The official playing rules for MVP Tournaments will be the same as USSSA playing rules.
MVP Playing Rules can be found by clicking the link below.
https://www.usssa.com/docs/baseball/usssa_bb_rules.pdf
RULE EXCEPTIONS ARE LISTED BELOW!
1. POOL PLAY: All Pool Play Games will be played on a Time Limit and can end in a tie. Time limits by age division will be communicated via email prior to tournament start.
2. INNINGS: 8U - 5 innings
(9U-12U) - 6 Innings / (13U-18U) - 7 Innings
8U ONLY will play by SWOL Rules with the additional exception.
(Maximum of 8 runs allowed per team per inning)
9U Rule Exception - Leadoffs & Stealing are Allowed!
3. UMPIRES: Umpires are paid at the plate by each team at the following rate.
a. 8U - $30 Per team per game
b. 9U-10U - $35 Per team per game
c. 11U-12U - $40 Per team per game
d. 13U - $40 Per team per game during Pool Play. $80 Per team per game during Bracket Play
e. 14U & Above - $80 Per team per game
Non-Pay at the Plate Events are paid by MVP.
4. Baseballs: Teams provide (1) new baseball per game / Teams to fetch foul balls and home run balls or provide a back-up ball in place of the missing ball.
5. BAT RULES: Approved Bat Standards
a. (9U-12U) - (ALL Drops are Allowed)
b. (13U) - (-8, -5, & -3)
c. (14U) - (-5 & -3 ONLY)
d. (15 & 16U) - (-3 BBCOR ONLY)
6. RUN RULES: 12-10-8 at Innings 3-4-5
7. PITCHING RULES: Pitching Rules: We follow the USA Baseball Pitch Smart Program. This is just a guideline to be used by Coaches. We DO NOT track Pitch Count, Innings, or Outs in MVP tournaments
8. TIE BREAKERS:
a. Record
b. Head to Head (2 Teams Only)
c. Run Differential (MAX of 8 per game)
d. Runs Allowed
e. Runs Scored
f. Coin Flip
Tie Breaker Rule Explanations Link
9. AGE EXEMPTION RULE: Beginning January 1st, 2026, April 1st is the Birthday cutoff date! We do NOT follow the Grade Exemption Rule!!!
10. ROSTERS: Rosters must be completed online via your Team Account by Monday at 12:00pm prior to team being scheduled for the tournament. There is NO LIMIT to the number of rostered players as long as they are not on another team's roster for the same tournament at the same age level. Additionally, Rosters CAN be protested in any MVP Tournaments.
11. METAL SPIKES: (Lou Berliner & Mid-America Ballyard) - Metal Spikes at Lou Berliner & Mid-America Ballyard are NOT Permitted to be used. Players will need to wear Molded Cleats, Turf Shoes, or Gym Shoes on the field of play.
Team Rosters: All Coaches are responsible for completing/entering your team's roster on your Team Account by 6:00pm on Tuesday prior to tournament start. If not completed by the deadline, team will be removed from the tournament. No team will be added to the schedule without a completed Roster being entered on your Team Account.
Tournament Season: All March Tournament Events are considered Pre-Season Events.
Official Tournament Season runs from April 1st - July 1st. All teams should play current year age division during Official Tournament Season.
Fall Tournament Season runs from August 1st - November 1st. All teams should play their following year age division during Fall Season
Game Time: All MVP Tournaments are 3 to 5 game formats with games beginning on either Thursday, Friday, or Saturday and running through Sunday. All teams are expected to be ready to play on Thursday if necessary. All Games , with the Exception of the Championship Game which will not have a time limit, will be on a minimum of 1 Hour and 45 Minute Time Limit Weather Permitting.
Free Entries: Any team that withdraws and or fails to respond to email correspondence by the deadline confirming teams participation in a tournament after obtaining a Free Entry will be removed from all current and future Tournaments where a Free Entry was obtained. **This allows us to keep the integrity of our program so that teams are not able to obtain a free entry by registering for every tournament to only withdraw at a later date.** (We want EVERY TEAM to have an opportunity to play for Free!!!)
Cancelation Refund Policy: Refunds will be issued as follows: Tournament or League Cancelation for ANY REASON and or No games started 100% of entry fee will be credited to a future MVP Tournament Entry Fee, League Entry Fee, or Umpire Fee. One game started 50% of the entry fee will be credited to a future MVP Tournament Entry Fee, League Entry Fee, or Umpire Fee. 2 games started No refunds will be issued.
(FUTURE EVENT NOTE: If an Entry Fee Payment Deadline has passed, Credits are NOT eligible to be used for that event.
Withdrawal Refund Policy: In all cases, a team must provide written notice to the tournament director about their intent to withdraw from the tournament. If this notice is received at least 90 days prior to the tournament, there will be a total refund credit of the entry fee & pre-paid gate fee for all MVP Tournaments to be applied to any future MVP Event. NO refunds of Entry Fee or Pre-Paid Gate Fee will be issued if withdrawal is received less than ninety (90) days of the tournament start date.
**MVP Tournaments does not offer Cash, Check, or Credit Card Refunds. All Refunds are non transferable and in the form of a Credit to be used towards a future MVP Tournament Event**
Withdrawal Post Schedule Release: Any team that Fails to Show/Forfeit or Withdraws from a Tournament after the schedule has been released will be removed from the remainder of that tournament and for all future tournaments moving forward. If your team is registered for any future events with MVP that have an entry fee or pre-paid gate fee paid your team will be withdrawn from those events and no refund will be issued. This requirement protects not just us as the tournament host but also the teams that now have to go through a schedule change that could effect not only opponent but game times and potential location change due to a team dropping out.
Promotional Offers: Promotional Offers are Non-Transferable and ONLY Valid on the Selected Tournaments regardless of Cancellation for any reason. This includes but is not limited too, Entry Fees, Umpires Fees, and Hotel Cost that may have been incurred.
Awards (ALL TOURNAMENTS): In ALL cases when a tournament has Friday/Saturday Pool Play Rained Out, Sunday will be played as a Randomly Seeded Single Elimination Bracket with Awards provided to the Winner of each Bracket Final.
In the Event that Bracket Play is cancelled at any time without 2 Teams being determined in a Championship Game , Points ONLY will be awarded to ALL teams for games played. No Awards (Trophies, Medals, Rings, ECT.) will be given! If a Championship with 2 Teams has been determined, then the Higher Seed of the 2 Teams playing in the Championship will be awarded the 1st place awards with the other team being awarded the 2nd place awards. In the event that both teams have the same seed, Tie Breaker Rules will decide 1st & 2nd Place.
(Paid Berths to Future Events ONLY): A minimum of 8 teams Per Division is required in order to issue Paid Berths. In ALL Cases, Paid Berths ONLY include entry fee NOT Umpires Cost. Teams will still be required to cover any umpires cost for games played.
Tournament Tie Breakers: ALL MVP Tournaments will follow the below listed Tie Breaker Guidelines.
Outside Food and Beverage: No outside food and/or beverage is permitted within the ballpark unless the field has no concessions. Please verify with the tournament director and/or the facility contact PRIOR to game play.
NO ALCOHOL PERMITTED in the parking lots or fields at any time!
Camper and RV Parking: Due to municipal rules, overnight camper or RV parking is not allowable at any of the designated fields.
Baseballs: Teams are required to provide (1) NEW Game Ball per game.
Umpires: MVP Schedules ALL Umpires for each tournament game.
Pay at the Plate Tournaments - Teams will be required to pay umpires at the plate at a per game cost of (8U) $30 / (9U-10U) $35 / (11U-12U) $40 / (13U Pool Play) $40 & (13U Bracket Play) $80 / (14U & Above) $80 per game for 2 Umpires.
Tournament Re-Formatting: The Tournament Director reserves the right to reformat the tournament at their discretion due to any last minute changes in teams, Weather, or any other unplanned event. All changes will be posted and communicated accordingly as soon as possible via on site or in person at the event, on the web site, or via email or via our Facebook Page.
Tournament Venues: MVP Tournaments uses multiple parks/venues for our tournaments. Each tournament posted lists the parks/venues that will be used as a primary or backup at any given tournament. MVP Tournaments reserves the right to Add, Remove, or Change a venue/park for any reason to fulfill the need of the tournament.
Gate Fees: Gate Fees are negotiated and determined by the Parks as MVP does not own or operate any of the Parks we use to Host our Tournaments. All Parks Operate independently and dictate their own costs.
Below is a list of the Parks we use and their current Spectator Fees.
Prospect Fields - $10 for all Spectators over 15years of age. (3 Coaches & Players are always FREE)
Batesville Sports Complex - Non-Refundable $300 Team Spectator Fee for 2 Day Events. Non-Refundable $350 Team Spectator Fee for all 3 Day + Events. This fee is required to be paid prior to your first scheduled game by checking in with the On-Site Staff at the Tournament Tent.
Joyce Park - $10 for all Spectators over 15years of age. (3 Coaches & Players are always FREE)
OC Sports Complex - $10 for all Spectators over 15years of age. (3 Coaches & Players are always FREE)
Bernadette Park - $10 for all Spectators over 15years of age. (3 Coaches & Players are always FREE)
Lou Berliner Park - Non-Refundable $250 Pre-Paid Spectator Fee per Team. This fee is required to be paid prior to your first scheduled game by checking in with the On-Site Staff at the Tournament Tent.
Fields of Morain - $10 for all Spectators over 15years of age. (3 Coaches & Players are always FREE)
Vandalia Sports Complex - Non-Refundable $300 Team Spectator Fee for 2 Day Events. This fee is required to be paid prior to your first scheduled game by checking in with the On-Site Staff at the Tournament Tent.
Lou Berliner Parking Fee: Lou Berliner Park is the ONLY Venue we use that charges a $5 per vehicle parking fee each day.
Tournament Play: Teams must arrive at the ballpark at least 45 minutes prior to game time. A pre-game infield warm-up is generally not permitted. Please verify with the park staff prior to game play.
Tobacco, Gum, or Sunflower Seeds are NOT Permitted into any Park.
MVP tournaments has a "zero tolerance" for any physical confrontations by players, coaches, or fans. Upon the first violation, the violating party shall be removed from the facility and the tournament.
Stay to Play/Approved Hotel Stay: All traveling teams that attend MVP Tournaments traveling more than 75 Miles must stay in a tournament designated approved host hotel and meet the Minimum of 8 Room Nights Booked. If team does not stay in a tournament approved hotel or does not meet the Minimum Requirements, team will not be eligible to participate in the tournament and will not receive a refund for any registration or entry fees paid unless team pays the $500 Opt Out Fee which is Non Refundable.
(MVP Tournaments is not responsible for any hotel accommodations or costs incurred in the event that a tournament is cancelled for any reason! We DO NOT RECOMMEND BOOKING ANY HOTEL, CABIN, OR ANY OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS that do not have a favorable cancellation policy that benefits you as the customer. Team's are responsible for any cost incurred as it pertains to Overnight Stay Accommodations)
**In the Event that a Tournament is Cancelled for ANY reason, the Stay to Play Opt-Out Fee of $500 is Non-refundable due to not following our Stay to Play Tournament Policy and choosing to book rooms outside of MVP Tournaments Stay To Play Policy.**
(MVP Tournaments Does NOT OFFER CASH, CHECK, or CREDIT CARD REFUNDS FOR ANY REASON!!! ALL REFUNDS ARE IN THE FORM OF A FUTURE CREDIT ONLY!!! There is NO EXCEPTION to this policy)
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