Tournament information can be found here. Please check our TeamSnap Tournaments page and this page regularly for tournament updates, rules updates, and weather-related information. The Tournament will be governed by the Bowie Baseball Tournament Rules and by MLB American League rules unless otherwise noted.
Registrations are processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. The registration form and fees must be received to guarantee your spot. We will send a confirmation email. If for some reason your team must pull out of the tournament, your registration fee is non-refundable within 30 days of the tournament unless we can replace your team before the tournament. Should the tournament be cancelled due to COVID related issues, all teams will be fully refunded.
Rosters may contain up to 15 players and should be submitted via TeamSnap no later than May 8, 2025.
A player’s age eligibility is determined by their age on May 1, 2025. Copies of birth certificates are required upon request, and it is recommended that the coach carry them during the tournament. Birth certificates will not be collected by Bowie but may be requested if an opposing team question a player’s age. An ineligible player will cause your team to forfeit any and all games they have played to that point. We will be utilizing TeamSnap Tournaments to manage the tournament schedule, both for open pool play and bracket play. Coaches should download the TeamSnap Tournaments mobile app and let their parents know about the app to access their team’s schedule and bracket placement.
Search App Store for TeamSnap Tournaments on iOS or Android
Games may be scheduled on Friday nights (we typically try to schedule teams in close proximity to Bowie, MD on Friday night).
Tournament Check-In
Rosters
No check-in is required. Managers must enter their rosters into the tournament registration system. Refer to the registration confirmation email for details. It is not necessary to carry a copy of your roster during tournament play. Managers must carry proof of player age during tournament play – either a birth certificate or State issued identification card. Age cutoffs are listed on the tournament registration page.
Certificate of Insurance
Please ADD your certificate of insurance within TeamSnap Tournaments. If you have any issues, please email the Tournament Director prior to the tournament and keep a copy of your insurance with you during tournament play. If you haven’t provided your certificate of insurance, your team will forfeit all games until it is presented.
Certificate Holder Block should say:
Bowie Boys and Girls Club 2614 Kenhill Dr #113, Bowie, MD 20715
Tournament Director Contact Information Email: bowietournaments@gmail.com
Tournament Format
Pool Play Games
● Games are played on Friday night and Saturday.
● All teams play two (2) pool games. Home and Away status is determined by coin flip.
Elimination Play Games
Games played on Sunday.
Results are used to seed Championship and Consolation brackets. Seeding will be determined by:
1. Record
2. Head-to-head record
a. Only used when two teams are tied. Does not apply when 3 or more teams are
tied.
b. Please note that wins are worth more than tied games in pool play. For example, a team with a 1-1 record would be seeded above a team that is 0-0-2. Similarly, a team with a 2-0 record would be seeded above a team who is 1-0-1.
3. Runs allowed
4. Runs scored
Bracket format will vary based on the number of teams registered, below are examples of possible brackets (subject to change):
● Eight (8) teams or less – All teams advance to the Championship Bracket
● Eight (8) – Fifteen (15) teams – Eight (8) teams advance to the Championship Bracket;
Remaining teams play one consolation game
● Sixteen (16) or more teams – Top eight (8) teams advance to the Gold Bracket; Teams nine (9) – sixteen (16) advance to the Silver Bracket; Remaining teams play one consolation game
Umpires
● 8U – 10U – 1 Umpire for all games
● 11U – 14U – 1 Umpire for Pool games and 2 Umpires for all Championship games
(This is due to the umpire shortage, and we will attempt to have 2 umpires in future tournaments for 11U and above)
Baseballs
Field Marshalls will be at each park to provide baseballs to the umpires. At the start of each game, at least one new baseball will be put into play. Please note that we will reuse game balls that are still playable. In the event of weather, we ask that coaches carry towels to help keep baseballs dry.
Rules and Gameplay
If not specified herein, all games will follow MLB Official Baseball Rules (no pitch clock or defensive shift rule is enforced).
Prior to Game Start
All teams are expected to be at the fields ready to play 30 minutes before their scheduled game time. Please be prepared to start games early if the field and umpire are ready to play.
Batting cage are first come/first served but are limited to 20 minutes per team. No infield use in pre-game is permitted.
Line-ups
Teams may bat nine (9), the entire roster or any number in-between. Once the number of batters is established, it must remain the same throughout the game. When a player is removed for the lineup for any reason, a substitute player should be inserted into that batting position. If a substitute is not available, an out will be recorded unless the player was removed due to injury. A team may play with a minimum of eight (8) players but must start the game with nine (9). Teams playing with eight (8) must take an out each time the missing player(s) batting position comes up unless that batting position was vacated due to injury.
A substitute player, who is not in the original batting line-up, may bat or run for another player.
The substitute and the original starter are locked into that batting line-up position and either may bat or run at any time in that line-up position only.
Defense and offense are not coupled. Players do NOT have to be in the batting lineup to play in the field. Free defensive substitution is permitted.
Ending a Game
Time limits are listed in the rules reference guides at the end of this document. Ties are permitted in pool play. There will not be extra innings in pool play. In elimination play, after the time limit is reached, international rules will be used to decide tie games. The last batted out from the previous inning will be placed on 2nd Base with zero outs for each team in the inning after the time limit is reached.
The mercy rules for all age groups are:
● 15 runs after 3 Innings (2½ if the home team is ahead)
● 10 Runs after 4 innings (3½ if home team is ahead)
● 8 runs after 5 innings (4 ½ if home team is ahead)
Drop Dead Rule: The game ends if the time limit is reached and a new inning cannot begin, the score reverts to the last completed inning unless the home team is hitting in the inning that is in progress, and either has tied or is ahead. If the home team is losing and has not completed their at-bat when the time limit is reached, the score reverts to the last completed inning. (NO STALLING TACTICS)
Score Reporting
The home team will be the official scorebook. Immediately following the conclusion of each game, BOTH winning and losing teams are responsible for submitting scores by texting results to the tournament officials and update the game in TeamSnap Tournaments.
Text Results To: See emailed instructions from Tournament Director
Score Format: Age Division, Winning Team Name / Score – Losing Team Name / Score
8U, Bowie Orange 8 – Bowie Black 6
Pitching
There are no pitch count limits, but coaches should use their best judgment. Please reference Pitch Smart guidelines found here: https://www.mlb.com/pitch-smart/pitching-guidelines. Once a pitcher is removed from the mound, they may not return to pitch in the same game.
Courtesy Runners:
Courtesy runners are allowed for the pitcher or catcher at any time. Please have that player ready immediately to keep up the pace of play. If batting the entire roster, the last batted out will be the courtesy runner. Otherwise, the courtesy runner should be a bench player.
Headfirst Slides
For ages 8U-12U there are no headfirst slides into a base except when going back to a base. For 13U and up, headfirst slides are allowed everywhere.
Music
Music is allowed, but it must not be excessively loud or contain inappropriate lyrics. Walk up songs are permitted but must be stopped when the batter steps into the batter’s box.
Ejections
Poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated by players, coaches, and fans. Coaches and fans ejected from a game must exit the park immediately and not return for the rest of the tournament. Players may stay with their respective teams in the bleacher area (not bench) but may not participate in the rest of the current game and the next game. In the event this rule is not followed, the team will forfeit the rest of the tournament.
Weather Delays
In case of weather delays immediately before or during a game, the following procedures will be followed:
1. If the maximum number of innings for a complete game has been reached by the original time limit, the game will be considered complete.
2. If the maximum number of innings has not been reached by the original time limit, the game will continue up to the required innings for a complete game.
3. If a game is delayed in the top of an inning and cannot be resumed, the score will revert to that of the completion of the last full inning played.
The condition and availability of fields, along with the weather forecast may cause the tournament director to adjust these procedures as necessary, including adjusting time limits
and advancing the higher seeded team of a game that cannot be completed due to weather, field, or schedule constraints.
Protests
Protests are not permitted. Coaches may politely ask the umpire who made the call to clarify a rules interpretation, but the umpires will make a final decision on the field.
8U Pitching (SPECIAL RULES)
o Kid Pitch – 1st thru 3rd innings
• Flat Ground Mound at 40′
• No player can pitch more than (3) innings per day. (1) pitch constitutes a full inning.
o Coach Pitch – 4th thru 6th (or extra) innings
• Coach pitch from within painted circle around 40′ mound.
• Three (3) swinging strikes or seven (7) total pitches constitutes an out.
o Hit Batsmen – 2 per inning. 3 per game. Pitcher must be removed if either occur.
o Live Play Rule – For base running purposes, play does not begin or resume (“live play”) until the batter hits the ball officially in play. Neither a base-on-ball, hit by pitch, passed ball, wild pitch or overthrow from catcher to pitcher constitutes a “live play” for these purposes.
o Dead Ball Rule – For base running purposes, play ends or ceases (a “dead ball” occurs) when the pitcher (player NOT coach) has control of the ball within a 10′ radius around the rubber (umpires’ discretion). At this point in time, the umpire must determine the position of the base runners at the moment of the “dead ball”. Base runners who have reached at least a point midway (30 feet) between the bases may advance to the next base. Base runners who have not yet reached the mid-way point must return to the preceding base. If the pitcher attempts a continuance of play by attempting to throw-out an advancing runner after the ball has been returned to him (from a fellow player) within the “infield area” the pitcher has forfeited a “dead ball” and has officially resumed the ball in play, allowing players to advance. A “dead ball” will not occur again until the ball returns to the pitcher in the “infield area”. Walks of any kind, base on balls or batters hit by a pitch, are considered “dead ball” activities. Runners do not advance except as typically caused by the walk itself.
8U – 10U Format Rules
| 8U | 9U/10U | |
| Field Dimensions; | Basepaths 60’ Pitching Mound 40’ | Basepaths 60’; Pitching Mound 46’ |
| Game Length | 6 Innings | 6 Innings |
| Complete Game | 3 Innings | 3 Innings |
| No New Innings (Pool/Elimination) | Minutes No New Inning After 1:45 Minutes | Minutes No New Inning After 1:45 Minutes |
| Drop Dead (Pool/Elimination) | (Pool (2 Hours)/ Elimination: None) | (Pool (2 Hours)/ Elimination: None) |
| Leads | No | No |
| Stealing Bases | Not Permitted | Yes – After Pitch Crosses Plate |
| Stealing Home | No | Yes |
| Head First Slides | No – Back To Base Only | No – Back To Base Only |
| Dropped 3rd Strike | No | No |
| Courtesy Runner | Pitcher/Catcher Any Time | Pitcher/Catcher Any Time |
| Run Limits (per inning) | 5 Runs for Innings 1-5 No Limit Innings 6+ | None |
| Mercy Rule | 15 Runs After 3 Innings 10 Runs After 4 Innings 8 Runs After 5 Innings | 15 Runs After 3 Innings 10 Runs After 4 Innings 8 Runs After 5 Innings |
| Home/Visitor | Pool Play – Coin Flip Elimination – Higher Seed Choice | Pool Play – Coin Flip Elimination – Higher Seed Choice |
| Batting | 9 up to the Entire Roster | 9 up to the Entire Roster |
| Defense | Free Substitutions | Free Substitutions |
| Pitching Limitations | None – Recommend Pitch Smart https://www.mlb.com/pitch-smart/pitching-guidelines/ages-8-and-under | None – Recommend Pitch Smart https://www.mlb.com/pitch-smart/pitching-guidelines/ages-9-12 |
| Mound Visits | 2 Mound Visits Per Pitcher (Must Pull Pitcher on Second Visit) | 2 Mound Visits Per Pitcher (Must Pull Pitcher on Second Visit) |
| Balks | None | None |
| Cleats | Rubber | Rubber |
| Infield Fly | No | No |
11U-14U Game Format
| 11U/12U | 13U/14U | |
| Field Dimensions. | Basepaths 70’ Pitching Mound 50’ | Basepaths 90’; Pitching Mound 60’6” |
| Game Length | 6 Innings | 7 Innings |
| Complete Game | 3 Innings | 4 Innings |
| Time Limit (Pool/Elimination) | Minutes No New Inning After 1:45 Minutes (Drop Dead – Pool (2 Hours)/ Elimination: None) | Minutes No New Inning After 1:50 Minutes (Drop Dead – Pool (2 Hours)/ Elimination: None) |
| Drop Dead (Pool/Elimination) | No Time Limit | No Time Limit |
| Leads | Yes | Yes |
| Stealing Bases | Yes | Yes |
| Stealing Home | Yes | Yes |
| Head First Slides | No – Back To Base Only | Yes |
| Dropped 3rd Strike | Yes | Yes |
| Courtesy Runner | Pitcher/Catcher Any Time | Pitcher/Catcher Any Time |
| Run Limits (per inning) | None | None |
| Mercy Rule | 15 Runs After 3 Innings 10 Runs After 4 Innings 8 Runs After 5 Innings | 15 Runs After 3 Innings 10 Runs After 4 Innings 8 Runs After 5 Innings |
| Home/Visitor | Pool Play – Coin Flip Elimination – Higher Seed Choice | Pool Play – Coin Flip Elimination – Higher Seed Choice |
| Batting | 9 up to the Entire Roster | 9 up to the Entire Roster |
| Defense | Free Substitutions | Free Substitutions |
| Pitching Limitations | None – Recommend Pitch Smart https://www.mlb.com/pitch-smart/pitching-guidelines/ages-9-12 | None – Recommend Pitch Smart https://www.mlb.com/pitch-smart/pitching-guidelines/ages-13-14 |
| Mound Visits | 2 Mound Visits Per Pitcher (Must Pull Pitcher on Second Visit) | 2 Mound Visits Per Pitcher (Must Pull Pitcher on Second Visit) |
| Balks | Yes – 1 Warning Per Pitcher | Yes – No Warnings |
| Cleats | Rubber | Rubber or Metal |
| Infield Fly | Yes | Yes |
| Bats | USA and USSSA approved bats | USA and USSSA approved bats (Recommended -5 or BBCOR) |
