D52 Tournament Pre- and Post-Game Schedule

The following Schedule of Activities shall be followed for all District 52 sponsored Tournaments. If the Tournament is running behind schedule, the Tournament Director has the discretion to shorten the length of the infield practices or cancel it outright.

1. Arrival and Coin Toss. (60 minutes prior to game start)

2. Lineup Cards (40 minutes)

3. Visiting Infield, Home Inspection (30 minutes)

4. Home infield, Visiting Inspection (20 minutes)

5. Pregame Ceremony (10 minutes)

6. Managesr Meeting (5 minutes)

7. First Pitch (0 mintues prior to game start time)

ARRIVAL AND COIN TOSS (T-60)

Both teams arrive at the field to commence warm-ups 60 minutes prior to the scheduled game time.

From the time a team first arrives at the field for warm-ups until the team leaves the field at the conclusion of the game, a maximum of three (3) adults are allowed on the field during pre-game warm-ups and the game. Only players on the roster are allowed on the field. Injured players not participating in the game may sit in the dugout. Injured players should wear their uniform jersey, but not a full uniform. If the Tournament Director or any of the Tournament Staff sees more than three (3) adults on the field, question who should be removed from the field.

Each manager shall report to the Tournament Director for the pregame coin toss. The winner of the coin toss has the option to select either home/away or the choice of dugout. Once the winner selects their option, the other team’s manager shall select one of the remaining options. The Tournament Director should make a note of the result in case there are questions later. The Tournament Director will give the Managers the blank roster cards provided by D52. No other lineup card will be accepted. For All-Star tournaments, the tournament director will take the team's binders.

Teams may use the outfield on their respective sides for warm-up as soon as the prior game is over. The tournament director may also provide additional off-field warm-up locations.

LINEUP CARDS (T-40)

Each manager shall submit their Official Lineup Card to the Tournament Director by 40 minutes prior to the game time. Lineup Cards shall be clearly legible and include:

1. The Manager's First and Last name

2. Team (League) name

3. The players’ first and last names AND uniform numbers

4. For All-Stars list the starters and their fielding positions, and put the subs in the substitutes section. For Superbowl, all players are in the lineup and you only need to indicate the starting pitcher and starting catcher in the position column.

5. Players ineligible to pitch should be noted with an asterisk (*) by the ineligible player's name).

The Tournament Director will verify the eligibility of every player that has pitched in the Tournament by reviewing each team's pitch count form.  If any players are found to be ineligible to pitch on that day and not noted by the manager, the Tournament Director shall notify the manager of his error.

The Tournament Director will bring the Lineup Cards (un-separated) to the pregame plate meeting and will be validated by the Plate Umpire.  Managers may make changes or correct errors right up to that point.

VISITING INFIELD, HOME INSPECTION (T-30)

30 minutes prior to the game start, the visiting team will be given the option to take infield practice for 10 minutes.

During this time the home team should line up their team bats, batting and catcher's helmets  against the fence outside their dugout. The equipment inspection will be performed by the umpires. Please have the players remove any (illegal) bats that will not be used. Manager should have a Phillips screwdriver available in case the screws on the catcher's helmet are loose. Illegal and/or damaged equipment found during the inspections will be given to the Tournament Director.  That equipment will be placed outside the confines of the playing field so it can't be used during the game.

District 52 will allow decals on helmets so long as they do not cover more than 20% of the helmet surface.  Sharpie ink used to put the player's name on the helmet will be allowed.

HOME INFIELD, VISITING INSPECTION (T-20)

20 minutes prior to the game start, the visiting team will be given the option to take infield practice for 10 minutes.

The visiting team will do inspections as above.

PRE-GAME CEREMONY (T-10)

The announcer will being the announcements at 10 minutes prior to the game start. This will include the introduction of the complete player roster, coaches, and managers. The Visiting Team will be announced first, then the Home Team. On hearing their names, players should run out of the dugouts and form a line along the nearest foul line, starting near home plate (beyond the batter’s box) and heading towards 1st or 3rd base. 

Next the umpires will be announced by position.  Umpires will take their position behind home plate facing the teams.  

The ceremony ends with the National Anthem. Tournament Directors may play any version you like, but please don’t pick one which is too long.

MANAGERS MEETING (T-5)

After the pre-game ceremony, players will retreat to their respective dugout.  The Managers will meet with the Umpires and Tournament Director at home plate to exchange lineup  cards and review the ground rules.

The Home Team should not take the field until after the Managers Meeting is complete.

The Tournament Director will attend the pre-game plate meeting to give the plate umpire the lineup cards, go over any ground rules, go over the restroom escort procedure and go over the bullpen procedures if needed.

FIRST PITCH (T-0)

Play ball!

POST-GAME

1. If this is an elimination game, Immediately after the game, each team will line up on their respective baselines so the eliminated team may receive their Tournament pins.

2. Both teams should clean trash from their dugouts.

3. If there is a game scheduled after your game, vacate the dugout quickly so the next team can put their equipment in the dugout. You may need to do this prior to your post-game meeting, and that meeting may need to be off the field.

4. The Tournament Director or Official Scorekeeper will fill out and sign each team's pitch count forms in ink. Managers must be sure to review and resolve any discrepancies through the Tournament Director before leaving the game site.

5. For all-stars, managers will take their binders and pitch count forms with them. For Superbowl, the forms will stay with the tournament director.