2023 National Tournament Rules and Polices
The Team Managers will hand carry and deliver to the onsite Regional Tournament Director the following forms:
1.For each Player, a state-issued driver’s license that ; or
a.Original or State Certified Birth Certificate; or
b.A military ID, dependent ID, a US passport.
2.Signed copies of each Player’s Emergency Information (Form #2).
3.Signed copies of applicable Player’s Form #76 or Form #77.
Failure to deliver the proper paperwork can disqualify a player and/or the team from competing in the regional tournament.
TOURNAMENT RULES and POLICIES
a. Teams competing in American Legion Baseball senior national tournaments must always have nine players available for participation at a national tournament. Teams with fewer than 12 players, are permitted to bring up players registered on their affiliated Junior American Legion Baseball team roster to the senior team to have 12 players but may not bring up a player to exceed 12 players. Any senior team that does not have nine players will forfeit its right to participate and the National Americanism Division, in consultation with the Department Baseball Chairman, shall determine a suitable replacement team. (National Rule 9.K.)
b. No team shall be required to play more than two games in one day.
c. Playing days may begin after 8:00 a.m. local time.
- No tournament game shall start after 11:00 p.m. local time.
- All State, Regional and World Series games are seven (7) innings. 10-Run mercy rule after five innings of play or 4 innings if the home team has the lead.
- All games shall be played in accordance with National Rule 1 of the American Legion Baseball Rulebook.
- Designated Hitter (DH) Rule (pitcher only) - A hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers in any game without otherwise affecting the status of the pitcher(s) in the game. NOTE: The American Legion shall continue to use the same Designated Hitter (DH) Rule as was in effect in 2021.
- The American Legion does NOT permit any type of re-entry rule during tournament play.
- The American Legion does NOT permit courtesy runners during tournament play.
- The use of one-way electronic equipment in the dugout is prohibited. A tablet computer used for scorekeeping purposes only is permissible.
- Suspended games will be completed from the point of suspension.
- A suspended game completed on a second day will not count toward the two games in one- day rule. Teams that complete a suspended game can still play an additional two (2) full games.
- Pitch Count Rule 1.S. applies to suspended games.
- In the case of rain, games may be moved to other locations at the discretion of the Tournament Director on site. Note: American Legion tournaments have a time limitation, and Tournament Directors must make every effort to complete tournaments on time. The Tournament Director has additional instructions for rain delayed tournaments.
- Teams will dress in the hotel or at home. No team shall dress at the ballpark unless dressing rooms are provided.
- Any coach ejected from a game must leave the park and may not communicate in any form or manner with the team or return while the game is in progress. Any player ejected from a game must leave the dugout. The Tournament Director and umpire shall file an ejection report to the National Office.
- Players removed from a game (other than ejection by an umpire) may be used as a base coach.
- To determine Home/Visitors for double elimination games 1 through 11:A coin toss will determine Home/Visitors. Game 12 would have the home team as the undefeated team, game 13 the "if necessary game" would use a coin flip to determine home and away.
- If for unforeseen reasons we cannot crown a champion on the field of play or determine a “pool” winner, The American Legion will determine the winner by the following formula: If two teams remain:Head-to-head competition between teamsFewest runs allowed overallMost runs scored overall A coin flip. If three or more teams remain:Fewest runs allowed overall Most runs scored overall Coin flip (first “odd-man” out wins)
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY PROTESTS
Eligibility protests of players involved in national tournaments must be in writing and provide proof of ineligibility. They must be filed with the National Tournament Director at each tournament site (Department, Regional, and World Series) no later than 9:00 a.m. local time on the first day of the tournament involved, except when there is a discovery of a rule’s violation. When a rules violation is discovered, the eligibility protest and a written description of the alleged violation must be filed immediately. (National Rule 9.D)
Should a player eligibility rule violation be discovered and confirmed after the first day deadline, that team manager/head coach in violation shall be suspended for the remainder of all post season tournament games.
All other protests concerning game situation shall be filed as specified in the Official Baseball Rules and National Rule #1.
