As soon as the District Tournament is complete the winning Manager must notify the State Host League Tournament Director, Jeb Bush at 222-444-5555.

District Champions must EMAIL a complete tournament team roster and team photo (.jpg or .png format at least 927 x 1297 pixels) to the Tournament Director, Jeb Bush at jbush@fl.com within 24 hours of the conclusion of the district tournament. Players and coaches location and names within the photo must be included.

Please Note: A roster and picture not received by  Noon  on  July 10, 2008  may not be included in the tournament program. But, please email as soon as possible.

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All teams are to report at least two hours prior to their first game. Check-in will be conducted at the field, Center City Sports Complex. Please be prepared to provide your completed Tournament Team Credentials Book.

All players and coaches MUST arrive as a team and remain on-site during the check-in. A team member who is not present at the check-in will be removed from the roster and will be ineligible to compete during the State Tournament. Any absences or deviation from this must be prearranged, through a Request for Exception to your District Commissioner. An approval or disapproval will be issued by the State Commissioner or designee (a copy must be placed in the team tournament book). This must be done prior to arrival. In addition, the tournament committee is to be made aware of the approved request prior to the team’s arrival. No other exceptions to this rule will be made.

During check-in a State Tournament Representative, along with the Host Tournament Director or assistant will check all credentials. At this time teams will be able to arrange for practice times.

All credentials must be in a loose-leaf binder notebook in the order of the TOURNAMENT TEAM CREDENTIALS CHECKLIST. The Credentials Checklist and Letter of Eligibility must be signed by the District Commissioner (or designee) for State Tournament participation.

Note: This tournament is the beginning of Level 2 of your tournament participation. Your book should have been checked at least once before this tournament. Please be aware that NO TEAM OR PLAYER WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REGIONAL TOURNAMENT WITHOUT THE PROPER CREDENTIALS.

Practice times and field locations with directions will be available at check-in.

Tournament games will be played at Center City Sports Complex. Directions will be provided at check-in.

Up-to-date tournament brackets will be distributed at check-in. However, you may visit the Southeast Region Website at http://vababeruth.com and download a copy at any time.

The Official Babe Ruth Tournament Bracket has been used to schedule games (and the order in which they are played). However, weather or other conditions may necessitate a bracket being changed up to the start of the tournament and during the tournament. Managers should verify their first games scheduled while attending check-in.

Be sure to follow your team’s schedule at all times. Managers, coaches and players must attend all scheduled practice sessions, tournament games and other official events unless excused by the tournament director or assistant.

Changes to the game schedule due to inclement weather will be made as soon as possible. Managers will be notified by tournament officials via the cell phone/pager numbers provided at check-in. Players, family members and fans can determine what if any scheduling changes have occurred by calling the TOURNAMENT HOTLINE, 222-555-1111. Changes will be posted as soon as they are made, on the field site and on the Website.

Game results will be posted on at the field after each game. The results will also be posted on the State Website at the conclusion of the days events.

Two Babe Ruth certified umpires will be scheduled to officiate each game except for the semifinal and final games, where three umpires will be scheduled. During all games, the umpires are in control of the playing field.

Coaches and players are to refrain from arguing or showing disrespect to the officials under any circumstances. If a Manager or player is asked to leave the game by an umpire, Babe Ruth or tournament official, they must leave the tournament complex immediately. Failure to do so can result in actions against the entire team, including removal from the tournament.

In POOL PLAY the home team has already been determined. In double-elimination play the home team will be decided by the flip of a coin by the tournament director or another designated tournament official at least 40 minutes prior to game time. The home team will take the third base dugout.

Each team will have a total of 10 minutes for infield and outfield practice prior to the start of their game. The visiting team will begin practice 30 minutes prior to game time and the home team will practice 20 minutes prior to game time. Teams must be ready to take the field for infield practice when notified by tournament officials or will lose whatever time they do not use. Please ensure you allow teams finishing a game to completely vacate the field and dugouts before your team moves onto the field.

Players and umpires will be announced 10 minutes prior to each game. For each game, the visiting team will be announced first, with players and coaches taking their places along the first base line as announced. The home team will be introduced next, its players and coaches taking their places along the third base line. The starting lineup will be announced first, followed by the names of those players who are designated as reserves for the game and the batboy or batgirl, coaches, and manager. The umpires then will be announced followed by the playing of the National Anthem.

The tournament director or another tournament official will discuss ground rules with the managers and umpires at home plate prior to each game.

Official lineup sheets (4-part) must be completed with player jersey number, first and last name, and position (if a starter) and with distribution to the official scorer, chief umpire, opposing team manager, and retain. Changes in the lineup are to be made to the plate umpire first and then all other parties.

Only managers, coaches, players, tournament officials and tournament approved batboys and batgirls are allowed in the dugout and in the fenced playing area. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES will anyone else be allowed inside the playing field. This includes parents, team scorekeepers, and fans.

Water and cups will be provided in each dugout prior to the start of all games.

In addition to the offense base coaches, the batter, on-deck batter, the base runners, and the nine (9) defensive players on the field, only (in the designated area) a warm-up pitcher, catcher, and safety monitor will be permitted outside of the dugout.

Throwing or unnecessary abuse of any equipment or baseball property will not be permitted.

Smoking (includes smokeless tobacco) is not allowed on the premises; eating and drinking are not permitted on the playing field.

Players must remain within the fenced area of the playing field during all games and is not allowed to mingle in the stands or with the spectators.

A player ejected or removed for an infraction of the playing or field rules will remain in the dugout until the game is completed, unless the umpire indicates otherwise.

The use of foul language by players is discouraged. The use of foul language within the playing field is not allowed and will be dealt with accordingly by the umpires assigned to the game.

Uniforms must meet the requirements contained in Rule 1.11 (Baseball and Softball). In addition, no two players on the same team will wear the same number. For consistency, players and coaches must be assigned the same uniform number throughout the tournament regardless of the number of uniforms the team uses during travel. * The regular Cal Ripken Baseball, Babe Ruth Baseball, and Babe Ruth Softball (as appropriate) shoulder emblem must be securely attached in accordance with the current Babe Ruth Rule Books (Baseball and Softball). If teams choose to wear an Official State Champions Babe Ruth patch, it must be securely attached to the right sleeve of the uniform. All players, managers, and coaches are to be dressed in accordance with Babe Ruth requirements.

NO player, manager or coach, or batboy/batgirl will be allowed on the playing field or in the dugouts unless in a complete acceptable uniform. At no time are blue jeans allowed (or shorts for baseball). There are NO exceptions.

As a team representing your league and your state you are expected to maintain a neat appearance at all times, on and off the field. When not involved in a tournament game, you may dress informally and comfortably. Players are to wear or carry with them at all times their official tournament pass recognizing them as a tournament participant.

All tournament games will be played in the presence of the Tournament Director and a Protest Committee. Any protest must be resolved prior to continuing play. Decisions by the protest committee are final without appeal. The Protest Committee will consist of at least three members designated by the tournament director (not necessarliy one for each team). If needed seats will be reserved for the members of the committee for each game.

The official scoring record for each game will be maintained by the official scorekeeper designated by tournament officials. This book will serve as the official record of the tournament. Teams may designate their own scorekeeper but in doing so must understand that their book will not be taken into account if issues arise. Team assigned scorekeepers may not be in the dugout or on the playing field for any reason. They are to refrain from interrupting the flow of a game for any reason.

Teams may provide ONE batboy or batgirl if they so desire. A team designated batboy or batgirl must be identified on the team roster at the start of the tournament and changes cannot be made. All batboys and batgirls must be in uniform for each game, and must wear a helmet anytime they leave the dugout. Teams are to provide uniforms for their designated batboy or batgirl. Batboys and batgirls are to remain within the playing field and dugouts for the duration of all games and are not to enter and exit the field at will. Managers are responsible for the behavior and safety of their batboys and batgirls during games.

Teams are to immediately depart the fields and dugouts upon the conclusion of games. This includes removing all equipment and trash. No team is to conduct a post meeting with their players within the fenced playing field.

The team manager will be held responsible for the behavior of their fans. Fans are not to enter the playing field at anytime for any reason and are to display a positive attitude to all teams, players, umpires and officials. Mangers are to immediately handle problem fans if the need arises. Managers are reminded that umpires have the authority to take action against a team due to the actions of their fans.

Our goal is to help all players perform at the peak of their abilities while enjoying the competition, camaraderie, and distinction that go along with playing in a Regional Tournament. At the same time, you have an obligation to everyone involved to be on your best behavior at all times. If you have a problem that can’t be resolved by your coaches, please contact Tournament Officials. They will try to help.

Your conduct must be above reproach both on and off the field. Any misbehavior or misconduct not only could cause your disqualification from the tournament but could also lead to the disqualification of your team. Types of bad conduct that could lead to disqualification:

• The use of profane or indecent language.
• Fighting or other aggressive behavior toward your teammates, coaches, members of other teams, umpires, tournament officials, or other tournament participants on or off the field.
• Any illegal acts.