Grove City Classic Rules

ALL age groups will play NFHS Rules unless otherwise stated in these rules.  

Insurance and Rosters: Proof of insurance and Team Rosters must be entered into Five Tool Youth (8U-14U). 

Age Groups: Age groups are based on the player’s age as of April 30^th. 

Tournament Refunds: 

Prior to Tournament: Any team that withdraws from the Grove City Summer Classic Tournament must do so in writing 45 days prior to the event to obtain a full refund less $150.00 administration fee. If less than 45 days of notice is given, no refund will be issued.

                Rain Out Refund Policy:

                Zero (0) Games Played:                     Full refund minus $150.00 Administration Fee

                One (1) Game Played:                                        50% refund.

                Two (2) Games Played:                                      No Refund

Rain Policy: In the event of rain, every attempt will be made to prepare the field for play. If the scheduled game cannot start within 30 minutes of the start time, the game will be cancelled. We will attempt to make these games up if possible and fields are available. If the game is rescheduled, you must continue the game from the point in which it was stopped. We will utilize the home scorebook to determine the status of the game. Both teams should compare books prior to leaving the field.

PLEASE NOTE: The operators of this tournament DO NOT own the facilities being used. All fields are rented and the decision as to whether a field is playable IS NOT our decision. We cannot play on fields if the owners of the facility deem them unplayable. If rain shall occur, we must wait for their approval before beginning play. New starting in 2023, if a division cannot play their bracket games due to rainouts. The Grove City Classic will make every attempt to provide a partial refund. At minimum, refund unused umpire fees. 

If a game is in progress and is stopped for rain and at the umpire’s discretion, the game will be resumed if time remains. In such cases, you may resume play, but no new inning can start beyond 1 hour and 40 minutes of the original “scheduled” start time, unless stated otherwise by the tournament director. A game is considered complete if 4 ½ innings (3 ½ for 12U and below) have been completed and the home team is ahead or 5 full innings (4 innings for 12U and below) if the visitor is ahead. If a game is called midway through an inning, the score will be reverted to the last full inning completed or last half inning if the home team was ahead. 

If a pool game cannot be completed or rescheduled. Their record based on their play will be based on one less game. For example: If a team has a game rained out and the team ends up 1-1 in pool play and another team completes 3 games and is 2-1. The team with the 2-1 record will have the best winning percentage and therefore will be the higher seed regardless of head-to-head play. 

Bracket games will resume as soon as possible. If the game cannot be resumed, the game will be cancelled and the two highest seeded teams remaining in the bracket will be retained to play the final game once fields are prepared. If games cannot continue for the duration of the day, the highest two seeds remaining at the time of stoppage will be awarded the first and second place awards.

Number of games 8-12U: All teams will play 2 pool games (Exception: See Rain Policy) and will be bracketed by seed. Top 8 teams are bracketed in the Gold Bracket and teams 9-16 in the silver bracket. All remaining teams will be given a consolation game. If an age group has 11 or fewer teams, there will only be a gold bracket consisting of all teams. The Silver Bracket may be expanded if an odd number of teams are left for consolation games.  

Number of games 13U: All teams will play 3 pool games (Exception: See Rain Policy) and will be bracketed by seed. Top 8 teams are bracketed in the Gold Bracket and teams 9-16 in the silver bracket. All remaining teams will be given a consolation game. The Silver Bracket may be expanded if an odd number of teams are left for consolation games.  

Pitching Rules:

9U through 13U: For 9U through 12U you get a maximum of 18 outs per day and 27 outs for the tournament. For 13U you will get a maximum of 21 outs for one day and 30 outs for the tournament,  

Arrival and ready to play: All teams must be ready to play thirty (30) minutes prior to their regularly scheduled start time. If the previous game ends early the next game may start 30 minutes from the scheduled start time. A game may start more than 30 minutes prior to the start time if both head coaches and the umpires agree to the earlier start time. All teams must be ready to play 30 minutes prior, or the game will be recorded as a forfeit. Note: Please pay attention to the game ahead of you so that your pitchers are ready to go. It is your responsibility to make sure your team is ready. When the umpires are ready, you will play.

Schedule: Our goal is to have the schedules released to the head coaches no later than 14 days prior to the start of the event if not sooner. 

8U-13U: Thursday games will be scheduled using local teams. All out of state or long-distance teams should plan to play at either 6PM or 8:00PM on Friday.

Forfeits: All forfeits are recorded as a 7-0 score. Any team that forfeits a game for simply not showing up or not having enough players to play will not be eligible for bracket play.

Home team determination: For all pool play games, home team will be determined by a coin flip. During bracket play, the higher seed is always the home team.

Pregame Warm Up: No pregame warm up is allowed on the infield or in front of the dugouts. Absolutely no soft toss allowed against fences.

During Play: On fields that have Grass Infields the pitcher should receive the ball from the catcher while standing in the dirt circle and to not come out to the grass and thus avoiding a path being made between the mound and home plate. Also, on ALL fields pitchers are not to be digging holes in front of the pitchers’ plate and batters are not to be digging holes in the batter’s box.

Games will have a 1 hour and 40 Minute time limit for 8U-12U and 13U will be 1 hour and 45 minutes: No new inning may be started after that time. The game start time will be provided by the umpire to the home team and must be recorded on the official score card. The game start time starts immediately following the plate meeting. If the time limit expires while in the middle of the inning, the game is complete after the first half of the current inning if the home team is ahead. Otherwise, that inning will be completed. All Championship Games will have a 2 hour and 10 Minute time limit. 

Plate Meeting: The plate meeting shall include the umpire(s) and the head coach from each team. The representatives from the respective teams are the only coaches allowed to call appeals or discuss rulings with the umpire(s). If you send an assistant coach to this meeting, you will forfeit your right to represent your team as the head coach for that game. Any arguments made by an assistant coach may result in being restricted to the bench or possible ejection.

Portable Mounds: We use portable mounds at some of our locations. If a portable mound is in use, there is to be NO METAL CLEATS used on these mounds. If a player is found to be wearing metal cleats on a portable mound, that team will automatically forfeit that game. Players may wear molded cleats, turf, or tennis shoes. If a portable mound is not available 11U and 12U teams may be required to pitch on a flat surface.

 Turf Fields: For any game being played on a turf field. All players must wear molded cleats, turf, or tennis shoes. Sunflower seeds, food, gum, sports drinks, soda, coffee, or the like are NOT allowed in the dugout or on the field. Water is the only acceptable drink allowed.

Tie games: 

Pool Play: If a game is tied at the end of regulation and the game has NOT reached the time limit, play will continue for one extra inning of standard play. The game will continue with extra innings until time has expired. If a game is tied after the time limit, the game will move straight to a Texas Shootout for a maximum of one (1) inning. If still tied after the shootout the game ends in a tie. 

Bracket Play: If a game is tied at the end of regulation and the game has NOT reached the time limit, play will continue for one extra inning of standard play. The game will continue with extra innings until time has expired. Once time has expired, the game will move to a Texas Shootout until a winner is decided. There are no ties in bracket play. 

Exception: The championship game in all brackets will be played with standard play until a winner has been determined or the 2 Hour and 10-minute time limit has been reached. If game is not decided after time has expired, we will play one inning of standard play. If still tied, we will move to the Texas Shootout until a winner is determined.

 Texas Shootout Rules: The visitor will place the player that made the last batted out in the previous inning on 2^nd base, and each batter will begin with a pitch count of 3 balls and 2 strikes, and the inning will begin with NO OUTS. No pinch or courtesy runners will be allowed for the batter placed on 2^nd base to start the half inning. Once 3 outs are recorded, the home team does the same process.

Mercy Rule: 15 runs after 3 (2 ½ innings if the home team is ahead), 10 runs after 4 (3 ½ innings if the home team is ahead) and 8 runs after 5 (4 ½ innings if the home team is ahead). If the home team is behind, you must complete that inning. This is for ALL age groups.

Courtesy Runners: Courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher and catcher at any time. All courtesy runners must be a player not actively in the offensive line-up. If a team only has 9 players or a team is roster batting, the last BATTED out will become the courtesy runner. If that player happens to be either the catcher or the pitcher you may proceed to the next BATTED out.

Roster Batting: Roster batting is allowed but must be determined prior to the start of the game and the umpire and opposing coach must be notified. If roster batting and an injury would occur, that spot in the lineup will be skipped with no penalty. If a player is ejected, that spot in the lineup will become an automatic out. If a team is not batting their roster, they may use the EH, DH, or DP. You may use both EH and DH or DP simultaneously. You cannot use both the DH and DP simultaneously.

8U-13U: Game balls will be provided by the tournament.

Misconduct: The Grove City Classic prides themselves in showing sportsmanship towards the umpires, opposing team, and fans. This tournament has strict guidelines regarding misconduct. Coaches are not to bench jockey at any time. THIS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, and ejection will occur. Umpires will not discuss balls, strikes, safe, out, fair, or foul calls. You may discuss book rules, but these discussions should be done in a calm manner. The umpire(s) has the final decision on the matter. 

Ejections:

Player: If a player is ejected, he/she is removed from the game immediately and may not return to that game.

Coach: If a coach is ejected, he/she is removed from the game immediately and must vacate the park and may not return for the remainder of the tournament.

Parent or Fan: If a parent or fan is ejected from a game, they must vacate park and may not return until the following day. Coaches are to oversee their parents and keep them in control. If a parent is ejected, the head coach may be ejected as well. If a head coach is ejected due to a parent ejection, he/she may return for the next game. If problems continue a second time, the coach may not return for the remainder of the tournament.

 **NOTE: If a violation is deemed severe enough by the tournament staff or umpire, a person may be ejected for the entire weekend. Any physical assault will automatically result in ejection for the entire tournament and legal charges may be levied against the offender.

Alcohol/Tobacco Policy: No Alcohol is permitted in the parking lots or at the fields at any time! Any person(s) violating this rule will be removed from the premises. Smoking or Vaping is not allowed at any city park. If you must smoke or vape, we ask that you go to your car to do so. 

Determining Bracket Play 

8U-143U: When moving to bracket play, we will use the tiebreaker system automatically generated by the Five Tool Youth website. Please take the time to review the Five Tool Youth tie breaking criteria.

Protests: Protests cannot be made on a judgment call, only on issues which are book rules and can be verified though the rulebook for the age in which the team is playing. To protest a game, the head coach must notify the umpire and the umpire is to immediately notify the local tournament official. All protests require a fee of $100 cash. If the protest is ruled in favor of the protesting team, the fee will be returned. Protests of a team using an ineligible player does not require this fee. 

Park/Field Guidelines: All teams, coaches, and parents are asked to respect the facilities in which they participate. We ask that trash be deposited in the various receptacles offered at each location. All teams should ensure that the dugouts are clean and ready for the next team. If at any time it is found that players, coaches, parents, or siblings of a player destroy any property, that team will be removed from the tournament with no refund and compensation must be made by the team for any repairs needed to return the facility to its original condition.

Bat Rules:  

8U-13U:  Five Tool Youth rules apply. Please read the Five Tool Youth bat rules as there are some models (or sizes of certain models) of bats that are illegal.

The directors of the Grove City Summer Classic Tournament reserve the right to amend or modify these rules at any time. All teams are required to review the rules prior to attending our tournament as well as during the tournament. If a rule is changed during the tournament, a notification will be sent to all coaches notifying them that a change has been made. A copy of the rules and any changes will be made public by the tournament director.