KNOW THE RULE.
KEEP PLAY MOVING.

Eligibility

Cannot turn 8 before May 1 of the current season. Grade-exception players must meet the handbook’s 1st-grade criteria.

Bats

No bat size restriction under the 12U-and-below rule; banned/altered bats remain illegal. Wood bats are approved.

Pitching

Coach pitch. The coach pitcher must remain in the pitching circle/area as required by the handbook.

Base Running

• No stolen bases or lead-offs.
• No base on balls, hit-by-pitch award, infield-fly rule, or intentional walks.
• A runner leaving early is out.
• Courtesy runner is allowed for the catcher only; use the last recorded out.

Lineup + Special Rules

• Roster-bat all present players.
• Free defensive substitution; batting order stays the same.
• Nine or ten defensive players are allowed.
• Each batter gets six pitches or three strikes; a foul on pitch six extends the at-bat.
• One bunt per inning.
• Seven-run maximum per half-inning except the sixth inning, when runs are unlimited.

Mercy Rule

• 20 runs after 3 innings (2½ if home team is ahead)
• 15 runs after 4 innings (3½ if home team is ahead)
• 8 runs after 5 innings (4½ if home team is ahead)

Game Rules

• Pool-play home/visitor is determined by coin toss; higher seed is home in bracket play.
• No fake bunt-and-swing (slashing).
• Legal courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher or catcher of record under the handbook rules.
• Pool games may end tied. Bracket games use the SWAT California tiebreaker after regulation.

Eligibility

Cannot turn 9 before May 1 of the current season. Grade-exception players must meet the handbook’s 2nd-grade criteria.

Bats

No bat size restriction under the 12U-and-below rule; banned/altered bats remain illegal. Wood bats are approved.

Pitching

Coach pitch from the 40-foot pitching plate/line.

Base Running

• No stolen bases or lead-offs.
• No base on balls, hit-by-pitch award, infield-fly rule, or intentional walks.
• A runner leaving early is out.
• Courtesy runner is allowed for the catcher only; use the last recorded out.

Lineup + Special Rules

• Roster-bat all present players.
• Free defensive substitution; batting order stays the same.
• Nine or ten defensive players are allowed.
• Each batter gets six pitches or three strikes; a foul on pitch six extends the at-bat.
• One bunt per inning.
• Seven-run maximum per half-inning except the sixth inning, when runs are unlimited.

Mercy Rule

• 20 runs after 3 innings (2½ if home team is ahead)
• 15 runs after 4 innings (3½ if home team is ahead)
• 8 runs after 5 innings (4½ if home team is ahead)

Game Rules

• Pool-play home/visitor is determined by coin toss; higher seed is home in bracket play.
• No fake bunt-and-swing (slashing).
• Legal courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher or catcher of record under the handbook rules.
• Pool games may end tied. Bracket games use the SWAT California tiebreaker after regulation.

Eligibility

8U eligibility rules apply.

Bats

No bat size restriction under the 12U-and-below rule; banned/altered bats remain illegal. Wood bats are approved.

Pitching

6 innings maximum per day and per weekend. More than 3 innings in one day makes the pitcher ineligible the next day.

Base Running

• 10-foot modified steal line.
• No stealing home on pitches, throws, passed balls, wild pitches, or pickoff attempts.
• A runner on third may score on a batted ball or base on balls as described in the handbook.

Lineup + Special Rules

• Roster-bat all present players.
• Seven runs maximum per half-inning; there is no unlimited-run final inning.
• Three outfielders under the modified 9U format.

Mercy Rule

• 20 runs after 2 innings (1½ if home team is ahead)
• 15 runs after 3 innings (2½ if home team is ahead)
• 8 runs after 4 innings (3½ if home team is ahead)

Game Rules

• Pool-play home/visitor is determined by coin toss; higher seed is home in bracket play.
• No fake bunt-and-swing (slashing).
• Legal courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher or catcher of record under the handbook rules.
• Pool games may end tied. Bracket games use the SWAT California tiebreaker after regulation.

Eligibility

Cannot turn 10 before May 1 of the current season. Grade-exception players must meet the handbook’s 3rd-grade criteria.

Bats

No bat size restriction under the 12U-and-below rule; banned/altered bats remain illegal. Wood bats are approved.

Pitching

6 innings max in one day · 8 innings max over 3 consecutive days. More than 3 innings Saturday means no pitching Sunday.

Base Running

• Dropped third strike is an out.
• 10-foot modified lead/steal line at first, second, and third.
• Runner must be stationary at the pitch and may steal only after the pitch crosses home plate.
• First early-leave violation is a team warning; later violations are outs.

Lineup + Special Rules

• Standard SWAT lineup, substitution, courtesy-runner, and roster-batting options apply.
• 9U uses the handbook’s modified stealing provisions.

Mercy Rule

• 20 runs after 2 innings (1½ if home team is ahead)
• 15 runs after 3 innings (2½ if home team is ahead)
• 8 runs after 4 innings (3½ if home team is ahead)

Game Rules

• Pool-play home/visitor is determined by coin toss; higher seed is home in bracket play.
• No fake bunt-and-swing (slashing).
• Legal courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher or catcher of record under the handbook rules.
• Pool games may end tied. Bracket games use the SWAT California tiebreaker after regulation.

Eligibility

Cannot turn 11 before May 1 of the current season. Grade-exception players must meet the handbook’s 4th-grade criteria.

Bats

No bat size restriction under the 12U-and-below rule; banned/altered bats remain illegal. Wood bats are approved.

Pitching

6 innings max in one day · 8 innings max over 3 consecutive days. More than 3 innings Saturday means no pitching Sunday.

Base Running

• Standard NFHS/SWAT baserunning rules apply unless modified elsewhere in the handbook.
• Balks are strictly enforced without warning.

Lineup + Special Rules

• Standard SWAT lineup, substitution, courtesy-runner, and roster-batting options apply.
• No designated hitter in 10U.

Mercy Rule

• 20 runs after 2 innings (1½ if home team is ahead)
• 15 runs after 3 innings (2½ if home team is ahead)
• 8 runs after 4 innings (3½ if home team is ahead)

Game Rules

• Pool-play home/visitor is determined by coin toss; higher seed is home in bracket play.
• No fake bunt-and-swing (slashing).
• Legal courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher or catcher of record under the handbook rules.
• Pool games may end tied. Bracket games use the SWAT California tiebreaker after regulation.

Eligibility

Cannot turn 12 before May 1 of the current season. Grade-exception players must meet the handbook’s 5th-grade criteria.

Bats

No bat size restriction under the 12U-and-below rule; banned/altered bats remain illegal. Wood bats are approved.

Pitching

6 innings max in one day · 8 innings max over 3 consecutive days. More than 3 innings Saturday means no pitching Sunday.

Base Running

• Standard NFHS/SWAT baserunning rules apply unless modified elsewhere in the handbook.
• Balks are strictly enforced without warning.

Lineup + Special Rules

• Standard SWAT lineup, substitution, courtesy-runner, and roster-batting options apply.
• No designated hitter in 11U.

Mercy Rule

• 20 runs after 2 innings (1½ if home team is ahead)
• 15 runs after 3 innings (2½ if home team is ahead)
• 8 runs after 4 innings (3½ if home team is ahead)

Game Rules

• Pool-play home/visitor is determined by coin toss; higher seed is home in bracket play.
• No fake bunt-and-swing (slashing).
• Legal courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher or catcher of record under the handbook rules.
• Pool games may end tied. Bracket games use the SWAT California tiebreaker after regulation.

Eligibility

Cannot turn 13 before May 1 of the current season. Grade-exception players must meet the handbook’s 6th-grade criteria.

Bats

No bat size restriction under the 12U-and-below rule; banned/altered bats remain illegal. Wood bats are approved.

Pitching

6 innings max in one day · 8 innings max over 3 consecutive days. More than 3 innings Saturday means no pitching Sunday.

Base Running

• Standard NFHS/SWAT baserunning rules apply unless modified elsewhere in the handbook.
• Balks are strictly enforced without warning.

Lineup + Special Rules

• Standard SWAT lineup, substitution, courtesy-runner, and roster-batting options apply.
• No designated hitter in 12U.

Mercy Rule

• 20 runs after 2 innings (1½ if home team is ahead)
• 15 runs after 3 innings (2½ if home team is ahead)
• 8 runs after 4 innings (3½ if home team is ahead)

Game Rules

• Pool-play home/visitor is determined by coin toss; higher seed is home in bracket play.
• No fake bunt-and-swing (slashing).
• Legal courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher or catcher of record under the handbook rules.
• Pool games may end tied. Bracket games use the SWAT California tiebreaker after regulation.

Bats

13U requires a -5 or heavier bat. Banned/altered bats remain illegal. Wood bats are approved.

Pitching

1 pitch = 1 inning. 13U–15U limits: Max Innings (1 Day): 7 · Weekend Max Innings (3 Days): 9. Any player who pitches more than 3 innings on Saturday may NOT pitch on Sunday. Innings are tracked per event: a pitcher's innings reset to zero at the start of each separate SWAT tournament. For example, innings pitched at a Friday Night Lights event do not count toward a separately registered Saturday–Sunday tournament. Rest rules apply only within the same event: a pitcher who threw at a Friday Night Lights event may pitch in a separately registered Saturday tournament.

Base Running

• Standard NFHS/SWAT baserunning rules apply unless modified elsewhere in the handbook.
• Balks are strictly enforced without warning.

Lineup + Special Rules

• Standard SWAT lineup, substitution, courtesy-runner, and roster-batting options apply.
• No designated hitter in 13U.

Mercy Rule

• 20 runs after 2 innings (1½ if home team is ahead)
• 15 runs after 3 innings (2½ if home team is ahead)
• 8 runs after 4 innings (3½ if home team is ahead)

Game Rules

• Pool-play home/visitor is determined by coin toss; higher seed is home in bracket play.
• No fake bunt-and-swing (slashing).
• Legal courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher or catcher of record under the handbook rules.
• Pool games may end tied. Bracket games use the SWAT California tiebreaker after regulation.

Eligibility

Cannot turn 14 before May 1 of the current season. Grade-exception players must meet the handbook’s 7th-grade criteria.

Bats

13U requires a -5 or heavier bat. Banned/altered bats remain illegal. Wood bats are approved.

Pitching

7 innings max in one day · 9 innings max over 3 consecutive days. More than 3 innings Saturday means no pitching Sunday.

Base Running

• Standard NFHS/SWAT baserunning rules apply unless modified elsewhere in the handbook.
• Balks are strictly enforced without warning.

Lineup + Special Rules

• Standard SWAT lineup, substitution, courtesy-runner, and roster-batting options apply.
• No designated hitter in 13U.

Mercy Rule

• 20 runs after 2 innings (1½ if home team is ahead)
• 15 runs after 3 innings (2½ if home team is ahead)
• 8 runs after 4 innings (3½ if home team is ahead)

Game Rules

• Pool-play home/visitor is determined by coin toss; higher seed is home in bracket play.
• No fake bunt-and-swing (slashing).
• Legal courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher or catcher of record under the handbook rules.
• Pool games may end tied. Bracket games use the SWAT California tiebreaker after regulation.

Eligibility

Cannot turn 15 before May 1 of the current season. Grade-exception players must meet the handbook’s 8th-grade criteria.

Bats

NFHS bat limitations apply; bats must be -3 BBCOR stamped. Wood bats are approved.

Pitching

7 innings max in one day · 9 innings max over 3 consecutive days. More than 3 innings Saturday means no pitching Sunday.

Base Running

• Standard NFHS/SWAT baserunning rules apply.
• Balks are strictly enforced without warning.

Lineup + Special Rules

• Standard SWAT lineup, substitution, courtesy-runner, and roster-batting options apply.
• No designated hitter in 14U.

Mercy Rule

• 20 runs after 2 innings (1½ if home team is ahead)
• 15 runs after 3 innings (2½ if home team is ahead)
• 8 runs after 4 innings (3½ if home team is ahead)

Game Rules

• Pool-play home/visitor is determined by coin toss; higher seed is home in bracket play.
• No fake bunt-and-swing (slashing).
• Legal courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher or catcher of record under the handbook rules.
• Pool games may end tied. Bracket games use the SWAT California tiebreaker after regulation.