Rules

Cooperstown Tournament Rules

• All players must be at least 40 years old by December 31st of the calendar year of the tournament. EXCEPTION: Each team is permitted to have one or two players under 40 permitted to participate. These exceptions must be approved by the tournament director prior to the start of the tournament.
• No players under 40 may pitch, at any time, in the tournament (Note: catching is permitted). Any infraction of this rule will result in the team in violation to forfeit that game, resulting in a loss, and the player in violation will be disqualified for the remainder of the tournament.
• Each team is permitted to use (5) courtesy runners per game. The courtesy runner MUST be the LAST BATTED OUT and inserted prior to the next pitch being thrown.
• Pitchers and catchers must run for themselves, unless one of the five courtesy runners is used for them.
• Players may substitute freely on defense. Defensive players do not have to bat.
• A pitcher (just like any other fielder) may be removed from the game but may return to pitch even if he does not play another position between stints.
• All players must wear helmets while batting and running the bases.
• All players must wear a baseball uniform while playing (preferably matching their teammates).
• If a player is seriously injured, so as to not be able to continue playing, no out will be charged to his next at-bat. He can be substituted for by a bench player or skipped over in the remaining line-up.
• A team fielding (9) must maintain a (9) man batting order. Only a team fielding (8) can maintain an 8-man batting order.
•  Teams must have a minimum of eight (8) players to play an official game. It is permissible for a team down on players to “borrow” players from another team, with permission of the tournament director, prior to the start of the game.
•  This is a traditional wood bat tournament. All bats must be fabricated from wood or a wood composite.
• Fighting is prohibited. Any player provoking and antagonizing a physical altercation (beyond verbal banter/posturing) will be ejected from the game and potentially from the tournament, based on the tournament director’s discretion.
• No drinking of alcoholic beverages or other “recreational” activities is permitted on the field or in the dugouts during games. Partaking in such activities after games, off the field, is permitted. Please use discretion.
• The manager of the winning team is responsible for reporting the score to the tournament director immediately following the game.

Game Timing & Playoff Particulars

•  Games are slotted for (7) innings.
• No new innings shall start after 2 hours and 15 minutes of CONTINUOUS play. If there is a rain delay, the clock stops and then restarts when play resumes.
• If there is a tie after (7) full innings of play, however, the new inning time limit has not been surpassed, extra innings shall be played till the game is won, or the time limit comes into effect.
• Games ending in a tie, regardless of innings played, count as 1/2 a win and 1/2 a loss for each team.
• (5) innings (losing team must bat 5 times) constitutes an official game, whether called for rain or darkness.
• A game can be suspended if the above prerequisite is not met. The game will be resumed later in the day, or at a different field, or the next day if need be.
• There is no mercy rule. Play a full (7) inning game regardless of score (or time limit).
• If the inning has not been completed due to weather or darkness, and at least (5) full innings have been completed, the game is considered decided.
• Playoff seedings are based primarily on winning percentage.
• Tie breakers = Head-to-Head game result (round robin, every team plays each other once). Then, least total RUNS ALLOWED.
• Individual player eligibility for playoffs (**THIS IS IMPORTANT**):
  1. Pitchers need to pitch AT LEAST (2) innings by the end of play on Wednesday.
  2. Position players must get three (3) plate appearances OR play (3) innings in the field by the end of play on Wednesday.
  3. No player can just show up for the playoffs on Thursday without having met one of the previous requirements listed directly above. No exceptions.

General rule of conduct

• The purpose of this tournament is for guys who love baseball to compete and play baseball in one of the purest and most beautiful places in the world and to enjoy the game, past, present, and future. Long-time participants and first-timers alike, let us please conduct ourselves like gentlemen and not cause us to have to enforce anything negative from the aforementioned rules. Between the umpires, managers, and tournament director, there is ALWAYS a solution and/or compromise.
• Please let the tournament director know of any issues, questions, etc. prior to the tournament.