Travel baseball rules are often confusing. Each organization has a base set of regulations that govern play.
But, on top of that, each group has its own exceptions to those rules.
Below you’ll find direct links to the specific travel baseball rules for each of the major travel baseball programs in North Carolina.
Additionally, we’ll highlight some of the major differences between these groups. This will help you navigate what rules are in effect for which organization.
USSSA Rules Highlights
2021 USSSA Official Travel Baseball Rules
Base Rules: Official Major League Baseball, Specifically the National League
First, we want to note with many thanks that USSSA rules are laid out in an easy-to-use standard rules format, unlike other sanctions listed below.
USSSA uses Offical Major League Baseball Rules as their base ruleset. Of course, there are rule exceptions for the youth baseball crowd. Those are outlined below.
Pitching Rules (by Age) [RULE 7.05 B.1, 7.05 B.2, and 7.05 B.3]
- 9u: Maximum of 3 innings to pitch the next day. Not more than 6 innings in one calendar day. Not more than 8 innings in any three-day period.
- 10u: Maximum of 3 innings to pitch the next day.Not more than 6 innings in one calendar day. Not more than 8 innings in any three-day period.
- 11u: Maximum of 3 innings to pitch the next day. Not more than 6 innings in one calendar day. Not more than 8 innings in any three-day period.
- 12u: Maximum of 3 innings to pitch the next day. Not more than 6 innings in one calendar day. Not more than 8 innings in any three-day period.
- 13u: Maximum of 3 innings to pitch the next day. Not more than 7 innings in one calendar day. Not more than 8 innings in any three-day period.
- 14u: Maximum of 3 innings to pitch the next day. Not more than 7 innings in one calendar day. Not more than 8 innings in any three-day period.
- 15u and above: No pitching rules.
The key breakpoints here are:
- Between the ages of 12u and 13u, where the one-day maximum number of innings increases from 6 to 7.
- And between 14u and 15u, specific age and inning rules disappear.
Other things to note:
USSSA plays a number of multiple-day tournaments that the other sanctions don’t play. This can lead to some confusion with the ‘three-day maximum’ pitching rules. It is a rolling 3 days. However (AND THIS IS IMPORTANT), a pitcher that pitches 3 days in a row must rest a day, no matter the total number of innings pitched over that time [RULE 7.05.B.4(c)].
A few examples of what is legal (and what is not) are below.
- Pitcher A pitches 3 innings on Friday and none on Saturday. He is eligible to pitch a maximum of 5 innings on Sunday (3 + 0 + 5 = 8).
- Pitcher B pitches 4 innings on Friday, he is not eligible to pitch on Saturday (3-day maximum to pitch the next day has been exceeded). However, he is eligible for 4 innings on Sunday (4 + 0 + 4 = 8).
- Pitcher C pitches 3 innings on Friday and pitches 3 on Saturday. He is eligible to pitch 2 innings on Sunday (3 + 3 + 2 = 8).
In longer tournaments (5+ days).
- Pitcher A pitches 3 innings on Friday and none on Saturday. He pitches 5 innings on Sunday (3 + 0 + 5 = 8). He must rest a day because of the 3-inning maximum, so he cannot pitch on Monday. But what happens on Tuesday? Because it is a rolling 3 days, it doesn’t reset. The maximum number of innings he can pitch on Tuesday is 3 (5 + 0+ 3 = 8).
- Pitcher B pitches 4 innings on Friday, he is not eligible to pitch on Saturday (3-day maximum to pitch the next day has been exceeded). However, he is eligible for 4 innings on Sunday. Once this happens, he won’t be eligible to pitch again until Tuesday, with a 4-inning maximum.
- Pitcher C pitches 3 innings on Friday and pitches 3 on Saturday. He is eligible to pitch 2 innings on Sunday. At that point, it might seem like he is eligible for a max of 3 innings on Monday. However, because he pitched three days in a row, he MUST rest on Monday. On Tuesday, he would be eligible for up to 6 innings (2 on Sunday, 0 on Monday, 6 on Tuesday would equal 8 innings).
Bat Rules (by Age)
The travel baseball rules for bats in USSSA are pretty clear.
- For all ages 14u and younger, all bats must possess a USSSA BPF of 1.15 stamp or BBCOR.50 Certified [Rule 7.01.C]. USA Baseball stamped bats are also legal except where BBCOR.50 is the mandatory stamp [Rule 7.01.D].
- For all ages 12u and younger, there are no weight/length restrictions.
- For 13u, bats must have a length to the weight difference of -8 or lower. So, for example, if a bat is 32 inches long, it must weigh at least 24 ounces [Rule 7.01.C.1].
- For 14u, bats must have a length to the weight difference of -5 or lower. So, for example, if a bat is 32 inches long, it must weigh at least 27 ounces [Rule 7.01.C.2 ]. The exception here is any Super NIT event, 14 MAJOR must use BBCOR.50 bats [Rule 7.01.C.2 (a)].
- At ages 15u and above, NFHS rules apply, making BBCOR.50 the standard [Rule 7.01.C.3].
Wood bats as long as they are manufactured by a licensed USSSA vendor are legal at all ages.
Top Gun Sports Rules Highlights
Top Gun Sports USA Official Travel Baseball Rules
Base Rules: National Federation of High Schools (NFHS)
Top Gun’s travel baseball rules are finally formatted such that they are legible. While the rules are standard across all Top Gun regions, tournament and site director knowledge and interpretation of the standard rules is highly variable across North Carolina. This extends to and is exacerbated by the umpires at nearly every age division.
Top Gun uses NFHS as the foundation for its regulations. However, there are exceptions, a few of which are listed below.
Pitching Rules (by Age)
- 9u: Not more than 6 innings in one calendar day. Not more than 8 innings on consecutive calendar days.
- 10u: Not more than 6 innings in one calendar day. Not more than 8 innings on consecutive calendar days.
- 11u: Not more than 6 innings in one calendar day. Not more than 9 innings on consecutive calendar days.
- 12u: Not more than 6 innings in one calendar day. Not more than 9 innings on consecutive calendar days.
- 13u: Not more than 7 innings in one calendar day. Not more than 10 innings on consecutive calendar days.
- 14u: Not more than 7 innings in one calendar day. Not more than 10 innings on consecutive calendar days.
- 15u: Not more than 7 innings in one calendar day. Not more than 10 innings on consecutive calendar days.
- 16u and above: No pitching rules.
The key breakpoints here are:
- Between the ages of 10u and 11u, where the innings on consecutive days increase from 8 to 9 and stay the same through the 12u season.
- Between 12u and 13u, the innings per day increase from 6 to 7, and the innings on consecutive days increase from 9 to 10 and stay the same
- And between 15u and 16u, specific age and inning rules disappear.
Bat Rules (by Age)
In Top Gun, the travel baseball bat rules are more straightforward.
- Between the ages of 8u and 12u, there aren’t any size/weight restrictions. However, all bats must possess a BPF of 1.15 stamp or USA Baseball certified.
- For 13u, bats must have a length to the weight difference of -8 or lower. So, for example, if a bat is 32 inches long, it must weigh at least 24 ounces.
Additionally, travel baseball bats must have a BPF of 1.15 or USA Baseball stamp.
BBCOR bats that have a length/weight difference of -3 are also allowed.
- At ages 14u and above, NFHS rules apply, making BBCOR the standard.
Finally, the saying “wood is always good” applies to all age groups. This means that wood barrel bats are always allowed in all age groups.
Game On Sports Rules Highlights
Game On Sports Official Travel Baseball Rules
Base Rules: National Federation of High Schools (NFHS)
