Ark Complex – General Rules 2024

Ark Complex is a privately-owned complex and reserves the right to remove or ban anyone or any team that violates the rules below. VIOLATION OF RULES ARE SUBJECT TO A FINE AND REMOVAL FROM THE ARK COMPLEX

• No negative sportsmanship, behavior, vulgar language, physical abuse towards players, coaches, fans, umpires, or park officials.
• No vandalism/trespassing on property. Any player/team involved will be subject to that team forfeiting the remainder of the tournament without a refund.
• NO animals – except under the ADA rules that state a service animal that has been trained to perform disability-related tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting, and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with a mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. Violators will be asked to leave The Ark Complex. 
• No alcohol, No smoking, No dip/chew, or any form of tobacco/vapor/electronic – subject to a fine of $100.
• No gum/seeds/shelled snacks allowed inside the park – subject to a fine of $100. 
• No steel spikes (turf cleats or tennis shoes only.) 
• Items/service intended for business and or sale/trade may not be brought onto Ark Complex property including parking lots without the approval and lease agreement for Ark Complex. 
• Playground – No food or drink allowed on the Playground – Parents/Guardians are responsible for their child. 
• Dugouts - teams are responsible for their own hydration & cleaning up – only teams allowed in dugouts. 
• Coolers/Bags/Carts – SUBJECT to inspection - visitors are allowed small personal size coolers – No alcohol. 
• Tents – Only permitted around outfield fences and foul lines beyond the dugouts. We reserve the right to ask anyone to move who sets up a tent in any other area of the park. 
• No cowbells/noisemakers, concrete chalk, Play-Doh, or markers 
• No hanging of video recorders or any device on the protective nets around the fields 
• No skateboards, scooters, hoverboards or bicycles
• No climbing on dugouts/chairs, retaining walls, sitting on padding, jumping over guardrails, or throwing/moving rocks. 
• No speeding or unsafe driving in the parking lot or cooking in the parking lot. 
• Music – The Ark Complex will control all music from the press box. No outside music or other devices are permitted. 
• No hitting, throwing, or kicking any balls into the fences, padding, or in walkways. 
• No grills or open flame heaters including propane tanks. 
• Press Box – OFF Limits. Only Ark Complex Personnel allowed in the press box.
• Bus/RV Parking – MUST park in designated parking area as directed. 

Ark Complex Tournament Rules

Coaches: Be sure you are aware of all rules and rule changes. Ark Complex reserves the right to amend these rules at any time for specific tournament play. National High School Federation Baseball Rules will be enforced with the following exceptions.

Important Rules and Information:

Please acquire the needed team insurance

Teams MUST be ready to play 30 minutes prior to scheduled game time

Teams need to provide two quality baseballs per game (Ark Complex is a homerun friendly park.)

Teams shall pay umpires the following at home plate prior to the start of each game (prices subject to change):

8U: $40

9U-12U: $65

13U-15U: $75

Tournament Formats:

1 Day Events:  2 game guarantee; 2 Pool Play games and top seeded teams advance to a championship game.

2 Day Events: 3 game guarantee; 2 Pool Play games on Saturday, teams are then seeded for Sunday single elimination.

Pitching Mound / Bases:

8u = 40 (Coach)/60 9u – 10u = 46/65 11u-12u = 50/70 13u + =60/90 

Pool Play: All Pool Play games will be played with a strict 1 hour and 15-minute time limit or 6 innings of play for 8u, 1 hour and 30-minute time limit or 6 innings of play for 9U, 10u, 11u, and 12u, 1 hour 45-minute time limit or 7 innings of play for 13u and 14u, and 2-hour time limit or 7 innings of play for 15u +. Time will be kept by the umpires. For each team’s pool games, the home team will be determined by coin flip at home plate with umpires. There will be NO extra innings in pool play. All pool games that are tied after 6 innings(8u-12u) or 7 innings(13u+) or are past the time limit will end in a tie. There is no drop-dead time limit as long as there is time on the clock and teams have not played the above innings of play, the game continues. It is mandatory for teams to record the start time as announced by the umpire at the beginning of the game. It’s very important that both teams record the start time. 

No games will begin at the Ark Complex on Sundays prior to 12 p.m. The park will open at 11 a.m.

Playoffs/Championships/Seeded Play: Any non-championship seeded game will have the same time limit as a pool play game. There is a 2-hour time limit for 13u + Championship games. Time limit for 8u-12u championship games will be the same as pool play. This rule is subject to change. The home team in Championship Play will be the higher seed except when there is no seeding. When there is no seeding, the home team will be determined by a coin flip. This is the case even if the schedule says otherwise. 

All playoff and championship games (quarterfinals, semifinals, etc.) must have a winner. If after 6 innings(8u-12u) or 7 innings(13u+) or time limit, the two teams are still tied, “Ark Complex Extra Innings” will begin. The last three hitters from the previous inning will load the bases. NO courtesy runner is allowed in “Ark Complex Extra Innings.” The base runners will be placed as follows: 

• Last hitter from previous inning at 1st base 
• Hitter before him in the lineup at 2nd base 
• Hitter before that in the lineup at 3rd base 

Extra innings starts with 1 out.

If there is a winner in extra innings, (no matter the score) the winning team will only be credited for one run in the final score. Example: After regulation, the score is 3-3. No matter how many runs the winning team scores, the final score will be 4-3. 

 Play continues until one team is ahead at the end of an inning. 

Forfeits: All games must start with at least 8 players, however any team starting with 8 players will receive an out for the 9^th spot in the batting order. A 9^th player can be added during the game but must bat in the 9^th spot in the batting order. A game can be finished with 8 players. Any intentional forfeit could result in the forfeiting team being eliminated from the tournament. The tournament committee will rule on all forfeits. No team should benefit from the result of a forfeit in an unfair manner. This rule could result in a dispute and the tournament committee reserves the right to look at and rule in the fairest possible way. Forfeits will be scored 7-0. A team that has forfeited a game for any reason shall not be able to play in bracket or championship games. The tournament committee will decide when a forfeit is declared. 

Taking INF/OF/BP on fields: At the discretion of Ark Complex Tournament Director.

Trips to the mound: The members of the coaching staff (including the manager) can make one mound visit per pitcher per inning without removing the pitcher from the game. If the same pitcher is visited twice in one inning, the pitcher must be removed from the contest. 

Mercy Rules: 15 after 3, 12 after 4, and 8 after 5.

Hitting lineup: Can consist of 9, 10, or 11 players; or teams are permitted to bat their entire lineup. The lineup must stay with the same number of batters for the entire game. Once the first pitch has been thrown the lineup is locked, and the number of batters may not be changed. The 10th and 11th hitter, if used, will be designated as EH and XH on the lineup card. The EH and XH may bat at any spot in the order. The EH and XH is the same as any position on the field as far as substitutions are concerned. If a player is injured or ejected, and the team still has 9 players in the batting order, no outs will be accessed if that spot in the batting order comes up later in the game. A team can utilize the DH for any player in the defensive line up. Teams can utilize a DH and an EH in the same game as long as they are not batting their lineup. 14u and up will play by a modified College DH rule where the pitcher can be P/DH. (This means that once you pull the pitcher out of the game he can remain in the batting order as the DH.) (Can DH for anyone, not limited to the pitcher.) Teams are not required to utilize the DH or the EH. It is an option to allow coach's more flexibility within their line ups.

When batting the entire lineup: In the event of injury or sickness of a player in the batting lineup, the batter will be skipped over to the next batter in the lineup without it being considered an out.  Any other reason, the batter will be considered an out before proceeding to the next batter.

A batter injured by a foul ball and cannot continue to bat can leave the game and the next batter will assume his count.

Courtesy Runner: You may use the last recorded out made to be your courtesy runner IF you are batting the entire lineup. If you are not using the entire lineup, a sub that is NOT in the current lineup may be used. If more than one sub is available, the same sub cannot run for the pitcher and the catcher. If there are no outs and runs have scored, the last runner to score will be the courtesy runner (With a continuous batter order). NO Courtesy Runner is allowed in “Ark Complex Extra Innings”. 

Protests: Tournament Director will make the final call on all protests. 

Scoring: We recommend that all teams (home and visitor) keep a scorebook. The official scorebook will be the home team and a score card for the game will be kept by the home team. The score card will have all pitchers and their pitch counts for the game and need to be signed by both teams’ head coaches after the game. Teams are asked to visit the Tournament Table after each game and report the official score. Accurate reporting of scores is critical in order to record correct seeding.

 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 and not following the General Rules of The Ark Complex. 

• Head coaches are responsible of the conduct of their players, assistant coaches, and parents. 
• Physical attack on an umpire, tournament official, associate director, associate officer, and/or any player or fan prior, during, or immediately following a game played under the authority of The Ark Complex. Assault on an official is a felony in some states. 
• Players, coaches, managers, fans, spectators, or sponsors threatening an umpire, tournament official, associate director, or associate officer with physical harm. 
• Using unsportsmanlike conduct or abusive language, symbol tactics, or derogatory or unbecoming acts. 
• Destruction of property or abuse or failure to pay. 
• Competing under an assumed, false, and/or altered name.  

Tournament hosts have the authority to eject a player, fans, or team anytime during a tournament if they commit any of the above listed offenses for the remainder of a game, day, or event. Any event that results in physical altercation (before, during, or after a game) could result in a forfeit for both teams. The tournament committee reserves the right to remove teams from playoff contention. 

Bat specifications: There are no bat size restrictions in age’s 9u-12u, but all must be stamped with a Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.15 or have a USA Baseball Logo to be legal in any Ark Complex Tournament. In a 13u or 14u event, bat size must be -5 or -3 (drop 5 or drop 3). In 15u + BBCOR approved bats are now required and High School Federation Rules apply. Wood Bats are always approved. Wood Composite Bats must be stamped BBCOR. The penalty for using an illegal bat will result in terminating the ½ inning and the teams switching sides. 

Batting: For 9u-12u, Slashing is illegal. The first penalty for slashing is batter is out and the head coach and team are warned. The penalty for a second offense is batter is out and the head coach is ejected. The penalty for a third offense is a forfeit. 

Pitching: All Ark Complex Tournaments will follow the Pitch Smart Guidelines with a few exceptions. A portion of these guidelines is included below. 

*If a player pitches in two games in the same day, the player’s required rest will be determined by the total number of pitches of both games. No one may pitch three consecutive games or three consecutive days. 

*If a pitcher reaches the limit for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until one of the following occurs: 1. Batter reaches base 2. Batter is put out 3. Third out is recorded. The pitcher’s pitch count will revert to the lower threshold with respect to day’s rest. 

*If a pitcher pitches consecutive days, the cumulative number of pitches will be his pitch count. For example, if a pitcher pitches 15 pitches on Friday and 19 pitches during the first game on Saturday, pitch the second game on Saturday or any games on Sunday. his pitch count is now 34 pitches. Therefore, that pitcher cannot pitch the second game on Saturday or any games on Sunday.

*A day of rest is a calendar day off.

Violation of the pitching limitations will subject team to forfeiture

Balks: For 8u and 9u there will be NO balks, however a “balk” can NOT result in an out. For 10u and 11u, balks will be played dead with 1 warning per pitcher. For 12u, balks will be played dead with NO warnings, and 13u+ all balks are played live with no warning. This rule is subject to change.

*The third-to-first pickoff move is illegal at all age levels and will be considered a balk.

Seeding and Tie Breaker Rules: 

1. Pool play overall record (winning percentage; tie counts as half win) 
2. If two teams are tied- Head-to-Head winner 
3. If three teams are tied- If one team has defeated both the other teams, that team advances. If not, go to #4.
4. Least total runs allowed in pool play 
5. If still tied- Total runs scored in pool play 
6. If still tied- Total runs allowed subtracting game with least runs allowed in pool play
7. If still tied- Total runs allowed minus two games with least runs allowed in pool play
8. If still tied- Runs scored inning by inning start with first game until one team has more runs after complete inning starting with pool games

Ark Complex Friday Night Rules

Time Limits: All Friday Night Lights games for all ages will be played with a 1 hour and 45-minute time limit or 6 innings of play for 12u and under and 7 innings of play for 13u+.

Trips to the mound: There will be no penalization for mound visits in Friday Night Lights games. Ark Directors reserve the right to amend this rule at any time.

Scoring: For 8u and under, the inning will flip after 5 runs is scored or 3 outs is made. For all ages, coaches have the right to swap sides at any time as long as both coaches are in agreement.

*There are also free substitutions for all Friday Night Lights games*

Refunds:  

• If Zero Games are played, 75% of entry fee will be returned as a credit for a future event run by The Ark Complex.  
• If 33% of your guaranteed tournament games are played 50% of entry fee will be returned as a credit for a future event run by The Ark Complex.
• If you play 2 or more of your scheduled games, that is considered a full tournament.  
• Credits are valid for 12 months from the time of the cancelled event.  
• *Teams that pull out after an event is sold out will not receive any refund or credit.
  
  

*Teams that pull out within 45 days of an event will not receive any refund or credit.