Coach's Guide to Baseball Canada 13U and 15U Championships 2026

13U Championship: one coach must be Certified 13U and the other coaches must be Trained 13U.

Ray Carter Cup (15U Boys) and 16U Girls: one coach must be Certified 15U and the other coaches Trained 15U.

Safe Sport: all staff attending any national championship must complete a Safe Sport e-learning module (Respect in Sport or CAC Safe Sport Training) and comply with any Safe Sport requirements their provincial body sets.

Coaches' NCCP numbers must be on the roster, and they must be able to prove certification at the championship. Baseball Canada spot-checks coach certification, and staff without proper certification are removed from the roster.

Source: 2026 Rules & Regulations for Baseball Canada Championships, section 1.3 (a); 2026 Participant's Guide (Team Staff), coach eligibility.

• Roster: up to three coaches, or four if the fourth is at the team's expense. A coach can appear on only one roster per event (this does not apply to the chef de mission or trainer).
• Age: coaches aged 14 or 15 may only coach at 13U Championships.
• Names and numbers: coaches' names and NCCP numbers must be on the roster, and every coach must be able to prove certification during the championship.
• Female coach: at 16U Girls (and other women's and girls' events), each team must have at least one female on the coaching staff.
• Forfeit: a game is declared a forfeit if a team has no eligible coach taking part in the game.
• Adding a coach later: after Baseball Canada verifies certification, a coach may be added to the roster at the written request of the provincial baseball association (a $50 fine applies to adding staff after the roster deadline).
• Trainer: only rostered players, coaches, one trainer and one bat child in uniform may be in the dugout. A trainer needs Red Cross First Aid or equivalent and may not coach.

Source: 2026 Rules & Regulations for Baseball Canada Championships, sections 1.3, 1.5, 2.3 and 3.16; 2026 Participant's Guide (Team Staff).

Rest is set by pitches thrown in a day. 13U Boys/14U Girls vs 15U Boys/16U Girls:

• Each day of rest runs from 12:01 am to 11:59 pm of the next calendar day, and the rest is immediate. A 13U pitcher who throws 60 pitches on Thursday is ineligible for the rest of Thursday, all of Friday and all of Saturday.
• If a game runs past 12:01 am, those pitches count as if thrown before midnight.
• A pitcher who becomes ineligible is ineligible for the rest of that calendar day.

Source: 2026 Rules & Regulations for Baseball Canada Championships, section 4.4 (a, b).

Two appearances in a day: allowed if the pitcher did not exceed the minimum rest threshold (30 at 13U, 35 at 15U) in the first appearance. Combined pitches decide the rest days. A pitcher cannot pitch in three games on the same calendar day.

Two-day maximum: 85 pitches at 13U Boys/14U Girls; 95 at 15U Boys/16U Girls. Example: 20 pitches Thursday leaves 65 on Friday at 13U.

Three consecutive days: allowed only if the first two days combined do not exceed 30 (13U) or 35 (15U). On the third day, the combined total over the three days is capped at 85 (13U) or 95 (15U). This applies to three consecutive days only; there is no maximum three-day pitch limit otherwise.

Four consecutive days: a pitcher cannot pitch on four consecutive days.

Four-day maximum: 120 pitches at 13U/14U Girls; 135 at 15U/16U Girls over any four consecutive days.

Rest required by any of these rules is immediate.

Source: 2026 Rules & Regulations for Baseball Canada Championships, section 4.4 (c to g).

When a pitcher reaches the maximum pitches allowed for a rest threshold, they may exceed it to complete the at-bat.

• Signal the umpire before the pitcher exceeds the threshold that it is the last batter. The count reverts to the threshold on the pitch count log. Example: a 13U pitcher on 27 pitches starts an at-bat, you signal, and the pitcher throws 33; 30 is recorded.
• If you do not signal, the actual number of pitches is recorded.
• Once you signal, the pitcher must be removed after that at-bat. The umpire tells the scorekeeper.
• If the pitcher has exceeded the maximum after finishing a batter, you did not signal, and you let the pitcher throw to a new batter, that is a pitch count violation.

This applies at the minimum daily threshold, the maximum daily threshold (85 at 13U, 95 at 15U), the three-consecutive-day threshold, the same-day two-appearance threshold and the four-day maximum.

Source: 2026 Rules & Regulations for Baseball Canada Championships, section 4.4 (l).

The penalty for any violation of the pitch count rule is:

• ejection of the team's head coach or manager,
• a financial penalty (the fine table lists a pitch count violation at $100), and
• an automatic one-game suspension for the head coach or manager. If the violation is discovered after the game ends, the head coach or manager is still suspended for one game.

When a pitcher is about to become ineligible, everyone, including scorekeepers and the opposing coaches, must raise the point and prevent it by advising the pitcher's head coach or manager.

For suspended games, all pitches are recorded and required rest applies immediately. A pitcher who is eligible on the day the game starts but not on the day it resumes may not pitch in the completion; a pitcher ineligible on the first day but eligible on the day of completion may. A weather delay (teams stay at the field) has no effect on the pitching rules.

Source: 2026 Rules & Regulations for Baseball Canada Championships, sections 3.16 and 4.4 (o, p).

• No return: a pitcher removed from the mound cannot return to pitch in the same game, even if kept at another position. A pitcher who is pinch hit or pinch run for cannot return as a pitcher when the team next takes the field.
• Pitching then catching: once a player assumes the position of pitcher, they cannot catch for the rest of that day.
• Intentional walks: only pitches actually thrown count. Automatic balls do not (a 2-0 count then an intentional walk counts two pitches).
• Balks: if the pitcher balks, continues the delivery and the pitch crosses the foul line, it is charged as a pitch.
• Ambidextrous pitchers: all pitches count, whichever arm is used.
• Second trip: a second visit to the mound to remove the pitcher while the same batter is at bat is allowed. A second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning causes the pitcher's automatic removal.
• Different divisions: a pitcher playing in a different age division is governed by the pitching rules of their actual age division (a 13U-aged pitcher in the 15U division follows 13U rules).
• Number of pitchers: any player may pitch, and there is no limit on pitchers used in a game.

Source: 2026 Rules & Regulations for Baseball Canada Championships, section 4.4.

• Courtesy runners: none is allowed for the catcher.
• Extra hitter (EH): may be used at 13U (and 16U Girls). The team bats ten players, the EH is marked on the lineup card at the start and used for the entire game, and the EH can swap positions with any fielder while keeping their place in the order.
• Ray Carter Cup (15U Boys): a team may use an extra hitter, a designated hitter or neither. Decide when submitting the lineup card; it cannot be changed afterwards. The Ohtani Rule is permitted (MLB rule 5.11 b).
• Re-entry (13U, 15U Boys, 16U Girls): any starting player may be substituted for and return to the game once, in their original batting spot. A removed pitcher may return to the game but may not pitch again. A returned starter may pitch if they have not previously pitched in that game.
• Injury or illness: when all the team's players have entered and no legal substitution or re-entry is possible, a substituted player may return, as determined by the game umpires. The opposing coach selects the replacement, who is not eligible to pitch in that game and takes the injured player's place in the batting order. This does not apply to ejections. If a player is ejected and the team has no more substitutes or legal re-entry, the game is a forfeit.

Source: 2026 Rules & Regulations for Baseball Canada Championships, sections 5.2 to 5.4 and 5.11.

• Length: seven innings (6 1/2 complete innings if the home team is ahead). There are no tie games.
• Mercy rule: ten runs after five innings (4 1/2 if the home team is ahead), or fifteen runs after four innings (3 1/2 if the home team is ahead).
• Round-robin extra innings: each team starts every extra inning with a placed runner on second base and no outs. The batting order continues from how the previous inning ended: if the #6 hitter had the last plate appearance, the #7 hitter bats and the #6 hitter starts on second.
• Tiebreaker and medal games: traditional extra innings with no placed runner.
• Tiebreaker games at 13U, Ray Carter Cup and 16U Girls are three innings.
• Between innings: a 90-second clock. The batter must be entering the box when it expires or an automatic strike is called; if the defence is not ready, an automatic ball is added. Neither counts toward the pitch count. A pitcher gets five warm-up pitches, or eight when entering a game.
• Pitch timers: not used at national championships.

Source: 2026 Rules & Regulations for Baseball Canada Championships, sections 3.5, 5.5, 5.7, 5.8, 5.10 and 5.15.

Bats at 13U: maximum barrel 2 3/4 inches, with either a 1.15 BPF (Bat Performance Factor) or a USA Baseball Model marking. A length/weight differential of up to minus 10 is permitted.

Bats at the Ray Carter Cup (15U): -3 BBCOR bats are permitted. At 16U Girls: maximum barrel 2 3/4 inches with a 1.15 BPF or USA Baseball Model marking, up to a minus 5 differential.

In all divisions the bat must clearly show the manufacturer's original markings, including the length-weight differential where applicable, or it is considered illegal and rule 6.06(d) applies. A player follows the bat rule of the division of the game being played, so a 13U-aged player in a 15U game uses the 15U rule.

Helmets: a double ear-flap helmet is required in the on-deck circle, at bat and on the base paths, in games and practices (including batting cages). Bat children must also wear one at all times, and base coaches must wear one in these divisions. Baseball Canada recognizes NOCSAE as its helmet standard.

Catchers: in games, a complete set of gear (helmet, mask with throat protector, chest protector, cup or Jill strap, shin guards, catcher's glove). In the bullpen, a mask with throat protector is the minimum whenever a catcher squats or a pitcher throws off the mound.

Footwear: metal spikes are not permitted at the 13U Championship.

Source: 2026 Rules & Regulations for Baseball Canada Championships, sections 4.1 to 4.3 and 5.12.

• Lineup: give the starting lineup and a list of all available substitutes to the official scorer at least 30 minutes before the game. Miss it and the fine is $100.
• Arrival: be at your field at least 45 minutes before the designated start time.
• Pitcher notice: 45 minutes before the scheduled start, managers tell each other whether they plan to start a left-handed, right-handed or ambidextrous pitcher.
• Infield/outfield warm-up: the home team gets the whole field 25 minutes before the designated start for 10 minutes; the visitors get it 15 minutes before for 10 minutes.
• Dugouts: the home team uses the third base dugout and the visitors the first base dugout.
• Back-to-back games: a rest period of one hour after the first game; the Technical Officer may reduce it upon agreement with the head coach.
• Late starts: no game starts after 10:00 pm at 13U, Ray Carter Cup (15U Boys) or 16U Girls unless needed to complete the event.

Source: 2026 Rules & Regulations for Baseball Canada Championships, sections 1.6, 3.4 and 3.7 to 3.12.

The Baseball Canada Technical Officer reviews all ejections and may hold a hearing before your team's next game. A youth athlete must have a coach, chef de mission or parent at the hearing. The decision is final and cannot be appealed.

Automatic or minimum sanctions

• Intent to injure: 3 games (1 game may apply instead if contact was incidental and the athlete was ejected)
• Throwing at a batter: 1 game
• An ejection after a game: 1 game
• A second ejection in the championship: 1 game; a third: 3 games
• Contact with an umpire: automatic suspension set by the Technical Officer
• Manager when the team fails to show for a game: 2 games

Fines include: individual misconduct $200, team misconduct $500, pitch count violation $100, failure to submit a starting lineup 30 minutes before a game $100, game forfeit $1,000. The Technical Officer may give one warning before fining. Fine appeals must be made by email within seven days of the end of the championship.

Source: 2026 Rules & Regulations for Baseball Canada Championships, sections 3.15 and 3.16.

• Tell the umpires you are lodging a protest before the next pitch, play or attempted play. No protest may be made on a judgment call.
• A $100 cash deposit must accompany the protest. It is reimbursed if your team wins.
• The umpires suspend play and tell the opposing manager and their umpire supervisor.
• A three-person Protest Committee, chaired by the Baseball Canada Technical Officer, hears the game umpires first, then the protesting head coach, then (if necessary) the opposing head coach.
• The committee's decision is final, with no appeal, and no further argument is entertained.

Source: 2026 Rules & Regulations for Baseball Canada Championships, section 3.14.