We request the following rules and guidelines be observed:

Major League-style uniforms only will be allowed on the fields. Since we’re playing on Major League facilities, we should all look like Major Leaguers. No softball pants, sweat pants, or t-shirts will be permitted as uniforms at any time. No exceptions.

All PLAY AT THE PLATE camps and tournaments use only wooden bats. We do not supply bats.

Rules Of The Game

Our tournaments are FULL RULES unless otherwise noted. We offer a Modified Division in Palm Beach, if there is enough interest. All MLB Park events follow Modified Rules to keep the event attractive to a wider range of participants and to discourage high competitiveness instead of simply enjoying the facility. Our Father & Son event in Cooperstown is usually played under modified rules.

Should the situation arise where a modified team has to play against a full rules team, modified rules will be followed.

Scroll Down for Modified Rules

FULL RULES
The following guidelines and rules cover the Full Rules division.

THE GAME
01.1 Games are 7 innings or 2 ½ hrs.
01.2 The game is official after 5 innings.
01.3 Extra innings will be played if needed and time is available. Every attempt to finish a game will be made.
01.4 An inning is over when a team has scored 7 runs.
01.5 If a batter has a safe hit that results in more than the 7th run scoring, all runs from that play shall count.
01.6 Unlimited runs can be scored in the 7th inning and extra innings.
01.7 12-run mercy rule after 5 innings.

PASSED BALLS
02.1 There are passed balls and wild pitches.
02.2 Dropped third strikes apply; batters may advance to first base if possible.

BASE RUNNING
03.1 Stealing is allowed.
03.2 Pinch runners must be announced between the managers before the game.
03.3 Exceptions to this rule are obvious injuries.
03.4 The last batted out shall pinch run.
03.5 Any player over 65 may ask for runner.
03.6 No substitute runners from home plate.
03.7 No substitute runners for pitchers or catchers.
03.8 Runners may lead as far as they wish.

PITCHING
04.1 A pitcher must pitch from the stretch with men on base. He may pitch from the wind-up with a man on third.
04.2 A pitcher who hits 2 batters in one inning, shall be relieved. He may play other position.
04.3 If the same pitcher returns and hits 2 more batters in the course of the game, he will be removed from pitching any further in that game. He may play any other position.

OUTFIELD THROWS
05.1 An outfielder can throw a runner out at first base.
05.2 Outfielders can throw runners out at second on force plays.

BUNTING
06.1 You can bunt at any time in the game.

BATTING ORDER
07.1 All players will appear in a revolving batting order.
07.2 The on-deck batter at the end of the game will lead off the next game.
07.3 The manager of the team can alter his lineup before the second game. After the second game, the lineup remains intact for the rest of the event.
07.4 The lineup will not go to the top of the order if a playoff format is being used.
07.5 All players must play the field for at least 3 innings.
07.6 If a team alters its line up after the 2nd game, a 5-run penalty will be against them. They then must return to the line-up of their 2nd game.

CLUBHOUSE RULES
08.1 THE CLUBHOUSE AND LOCKER ROOMS ARE FOR PLAYERS ONLY!!!!
08.2 No food or alcoholic beverages can leave the clubhouse at any time. The food provided is for registered players only.
08.3 Guests may enter the clubhouse, but only after it has been cleared by a PATP staff, No exceptions.

UNIFORMS AND CONDUCT
09.1 All players must wear an appropriate baseball uniform. No softball pants, sweat pants or t-shirts will be allowed on the field at any time during the games.
09.2 The only contact allowed on the field is tagging a runner. No take out plays or collisions at home plate. Whenever possible, a player must slide at plays at home plate.
09.3 There are no hidden ball tricks and no decking of base runners. If that occurs the runner will be granted an extra base.
09.4 Any player thrown out of a game by an umpire, risks expulsion from the camp.
09.5 Abuse of an umpire or any official of staff member at the venue will not be tolerated.
09.6 Lineup cards are to be exchanged between the managers before every game. No exceptions.
09.7 All players must be physically able to compete. No exceptions to this rule. A player must have the physical strength to make routine plays and not be a deterrent to his team in the field or at bat. Should a player not have the capabilities to play, he may coach. No refund will be given to said player.

MODIFIED RULES OF THE GAMES

These modifications to the rules are being offered in an attempt to bring parity to the playing field, taking into consideration the wide variety of ages of the players.

THE GAME
01.1 Games are 7 innings or 2 ½ hrs.
01.2 The game is official after 5 innings.
01.3 Extra innings will be played if needed and time is available. Every attempt to finish a game will be made.
01.4 An inning is over when a team has scored 7 runs.
01.5 If a batter has a safe hit that results in more than the 7th run scoring, all runs from that play shall count.
01.6 Unlimited runs can be scored in the 7th inning and extra innings.
01.7 12-run mercy rule after 5 innings.

PASSED BALLS
02.1 There are no passed balls or wild pitches.
02.2 There are no dropped third strikes.

BASE RUNNING
03.1 There is no stealing.
03.2 Pinch runners must be announced between the managers before the game.
03.3 Exceptions to this rule are obvious injuries.
03.4 The last batted out shall pinch run.
03.5 Any player over 65 may ask for a runner.
03.6 No substitute runners from home plate.
03.7 No substitute runners for catchers.
03.8 Runners may lead to the cut in the grass.
03.9 Runners may advance once the ball crosses the plate.
03.10 Runners may advance on two-out full counts when the ball is released by the pitcher.
03.11 Base runners will be called out when, if their his lead is past the cut in the grass, if they advance early prior to the ball crossing home plate, or if they leave before the pitch has been released on the 2-out full count. NO WARNINGS!

PITCHING
04.1 A pitcher may pitch from the stretch or wind-up at any time.
04.2 A pitcher who hits 2 batters in one inning shall be relieved. He may play anywhere else.
04.3 If the same pitcher returns and hits 2 more batters in the course of the game, he will be removed from pitching any further in that game. He may play any other position.
04.4 No pick-off of any kind

OUTFIELD THROWS
05.1 No outfielder can throw a runner out at first base.
05.2 Outfielders can throw runners out at second base on force plays.

BUNTING
06.1 You can bunt at any time in the game, except when there is a runner on third base.
06.2 Once you square to bunt, you must either do so, or take the pitch. You can not fake a bunt and swing away. If you do, you will be called out and all runners will go back to their original bases.

BATTING ORDER
07.1 All players will appear in a revolving batting order.
07.2 The on-deck batter at the end of the game will lead off the next game.
07.3 The manager of the team can alter his lineup before the second game. After the second game, the lineup remains intact for the rest of the event.
07.4 the lineup will not go to the top of the order if a playoff format is being used.
07.5 All players must play the field at least 3 innings.
07.6 If a team alters their line-up after the 2nd game, a 5-run penalty will be against them. They then must return to the line-up of their 2nd game.

CLUBHOUSE RULES
08.1 THE CLUBHOUSE AND LOCKER ROOMS ARE FOR PLAYERS ONLY!!!!
08.2 No food or alcoholic beverages can leave the clubhouse at any time. The food provided is for registered players only.
08.3 Guests may enter the clubhouse, but only after it has been cleared by a staff member of PATP. No exceptions.

UNIFORMS AND CONDUCT
09.1 All players must wear an appropriate baseball uniform. No softball pants, sweat pants or t-shirts will be allowed on the field at any time during the games.
09.2 The only contact allowed on the field is tagging a runner. No take out plays or collisions at home plate. Whenever possible, a player must slide on plays at home plate
09.3 There are no hidden ball tricks and no decking of base runners. If that occurs, the runner will be granted an extra base.
09.4 Any player thrown out of a game by an umpire, risks expulsion from the camp.
09.6 Abuse of an umpire or any official or staff member at the venue will not be tolerated.
09.7 Lineup cards are to be exchanged between the managers before every game. No exceptions.
09.8 All players must be physically able to compete. No exceptions to this rule. A player must have the physical strength to make routine plays and not be a deterrent to his team in the field or at bat. Should a player not have the capabilities to play, he may coach. No refund will be given to said player.

Tournament Format

Our tournaments generally run from Thursday to Sunday. This enables players who need to take time off only 2 days away from work, rather than a full week.
We will play two games daily for the first three days of the tournament. The last day has just one game to make traveling easier. We’ll have batting practice either the day before the event officially starts or daily before the games, depending on the availability of the fields.
On Sunday, we will play only the morning game. Your baseball day should be over by 1 o’clock. This schedule could change if a game needs to be made up due to bad weather earlier in the event.
Some fields or parks also allow us to use batting tunnels. There is also a chance that a clubhouse, will be working for us during the tournament. He will be laundering your uniforms, etc. You are expected to do the right thing and tip him during or at the end of the event; generally 5 dollars per day.