Coaches · Read Before You Register

Rules & Info

Everything a coach needs before the first pitch — tournament format, bat rules, the age chart, insurance and roster requirements, refunds, and payments. Written plain so there are no surprises at the gate.

Tournament Rules Bat Rules Age Chart Insurance & Rosters Refund Policy Payments
01 · The Format

Tournament Rules

These are the standing rules for all Armed Forces SlugFest events — the Zombie Apocalypse SlugFest and the Armed Forces SlugFest. Play by them and there are no gray areas.

Format & Guarantee

  • 2 pool-play games Saturday, seeding teams into Sunday.
  • Single-elimination bracket Sunday — win or go home.
  • Minimum 3 games guaranteed, weather permitting.
  • 2 umpires and game baseballs provided for every game.
  • Home team in pool play is decided by coin flip; in bracket play the higher seed is home.

Game Length

  • Games are 6 innings or a 1 hour 45 minute time limit — whichever comes first.
  • No new inning starts after the time limit. An inning that has begun is completed.
  • Championship games have no time limit and are played the full 6 innings.
  • Pool games may end in a tie; bracket games play extra innings (international tiebreaker — runner on second — after regulation) until a winner is decided.

Run Rule / Mercy

  • 15 runs after 3 innings
  • 12 runs after 4 innings
  • 10 runs after 5 innings

The run rule applies in both pool and bracket play, including championship games.

Pool-Play Tiebreakers

  • 1. Head-to-head result
  • 2. Run differential (capped at ±8 per game)
  • 3. Fewest runs allowed
  • 4. Most runs scored
  • 5. Coin flip

Lineups, Runners & Re-Entry

  • Batting options: teams may bat 9, bat 10 (with an EH), bat a continuous line-up of all rostered players, or use a straight 9 with substitutes. Declare your option to the umpire and scorekeeper before the game and keep it for the whole game.
  • Free defensive substitution when batting the roster; standard sub rules apply when batting 9 or 10.
  • Re-entry: any starter may re-enter one time in their original batting slot.
  • Courtesy runners are allowed for the pitcher and catcher at any time (recommended with two outs to keep pace). The courtesy runner must be a player not currently in the game, or the last batted-out when batting the full roster.
  • A player who arrives late may be added to the bottom of the order without penalty.

All rules are subject to final confirmation by the Tournament Director, whose ruling on the field is final.

02 · Legal Lumber

Bat Rules

By Division

  • 8U – 12U: bats must be USA Baseball (USABat) stamped or USSSA (BPF 1.15) stamped. Barrel up to 2¾".
  • 13U: USSSA (BPF 1.15) up to drop -8, USABat, or BBCOR. Barrel up to 2¾" for USSSA, 2⅝" for BBCOR.
  • 14U: USSSA up to drop -5, USABat, or BBCOR (-3).
  • 15U – 17U & 17+: BBCOR (-3) only for metal/composite; barrel 2⅝".
  • Wood bats are legal in every division and always welcome — this is a wood-bat-friendly event.

General

  • Bats must carry a visible, unaltered stamp. No shaved, rolled, doctored, or de-stamped bats.
  • An illegal bat found in a game results in the batter being called out and, on a second offense, ejection of the head coach — consistent with standard youth-baseball enforcement.
  • When in doubt about a specific model, ask the Tournament Director before game day.

Bat standards mirror current USA Baseball / USSSA youth travel-ball norms and are subject to final confirmation by the Tournament Director.

03 · Where Your Team Plays

Age Chart

A player's tournament age is their age as of August 31, 2026. A team plays up to the age of its oldest eligible player. Use the birth-year window as a guide — the Tournament Director confirms any borderline age before bracket play.

DivisionLeague Age (as of 8/31/26)Typical Birth-Year Window
8U8 & underSep 2017 – 2018 or later
9U9 & underSep 2016 – Aug 2017
10U10 & underSep 2015 – Aug 2016
11U11 & underSep 2014 – Aug 2015
12U12 & underSep 2013 – Aug 2014
13U13 & underSep 2012 – Aug 2013
14U14 & underSep 2011 – Aug 2012
15U15 & underSep 2010 – Aug 2011
16U16 & underSep 2009 – Aug 2010
17U17 & underSep 2008 – Aug 2009
17+High-school upper (open)2008 & earlier (see TD)

Divisions carry A B C tiers so every team lands in a fair bracket. Cutoff date and windows are subject to final confirmation by the Tournament Director.

04 · Paperwork That Matters

Insurance, Rosters & Birth Certificates

Insurance

  • Every team must carry its own general liability insurance.
  • Provide a certificate of insurance before your first game.
  • The tournament, its directors, and host facilities assume no liability for injury; each team is responsible for its own players and coaches.

Rosters

  • Submit your official roster before your first game.
  • Rosters lock once bracket play begins — no additions after that point.
  • A player may appear on only one roster per event.

Birth Certificates

  • Have a birth certificate available on request for every player.
  • Used only for age verification in the event of a protest.
  • A team that cannot verify a challenged player's age may forfeit affected games.

Documentation requirements are subject to final confirmation by the Tournament Director.

05 · Money Back

Refund Policy

Before the Event

  • On or before August 31, 2026 (the registration deadline): full refund minus a non-refundable processing fee.
  • After August 31, 2026: 50% refund if your spot can be filled from the waitlist; otherwise no refund, as fields and umpires are already committed.
  • Once bracket play begins, no refunds are issued.

Weather / Act of God

  • 0 games played: full refund minus the processing fee, or a full credit toward a future AFSF event.
  • 1 game played: 50% refund or credit.
  • 2 or more games played: the event is considered complete — no refund.
  • Credits toward a future event are honored for 12 months.

All refund and credit decisions are subject to final confirmation by the Tournament Director.

06 · Squaring Up

Payments

Entry Fee & How To Pay

Entry is $775 per team. Register your team on TeamSnap, then send the entry fee directly to the tournament by any of these:

  • Check — payable to Frank LeClair or SlugFest, mailed to 5790 Meadow Drive, Frederick, MD 21702
  • PayPal — fredericksluggerfest@yahoo.com (use the Friends & Family option so neither side pays online fees)
  • Venmo — @ArmedForcesSlugFest (last 4 digits: 7256)
  • Zelle — 240-344-7256

Your spot is confirmed once payment is received; the field caps at 150 teams, and balances are due in full by August 31, 2026.

$775Per Team

Register on TeamSnap · pay by check, PayPal, Venmo or Zelle
Due by Aug 31, 2026 · field caps at 150 teams

Fees and deadlines are subject to final confirmation by the Tournament Director.

You've read the fine print

Now grab your bid

$775 per team · registration closes August 31, 2026 or when the field caps at 150 — whichever comes first.

Register Your Team → View Live Brackets

Questions? Email Tournament Director Frank LeClair — FrederickElite@yahoo.com