Pool Play Tournament Rule

[Tru_in_Blu]

POOL PLAY RAIN FORMAT

1. Time limit clock does not stop during a rain delay.

2. If a rain delay occurs and the time limit expired, the score of the game will revert to the last full inning of play.

3. All games not played will be scored a 3-3 tie.

Scenario: After 3 innings the visitors are ahead 1-0. In the top of the 4th, visitors do not score. In the bottom of the 4th, home team scores 2 runs and rain halts the game with home team now ahead, but no outs in the bottom of the 4th. It rains long enough for time to expire.

What will the final score of the game be?

[Cecil4]

the score of the game will revert to the last full inning of play

OR, is it considered "not played" because of not 5 innings?

[Tru_in_Blu]

In pool play, we've had many games not go 4.5 or 5 innings when using a time limit of 75 or 80 minutes.

Some tournaments call for "drop dead" time limit or "finish the inning" time limit.

With "drop dead", if home team is ahead at that point, game is over. If home team was trailing and didn't get the benefit of their last at bat, score reverts to last complete inning.

"Finish the inning" uses similar logic but allows the trailing team their last chance to take a lead in the game. If visitors take the lead, home team gets their shot to tie or win the game.

[Cecil4]

I think "drop dead" never should be used.

The term "no new inning" is much better than "finish the inning"; because some people are misled by "finish". "No new inning" applies the rule which always exists, home team ahead in the bottom of an inning, game over instantly.

The effect is essentially the same as "drop dead" for that circumstance, but only for home team ahead in the bottom of an inning.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by Cecil4

I think "drop dead" never should be used.

The term "no new inning" is much better than "finish the inning"; because some people are misled by "finish". "No new inning" applies the rule which always exists, home team ahead in the bottom of an inning, game over instantly.

The effect is essentially the same as "drop dead" for that circumstance, but only for home team ahead in the bottom of an inning.

I agree with the "finish the inning" opinion you state. Over the years we've had debates and/or arguments with coaches who want to increase their team's run differential. Wording has been added to some tournament rules that state if the home team is ahead when time expires, that the game is over at that point.

I did work a tournament recently where scorers and coaches either didn't know or didn't care that their team had reached the mercy number. So a game that should have ended with the 12-run mercy ended up being reported as 16-0.

With rare exception, we typically use the run rule of 12, 10, 8, after 3, 4, or 5 innings, respectively.

The heat here recently has been kicking our collective butts. I don't know how guys/gals do it in the south.

[Cecil4]

"Over the years we've had debates and/or arguments with coaches who want to increase their team's run differential. Wording has been added to some tournament rules that state if the home team is ahead when time expires, that the game is over at that point."

Good point!