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• TOURNAMENT POLICY
• EQUALIZER RULES
• TEAM CLASSIFICATION
• TEAM AND PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
• ITEMS OF INTEREST

Fall Men's Program Information

Men's E Program Information

Men's REC Program Information

Qualifying for Worlds See website

SPECIAL WASHINGTON STATE RULES: See Items of Interest

CLASSIFICATION:

Following are the guidelines for teams that are looking to pick up players from teams registered in 2006 or from teams that have been reclassified to a higher level for 2007:

Note: The above home run limits are for Washington State tournaments only (excluding NIT's). When a 'C+' team plays a 'B+' or 'B' team, the home run limit will be four (4) per team.

'D+' team plays in a 'C' tournament they will receive a two (2) run spot and play by the 'C' Home Run rule.

'E+' team plays in a 'D' tournament they will receive a two (2) run spot and play by the 'D' Home Run rule.

Please see further explanation pertaining to the above on our website, under Men's Classification.

A player may drop more than one class, from year to year, only as long as his addition to the team in question abides by the current classification guidelines for forming a new team or adding players from a higher class to an existing team's roster. (Washington State players only).

Players from states other than Washington State will be dealt with on an individual basis.

When using the progressive home run limit in the 'D' program, when going into the bottom of the seventh inning or further, and the visiting team has hit only one home run during the game, the home team is allowed to hit their second home run in the bottom of the inning and win the game provided that it is the go ahead run and the home team had hit their first home run prior to the seventh inning. (The visiting team had their opportunity to hit their second home run in the top half of the inning, so there is no reason why the home team should not have the same opportunity.)

2007 MEN'S CLASSIFICATION POLICY:

To begin the 2007 season we will once again have many teams classified in "+" categories. Any team that is classified on the 11th of July as "C+" will participate in the "B" State Championships. Any team that carries a "D+" tag on July 11th will participate in the "C" State Championship tournament. Any team that carries an "E+" tag on July 11th will participate in the "D" State Championship tournament.

D+ and E+ teams will be allowed to participate in their respective National Championships.  Any team that is advancing to a World tournament must play in their respective National Tournament.

In 2007 there will be a “C” World berth available to the hightest finishing Washington”C” team in the “B/C” tournament held on the weekend of May 12th.

EQUALIZER RULES: (Washington State Only)

The run spot is (two) 2 runs per 1/2 class (A thru E) and (three) 3 runs per whole class (E thru Rec) -- Example: B+ to B is (two) 2 runs, B+ to C+ is (four) 4 runs, E to Rec is (three) 3 runs.

In all equalizers the higher classified team will have the option of taking visitor or home.

In all equalizers both teams will play using the home run rule of the lower classified team (where not covered by the above guidelines)..

THE UMPIRE OR THE COACHES CANNOT DECIDE TO ALTER THE ABOVE RULES.

A 15 run rule will be used in all games involving a C team or higher.
A 15 run rule will be used in all equalizer games.
A 12 run rule should be used in any game involving teams classified at the 'D' level.
A 10 run rule can be used in all games, except equalizers, that are at the 'E' or 'Rec' level. (Recommended).

All tournaments that are run at the “C” level or higher will use the 65 minute time limit rule.

The “Flip-Flop” rule will be in place at all levels of play.

Please see the our website for more complete guidelines.

PICK UP PLAYER RULE (D and higher levels):

Any 'D' team or higher that needs to add a player from a lower classification, so they can field a team for any given weekend, will be allowed to do so by obtaining permission from the Men's Classification Chairperson. The player to be picked up must not have played at a classification higher than the current team that he is a member of. This roster move will not count against a persons ability to make a move later in the season. If a 'pick-up' player is kept for more than one tournament without returning to his original team, he will not be allowed to go back down in classification. This need to be done not later than 24 hours prior to an event, and all permissions will be posted on the Men's Message Board for the weekend in question. This rule is subject to the National By-Laws when being used in an NIT.

TIME LIMIT RULE (C and higher levels):

All tournaments that are run at the C level or higher will be played under the following 65 minute time limit rule:

• After 65 minutes of play, the inning in progress will be completed and one more inning will be allowed, if needed. The umpire will announce when 65 minutes are up and when the final inning is starting. If the game is tied at the completion of the allowed time, the game will be allowed to played to its completion.
• Home runs (over the fence) will be run out to first base only, with any base runners already occupying a base returning directly to the dugout.

FLIP-FLOP RULE:

All tournaments will use the 'Flip-Flop' Rule: In the fifth inning and beyond, when the run rule is exceeded and the home team is losing, the home team will remain at bat and become the visiting team. If the team (new visiting team) does not score enough runs to reduce the run difference below the run rule the game is over. If they reduce the difference below the run rule, then the new home team will bat. If they score enough runs in the bottom of the inning to exceed the run rule, the game will be over, if not, the game will continue under that format.

B & C STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS:

The State Championships will be run identical to the above rules with the following stipulations:

The entry fee for these State Championship tournaments will be $335.00.

Each team will receive 12 new balls at the beginning of the tournament, to be used in any manner they choose. The tournament director will supply one (1) new ball and one (1) back-up ball for each game, with the teams supplying any additional back-up balls that are required to continue the game. The umpires for these tournaments will be approved by the State UIC and will receive additional pay for working these tournaments.

TOURNAMENT POLICY:

1. All teams must submit a USSSA Tournament Roster upon entering a sanctioned tournament.
2. Any team that wins two tournaments (12 teams or more) within the same classification must play at least one tournament at the next highest classification level before the State Championships. This rule must be followed or a team may be removed from that State Championship. A team that wins 2 tournaments at any level may be asked to finish out the season at the next highest level. These teams will be dealt with on an individual basis.
3. Any team that wins a straight ‘D’ tournament of 17 teams or larger, must play at least one tournament at the ‘C’ level prior to the end of July. Any team that wins two ‘D’ tournaments of at least 10 teams or more, must play their next tournament at the ‘C’ level, unless they receive permission from the Men’s Program Director to do otherwise. Any of these teams that play at the ‘C’ level will be considered as a ‘D+’ teams for that tournament only and will be spotted two runs by the ‘C’ teams and will play to the ‘C’ home run rule. These teams will still play as a regular ‘D’ team when competing at the ‘D’ level.
4. No berth will be awarded with less than 8 teams in a tournament unless approved by the Program Director.
5. Any team required to play up must do so prior to the State Tournament. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from all post season play.
6. The USSSA Men’s Classification Committee reserves the right to ask any team to deviate from this policy.

QUALIFYING FOR STATE & WORLD TOURNAMENTS:

1. To qualify for accepting a berth to State Championships, teams must compete in at least (3) three USSSA WASHINGTON events, except for the "E" and "Rec" divisions which are (4) four events. League or tournaments count as one event each.
2. Teams must have accumulated at least 40 points through tournament play. (Except REC teams)
3. Participation in the State Championship does not count as an event.
4. Berths are awarded through USSSA tournaments and participation points.
5. Teams that have been awarded a berth to a World tournament are required to participate in the State Championship and National Tournament.
6. Teams that have been awarded a World berth in a 'B', 'C', or 'D' N.I.T. must participate in the State Championship and National Tournament.
7. Seeding in State Tournaments will be determined by 'Highest Points Earned'.
8. The draw for all State Tournaments will be held seven days before the event.

MEN’S PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Roger D. Wilson 206-789-9133

ASSISTANT MEN’S PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Steve Wollach 425-736-8161 stevenwollach@yahoo.com