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. No Food, Drinks, Sunflower Seeds, Bubble Gun, or Tobacco of any kind will be permitted into the Park. A full concession will be open for your convenience.
2. NO Pets allowed in the Park.
3. 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.
4. 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)
a. Base Runners may only advance on a Batted Ball, Bases Loaded Walk/Hit Batsman, or a play made on a baserunner legally in base.
b. Players may NOT Advance on a Drop Pitch including a 3rd Strike.
c. A 2 step Leadoff and Secondary Lead is Permitted within the range of Normal. (Abuse after a Umpire Warning will result in the Baserunner being called out.
9U Rule Exception - Leadoffs & Stealing are Allowed! It's Regular Baseball at this Age!
5. Time Limits for each Tournament can be found by Clicking the Yellow "Time Limit Button" within the Tournament Details of each Event:
6. 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
7. 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.
8. 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)
9. RUN RULES: 12-10-8 at Innings 3-4-5
10. 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
11. TIE BREAKERS:
a. Record
b. Head to Head
c. Run Differential (MAX of 8 per game)
d. Runs Allowed
e. Runs Scored
f. Coin Flip
Tie Breaker Rule Explanations Link
12. Gate Fee: (3) Coaches, Players, and Children 15 and under are FREE.
Joyce Park, Prospect Fields, Mid-America Ballyard, OC Sports Park - Anyone 16 and Over will pay the Park Spectator Fee of $10 (CASH ONLY) per day.
Batesville Sports Park - A $300 Team Spectator Fee (CASH ONLY) is due prior to your first scheduled tournament game.
(Additional Details will be sent out regarding the handling/collection process for teams playing at one of these parks)
13. AGE EXEMPTION RULE: Beginning January 1st, 2026, April 1st is the Birthday cutoff date! We do NOT follow or Accept the Grade Exemption Rule!!!
14. ROSTERS: Rosters must be completed online via your Team Account by Tuesday 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.
15. METAL SPIKES:
(Mid-America Ballyard) - Metal Spikes at 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.
Bernadette Park & OC Sports Park - Metal Spikes are NOT Permitted on the Turf Mounds! Players will need to wear Molded Cleats, Turf Shoes, or Gym Shoes on the Turf Mounds!
16. No Show/Forfeit: Any team that No Shows/Forfeits any game will be removed from the remainder of the tournament along with any future registered events and will NOT receive a Refund for any Event that they are removed from.
Normal Disclaimer... In the event of any unforeseen circumstances, including but not limited to Weather, Team Forfeit, Team Withdrawal, etc. The tournament director reserves the right to modify the tournament format or change venue in order to proceed with the tournament.
Team Rosters: All Coaches are responsible for completing/entering your team's roster on your Team Account by 12:00pm 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, season pass, 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, 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 but then is cancelled for any reason, 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.
EXCEPTION: In the Event that the Bracket had to be randomly seeded due to Weather, or any other Situation out of our control, the Championship Game MUST complete a Minimum of 4 Innings in order to Receive Awards.
(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 any of the park unless the park does not offer 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.
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)
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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