PRE-TOURNAMENT GUIDELINES 

 

ROSTER

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1. We will add all players to our on-line team rosters

2. Players will be getting an email from NCS to accept being on a team roster and must accept to be added to the event officially. If the team invite email is blocked by firewalls or other security settings, players can go to www.playncs.com and create a profile.

3. The invite will be in their profile as long as they use the same email provided to NCS.

 

PAYMENTS

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1. All players must pay in full, in advance.

2. THERE ARE NO REFUNDS if pulling out after the advertised deadline.

3. Players will receive any and all gear promised per the player package they paid for if pulling out in a timely manner where we have a realistic opportunity to find replacement player.

 

IDENTIFICATION

 

1. All Players must be able to show a legal photo ID at all times (must be 18 years of age or older). You must  have your photo ID on yourself, in your bat bag, or on the park/complex’s property. In some circumstances, we will allow a player to make a run to their car in the parking lot but will not allow any travel or a wait time  of over 3 min or so. Rostered names and DOB's must match ID.

2. Driver’s License is what we use for determining Men's or Women's eligibility - If DL states male or              nonbinary, player is only allowed to play as a man for our events. If DL states female, player is only allowed to play as a woman for our events.

 

*** BE PREPARED TO SHOW YOUR ID AT ANY TIME! WE WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY CHEATING! YOU WILL BE KICKED OUT OF THE EVENT IF YOU’RE CAUGHT! ILLEGAL TEAMS and/or PLAYERS AND TEAMS THAT GET EJECTED FROM OUR TOURNAMENTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANY TYPE OF REFUND OR PRIZES! ***

 

 

TOURNAMENT WITHDRAWAL PROCEDURE

 

1. Any cancellation/withdrawal (for any reason what-so-ever) must occur prior to the tournament being SOLD OUT or prior advertised deadline, whichever comes first. We will do our best to let all players know when a tournament is sold out but this might not happen for every event due to our workload.

2. Please send us an email to let us know of your withdrawal before the above drop dead dates. When you do, you still must get a confirmation email back from the respective tournament director in order for you to be off the hook for your entry fee. If you don't get a confirmation email back the same day as your request, please make a call to the listed tournament director on the website to make sure they received your withdrawal request. 

 

 

EQUIPMENT GUIDELINES

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THE OFFICIAL BALL

 

• MEN’S - DUDLEY HARDCORE ZN 12inch

• WOMEN’S - DUDLEY 11inch

• SENIORS - DUDLEY HARDCORE ZN 12inch

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1. All game balls must be NCS STAMPED 

2. Women must hit our 11" ball and Men’s will hit the 12” ball

3. If a team is caught throwing in an illegal ball by the opposing team or umpire, the penalties will be as follows:

   1. 1st time – Warning / 2nd time – Batter is OUT / 3rd time – Game is FORFEITED     

4. Teams must provide two legal balls for each gender to the umpire at the plate meeting before each game and must make sure the umpire has two legal balls per gender at all times

5. Please write your team name on your own balls so foul balls can get returned to the correct team

6. We will supply each team with 6 balls and have extras on site for sale

 

 

BAT GUIDELINES

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1. All bats must have USSSA, NSA, USA, or ASA stamp (No senior, baseball, or fastpitch bats allowed). We don't have a banned bat list

   • ​SENIORS CAN SWING ANY BAT

2. No bat is legal for NCS play if it is badly worn, abused, damaged, altered, or shaved. Bats shall not have rough or sharp edges or anything that would present a hazard.

3. No bat is legal if there is an excessive foreign substance on the barrel or taper of a bat. (i.e. too much pine tar, stick-em type products, etc.)

4. NCS Umpires or Directors reserve the right to remove any bat we feel is altered, damaged, or made to enhance the ball/bat performance. We will take the bat for that game and return it upon the end of the game with the mutual understanding it will not be used for the remainder of the tournament. If the bat is caught being used a second time, the player using the bat at that time will be ejected from the tournament and will be asked to leave the park/complex. If a player refuses to give up the bat for the remainder of the game, he/she will be removed from the tournament and the park/complex as well.

 

FOOTWEAR

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1. Metal spikes of any kind are prohibited in NCS tournaments

2. Tennis shoes, rubber/plastic cleats, and turf shoes are all approved to wear in NCS tournaments.

3. No flip-flops, sandals, or Crocs allowed for safety purposes.

 

 

PROTECTED EQUIPMENT POLICY

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1. ALL PITCHERS MUST WEAR A PROTECTIVE HELMET. Pitchers are also strongly encouraged to also wear full protective gear including shin guards, wrist guards, and chest/heart protection.

• Any player other than the pitcher may wear a protective mask/helmet to prevent injury and is strongly recommended

• Infielders - Highly recommended to wear the same as a pitcher and encouraged to play deep in the infield.

 

JEWELRY

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1. All exposed jewelry or items that are judged to be hazardous or potentially dangerous by the umpire or director may not be worn during the game

 

 

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

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1. Due to safety concerns, at no time can a camera, audio, or video device be worn or used by an umpire, player, or coach on the field of play. Any exception must be approved the NCS National Office.

 

GLOVE RULE

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1.  All players can choose to use first baseman’s mitt at any position.

 

 

PLAYING RULES

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• All players agree to our rules upon entering our tournaments.

• Always check the EVENT INFO page regularly for tournament updates. Always double check brackets regularly for any changes for the event you enter.

 

STANDARD GAME TIMES / START OF PLAY / GAME GUARANTEE

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1. ADULTS - 60 minutes (Championship Game is 70 minutes)

   • ​SENIORS - 60 min plus open inning (Championship Game is 70 min plus open inning)

2. Some events may have longer or shorter game times so please check the specific website/event info page before the start of play.

3. In the rare event that we have an extreme time crunch, we may have to bypass the "if" game. If we have to move to this type of Championship game, it will be a winner-take-all game whether you are undefeated or not.

4. All teams must be prepared to play 15 minutes before your scheduled game time. If the umpire and the other team is ready to go and you are not, there could be a forfeit so be there 15 min early and ready to play.

5. In most cases, we will be offering a four game guarantee with two pool play games followed by a double elimination bracket. In some instances we might go with a three game guarantee bracket with a Silver Bracket for 0-2 and some 1-2 teams. We may rarely also go with all pool play with smaller divisions.

6. The Tournament Director reserves the right to modify game times, playing locations, or tournament structure due to field conditions, time constraints, safety issues, team count, or inclement weather.

 

 

STALLING (NEVER ALLOWED)

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1. Once the umpire physically starts the clock or verbally announces the clock has started, the home team must take the field within two minutes and the visiting team must be ready to bat once the pitcher is ready to throw the first pitch. Any team caught delaying the start of the game for any reason, will be docked in the following way: (1) run will be docked against the team delaying the start of the game after the end of the 3rd minute, an additional run will be docked against the team delaying the start of the game after the 4th minute, and a forfeit will be called against the team delaying the start of the game after the 5th minute. Also, any team not having at least 8 players to start the game (once the clock starts or once the umpire verbally announces the clock has started) will be forced to forfeit the game. NCS, our directors, and our officials appreciate your help in helping us keep the games on time so we can provide our players with the best possible playing experience. 

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MOUND VISITS

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1. There will be a maximum of one mound visit per inning and two mound visits per game.

2. If you do not follow this policy your team is subject to losing run's, out's, or a possible forfeiture of the game.

 

REGULATION GAME

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1. Shall consist of seven innings, or the end of the time limit, or the end of the innings advertised.

2. The pool play portion of the event will have a coin flip to determine the home team in each game.

3. Once the division gets into the bracket portion, the higher seed in the WINNER'S BRACKET will be the home team or have option to take visitors. Once teams lose and enter the LOSER'S BRACKET, they lose their seed and a coin flip will always determine the home team. The undefeated team in the Championship Game will always have the choice to be visitor or home. If the game goes into the "if" game, a coin flip would then determine the home team.

  

 

TEAM JUMPING

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1. There will be no team jumping at the same tournament. Players can't play on two teams period.

     *** PLAYERS CAUGHT JUMPING TEAMS WILL BE KICKED OUT OF THE TOURNAMENT, THE GAME WILL BE FORFEITED, AND THE TEAM THEY WERE PLAYING ON MAY ALSO BE KICKED OUT OF THE TOURNAMENT! ***

 

HOME RUNS

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1. Adults have a max home run limit of 4 HR's.

   • ​Seniors have a max home run limit of 6 HR's.

2. All home runs hit over the fence that are over the limit will be counted as outs.

3. Exception to HR limit would be if we offer HR bracelets.

 

 

RUN / MERCY RULE

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1. 20 after 3 innings / 15 after 4 innings / 10 after 5 innings.

   • Seniors have a mercy rule at 15 after 5 innings. They do not have to reach the open inning.

2. ADULTS - FLIP FLOP RULE is in effect once you hit the 3rd inning in bracket play only.

3. POOL PLAY ONLY…. For seeding purposes, the max run differential is 15 runs.

 

 

TIE-BREAKER RULE (For Seeding Purposes)

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1. Ties will be broken in the following order:

•  Best Record

•  Head to head with only 2 teams tied

•  Run differential (15 runs MAX per game)

•  Runs Allowed

•  Runs scored

•  Automated coin flip

(POOL PLAY GAMES that are tied at the end of the time limit or allotted innings will end in a tie)

 

EXTRA INNINGS / INTERNATIONAL TIE BREAKER RULE

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1. Last batted out starts at 2B and you may use a courtesy runner 

 

 

KEEPING SCORE

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1. The home team and the umpire are responsible for working together to keep an accurate score.

2. If the home team does not have a complete book but the visiting team does, we will have the umpire coordinate with the visiting team to keep the accurate score. (Umpire has final say)

3. All teams will be given one scorebook before the tournament starts

 

 

SHORTHANDED RULES

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1. All teams MUST have eight players present in order to start the game.

2. If you know additional players will be late and you know you want them in your lineup, you have the option to have them in your starting lineup but you must take an out if they are not present to hit when they are due up in the lineup.

3. In order to add a player to your lineup after the start of the game, the additional player(s) must arrive before their turn in the lineup and be on your roster. Once you bat once through your lineup, you can't add any other players to your lineup. If players arrive late, they can be substitutes but can't be added to the lineup as an additional player.

4. If you are playing shorthanded, you WILL NOT have to take an automatic out.

 

 

COURTESY RUNNERS

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1. You are allowed one courtesy runner per inning/per gender and the pitcher can also always use a courtesy runner, as well (this allows time for them to get their pitcher's gear on). This can be any player on the team roster, and it does not count as a substitution move. If your courtesy runner is on base when it is their time to hit, you would have to take an out UNLESS you have a sub on the bench that can substitute in for the original batter that the courtesy runner came in to run for. That would then remove the courtesy runner from the bag without penalty and they could hit in their place in the lineup.

2. SENIORS are allowed three (3) courtesy runners per inning. Anyone on the roster can be a courtesy runner (pitchers can always use a courtesy runner and they do not count against the three per inning)​

 

 

BATTER ABANDONMENT - DESERTION (Umpires Discretion)

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On a routine ground ball, fly ball, pop-up, etc. If the batter clearly gives up and heads towards their dugout and the ball is dropped or an error is made, the batter will be called out if they try to advance to first base for desertion.

 

PITCHING RULES

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1. The pitching area shall be the area the width of the pitcher’s mound (usually 24 inches) up to six feet behind the back edge of the pitcher’s mound (SENIORS pitching area is up to 8 ft behind the pitching rubber)

2. All pitchers must wear a protective helmet not just face mask! Pitchers are strongly encouraged to also wear full protective gear including shin guards, wrist guards, and chest/heart protection.

3. Before the first pitch, the batter has automatic time out until he or she is set in the box (one pitch only)  

4. Pitchers have five seconds to release the ball after presenting.

5. Pitchers may pitch from up to six feet behind the rubber but must come set before release (SENIORS may pitch up to 8 ft behind the back edge of the pithing rubber)

6. Each at bat starts with a one ball – one strike (1 & 1) count with no extra fouls.

7. A strike zone will be used with no mat (SENIORS will use the mat for the strike zone)

8. The height restrictions will be a minimum of 4 feet from the ground up to a maximum of 10 feet from the ground (SENIORS pitch height is a minimum of 6 feet from the ground to a maximum of 12 feet from the ground)

9. Pumping/Juking will be allowed (SENIORS - No pumping or juking allowed)

10. A caught foul ball on the third strike is a live ball. The play is not dead, and runners can try and advance.

11. A pitcher will not be allowed to use tape or any other substance, including a glove, upon the pitching hand or fingers of their pitching hand.

12. No foreign substance can be applied to the ball at any time.

13. At the start of a game or when a pitcher relieves another pitcher, not more than one minute may be used to deliver not more than three practice pitches to the catcher or some other teammate.

14. SENIORS - A pitching screen may be used by any team but it must be used to start the game and then used continuously throughout the entire game. The screen shall be limited to 4’ by 7‘ and must be touching any part of the pitching rubber going towards first or third. If a pitching screen is used, the pitcher must toe the rubber and retreat behind the screen and does not have the option to field the batted ball except for the following exception... if there is an infield fly situation, the pitcher can catch a pop-up in the infield.

•    If the pitcher does touch the batted ball first, the batter will be awarded first base and in a force situation, all other runners will advance one base as well. Also, if the pitcher does touch the ball first and it is in the umpire's judgement that a runner from second and/or third would have scored had the pitcher NOT touched the ball first, the umpire may award the runner(s) home.

•   A batted ball hitting the screen shall be deemed a foul ball strike. A ball hitting the screen from a defensive player shall be considered “live”.

 

PITCHER’S LEGAL MOTIONS THAT ARE ALLOWED IN ACTUAL DELIVERY OF THE PITCH

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1. After assuming the pitching position on the pitcher’s mound or in the pitching area, the pitcher must present the ball in FRONT OF HIS BODY (for at least one second) in either one or both hands before starting the delivery motions. (Note: All pitching rules that apply to the pitcher’s actions before and during the release of the pitch along with the restrictions on height, speed, etc., shall remain the same)

2. The pitcher may hold or grip the ball in any manner before delivery.

3. Only a definite underhand motion is permitted in the delivery of the pitch.

4. The pitcher may release the pitched ball in any manner when delivering the pitch. This includes all types of delivery.

5. After the pitcher presents the ball, he may make any windup or arm motions desired, either in front of his body, above his head or behind his back, including stops and pauses in these motions.

6. The pitched ball must be released within 5 seconds from the time the pitcher has the ball, and the batter has taken his position in the batter’s box. From this point, the umpire shall not give a call or signal for “time” unless something unusual occurs.

7. The pitcher must face home plate on delivery of pitch.

8. Realizing that the pitcher does not fool very many batters to the extent that they cannot hit the ball, it is desired that pitchers not be handicapped by technicalities, when they do develop a new technique or delivery that, perhaps, will add to the pleasure and appeal to the spectators if the pitcher adheres to the basic pitching rules.

 

 

TYPE OF PITCH PERMITTED

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1. The ball must be pitched in a definite underhanded motion at slow speed.

2. A pitched ball must have an arc and be at least 4 feet off the ground and not rise higher than 10 feet off the ground after leaving the pitcher’s hand and before it passes any part of home plate (SENIORS pitch height is 6ft to 12ft)

3. The speed of the pitch and height of the pitched ball are left entirely to the judgment of the umpire. Any doubtful pitch should be ruled as an unfairly delivered pitch. The umpire shall warn a pitcher who delivers a pitch with excessive speed. If the pitcher continues to deliver excessive speed pitches, this can lead to the pitcher’s removal from the pitcher’s position for the remainder of the game.

4. A pitch that does not reach 4 feet as required (flat level pitch) may not be deemed an excessive speed pitch but merely an unfairly delivered pitch.

5. The catcher must remain in the lines of the catcher’s box when the pitcher is in position and remain there until a pitched ball has reached or passed home plate or is batted.

 

 

BASES

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1. Base distances of 70 ft are standard (65 ft bases may be used at TD’s or parks discretion) 

 

 

BATTER'S BOX

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1. A batter is deemed to be in the batter's box if at least one foot is in the batter's box from the anticipation of the pitch to contact with the ball

2. The batter CANNOT make contact with the plate at the same time hitting a ball nor can the batters back foot cross in front of the plate. If any of these actions occurs while batting the batter will be called out.  

 

WALK RULES

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1. Men take two bases and women take one base (when walking a male, the woman hitting behind them has the option to take a walk every time.

2. There is no stealing on a walk.

 

BATTED BALL THAT HITS RUNNER ON or OFF THE BASE

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1. If a batted ball hits a runner that is not touching a base, the batter is out and the runners return to their previous base. If a batted ball hits a runner standing on a base, the ball is LIVE.

 

"RE-TOUCH" RULE (FOR SAFETY PURPOSES)

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1. A player has the option, when standing on first or third base with a pull-hitter up to bat, to stand off the base while the pitch is being delivered up to the point at which the batter is making contact. Once contact is made, the runner must re-touch the base before continuing onto the next base. This is to add an element of safety for the runner. If the runner is off the base and does not re-touch before being tagged, they are out. 

 

 

BALL THROWN BY A DEFENSIVE PLAYER

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1. If a ball thrown by a defensive player inadvertently hits an offense player or a bat that is outside the dugout, the closest runner to home plate is out (the on-deck batter and bat are live and are not included in this scenario)

 

 

PLAYERS HIT WITH LIVE BALLS OUTSIDE THE DUGOUT AREA

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1. If the defensive team has a player or bat outside the dugout and they/it gets hit by thrown ball, the ball is dead, and all runners advance one base.

2. If the offensive team’s batter or bat gets hit by a thrown ball, the closest runner to home plate is out.

 

 

ILLEGALLY BATTED BALL

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1. Occurs when a ball is hit fair or foul when both feet of the batter are in contact with the ground COMPLETELY outside the lines of the batter’s box, or when his foot is in contact with home plate, or when the ball is batted with an illegal bat.

2. No Intentional infield hits/poopies/bunts. This will result in a called out.

 

 

ILLEGALLY CAUGHT BALL

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1. Occurs when a fielder catches a batted or thrown ball with a mask, a cap, or with any part of his clothing detached from the proper position on the fielder’s body. If this happens, the ball will be determined to be live on a batted ball and if a thrown ball is caught with these items, each runner will advance one base.

 

 

FAKE TAG

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1. Making the motions of a tag without the ball. This may be considered obstruction and the offender may be ejected.

 

 

FOUL TIP

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1. A batted ball that goes directly from the bat not higher than the batter’s head (this is only an out on the third strike).

 

 

DUGOUT RULES

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1. All players must stay in dugout or in an out of play area. We allow (1) on deck hitter to be out of the dugout.

2. No alcohol and/or smoking/vaping of any kind is allowed in the dugout or in the field of play.

3. No loud or vulgar music.

 

 

POOR SPORTSMANSHIP & CHEATING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED

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1. NO “F” bombs

2. NO throwing the bat

3. NO taunting

4. NO loud or vulgar music inside the parks 

5. NO mental or physical abuse

   (Any violations to these rules could result in immediate ejection from the game and/or the tournament. Director has the right to remove any team or players at any time for violations!)

 

 

FORFEITS

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1. POOL PLAY – Forfeits during pool play games will be scored as a 15-0 game.

2. BRACKET PLAY – Any forfeit in bracket play will be scored as a 7-0 game.

3. Players do not get refunded if you run into a forfeit.

 

 

DISPUTES OR PROBLEMS

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1. Only managers can talk to the umpire or the on site director regarding issues during a game. If a manager is unsure on a ruling from the on-field umpire, please find the tournament director immediately. Do not wait until the game ends because it will be too late to possibly fix the situation. (Tournament Director’s Decision is Final) No Cheating - We do not need to wait for a protest before removing illegal teams or players from our events!

 

 

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

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1. NCS Directors have the right to suspend any players or teams from play at anytime for abuse or any unsportsmanlike conduct.

 

 

INJURED PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTES

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1. Player/substitute, manager, coach, trainer, or other team member or umpire who is bleeding or who has an open wound shall be prohibited from participating further in the game until the bleeding is stopped and the wound is covered.

2. If treatment can be administered in a reasonable amount of time, the individual would not have to leave the game. The amount of time is determined by the umpire’s judgment. If excessive time is involved, the re-entry rule would apply to players.

3. If there is an excessive amount of blood on the uniform or if a bandage becomes blood soaked, in the judgment of the umpire, the uniform/bandage must be changed before the individual may participate.

4. A player who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or balance problems), we highly recommend the player and/or coach remove them from the game and take them to the hospital.

 

 

INJURED PLAYERS COMING OUT OF THE GAME

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1. If a player gets injured and needs to come out of the game, their next at bat will be considered an out and all subsequent at bats will be skipped with no out taken.

 

 

EJECTED PLAYERS COMING OUT OF THE GAME

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1. When a player is ejected from the game, all their subsequent at bats will be considered outs, if no sub is available.

 

 

RE-ENTRY

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1. There is no penalty for unannounced re-entry or substitutions.

 

 

IMPROPER RE-ENTRY

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1. The act of an improper re-entry is handled as a protest by the offended team. Improper re-entry is a violation after a pitch is made. Examples of improper re-entry are:

• Starter who re-enters in an incorrect batting position.

• Starter who re-enters a second time.

• A substitute who re-enters the game.

 

   2. If an improper re-entry is discovered by the defense while the player is playing offensively, the following         penalties will be enforced:

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• If the improper re-entry is discovered while he is at bat, player is ejected, and a proper substitute assumes any accumulated balls and strikes.

• If the improper re-entry is discovered after he has completed his time at bat, but before a pitch has been made to a succeeding batter, he is called out, and the player is ejected from the game. All base runners, if they have advanced, must return to the base occupied at the time the improper re-entry took a position in the batter’s box.

• If the improper re-entry is not discovered until a pitch is made to the next batter or the improper re-entry enters as a substitute runner, the player is ejected. All play that occurred while the improper re-entry was in the game will stand.

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   3. If an improper re-entry is discovered by the offense while the player is playing defensively, the                         following penalties will be enforced:

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• If the improper re-entry is discovered after he makes a play on a fair-batted ball (catch or throw) or a play on a foul fly ball before the next pitch, revert to the previous pitch, the batter and each base runner are advanced one base. The improper player is ejected.

• If the improper re-entry is discovered after a pitch, which did not result in a batted ball on which the improper player made a play, the improper player is ejected (this includes the pitcher)

 

 

ROSTER PROTESTS 

 

1. $150 per protest. If protest is upheld, money will be returned. If protest fails, money will be kept.

2. Roster protests must be initiated/requested before the last out of the third inning (unless there is proof that the illegal player entered the game after the start of the 4th inning.

3. Only the manager of the team can make a protest and they must still be in the game

The only type of protest we allow is a full roster ID check. We would pull the roster, ask for all of the ID’s for the players on that team, and then we would make sure they are all listed on the roster. If we find player(s) in the game that are not on the roster, each illegal player will be kicked out of the tournament, the team will forfeit that game, and the team may not be allowed to continue in the tournament.

 

 

RAIN OUTS, ACTS OF GOD, and GLOBAL CRISIS

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1. Any rain out, Acts of God, or Global Crisis that causes us to have to cancel an event before an event takes place, no refunds will be given since all players will still receive their purchased uniform packages in the mail per the conditions of signing up for the event.

2. If a tournament has to be cancelled during the pool play games but before the bracket games, we will draw player names to hand out the prize packages. Once we start bracket play, the on-site director will decide prize distribution based on the current win-loss records.

 

 

AWARDS DETAILS (Subject to change based on tournament size)

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1. The top 4-6 finishing teams will win awards

 

 

PARK RULES

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1.  NCS has standard park rules during tournament play which include but are not limited to the following:

   • NO Smoking / NO glass containers / NO loud or vulgar music

   • NO scooters / NO bikes / NO skateboards / NO sunflower seeds

2. There are always going to be PARK/CITY SPECIFIC rules that each city says we have to have our players follow in order to rent the facilities. We will post these on the EVENT INFO page so be aware there may be rules we didn't mention above.