Rules of Play

Rosters and Player Eligibility

Unless an event states otherwise:

A team may carry a maximum of 20 players.
Every participating player must appear on the official tournament roster.
Rosters must be submitted before the team’s first game.
Players may not be added after the roster deadline without Tournament Director approval.
Every player must be age-eligible for the division.
A player may represent only one team in the same age division during the tournament.
A player may not switch teams after participating in a game.
A player’s name and date of birth must match her identification documents.
Teams must carry copies of birth certificates or other acceptable proof of age.

The Tournament Director may request proof of age or identity at any time.

Use of an ineligible or unrostered player may result in:

Removal of the player.
Forfeiture of affected games.
Removal of the team from the tournament.
Loss of entry fees.
Additional disciplinary action.

Guest Players

Guest players are allowed unless prohibited by the rules for a particular event.

A guest player must:

Be age-eligible for the team’s division.
Be listed on the tournament roster before the roster deadline.
Have parent or guardian authorization.
Meet the same insurance and identification requirements as other players.
Play for only one team within the same division during the event.

Guest players are intended to help a team maintain a playable roster and should not be used to misrepresent the team’s normal competitive level.

Coaches and Team Responsibility

The head coach is responsible for:

The conduct of players, assistant coaches, parents, and spectators.
Confirming the team’s schedule and field assignments.
Verifying the accuracy of the roster.
Understanding the tournament rules.
Having the team ready to play before the scheduled starting time.
Keeping the dugout and spectator areas clean.
Ensuring that only authorized players and coaches enter the dugout.

Game Format

Unless otherwise announced, Diamond XPO events will use a four-game guarantee consisting of pool play followed by bracket play.

The exact format may change depending on:

Number of registered teams.
Weather.
Field availability.
Age divisions.
Tournament structure.

A game guarantee represents the planned tournament format. Games lost because of weather, unsafe conditions, a team forfeit, or circumstances outside Diamond XPO’s control may be handled under the event’s refund policy.

Game Time Limits

Standard pool and bracket games: 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Consolation games: 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Championship game: Seven innings or 1 hour and 30 minutes.
No new inning begins after the time limit expires.
An inning begins immediately after the final out of the previous inning.
The home plate umpire will keep the official game time.
The clock begins at the conclusion of the pregame meeting.

An inning already in progress will be completed unless the home team is ahead and does not need to bat.

Tournament management may shorten time limits because of weather, darkness, field conditions, or schedule delays.

Regulation Games

Games are scheduled for seven innings unless ended earlier by:

The time limit.
The run rule.
Forfeit.
Weather or unsafe playing conditions.
Tournament Director decision.

A game stopped by weather or unsafe conditions becomes official after:

Four completed innings; or
Three and one-half innings when the home team is ahead.

If stopped before becoming official, the Tournament Director will decide whether the game will be resumed, replayed, or handled under the tournament’s weather policy.

Run Rules

Run rules will apply to all age groups:

12 runs after three innings.
10 runs after four innings.
8 runs after five innings.

The home team does not bat in the bottom half of the inning when already ahead by the required number of runs.

Tie Games

Pool Play

Pool-play games may end in a tie when the time limit expires.

If the event schedule allows, the Tournament Director may authorize an international tiebreaker.

Bracket Play

Bracket games must produce a winner.

When regulation play ends in a tie, the international tiebreaker will begin with the last completed batter from the previous inning placed on second base. Each additional inning will follow the same procedure until a winner is determined.

Pool-Play Standings and Seeding

Recommended order for breaking ties:

Winning percentage.
Head-to-head result, when only two teams are tied.
Runs allowed.
Run differential.
Runs scored.
Coin flip or computerized draw.

For tie-breaking purposes, Diamond XPO may limit the maximum run differential recorded in a game to eight runs.

Head-to-head will not be used when three or more teams are tied unless one team defeated every other team involved in the tie.

Final seeding decisions are made by the Tournament Director.

Home Team

Recommended order for breaking ties:

Winning percentage.
Head-to-head result, when only two teams are tied.
Runs allowed.
Run differential.
Runs scored.
Coin flip or computerized draw.

For tie-breaking purposes, Diamond XPO may limit the maximum run differential recorded in a game to eight runs.

Head-to-head will not be used when three or more teams are tied unless one team defeated every other team involved in the tie.

Final seeding decisions are made by the Tournament Director.