7.01.C Local All bats for age divisions 13U and younger must be permanently stamped with the new USSSA 1.15 BPF Mark (Chart 7.01.C), or BBCOR.50 Certified Mark or made of wood and manufactured by a licensed USSSA manufacturer.

• 7.01.C.1 All 13U players must use a maximum drop 8 (-8) bat with the official USSSA 1.15 BPF Mark permanently stamped.
  • 7.01.C.1(a) In Elite World Series, 13 Majors must use drop 5 (-5), BBCOR or wood bats only.

• 7.01.C.2 Local All 14u players must use BBCOR or wood bats only.

  • 7.01.C.2.(a) In all Select Super NIT’s, Super NIT’s & Elite World Series, 14 Majors must use BBCOR or wood bats only.
• 7.01.C.3 All bats for scholastic divisions (High School Events) must conform to the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS) bat standards including a length to weight ratio no greater than negative three (-3) ounces. These bats must be permanently stamped with the BBCOR.50 Certified Mark or made of wood and manufactured by a licensed USSSA manufacturer.
• Rule 7.01.C Penalty: (First Offense) If the Umpire discovers that a bat does not conform to USSSA Rule 7.01.C until a time during or after which the bat has been used in play, it shall not be grounds for declaring the batter out and/or ejection from the game. If the Umpire discovers that a bat has been used to put a ball in play and before the next legal pitch, the defensive team shall have the choice of the result of play or the batter being called out and all runners returning to the base occupied at the time of the pitch.
• Rule 7.01.C Penalty: (Second Offense) If a team is found in violation of this rule a second time, then the manager shall be ejected in addition to the First Offense penalty.

7.01.D Local Any bat permanently stamped with the official USA Baseball logo is legal to use in any USSSA baseball event, except were BBCOR is required. In all 13U Events all Players and all Teams must use a max drop of 8 (-8). In all 14U Events all Players and all Teams must use BBCOR or wood bats only.

7.01.F Local In age divisions 4U – 12U, non-metal cleats shall be worn. In age divisions 13U and older, traditional metal baseball spikes shall be permitted. Non-metal cleats must be worn on all portable mounds and turf fields regardless of age division.

• Rule 7.01.G Comment: In all age divisions 14u and below, the catcher’s helmet shall fully cover both ears.

• 7.01.N.1 If a team forfeits for a pitching violation in pool play, the game is forfeited, and the team will be the last seed based on teams with the same record for bracket play.
• 7.01.N.2 The violating pitcher will not be allowed to pitch for the remainder of the event.
• 7.01.N.3 If a team forfeits in a winner’s bracket game, they will be moved to the loser’s bracket.
• 7.01.N.4 If a team forfeits in an elimination game, they will be removed from the event.
• 7.01.N.5 Anytime a team is discovered to have committed a pitching violation, the team manager will be removed from the complex for the remainder of the event. This penalty is enforced regardless if a protest was made.

• 7.02.D.1 Teams may bat a nine (9) player line-up, or a nine (9) player line-up with a Designated Hitter (DH), or a ten (10) player line-up with an Extra Hitter (EH), or a 10-player line-up up with a DH and EH, or a continuous line-up of all present, eligible, uniformed players. Such line-up must be declared before the start of the game and used the entire game. A Designated Hitter (DH) can be used for ages 9u thru14u.
  • 7.02.D.1(a) If a team uses a line-up that contains substitute players, all starting players may be removed and re-enter the game once but must re-enter in their original position in the batting order. Non-starters are not allowed to re-enter. When a starter re-enters, the player in the starter’s batting position in the batting order must be removed from the game and is ineligible for the remainder of the game.
  • 7.02.D.1(b) If a team uses a line-up that contains ten (10) players, the player in the Extra Hitter position has free defensive substitution.
  • 7.02.D.1(c) If a team uses a continuous line-up, all players other than the nine (9) defensive position players are Extra Hitters and may move freely in defensive positions with the exception of the pitching position. Any player(s) arriving after the game has begun, shall be added to the bottom of the batting line-up. When using the continuous lineup and a player has to leave the game for any reason, that position in the line-up becomes an out when that at bat comes around.

• 7.02.E.1 The DH can bat for any defensive player (not just the pitcher, as in some leagues).
• 7.02.E.2 The DH would normally bat for one player and any of that player’s substitutes on defense for the original player.
• 7.02.E.3 The DH must be listed next to or under the player he is batting for in lineup.
• 7.02.E.4 The DH and the player he is batting for are both locked into the same batting slot; neither of these two players can ever bat in another batting position.
• 7.02.E.5 If the DH enters the game on defense, the player he was batting for must come out of the game.
• 7.02.E.6 A replaced DH can re-enter the game one time since he was considered a starter. The defensive player being hit for can also re-enter the game one time if subbed for. Both must always stay in the same batting spot.
• 7.02.E.7 The DH role for a team is terminated for the rest of the game if:
  • 7.02.E.7(a) A replaced DH re-enters the game on defense (the acting DH is disqualified from further participation.
  • 7.02.E.7(b) The player for whom the DH was batting pinch hits or pinch runs for the DH.
  • 7.02.E.7(c) The DH assumes a defensive position.

• 7.03.A.1 Local Extended because the score is tied after the completion of the regulation number of innings, in which case, play shall continue until the visiting team has scored more total runs than the home team at the end of a completed inning, or the home team scores the winning run in an uncompleted inning. In bracket play, extra innings or the next inning after time expires will begin with runners on first and second base and one (1) out. The runner at first base will be the player in the batting order position previous to the lead-off batter of the inning (or a substitute for that player). By way of example, if the number five hitter in the batting order is due to lead off the next inning, the number four player in the batting order shall begin the inning on first base and the number three player in the batting order shall begin the inning on second base. In the event either runner is the pitcher or catcher of record a courtesy runner will be allowed.

• 7.03.A.2 Shortened because the home team needs none of its half of the last inning or only a fraction of it to win.
• 7.03.A.3 Shortened because an imposed Time Limit expires; or
• 7.03.A.4 Shortened because any applicable part of USSSA Rule 7.03.B has been met.
• 7.03.A.5 Shortened because any applicable part of USSSA Rule 7.03.C has been met.
• 7.03.A.6 Pool play games can end in a tie if the time limit is up or a complete game has been played.

• 7.03.C.1 For a six (6) inning game, if three (3) innings have been played or if the home team has scored more runs after two and one half (2 1/2) innings the game shall be declared a complete game.
  • 7.03.C.1(a) In bracket play if a game is tied after 4 or more innings, the score will revert back to the previous inning. If still tied, the game will be a suspended game.
• 7.03.C.2 For a seven (7) inning game, if four (4) innings have been played or if the home team has scored more runs after three and one half (3 1/2) innings the game shall be declared a complete game.
  • 7.03.C.1(a) In bracket play if a game is tied after 5 or more innings, the score will revert to the previous inning. If still tied, the game will be a suspended game.

• 7.04.B.1 At any time, the offensive team may use a courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher of record from the previous inning on defense. The courtesy runner must be a player not presently in the line-up. If there are no substitute players available, the courtesy runner shall be the player making the last batted out.
• 7.04.B.2 If the Pitcher or Catcher get out prior to an out being recorded in the 1st inning, and there are no substitute players the curtesy runner shall be the batter furthest from coming back up to bat in the line-up that is not the Pitcher or Catcher of record. In all other innings, the courtesy runner is the last batted out and if no outs have been recorded, it will be the last out from the previous inning.
• 7.04.B.3 The re-entry status of the courtesy runner, pitcher, and catcher shall not be affected by this rule. If at any time while the courtesy runner is still on base, if determined to be ineligible, a proper replacement pursuant to these rules shall be used without penalty.

• Rule 7.04.C Penalty: The runner shall be called out and may be ejected from the game at the discretion of the Umpires.

• 7.05.B.1 ONE DAY MAXIMUM TO PITCH THE NEXT DAY: The maximum number of innings a player can legally pitch in one (1) day and still pitch the next day.
  • Rule 7.05.B.1 Example: In the 7U – 14U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of three (3) innings in one (1) day and still legally pitch the next day. If the player pitches three and one-third (3 1/3) or more innings in one (1) day, the player cannot legally pitch the next day.
• 7.05.B.2 ONE DAY MAXIMUM: The maximum number of innings a player can legally pitch in one (1) day.
  • Rule 7.05.B.2 Example: In the 7U – 12U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of six (6) innings in one (1) day. The player would be ineligible to pitch the next day. Similarly, in the 13U – 14U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of seven (7) innings in one (1) day. The player would be ineligible to legally pitch the next day.
• 7.05.B.3 THREE DAY MAXIMUM: The maximum number of innings a player can legally pitch in three (3) consecutive days.
• 7.05.B.4 MANDATORY DAYS OF REST:
  • 7.05.B.4(a) A player that pitches more than three (3) innings in one day MUST rest the next day.
  • 7.05.B.4(b) A player that pitches eight (8) innings in two (2) consecutive days MUST rest the next day.
  • 7.05.B.4(c) A player that pitches three (3) consecutive days (regardless of total quantity of innings pitched) MUST rest the next day.

• 7.05.B.5 Local For all cumulative totals in this rule, one (1) pitch equals one (1) inning. A pitcher that pitches in a game and records no outs is charged with one (1) inning pitched.

• 7.05.B.6 Local Outs recorded during a game that ends in forfeit shall count towards a pitchers’ innings limits. Forfeit score for a 6 inning game is 6-0, 7-inning game is 7-0.

• 7.05.B.7 For purposes of pitching limitations rules, a pitcher is in violation of the rule if he records any out above the legal pitching limits pursuant to these rules.
  • Rule 7.05.C.7 Exception: Exceeding the maximum innings allowed in the case of a double or triple play shall not be counted against the pitcher for the purpose of this rule but shall be counted towards the pitcher’s limits with regards to the eligibility to pitch the next day, etc.
• 7.05.B.8 It shall be the responsibility of each team to challenge pitching violations by notifying the Umpire and then filing a Protest with the League / Tournament Director. A protest may be filed at any point after the pitcher in violation records any out beyond his legal limit AND while the pitcher in violation is in the game as the pitcher of record. If such violation is the last recorded out of the game, the protest MUST be filed prior to the Umpires and the protesting team leaving the field of play.

  • Rule 7.05.B.1 – 7.05.B.7 Local Penalty Any violation shall result in the automatic ejection of the offending Manager and offending pitcher.

  • Rule 7.05.B.1 – 7.05.B.7 World Series Penalty Any violation shall result in immediate forfeiture of the game.

• 7.05.B.9 Pitch Counts may be used in Major Events with the approval of the Association’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations.