Replaces the previous tournament mandatory play rule with a continuous batting order requirement for all divisions of tournament play except for the Senior Division.
9. MANDATORY PLAY – CONTINUOUS BATTING ORDER: 8- to 10-Year-Old, 9- to 11-Year-Old, Little League, Intermediate (50-70) Division, and Junior League: All Tournament Teams must adopt a policy of a continuous batting order that will include all players on the team affidavit present at the start of the game, to appear in the batting order. Each player is required to bat in his/her respective spot in the batting order.
a. Baseball: A player may be entered and/or re-entered defensively in the game at any time. Tournament Rule 4 (c) provisions apply: 8-to10-Year Old Division, 9-to11-Year Old Division, Little League: Pitchers once removed from the mound, may not return as pitchers. Intermediate (50/70) and Junior Division: A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game, but only once per game. Softball: A player may be entered and/or re-entered defensively in the game at any time. Tournament Rule 4 provisions apply: 8-to10-Year Old Division, 9-to11-Year Old Division, Little League [Tournament Rule 4 (d)]: A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game, but only once in the same inning as he/she was removed. Junior League, Senior League [Tournament Rule 4 (c)]: A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game, but only once in the same inning as he/she was removed. A pitcher may be withdrawn from the game, offensively or defensively, and return as pitcher once per inning provided the return does not violate the substitution, visits per pitcher, or mandatory play rule(s). Penalty: See Rule 10(f) .
b. If a player is injured, becomes ill, or must leave the game site after the start of the game, the team will skip over him/her when his/her time at bat comes up without penalty. If the injured, ill, or absent player returns, he/she is merely inserted into their original spot in the batting order and the game continues. Also, if a player arrives later to a game site, if the manager chooses to enter him/her in the lineup (see Rule 4.01 NOTE 2), he/she would be added to the end of the current lineup.
c. An improper batter will be considered as batting out of turn (see Rule 6.07).
d. If a player is unable to complete a plate appearance due to injury, illness or ejection, the next batter in the lineup shall take his/her place at the plate and assume the count of the original batter.
e. If a batter becomes a runner by reaching base safely and is unable to run the bases due to injury, illness, or ejection, he/she shall be replaced by the player who recorded the last out or with a Courtesy Runner if applicable (see Tournament Rule 3 (d) Courtesy Runner).
f. There is no exception to this rule. This rule does not apply to Senior Divisions of play.
NOTE: The rule replaces Regulation IV (i) and Rule 3.03
g. Managers are solely responsible for ensuring that all players fulfill the requirements of playing participation.
h. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to impose penalties (including, but not limited to removal of the manager, forfeiture of a game, and/or disqualification of the team or coaches from further tournament participation) may be imposed if, in the opinion of the Tournament Committee:
1. if a manager or coach takes any action that results in making a travesty of the game, causing players to intentionally perform poorly for the purpose of extending or shortening a game, or;
2. a team fails to meet the requirements of this rule more than once during the International Tournament, which begins with District play and ends at the World Series level (State level for 8-to-10- and 9-to-11-Year-Old Divisions), or;
3. a manager willfully and knowingly disregards this rule.