GENERAL TOURNAMENT RULES

Pool Play

1. Time - Pool play games are 1 hour 45 minute time limits OR 6 innings. NO NEW INNING starts after time is reached or 6 innings have been played. (See Time Limit Section for playoff time limits)

2. Tie - Games can end in a tie during pool play, consolations.

3. Weather - If a game is halted for weather AND the field/complex is lost for the remainder of the day OR there is a significant delay, then a game may be considered Official after 4 innings of play (3 ½ if the home team is winning). After 4 complete innings, a tie score will be recorded as a tie in pool play. A suspended game will resume where the game was stopped.

4. In the event a game is called due to weather, the following will occur IF

  • The game is called in the bottom ½ of an inning with the home team winning or tied, any runs scored during the bottom half will count towards the final score, if the game cannot continue.
  • The game is called in the top ½ of an inning, then the score will revert back to the last full completed inning.
  • The home team is winning at the END of the top 1/2 and the game is called in the middle of the bottom half, then the game will end where it is called and runs will count.

5. Lineups - Teams may hit as many players as they wish. You may utilize 1 “DH” that is “married” to whoever they are hitting for. You may use “EH” for any other players that you wish to bat. Prospect Wire does not recommend hitting every player, however. If a player in the lineup were to get hurt, then that spot in the order would take an out each time it came up, regardless of situation. We always recommend leaving bench players in case of those situations.

6. RUN RULES

  • 15 Runs after 3 innings
  • 10 Runs after 4 innings
  • 8 Runs After 5 Innings

7. Courtesy Runners  - are allowed at any time for the catcher and/or pitcher (if he is hitting). The runner must be a player that has not previously entered the game. If no one is available, then it is the last batted out. ***NOTE – you may NOT pinch run for the last batted out, if all bench players are exhausted. In that situation, it must be the last batted out.

8. Home Team - The home team will be predetermined by PW staff when the schedule is released. Home team during pool play is the team listed second on the schedule. During playoffs, higher seed is the home team throughout.

9. Line up cards - Coaches MUST have their lineup cards filled out no less than 15 mins before their game & ready for the Scorekeepers when they come for them. Please make sure to include first & last name (or at least a first initial) and their jersey # & positions.

10. Line up changes - During games, Coaches are required to report any Pitching & Offensive changes to the scorekeeper & umpire. Prospect Wire does not necessarily need to know defensive changes in the field, but failure to report a pitching change or offensive change in the lineup may result in information going on the wrong player’s profile or stats being incorrect.

11. Official game time - UMPIRES will keep the official game time, not Prospect Wire scorekeepers or employees. In the event an umpire does not keep the official time, then the time on the Prospect Wire scorekeeper’s scoring app will become the official time.

12. Scoring - We recommend that all teams keep a scorebook. The official score of each game will be kept by the field attendant. To eliminate scoring disputes, scorekeepers should check with the official scorer throughout and after the game.

13. Protests - If a coach wishes to protest a situation, there is a $100 fee. The protest must be made prior to the next pitch, play, or attempted play in the game. If a team would like to protest a game ending play, the team has until the umpires leave the field to protest the call. Prospect Wire Tournament Administration will rule on protests immediately, if at all possible. If the protest is upheld, the $100 will be returned.

14. Ejections - If a player or coach is ejected for any reason within the normal scope of a baseball game (i.e. – snap reaction, throws a helmet or bat, gets tossed) that player may return for the next game, if there is one. Same with a coach. If the ejection is deemed “offensive” or “over the top” then the player will miss that game and the next game played in the tournament. These situations will be discussed between the umpire & tournament director, with possible discussion with both coaches. If a player or coach is ejected a 2nd time during an event, then they are ineligible to return for the remainder of the tournament, regardless of the severity of the ejection.

15. Parents - Coaches are responsible for their team’s parents. If a parent is out of hand and disruptive to the game, the umpire has the right to eject the head coach, and assistants if order cannot be kept. If the fans/players cannot be kept under control, an umpire may make the decision to forfeit the game in favor of the other team.

16. 3rd to 1st move - The 3rd to 1st pickoff move is ILLEGAL at 10U - 12U Prospect Wire tournaments.

17. Catchers - may wear either the 2 piece facemask OR the hockey style facemask.

18. Mound Visits - Members of the coaching staff (Including the manager) can make one (1) mound visit per inning without needing to remove the pitcher from the game. If the same pitcher is visited twice in an inning, the pitcher must be removed from the game.

19. Balks - are an immediate DEAD BALL, regardless of the outcome of a thrown pitch or play.

20. Not covered - Any rule that is not covered by a Prospect Wire written rule, will yield to High School Federation Rules for the state in which the event takes place in. In this event, the home plate &/or base umpires will make the official ruling.

PW RUN RULES

  • 15 Runs after 3 innings
  • 10 Runs after 4 innings
  • 8 Runs After 5 Innings

TIE BREAKERS (IN ORDER)

1. Head to Head

  • If 3 or more teams tie with same record, head to head is NOT used, unless the following scenario occurs:
  • SCENARIO: There are 3 teams with identical pool play records and one of those teams beat the other 2 head to head. In this scenario, head to head is still used.

2. Runs Allowed 

  • In the event a format requires a team to play an extra pool game, AVG Runs Allowed may be used

3. Runs Scored 

  • In the event a format requires a team to play an extra pool game, AVG Runs Scored may be used

4. Runs Allowed

  • Subtracting the game with the highest runs allowed

5. Runs Scored

  • Subtracting the game with the lowest runs scored

6. Best out of 3 Coin Flip

PLAYOFF SEEDING

PW MAY utilize bracket/organization protection in the 1st Round of a tournament playoff. If any organization has 3 or more teams make a playoff in a division, then no protection will be considered.

*This should not automatically be assumed. We only reserve the right.*



FORFEIT GAMES & SCORING

In the result of a forfeited game, the following will take place regarding standings & score:

a. If a forfeit occurs prior to the start of the game, the final score will be 1-0 in favor of the team that was ready to play. The result will stand, but the run will not count. (Tie breakers switch to AVG Runs Allowed/Scored in this situation)

b. If a forfeit occurs once a game has been started (due to injury or team leaving) – then final score will be whatever game result was. If the losing team received the forfeit, then the win/loss result will be switched but the score remains the same for tie breakers.

c. If a game is protested and the result changes the outcome of the game, the final score will revert back to the point of the protested moment, assuming the game cannot be continued.

***SPECIAL NOTE - Any intentional forfeit by a team during pool play will result in the forfeiting team being eliminated from any playoff contention.***

TIME LIMITS

Official time is kept by the umpire

Pool Play: 1 Hour, 45 mins

  • No new inning can start after the time limit (unless otherwise noted due to weather related issues).
  • Games can end in a tie. If a game is tied after 6 innings, regardless of time left on the clock, the game is considered a tie.
  • The home team is predetermined for pool games.

Round of 16, Quarterfinals, and/or Semi-Finals: 2 hours

  • No new inning can start after the time limit.
  • Must have a winner. If a game is tied after 6 or after time is reached, the next full inning begins in the tie breaker.

Championship: 2 hours, 20 mins (Unless otherwise noted)

  • No new inning can start after the time limit.
  • Must have a winner. If a game is tied after 6 or after time is reached, the next full inning begins in the tie breaker.
  • The home team will be the higher seed. If there is no seeding, then the home team will be determined by a coin flip.

TIE BREAKER SITUATION 

  • Last BATTED out at 2nd Base.
  • The hitting team will start the inning with 0 outs.
  • You may NOT pinch run for the player at 2nd Base until they have advanced to 3rd base.
  • Continue until one team is ahead at the end of an inning.

APPROVED AGES FOR EACH DIVISION

Fall 2025

TThe age criteria cut off date is August 1, 2025. In other words, how old is the player on 8/1/2025

  • 10U = must not turn 11 before 7/31/2025
  • 11U = must not turn 12 before 7/31/2025
  • 12U = must not turn 13 before 7/31/2025
  • 10U/11U combined = will follow the 11U rules
  • 11U/12U combined = will follow the 12U rules

ROSTERS

Starting in 2023, it will be MANDATORY for coaches to submit their roster AND players to secure their roster spot. Players with accounts can secure their spot by signing in where instructed. Players who are new, must claim their account and fill out the appropriate information. There is no exception. Teams who repeatedly refuse to submit a roster and have their players secure their spots will risk being suspended from the playoffs of events.


Coaches/Admins must submit their rosters, either themselves through their Dashboard or by submitting the information to PW Administration when requested.

Prospect Wire DOES NOT allow teams to add any players to a roster once POOL PLAY is complete for that team. The only exception is if injuries would prevent the team from being able to field a lineup of at least 9 players. In this scenario, PW may allow the addition of an extra player.


***RULE REGARDING DOUBLE ROSTERING PLAYERS***


As long as a player meets the age requirements, they may be rostered on more than one team, as long as they are not in the same Age Division. For example, if a player is 16 years old, he can be rostered on a 17 or 18U team, and still be ok to play for a 16U team. They could not play for two different 16U teams. The teams just cannot be within the same division.



In order for a player that is double rostered to participate in the playoffs for both teams, the player must have appeared in at least 2 pool play games for both teams.

For the safety of the player, Prospect Wire will not allow a team to roster anyone in 3 divisions.

PITCH COUNTS

Daily Limits:

  • 10U: Daily max is 18 outs OR 75 pitches.
  • 11U - 12U: Daily max is 18 outs OR 85 pitches.

*If a pitcher reaches the limit while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch to the batter until the current batters at bat is finished then must be removed from pitching in the game.

Event Limits:

  • 10U - 12U: Over the period of 3 days, each player is allowed 18 outs.
  • A player who records more than 9 outs in a day is required to rest for 2 days.
  • Each player is allowed a 100 pitch maximum over 2-day, 3-day, and/or 4-day events.
  • Each player is allowed a 240 pitch maximum over 5-day or more events.
  • Players are allowed to pitch in more than one game in a day as long as they do not exceed daily limits.

PROSPECT WIRE REFUND POLICY

• If a team drops out of an event and requests a refund prior to registration closing, then the team is entitled to a full refund or credit to a future event.

• If a team drops out of an event after the registration deadline closes but before a schedule is released, they are entitled to 75% of their entry fee back or credit for a future event.

• If a team drops out of an event after registration closes and after a schedule has been released, they are not entitled to a refund or credit to a future event.

***Please note, in any situation where a team pays using a credit or debit card, the processing fee charged to PW is NON-REFUNDABLE & will be subtracted from the amount refunded. If a team drops out after registration closes, Prospect Wire may also withhold fees for Team Insurance & Awards that were already paid for. Thank you for your understanding.***


REFUND POLICY IF WEATHER AFFECTS PLAY DURING AN EVENT:

1.) If a team is unable to play any games once an event officially begins due to weather, then they will be eligible for a full credit to a future event (minus Team Insurance Fees & Credit Card Fees).

2.) If a team plays at least 1 game during an event that is washed out due to weather, then they are eligible for a credit to a future tournament. The amount of the credit will be determined on a case by case basis, depending on how many games were played.

3.) If a team plays at least 2 games during an event that is washed out due to weather, then they are not eligible for a refund or credit to a future event.


***Gate Fees are Non Refundable. PW Tournaments will do everything we can to play all scheduled games.***

SPECTATOR SAFETY

Prospect Wire welcomes spectators of all ages to our events. With that in mind, please keep the following safety tips in mind:

• Spectators should always be self aware of their surroundings. Many facilities have fields that back up to each other, so foul balls are consistently flying around from other fields. Please try to take necessary precautions to protect yourself in the event a foul ball comes in your direction. PW Staff will always try to help warn spectators when we see the ball AND have time to give a verbal warning.

• Please be aware of any players who are warming up & swinging bats or throwing baseballs. Sometimes, players may overthrow a teammate and the ball travels out of play. Please be aware when walking around areas that have players either warming up or playing in the game.

• If you have young children, please make sure you are aware of their locations and their surroundings. It is a parent or guardian's responsibility to protect their children from any potential hazards that may be present.

• Please observe any posted signage or warnings provided by the facilities that Prospect Wire rents for our events.

• Prospect Wire is not responsible for any injuries caused to spectators from batted balls leaving the field of play, as well as thrown baseballs leaving the field of play. It is the responsibility of all spectators to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves in the event a ball leaves the field of play.

COACHES PASSES

All teams will be allotted 3 coaches passes per event. Coaches will be required to sign-in at the gate and will be issued a wristband that must be worn for the duration of the event.