PBT Game Rules
Tournament Information
Check-In
Coaches must report at least a half-hour prior to their first game of the tournament to check in with the tournament director. Coaches should be prepared to address any questions regarding tournament rules or policies.
Rosters
The roster size can be unlimited for the number of players on the team. Teams can add to their roster up to their first game of the event. A player can be rostered for two different age groups, but not on multiple teams within a specific age group. Players cannot play for multiple teams within the same weekend.
Baseballs/ Equipment
Game balls will be provided by Philadelphia Baseball Tournaments for all games. Teams are required to use their own practice balls, helmets, bats, gloves, catchers gear, first aid, and other equipment that may be needed for your team.
Pre-game/ Batting Cages
Use of the outdoor batting cages if any will be on a first come first serve basis. We ask that as a courtesy, only twenty minutes per team in the cages. There is no pre-game infield/outfield.
Game Times
Our goal is to start all games early or on time. If a field is running ahead of schedule, please be prepared to start your game 10-15 minutes early. If a field is running behind, please be prepared to start your game late. The Tournament Director will notify the Head Coaches of each team if a game is going to be ahead or behind schedule.
Playoff Communication
Bracket play will vary based on the number of teams registered but will be communicated at the beginning of each tournament. Pool play game scores will be entered into the PBT app throughout the weekend as games are completed to ensure the best possible forecast for games on Sunday. You can view how the bracket is broken down by utilizing the PBT App.
Tournament Awards
Champions of each division will be awarded a Team prize per tournament. Tournaments powered by sponsors may have different tournament awards
Protests
Protests will be heard and ruled on by the tournament director. The team protesting a playing rule must make a cash payment of $150 at the time of the protest to the tournament director. If the protest is ruled in the protesting team’s favor the $150 will be refunded. Teams will not be allowed to protest a play on the field if play has already resumed. If a team is protesting illegal equipment and the tournament director rules in your favor, then the equipment in question will be removed immediately and play will continue.
Suspension
Any player or coach that is ejected from a game will be suspended for the team’s next game. The player or coach who is ejected will not be permitted in the dugout during the next game. The tournament directors have the right to extend suspensions if deemed necessary.
Age Eligibility
A player’s age for any PBT event is the actual age of a child on May 1, 2024
A player that turns 12 on or before May 1st would be considered 12 years old for PBT play
A player that turns 12 anytime after May 1st would be considered 11 years old for PBT play
Players are always eligible to play in an age division above their current age (I.E. 11 year olds can play in the 12U division).
Any age eligibility protests will be heard by the tournament director. A team protesting must have convincing evidence that a player is not in compliance. If the director feels that the evidence is adequate, then they will proceed to the team in question submitted roster. If the player’s information is not in compliance with the tournament requirements, then that player will be removed, and all opponents will receive a forfeit win.
Payment & Refund Policy
Payment Policy
Philadelphia Baseball Tournaments require any team registering for a tournament to pay in full for all events 14 days prior to the start of the event. See registration pages for specific details regarding payment.
Refund Policy
Philadelphia Baseball Tournaments requires all requests for a refund to be made in writing 14 days prior to the start of the event.
Tournament Cancelation Policy
There will be no refunds for cancellations within 14 days of the tournament start date. There will be no refunds for cancellations if the schedule for the event is already out.
Inclement Weather
If the weather comes into play, Philadelphia Baseball Tournaments will do everything to keep the original schedule. All games that are canceled due to weather may not be made up depending on the time constraints of the facility. Philadelphia Baseball Training will contact teams regarding any weather-related changes via email and PBT app notifications.
Weather-Related Refund Policy
3 Game minimum tournaments
Play 0 games- 100% credit
Play 1 game- 70% credit
Play 2 games- $125 credit
Philadelphia Baseball Tournaments Playing Rules
Coaches: Be aware of the rules and rule changes. Philadelphia Baseball Tournaments reserves the right to amend these rules at any time for specific tournament play. National High School Federation Baseball Rules will be enforced with the following expectations.
**Rule Protests**
In the event of a protest/rules objection, there is a director at the site by which the situation will be handled and decided by Tournament Director in conjunction with the umpire on the field.
Pool Play Time Limit
All games except the Championship game will be played with a strict one-hour and 50-minute time limit.
No new inning can start after the one-hour and 45-minute time mark.
Official game time will be kept by the umpires. The time will start immediately after the conclusion of the pre-game meeting.
The home team will be determined by a coin flip for each pool play game.
If the home team is ahead when the time expires, the game will be declared final immediately.
The tournament director reserves the right to modify time limits at any time.
Innings
8U-12U will play 6 inning or 1 Hour 45 Minutes no new innings
13-15U will play 7 inning games or 2 Hours no new innings
Tie Games
All non-playoff games that are tied after the inning or time limit will end as a tie. There are no extra innings in pool play.
Forfeits
All forfeits will be scored 7-0
Mercy Rules
6 INNING GAMES (8U)
16 runs after 4 innings
9 runs after 5 innings
6 INNING GAMES (9U-12U)
14 runs after 3 innings
10 runs after 4 innings
8 runs after 5 innings
7 INNING GAMES (13U-15U)
10 runs after 4 innings
8 runs after 5 innings
Pitching Restrictions
There are no pitch count restrictions, however, Philadelphia Baseball Tournaments recommends MLB Pitch Smart Guidelines. A player removed from the pitching position may not return to the pitching position for the remainder of the game.
Trips to the mound
A second visit to the same pitcher in the same inning will result in removal from the pitching position. A player removed from the pitching position may not return to the pitching position for the remainder of the game.
Balks
8U-10U No balks
11U-12U One warning per pitcher
13U-15U Dead ball, no warning
Infield Fly Rules
8U-10U, No infield fly rule
11U-15U, Regular infield fly rule applies
Catcher Dropped 3rd Strike
8U-10U, The batter is automatically out
11U-15U, Regular dropped 3rd strike rule
Starting the Game
All games must be started with at least 8 players. The 9th position will be an automatic out until that position can be filled. If a team does not have a minimum of 8 players at the start of the game, then the team will be required to forfeit.
Batting Order and Extra Players
Lineup cards must be exchanged at the plate meeting prior to the start of a game. Substitutes must be listed on the lineup card. Below are options for completing a lineup card.
Lineup Rules – The batting lineup may consist of 9 players, 10 players with an extra hitter (EH – see below), or their entire roster. A copy of each team’s lineup must be given to the umpires at the plate meeting.
(EX) If a team’s roster consists of 13 players, they can choose to bat 9, 10 (w/EH or EH & DH) or 13 – they may not choose to bat 11 or 12
In the case of batting 10 players or the entire roster, all players not currently playing in the field would be considered Extra Hitters (EH). The following rules apply:
The EH is just an additional player in the batting order that can move into and out of the field on defense freely. Consider the EH the 10th (or 11th, or 12th, …) defensive position
Use of the EH is optional and must be declared on the official lineup card prior to the game
Teams starting the game with one or more EHs must finish the game with those EHs. If players are removed from the lineup for whatever reason (injury, etc.), the spot of the player removed from the lineup will result in an automatic out
When batting 9 or 10 players, teams also have the option of using a Designated Hitter (DH). PBT uses the High School (NFHS) rule – you are eligible to DH for anyone in the lineup. If you choose to enter your designated hitter into the field, the player he was hitting for must be removed from the lineup
When batting 9 or 10 players, high school substitution rules apply – starters are eligible to re-enter the game one time in their original spot in the batting order
Regardless of lineup construction, teams are allowed free defensive substitutions throughout the game. A player may enter the game defensively at any time without entering the batting lineup
The only time a player should report as an eligible substitute is when replacing another player in the batting order (applies when teams are batting 9 or 10 players). This is NOT a requirement per Official Baseball Rules; it just serves as a courtesy to the umpires and the opposing team.
NOTE: The free defensive substitution rule does NOT apply to the pitcher
Re-entry Rule
Starters must re-enter at the same place in the batting order. If a substitute is replaced by a starter then that substitute cannot re-enter.
Courtesy Runner
Courtesy runners are optional at any time for the pitcher and catcher only. The courtesy runner can be a player not currently in the lineup or the last batter out.
Intentional Walks
The batter can be awarded first base at the request of the coach. The pitcher is not required to pitch to the batter
Official Game
A game will be considered complete if weather, darkness, or field conditions prevent the game from being completed.
6 inning games- 3 innings or 2 ½ (if the home team is leading) will constitute a completed game.
7 inning games- 4 innings or 3 ½ (if the home team is leading) will constitute a completed game.
Scoring
The official scorer of the game will be the head umpire. Any scoring discrepencies should be brought to the attention of the tournament directors.
Bat Restrictions
9U-12U
13U
14U-15U
All bats must have a branding, label, or stamp proving BPF 1.15
USABat, BBCOR and Wood bats are also allowed
All bats must have a branding, label, or stamp proving BPF 1.15
-3 or -5 (except if listed below)
BBCOR and Wood bats are also allowed
BBCOR -3 (except if listed below)
Decertified Bats List Effective April 23, 2021
2015 Demarini CF7 (-5)
2015 Easton XL1 (-5)
2016 Demarini CF8 (-5)
2016 Demarini CF8 (-8)
2016 Demarini CF8 (-10)
2017 Demarini CF Zen (-5)
2017 CF Zen Balanced (-8)
2017 CF Zen SL 2 3/4″ (-10)
2017 CF Zen Zero Dark 2 3/4″ (-10)
Custom 2017 CF Zen 2 3/4″ (-10)
Custom 2017 CF Zen Balanced (-8)
Louisville Slugger Blue Meta Composite (33/30 model only)
Dirty South Kamo BB KA 8 (30/22, 31/21, 32/22, 31/23, 32/24 only)
Easton Ghost X (30/20 only – USA Baseball Marked)
If a team is protesting illegal equipment and the tournament director rules in your favor, then the equipment in question will be removed immediately and play will continue. If the player is using an illegal bat and the opposing team notices after the outcome of the play, that player will immediately be ruled out and then play will continue.
Leading/ Stealing
8U-10U must wait until the ball crosses the plate to leave the base. The first violation will be a warning. Following a warning, the runner will be called out.
11U-18U, regular rules apply
Not covered in rules
In the event that anything is not covered in the playing rules, the tournament directors will do their best to make the fairest possible ruling.
Base/ Pitching Dimensions
8U-10U, 46’ pitching, and 60’ bases
11U-12U, 50’ pitching, and 70’ bases
13U-18U, 60’6” pitching, and 90’ bases
8U Gameplay Rules
To improve the game flow of the 8U tournament the following rules will be implemented during gameplay
Three outs or a maximum of four runs per inning. No runs beyond four will be scored unless a player hits a home run over the fence, in which all runs will count.
There will be unlimited runs in the designated last inning determined by the umpire before a new inning can start.
During the playoffs and the championship, unlimited runs will be during the 6th inning due to no time limit.
Stealing (As the ball crosses the plate)
Maximum of five steal attempts per inning.
Runners may advance to 2nd and 3rd on a passed ball.
Runners cannot steal home on a passed ball or wild pitch.
If runners are on1st and 3rd, and a play is made at 2nd base on a steal, the runner from 3rd may not advance.
If a play is made on a runner stealing 3rd on a wild pitch, the runner may not advance home.
Playoffs
Pool Play Tie Breaker Rules
Pool play overall record
If two teams are tied- Head-to-head
If three teams are tied and if one team has defeated both teams, that team will advance. If not skip to number 4
Total runs allowed in pool play
If still tied- Total runs scored in pool play
If still tied- Coin flip
Championship Game Play
The higher seed will be the Home team for the championship game. There is no time limit for championship games. If teams are tied following 6/7 innings, teams will continue to play until a winner has been crowned. Any championship game that enters extra innings will play the tiebreaker format below.
If teams are tied at the end of regulation, the game will go into the tie-breaker rule.
Last batted out on second base
No outs, no count on the batter
If the teams are still tied after the first tiebreaker inning, base runners will be placed as follows:
Last batter from the previous inning on second base
Second to last batter on third base
No outs, no count on the batter.
If the teams are still tied after the second tiebreaker inning, base runners will be placed as follows:
Last batter from the previous inning on first base
Second to last batter on second base
Third to last batter on third base
No outs, no count on the batter.
Playoff Time Limit
No new inning can start after the one-hour and 45-minute time mark.
PLAYOFFS, THE HIGHER SEED HAS THE CHOICE OF HOME AND AWAY AS WELL AS WHICH DUGOUT TO USE.
If the home team is ahead when the time expires, the game will be declared final immediately.
If teams are tied at the end of the time limit, the game will go into the tie-breaker rule.
Last batted out on second base
No outs, no count on the batter
If the teams are still tied after the first tiebreaker inning, base runners will be placed as follows:
Last batter from the previous inning on second base
Second to last batter on third base
No outs, no count on the batter.
If the teams are still tied after the second tiebreaker inning, base runners will be placed as follows:
Last batter from the previous inning on first base
Second to last batter on second base
Third to last batter on third base
No outs, no count on the batter.
The tournament director reserves the right to modify time limits at any time.
Off-Site Locations
Gable Park (TURF, NO METAL SPIKES)
Elis Ave, Newtown Square, PA 19073
Thomas Field (Grass)
2480 Highland Ave, Broomall, PA 19008
Delaware Community College (Grass)
901 Media Line Rd, Media, PA 19063
Valley Forge Military Academy (Grass)
820 Radnor Rd, Wayne, PA 19087
Eastern University (Grass)
1300 Eagle Rd, Wayne, PA 19087