive substitution is allowed.
- Home team in pool play is determined by coin flip.
- Higher seed chooses home team in playoffs.
- No infield or outfield practice before tournament games.
- Two umpires will be used whenever possible.
- Courtesy runners are allowed for pitcher and catcher at any time.
- Each team receives one balk warning in ages 8U-11U.
- There will be no balk warning for 12U and above.
- The "3rd to first" move is an illegal feint and is an immediate balk as soon as the pitcher fakes to third.
- Balk warnings are at the umpire's or tournament director's discretion.
Divisions
Division Field Dimensions
| Division | Mound Distance | Base Distance | Game Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8U | 40-43' | 60' | 6 inning game |
| 9U & 10U | 46' | 60-65' | 6 inning game |
| 11U & 12U | 50' | 70' | 6 inning game |
| 13U, 14U & Up | 60' | 90' | 7 inning game |
Pitching
Pitching
- 1 pitch equals 1 inning.
- Once removed from the mound, a pitcher may not return in the same game.
Equipment
Bat Restrictions
- 7U-8U Coach Pitch: USA and USSSA stamped bats allowed with BPF 1.15.
- 8U-13U: Bats must have USA Baseball or USSSA BPF 1.15 stamp.
- 60/90 events: BBCOR bats required.
Policies
Tournament Policies
Protests
- All protests must be made immediately with a $100 cash protest fee.
Ejections
- No warnings for unsportsmanlike conduct.
- Coaches are responsible for players and fans.
Alcohol / Tobacco Policy
- Zero tolerance for alcohol, tobacco, or illegal substances at tournament facilities.
Weather Policy
- Crown Sports reserves the right to modify schedules, shorten games, or alter tournament formats due to weather conditions.
- Crown Sports will do everything possible to play all scheduled games.
Refund Policy
- If zero games are played, 75% of the entry fee will be returned as a credit for a future event run by Crown Sports.
- If 25% of your guaranteed tournament games are played, 50% of the entry fee will be returned as a credit for a future event run by Crown Sports.
- If 33% of your guaranteed tournament games are played, 40% of the entry fee will be returned as a credit for a future event run by Crown Sports.
- If you play 2 or more of your scheduled games, that is considered a full tournament.
- Credits are valid for 12 months from the time of the cancelled event.
- Gate fees are nonrefundable.
- Teams that pull out after an event is sold out will not receive any refund or credit.
- Teams that withdraw within 90 days of an event may receive a 50% credit toward a future Crown Sports event, provided a replacement team is secured. If no replacement team is secured, no credit is guaranteed.
- Teams that pull out prior to 90 days before an event will receive a refund minus a $75.00 administrative fee.
Sportsmanship
- Crown Sports expects players, coaches, and spectators to conduct themselves in a respectful and sportsmanlike manner at all times.
- Unsportsmanlike behavior may result in ejection and removal from tournament facilities.
Facility Care
- Teams are responsible for cleaning dugouts after each game and respecting all facility rules established by the host complex.