Coaches Corner
usa stadium rules
NO METAL SPIKES.
We do NOT allow metal spikes on our fields. We are an all turf facility and thus we do not allow players to wear spikes. Any player of any age found on our field wearing metal spikes will be ejected from the game. Please note, that player is ejected and will not be allowed back in that game and will not be allowed in any subsequent games unless the player is wearing turf or molded cleats.
NO PERSONAL COOLERS – We do NOT allow our guests to bring in personal coolers. Players may bring in a personal cooler jug but we do not allow large coolers or any outside food to be brought into the park. Please pass this information along to your players and parents.
NO SUNFLOWER SEEDS – Please make sure your players understand the detriment that sunflower seeds have on turf. We simply cannot keep that clean so please pass that information on to your players and put a stop to players who insist on bringing sunflower seeds onto our fields.
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GATE PRICES – We only accept cards at USA Stadium. NO CASH. Please be sure to pass along this information to your players and their families.
All On-Site Gate Fee’s in February, March, April and May will be $10. Some organizations that play at our stadium pre-sale tickets and that is not regulated by us.
TSSAA will set their own gate prices.
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We will have concessions at all of our games.
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Prep Baseball Tournament Coaches
PBT Mid-South and USA Stadium Announcement
METAL SPIKES ARE NOT ALLOWED.
Any player caught wearing metal spikes will be ejected from that game and will NOT be allowed to re-enter that game at any time. A substitute can be made and the game will resume. If no substitute is available, the game will continue with the number of players in the lineup as is and the spot in the line up where the ejected player was will be an automatic out. The ejected player can play in the next game if and only if he has changed to molded cleats, turf shoes or tennis shoes. If he is caught wearing metal cleats, he will be ejected again.
If a second player on the same team in the same game is caught wearing metal cleats, the player AND the coach will be ejected. The same rule as above will apply for the coach and player for the next game.
METAL SPIKES ARE NOT ALLOWED
COACHES: Be sure you are aware of all rules and rule changes. Prep Baseball reserves the right to amend these rules at any time for specific tournament play. National High School Federation Rules will be enforced with the following exceptions.
Only one coach will be allowed out of the dugout when the team is on defense. No buckets, chairs, etc. will be allowed outside the dugout at any time.
If the situation arises that an umpire has to remove or eject a coach from the game, the coach is expected to leave the complex and retire to the parking lot.
Players who are ejected MUST remain in the dugout. If an ejected player remains an issue while in the dugout, this will be the coaches responsibility and he will be subject to ejection at that point.
IMPORTANT RULES AND INFORMATION
- TEAMS DEPARTING BEFORE THE END OF THE TOURNAMENT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO COMPETE IN THE PLAYOFFS!!!! If this happens, we will take the second-place team out of the pool or the next best team. The Tournament Director will rule in the fairest possible way.
Pool Play: All time limits begin on the first pitch of the game. 15U to 18U are 2 hours; 14U Games are 1 hour 45 minutes; 13U Games are 1 hour 45 minutes. Game time will be kept by a Field Manager or Umpires. All time limits begin on the first pitch of the game. For each team’s pool games, the home team will be predetermined. A tie is equal to ½ win and ½ loss for each team.
Championship Round/Playoffs: Championship Games are not subject to a Time Limit. This rule is subject to change by the Tournament Director. The home team in Championship Play will be the higher seed. No two teams from the same organization will match-up in their first playoff game unless the game is affected by a bye (applicable to brackets with 9+ teams).
EXTRA INNINGS
- Last hitter on 2nd base with 1 out and all batters start with a 1-1 count.
- Balk is the MLB ruling (NOT a dead ball)
- The base runners will be placed as follows:
13U-14U:
Championship games will be played with regular extra innings through the 9th inning. Starting in the 10th inning the last hitter from the previous inning will be on second base with 1 out and hitters start with a 1-1 count.
- Forfeits: Games may start with 8 players or end with 8 players. Teams who need to return to the office to go through the process of signing waivers for a player’s eligibility may do so. Once that player is deemed eligible, he may be substituted for any player currently in the lineup. He may NOT be added to the lineup at the end to give that team 9 players (unless that game has not actually started). Once the game starts, he may only be entered into the game as a substitute.
Any intentional forfeit could result in the forfeiting team being eliminated from the tournament. No teams should benefit from the result of a forfeit in an unfair manner. A forfeit score is the average runs scored for the winning team to 0 for the losing team. Only the Head Director can call a forfeit.
- Taking Infield: No infield will be allowed during the tournament.
- Mercy Rules: 15 runs after 3 innings; 12 runs after 4 innings; 8 runs after 5 innings
- Trips to the mound: The members of the coaching staff (including the manager) can make one mound visit per pitcher per inning without needing to remove the pitcher from the game. If the same pitcher is visited twice in one inning, the pitcher must be removed from the contest.
- In case of rain: All rain out games may not be made up depending on time constraints. In case of scheduling changes, it is the team’s responsibility, not the tournament committee, to make sure they are aware of the new schedule or any scheduling changes. This information will be posted on the tournament web site when it becomes available. Note: No special request will be honored if rescheduling becomes necessary. Tournament format is subject to change at any time if deemed necessary and will be determined based on the fairest outcome for all teams. All coaches should make sure the tournament committee has current contact information. If games are cancelled, pool winners and champions qualification will be determined by the tie breaking procedures (listed below)
- Stop in Play: If a game is stopped, the game must start within 1 hour of the stop in play. If games are not resumed, they will become suspended or called official. Games called by umpies that cannot be resumed within 1 hour will be considered an official game, if 4 innings have been completed, or 3 ½ innings if the home is ahead (13U-18U: after 5 innings or 4 ½ if the home teams Is ahead). After 4 complete innings, a tie score will be recorded a tie in pool play. The tournament director can extend the 1 hour if there are extenuating circumstances, i.e., lightning detector, working on fields, etc. A suspended game will resume where the game was halted. In the event play is stopped for any reason before or during the championship round, first place, second place, third place, etc will be awarded based on Seeding and Tie Breaker Rules.
- Protests: Judgment calls and pitching limitations are not eligible for protests. Protests will be heard and ruled on by the tournament committee. The team protesting must make cash payment of $100 at the time of the protest. If the protest is ruled in the protesting team’s favor, the $100 will be refunded. The ruling made by the committee will be final. Protests must be filed and ruled on before the next pitch if during game or before umpires leave field if after the game.
- Roster and Roster Changes: All players should be listed on the official roster. If a player is listed on more than one roster, the player listed will make a decision as to which roster, he is legally on. This decision is up to the individual player. No player can appear in a tournament game for more than one team. If there are multiple events going on at one time, players are permitted to play for one team in each event if so desire; pitching limitations still apply to the player. Age divisions within a tournament count as separate events.
- Line-up cards must be fully filled out with players first name, last name, position, and accurate jersey number. All substitutes should be listed with accurate jersey number and full name. Failure to produce a complete lineup card can result in games not starting on time. Line-up cards are to be given to the Field Director at least 15 minutes before the home plate meeting and to the umpire at the plate meeting.
You may bat 9, 10, 11 or your full roster.
We recommend that all teams (home and visitor) keep a scorebook. The official scorebook and lineup card for the game will be kept by tournament staff in case of emergency where staff cannot keep book, the home team will be the official scorekeeper. In a situation, in which tournament staff and the home team are unable to score, the visitor would become the official book. All subs should be reported to the umpires and umpires will report to the official scorekeeper.
- Sportsmanship: In the interest of maintaining a quality event, the tournament committee reserves the right to eject any person from the site for unruly or unsportsmanlike behavior.
- Bat Specifications:
13U and 14U Banned Bats
Effective January 1, 2021, the following bats may not be used in events:
Updated 8/17/2021
- 2015 Demarini CF7 (-5)
- 2015 Easton XL1 (-5)
- 2016 Demarini CF8 (-5)
- 2016 Demarini CF8 (-8)
- 2016 Demarini CF8 (-10)
- 2017 Demarini CF Zen Balanced (-8)**
- 2017 Demarini CF Zen SL 2 3/4″ (-10)**
- 2017 Demarini CF Zen Zero Dark 2 3/4″ (-10)**
- 2017 Demarini CF Zen – Balanced (-5)
- 2017 Demarini CF Insane – Endloaded (-5)
- Louisville Slugger Blue Meta Composite (33/30 model only)
- 2018 Dirty South Kamo BB KA 8 (30/22, 31/21, 32/22, 31/23, 32/24 only)
- (Easton) Ghost X (30/20 only – USA Baseball Marked)
Balk Rule
The MLB balk rule will be enforced. When a balk is called it is NOT a dead ball. A called balk will remain a LIVE ball. The balk is not considered an automatic dead ball.
The fake to third and throw to first play remains LEGAL for Youth events. Also, in the windup position, a pitcher is permitted to have his “free” foot on the rubber, in front of the rubber, behind the rubber, or off to the side of the rubber.
13U and 14U Pitching Rules
The MLB balk rule will be enforced. When a balk is called it is NOT a dead ball. Also, in the windup position, a pitcher is permitted to have his “free” foot on the rubber, in front of the rubber, behind the rubber, or off to the side of the rubber.
The definition to be utilized for the purpose of the pitching restrictions for end of a day shall be any time of night or day that the facility is closed and teams have a break in playing prior to the next days games.
Pitchers who record outs or pitch in a game that is forfeited will still have those outs/pitches counted toward their limitations.
15U – 18U Rules
Courtesy Runner:
ALL AGES: Courtesy runner should be an available substitute. If the team is batting their entire lineup and no substitute is available, the last batted out can be used as the courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher. If the last batted out is the pitcher or catcher, the courtesy runner will be the batter who made the most recent out that is not the pitcher or catcher. The Substitute cannot run for the same position player (pitcher or catcher) in the same game.
- Jumping Over a Fielder: A runner leaving his feet to avoid a fielder that is either in possession of the ball or in the act of fielding is illegal. The ball is dead, and the runner is called out. No runners may advance from the last base legally occupied at the time of the illegal act. The runner does not have to contact the fielder and the fielder does not have to control the ball for this to be consider an illegal act.
- Not coved in the Rules: In the event any item is not covered in the rules or NFHS rules, the tournament committee will make the fairest possible ruling and that ruling will be final.
- Seeding and Tie Breaker Rules:
- The event director has the right to activate pool and/or organization protection for playoff seeding
- Pool Play overall record (winning percentage)
- If two teams are tied – Head to Head winner
- If three teams are tied – (If one team has defeated both other teams, that team advances. If not go to #4.
- Least total runs allowed in pool play.
- If still tied – Total runs scored in pool play.
- If still tied – Total runs allowed subtracting game with most runs allowed in pool play
- If still tied – Total runs allowed minus two games with most runs allowed in pool play
- If still tied – runs scored inning by inning starting with first game until one team has more runs after a complete inning starting with pool games
- Second place teams will always be taken ahead of 3rd place teams for wild cards, 3rd place ahead of 4th place.
REMEMBER: WE DO NOT ALLOW METAL SPIKES IN OUR FACILITY AND WE WILL EJECT COACHES OR PLAYERS WHO ARE CAUGHT WEARING SPIKES.
Coaches will need to stop at the press box on the field of play at the conclusion of each game to verify pitching records. Please do not forget this. Any discrepancies will be corrected at this time.
Victory starts here.
72 Acres of Athletic Excellence
A league above the rest.
A league above the rest.
✅ Local Convenience The stadium is surrounded by a variety of hotels and restaurants, ensuring comfort for visiting teams and families.
✅ Player and Coach Satisfaction
Both groups appreciate the well-maintained facilities, efficient tournament management, and quality competition.
✅ All-Turf Fields Ensures high-quality play regardless of weather conditions, minimizing game delays or cancellations.
✅ State-of-the-Art Facilities Offers modern amenities for players, coaches, and spectators, including updated dugouts and seating.
✅ Rich Historical Significance Former training ground for the USA Olympic Baseball team, adding prestige and legacy to the venue.
✅ Versatile Venue Capable of hosting a wide range of events, from youth leagues to collegiate showcases and charity events.
don't settle
❌ Many still use natural grass, leading to weather delays and cancellations.
❌ Others have stricter, less flexible schedules.
❌ Limited or no streaming and live scoring capabilities.
❌ Lack nearby amenities, impacting visitor convenience.
❌ Lack nationally recognized events. May not have the same level of scout attendance.
❌ Few, if any, ballpark have comparable historical significance.
❌ Some venues have outdated or less spectator-friendly seating.
❌ Safety standards can vary widely among competitors.
Answer: The stadium seats up to 5,000 people for baseball games
There are multiple fields, 14 each equipped with lighting for nighttime play.
Yes, the stadium offers concession stands for food and beverages.
Numerous hotels and restaurants are located within a short distance in Millington and nearby Memphis.
Yes, USA Stadium has a weather plan to handle delays or cancellations.
