National Baseball Rules

2019 -2020 Season

August 1st, 2019 – July 31^st, 2020

National Championship Sports LLC

Rule 1.00 National Championship Sports Age Divisions, Classifications, and Participation
Rule 2.00 Participation in the National Championship Series Elite 16
Rule 3.00 NCS Rankings and Seeding procedures
Rule 4.00 Regions of National Championship Sports and Governance
Rule 5.00 Ejections
Rule 6.00 Playing Field and Equipment
Rule 7.00 Official Playing Rules

Rule 8.00 Items not covered

Rule 9.00 Coach Pitch Rules

Rule 1.00 National Championship Sports Age Divisions, Classifications, Membership and Participation

Rule 1.01 Age Divisions and player eligibility

·         1.01A Proof of eligibility (age based)

In divisions 5U – 18U, all players participating in NCS Baseball tournament play shall always have photocopies of their original birth certificate in the possession of their team manager. Upon protest, failure to have a photocopy of the original birth certificate immediately available upon demand shall result in the offending team losing the game(s) and being ejected from the tournament

·         Rule 1.01B Proof of eligibility (grade based)

All grade-based players must have a copy of their birth certificate, current report card, or official school ID with grade, or any official government document stating the grade.

Rule 1.02 Rosters

Rosters are frozen prior to each event on a predetermined date. Players participating on a team’s lineup that are not listed on the roster are considered ineligible and will be removed from the event and the head coach will be ejected from the event. If the ineligible player has pitched during the event, the team would forfeit and be ejected from the event. (see Rule 7.02C)

Rule 1.03 Accuracy of roster

When listing a player on your official online roster, team managers are required to use the players first name, last name (no middle names, nick names, shortened names, slang names, initials, prefixes or suffixes are allowed) and date of birth (in proper format – mm/dd/yyyy) are listed EXACTLY as they appear on his original birth certificate, as a member on an eligible team’s Official Online Roster. Failure to comply with this rule shall result in your team being prohibited from participating in NCS.

Rule 1.04 Illegal Players

A player that is found to be illegal due to an age or grade violation during or after a league or tournament game, shall result in the offending team losing the game(s) team and player being ejected from the tournament; team being placed last in the standings and forfeiting all awards, points, sponsors travel money, and berths that would have been or have been awarded. The illegal player shall be removed from the offending team’s Official Online Roster and additional penalties may be applied.

Rule 1.05 Classifications

• Division 1 is our most competitive division comprised of highly competitive teams from around the Nation.

• Division 2 is for strong regional teams that compete at a high level but are not competitive in Division 1

• Division 3 is comprised of local travel teams

Rule 1.05A Teams are required to play at an equal or more competitive division than they play in other organizations.

State and National Directors have the authority to change a team’s classification at any time.

Rule 1.06 Participation requirements

·         Rule 1.06A All teams participating in National Championship Sports events and leagues must be registered for the current season and sanctioned by NCS.

·         Rule 1.06B All teams must have a team liability insurance policy that meets the requirements of the NCS Region Director and have National Championship Sports listed as additionally insured.

·         Rule 1.06C The team’s manager is responsible for all aspects of the eligibility of the players on his team and that they meet the requirements as set forth by NCS.

Rule 2.00 Participation in NCS Super Qualifiers

• Division 1 teams 7u-14u winning an NCS Super Qualifier will receive a paid bid to a NCS Regional World Series. This is a paid berth to the event.

• Division 2 and Division 3 teams 7u-14u winning an NCS Super Qualifier will receive a paid bid to an NCS Regional World Series. This is a paid berth to the event.

• It is at the Regions Director’s discretion to award at-large-bids when weather or acts of God prevent the completion of an NCS Super Qualifier.

Rule 3.00 NCS Rankings and Seeding procedures

Rule 3.01 Calculations of rankings

• Division 3 – 50 points per win, 100 points per semifinal win, 150 points per championship win.

• Division 2 - 75 points per win, 150 points per semifinal win, 225 points per championship win. If brackets are split, the top bracket will receive D2 points, the second and successive bracket(s) will receive D3 points.

• Division 1 - 100 points per win, 200 points per semifinal win, 300 points per championship win. If brackets are split, the top bracket will receive D1 points, the second bracket will receive D2 points and the third and successive brackets will receive D3 points.

Rule 3.02 Points awarded at events will be increased by the stature of the event.

·         Qualifiers (X1 Points) – these are regular weekend events.

·         State or Zone tournaments (X2 Points)

·         NCS Super Qualifiers and NYBC Qualifiers (X3 Points)

·         NCS Regional World Series (X4 Points)

·         National Championship Series Elite 16 (X5 Points)

Rule 3.03 NCS Bracket Seeding Procedure

• Record

• Head to head with only 2 teams tied

• Runs allowed

• Runs scored

• NCS Points ranking

• Automated coin flip

Rule 4.00 Regions of National Championship Sports Baseball and Governance 

Rule 4.01 National Championship Sports is split into 3 geographical areas known as “REGIONS”. Regions are comprised of States within the United States of America as follows.

·         Eastern Region – Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

·         Central Region – Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas.

·         Western Region – Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Rule 4.02 National Championship Sports is governed by the Board of Directors.

The National Championship Sports Board of Directors  
Rick Melendrez Sr
Domingo Castaneda
Rick Melendrez Jr
Don Myers

Rule 4.03 Each State/Zone of National Championship Sports is governed by the State Director under the advice of the State’s Region Director. All Tournament directors are governed by the State or Zone Director. 

Rule 4.04 Appeals to any rulings or decisions can be escalated to the Region level. There are no appeals past the Region Director. The Region Director’s ruling is final.

Rule 5.00 Ejections

Ejection offenses include but are not limited to:

Rule 5.01 Physical attack on an umpire, tournament official, associate director, team staff, and/or any player or fan prior, during, or immediately following a game played under the authority of National Championship Sports.

Rule 5.02 Players, coaches, managers, or sponsors threatening an umpire, tournament official, associate director, or associate officer with physical harm.

Rule 5.03 Any player, coach, manager, sponsor, director or officer who engages in physical fighting.

Rule 5.04 Using unsportsmanlike conduct or abusive language, symbol tactics, or derogatory or unbecoming acts.

Rule 5.05 Destruction of property, abuse or failure to pay.

Rule 5.06 Receiving money directly or indirectly for playing on a team and/or based on athletic performance.

Rule 5.07 Competing under an assumed, false and/or altered name.

Rule 5.08 Use of any illegal equipment, substance, or falsification of any kind.

Rule 5.09 Tournament hosts have the authority to eject a player, fans or team anytime during a tournament of committing any of the above, but not limited to, listed offenses.

Rule 5.10 Player or coach ejection carries removal from that game and 1 additional game.

Rule 5.11 Coach or manager who is ejected for the second time in a specific tournament is suspended for the rest of the event and subject to further penalties.

Rule 5.12 Malicious contact, players must seek to avoid contact.

Rule 6.00 Playing Field and Equipment

Rule 6.01 The playing field should be laid out according to age specific dimensions. The field must have a protected player dugout. NCS will be played at the following distances:

• 5U - 8U 40x60

• 9U - 10U: 46x65

• 11U-12U: 50x70

• 13U: 60x90; Regions Directors can choose to play their events at 54x80

• 14U-18U: 60x90

Rule 6.02 Banned metal bats

·         MarucciCat5 MCB2 33/30 BBCOR

·         NikeBT0636 CX2light grey

·         DeMarini2017 CF Zen Balanced (-8)WTDXCBR 2129-1729''/21 oz

·         DeMarini2017 CF Zen Balanced (-8)WTDXCBR 2230-1730''/22 oz

·         DeMarini2017 CF Zen Balanced (-8)WTDXCBR 2331-1731''/23 oz

·         DeMarini2017 CF Zen Balanced (-8)WTDXCBR 2432-1732''/24 oz

·         DeMarini2017 CF Zen Zero Dark 2 3/4'' (-10)WTDXCBZ 1929-17F129''/19 oz)

·         DeMarini2017 CF Zen Zero Dark 2 3/4'' (-10)WTDXCBZ 2030-17F130''/20 oz)

·         DeMariniCustom 2017 CF Zen 2 3/4'' (-10)WTDCCBZ17V

·         DeMariniCustom 2017 CF Zen Balanced (-8)WTDCCBR17V

·         Dirty SouthKamo BB KA 8 (30/22, 31/21, 32/22, 31/23, 32/24 only)

·         EastonGhost X (30/20 only) – (USA BASEBALL MARKED) YBB18GX10 30/20)

·         LL18GHX 30/20 Japanese

LOUISVILLE SLUGGER META (-3) 2 ?” 33 IN./30 OZ.

·         6.02A Any bat that has been altered from its original factory specifications is an illegal bat. Any NCS listed staff member at any time can request to inspect any bat that has been brought onto the property that an NCS governed event is being held. The owner may either:

6.02A(1) Withhold the bat and accept an immediate 5-year ban from all NCS sanctioned events, or:

6.02A(2) Allow the Staff member to inspect the bat and reach a conclusion as to whether the bat might be altered.

(Penalty: If the bat is found to be altered, the owner will receive a lifetime ban from all NCS sanctioned events)

Rule 6.03 Bat limitations

All bats must be marked 1.15bpf, BBCOR or USA stamped

5U-12U no weight restriction

13U no bats lighter than (-8)

14U – 18U bats must meet NFHS rule requirements (BBCOR ONLY)

(Penalty: prior to the first pitch the bat will be removed from the game. Once a pitch has been thrown to the batter with the illegal bat, the batter is out. Once the next batter receives a pitch, the previous batter that used the illegal bat cannot be protested.)

6.03A Region Directors can allow 14U D2 and 14U D3 to use up to (-5) bats, 14u D1 and 14U Open events must use Bbcor (-3) bats.

Rule 6.04 Metal spiked cleats are allowed only in 13U – 18U

Rule 6.05 Catchers must use a full “hockey style” helmet.

Rule 7.00 Official Playing Rules of the National Championship Series National Tournament

Region and State Level events may have rule addendum's and local rules.
Please check with your event director to verify any additional rule sets that will be followed.

Rule 7.01 Time limits

5U - 8U 1:15hr or (6 innings)

9U - 12U 1;30hr or (6 innings) 

13U - 14U 1:45hr or (7 innings)

15U - 18U 2:00hr or (7 innings) 

Rule 7.02 The Pitcher

Pitching limitations

7U - 12U

·         (6) Six innings per day maximum

·         If a pitcher pitches more than (2) innings in a single day they will be required to rest 2 full days.

·         No pitcher can pitch 3 consecutive days.

13U - 14U

·         (7) Seven innings per day maximum

·         If a pitcher pitches more than (2) innings in a single day they will be required to rest 2 full days.

·         No pitcher can pitch 3 consecutive days.

15U - 18U PitchSmart guidelines will be followed.

·         7.02A Using an illegal pitcher will result in an immediate forfeit.

·         7.02B Each team is allowed one visit to the mound within an inning per pitcher. After the one visit is used, the next trip to the mound after that will result in the pitcher being removed.

·         7.02C An illegal pitcher is over age, exceeded his pitching limit for the event or not on the teams NCS roster by the event’s roster lock date.

·         7.02D Once a pitcher delivers a warmup pitch or a game pitch, they will be charged with a minimum of 1 inning (or fraction of an inning depending on how the individual event is structured).

·         7.02E If utilizing fractions of innings in an event, a pitcher will record a minimum of 1/3 of an inning after (1) one pitch is thrown. If an out is made the pitcher will only be charged with the fractions(s) of innings that occurred.

 (Any modifications to the pitching restrictions must be listed on the each event page prior to the event starting)

Rule 7.03 The Batter

Batting line up

YOU HAVE 4 CHOICES FOR YOUR LINEUP: 
1. Bat 9 
2. Bat 9 with a DH
3. Use EH(s) declaring at least 1 substitute 
4. Bat the entire roster 

·         7.03A When using options 1-3, all eligible subs must be listed on the lineup card. Your official lineup must be presented to the opposing coach and the plate umpire prior to the start of each game. When using option #4 and a player is injured or unable to play, the team must take an out for that spot in the lineup. A player that has not batted or played in the field, and is injured, would simply be skipped and taken out of the lineup. You cannot use both a DH and an EH.

·         7.03B Teams may play an official game with an eight (8) player line-up. If a team plays with an eight (8) player line-up, an out shall be declared for the ninth (9th) position in the batting line-up each turn at bat. A ninth (9th) player and all subsequent players may be added to the bottom of the batting line-up as soon as they become available.

Rule 7.04 Courtesy runner(s)

For the pitcher and catcher of record only once they reach first base. A courtesy runner can be used for the pitcher and catcher at any time. The courtesy runner must be a legal substitute currently not in the game, including starters that have been substituted for but are legally eligible for re-entry.

·         7.04A If you are batting your entire roster, your courtesy runner is the last batter not currently on base.

Rule 7.05 Mercy Rule

The game will be stopped after any completed inning once a team has a lead of 20 runs. 15 runs after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4 innings and 8 runs after 5 innings.

Rule 7.06 Tie breaker in tied games

If a NON-POOL PLAY GAME ends in a tie, we will utilize the following tie breaker. 
The last batter from the previous inning will go to 1st base. 
The next to last batter from the previous inning will go to 2nd base, then the next will go to 3rd base 
The offensive team will start the inning with (1) out. 

Rule 8.00 Rules not specifically covered

Rule 8.01 The Region, State or Zone director ruling is final.

Rule 8.02 Items not specifically listed will revert to NFHS Rules 

9.00 Coach Pitch

9.01 . A 10-foot circle shall be drawn around the pitcher’s mound. The circle shall have a 5-foot radius from the center of the pitcher’s rubber.  *If no circle, its based on umpires judgment.

9.02  The pitcher’s rubber shall be in the center of the circle.

9.03  The adult coach pitcher, from the team at bat, must be stationed with one foot on the pitcher’s rubber when he delivers the ball

9.04  The adult coach pitcher shall pitch overhand to his own team. 

9.05  A batter shall bat until they have received a maximum of 6 pitches, or 3 swinging strikes, or hits the ball. If the batter fouls off the 6th (or last) pitch, or fouls the 3rd strike, the batter shall remain at bat. The batter is not out by fouling off his final pitch. A 3rd strike foul tip caught by the catcher, or any foul pop-up caught by a defensive player, will remain an out.

9.06  A player may only be intentionally walked one (1) time per game.  Only the opposing manager may request that a player is intentionally walked.

9.07  The adult coach pitcher is to make certain that they get out of the way of any batted ball and does not interfere with the players' access to the ball. If, in the umpire’s judgment, the adult coach pitcher interferes with a fielder’s access to a batted ball, the batter is automatically out and the runners may not advance.  If a batted ball, in the judgment of the umpire, accidentally hits the adult coach pitcher, it shall be ruled a foul ball. All runners return to base.

9.08  The adult pitcher may not talk to, or coach, any runners or batter while he is on the field. He is only permitted to pitch. 

   PENALTY: The Coach Pitcher will be replaced at the discretion.

9.09  Ten (10) defensive players can play in the field. 4 of these players must play in the outfield and may not cross over into the infield until the ball is hit.

9.10  Defensive coaches are not permitted on the field of play.

9.11  The infield fly rule does not apply.

9.12  An inning is considered over once a team scores seven (7) runs or three (3) outs are achieved. This includes the last inning.

9.13  Lead offs and stolen bases are not permitted.

9.14  Base-runners may not leave the base until the ball is hit or the ball has crossed the plate. 

 PENALTY: The runner is called out.

9.15 Base stealing is NOT permitted unless a defensive player (including pitcher) makes a play to the base occupied by a player. Any defensive throw to any base permits all runners to advance at their own risk.

9.16 A runner on third base may not advance to home on a passed ball or wild pitch.

9.17 The batter is out on the third strike, regardless of whether the catcher holds onto the ball or not.

9.19 No Bunting

9.20 A COURTESY RUNNER is allowed for the catcher of record only, from the previous inning.

9.21 Umpires shall call “time” after every play has concluded and declare the ball “dead.”  Time should be called when all runners are no longer attempting to advance.

9.22 Run (mercy) rules remain in effect.