TOURNAMENT RULES
PLAYER AGE REQUIREMENTS
Player eligibility for all divisions is based on their age as of April 30, 2025.
Teams must carry photocopies of player birth certificates (digital or printed) and make them available to the Tournament Committee upon request. The Tournament Director reserves the right to declare any player ineligible until their birth date can be verified.
EQUIPMENT
Bats:
No bat length/diameter/weight restrictions will be enforced. The Umpire-in-Chief or his on-field representative may disallow the use of a particular bat(s) due to safety concerns (cracks, dents, etc.)
Metal Spikes:
No metal spikes/cleats are allowed. Cleats must be molded rubber or plastic.
Batting Helmet:
A full use batting helmet, which covers the top and back of the head and the sides of the face, must be worn when at bat and while on the bases.
Catcher’s Gear:
Catcher must wear all appropriate protective gear, which includes a protective helmet/mask that fully covers both ears, chest protector, shin guards, and protective cup. A throat guard is recommended.
A two-piece catchers helmet (separate skullcap & mask) is not allowed.
The Summer Knights Classic utilizes field rentals provided by Federal Way National Little League (FWNLL), as well as City of Federal Way Parks.
USE OF THE PARK
Teams may warm-up in the outfield grass before their game if time permits.
No formal infield/outfield is allowed prior to the game.
No soft-toss into the chain link fence is allowed.
NO smoking, vaping or use of tobacco is permitted at any Summer Knights Classic Facility.
Alcohol & Marijuana have no place at or around youth sports. There is a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for any alcohol and/ or marijuana use. This offense will result in immediate removal from the complex, and the fan ejection policies will apply.
Pets are not permitted at the FWNLL Complex.
Service animals are permitted as directed under WA State Law and following ADA requirements. Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy dogs are not service animals under Washington State Law, and therefore are not permitted.
Pets are permitted at Federal Way Parks, unless otherwise posted.
Start of Game:
Game start time is at the completion of umpire/manager(s) meeting at home plate. Game start time is forfeit time, unless tournament staff creates delay. Teams that are no-shows will forfeit their entry fee.
Pool Play:
A coin flip between the two managers will determine the home team for each game. The team based the furthest from Federal Way shall call the toss, or defer to the opposing manager.
In all playoff and championship games, the higher seeded team has the choice to be home or visitor. There will be no coin flip.
Dugouts:
There is no distinction between “Home” and “Visitor” dugouts. The choice of dugouts will be on first-come basis. All teams must pick up trash and debris following completion of their game.
Home team is required to keep the official book.
Regulation:
All pool play games shall be 6 innings in length for 9U-12U divisions.
Time Limit:
No new inning to start after 1 hour and 40 minutes (1 hour and 10 minutes for 8u). The current inning will be completed. If the home team is ahead and at bat when the time limit is reached, the game ends immediately. If a pool play game is completed with time remaining, no extra innings will be played.
Ties:
A pool-play game may end in a tie. There will be no ties allowed in playoff and championship games. In playoff games if, at the end of the time limit or at the completion of regulation innings the game is tied, the “California” tiebreaker rule will go into effect. Each team puts the batter who is scheduled to bat last in that respective half of the inning on second base with no outs and plays out a full inning. This happens until the tie is broken and the game is complete. NO time limit or tiebreaker in Division Championship.
End of Game:
A game shall be ruled complete if it is called by the umpires or the Tournament Director due to rain, inclement weather, or other reasons beyond our control, provided four innings have been completed.
If four innings have not been completed, the game shall be suspended and resumed from that point when safe play can be resumed. All reasonable efforts will be made to complete games as scheduled. The Tournament Director reserves the right to extend tournament dates, shorten game length or times to complete the tournament.
Once the last inning is determined, the game ends accordingly. If the home team takes the lead prior to three outs being recorded, the game ends at that point.
SEEDING RULES
First factor is Win-Loss record
TWO WAY TIE
1. Head-to-Head between tied teams
2. Fewest runs allowed
3. Total run differential
4. Most runs scored
5. True differential in last pool play game
6. Coin Toss
RUN DIFFERENTIAL MAXIMUM
1. Forfeits will be scored 8-0
2. Maximum run spread per game is 8 regardless of score
THREE WAY TIE
1. Head-to-Head (in sweep)
2. Fewest runs allowed
3. Total run differential
4. Most runs scored
5. True differential in last pool play game
6. Coin Toss
SUBSTITUTION
9U and 10U Division:
Teams will bat their entire line-up. Free substitution will be in effect. If a player is unable to bat, he will be removed for the remainder of the game. However, this will not count as an out.
11U and 12U Division:
May either bat straight 9 players, bat the entire line-up, use a DH and/or use an EH.
Whatever is elected must be used for the entire game but not for the entire tournament.
If batting a straight 9, DH or EH, starting players may re-enter once per game (same position in the batting order).
If batting the entire lineup, free substitution will be in effect.
A team must start the game with a minimum of 9 players but can finish with less.
An out will be recorded for any open spot in the lineup.
The EH may not be dropped once the game has started.
PITCHING:
The manager is responsible for keeping an up-to-date tournament pitching log. At the beginning of each game, the pitching log will be made available to the opposing team. At the end of each game, the pitching log will be signed by a representative of the opposing team. Failure to maintain an accurate pitching log may be considered a violation of the pitching rules.
9U-12U Pitchers are allowed 3 innings per game, 6 innings per day, 9 innings for the tournament.
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For teams playing a 4th pool play game, 11 innings for the tournament will be allowed.
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All other pitching rules above will apply (3/game + 6/day limits)
The throwing of a single pitch will be considered an inning pitched.
All innings pitched during tiebreakers will be included in the per game/day/tournament totals.
12U and younger may throw on flat surfaces depending on field availability.
Once the pitcher is removed from the mound, he may not re-enter as a pitcher in that game.
A pitcher must be removed from the mound upon the 3rd visit by the coach/manager to that pitcher.
If a coach calls time to confer with another player and crosses the foul line, this is considered a trip to the mound.
Violation of the pitching rules will result in manager disqualification for the balance of the current game plus the next game, and the Pitcher removed from the mound.
The umpires will settle all situations on the field. Protests will be not be allowed.
EJECTIONS
Any manager, coach or player ejected from a game will not be allowed to communicate with their team (players and personnel) once play has resumed.
Any manager, coach or player ejected from a game will not be allowed to attend the team’s next scheduled game. In a new game, this would apply when the pre-game meeting at the plate is called for by the umpire. The Tournament Director, or his representative, may impose additional game sanctions as deemed appropriate.
SPORTSMANSHIP
All players, coaches, and fans are expected to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner.
Bullying, heckling, razzing, taunting, or using disparaging remarks to other fans, teams, tournament staff, and umpires will not be tolerated. Any player, coach or fan whose conduct is unbecoming or abusive will be removed from the premises at the discretion of the Tournament Director (or his representative), Umpire-in-Chief and umpires.
Any individual ejected from the game will not be allowed to return for the team’s next scheduled game. The Tournament Director, or his representative, may impose additional game sanctions as deemed appropriate. If the same person is ejected for a 2nd time, he/she is suspended for the remainder of the tournament. Failure to comply will result in forfeiture of the game.
Refunds:
In the event the tournament is cancelled for unforeseen circumstances, $100.00 of the team entry fee will be kept to cover administrative costs and the remaining balance refunded.
If the tournament is declared rained out, a refund of $100.00 per game (up to a maximum of 3 games) will be provided.
No refund will be provided for teams having completed three or more games in the tournament.
MERCY RULES & INNING MAX
The following mercy / run rules apply for 9U-12u division pool play & bracket games.
12 runs after 3 innings of play (2 ½ if the home team is ahead)
10 runs after 4 innings of play (3 ½ if the home team is ahead)
8 runs after 5 innings of play (4 ½ if the home team is ahead)
Championship Game:
10-run and 15-run rules will be waived during the Championship; however, the losing coach has the option to call the game.
