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Wiffle Ball Tournament Rules
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As decreed by The Jolly Wiffler

The general rules of baseball shall apply in most situations, but the following wiffle ball rules have been adapted from HRL Twin Cities, an impressive local wiffle ball league with a website that rivals Major League Baseball's (see www.hrltwincities.com). The rules have been tailored to this tournament.

The rules will be loosely enforced, and a great deal of self-policing will be required. Bottom line is - play clean, play fair and have fun.

EQUIPMENT

  1. Only baseball size Wiffle Ball brand balls are to be used. Balls cannot be scuffed or tampered with in any way;

  2. Only "classic Yellow" wiffle bats are to be used. Bats cannot be taped or tampered with in any way;

  3. This is a "running" tournament, not a "boundary" tournament, meaning that players must run the bases just as in baseball. There will be the four standard bases - First Base, Second Base, Third Base, and Home Plate, roughly 50 feet apart;

  4. There will be an object strike zone, placed 3.5 feet behind the tip of Home Plate and measuring 24 Inches wide, 30 Inches high and 12 inches above the ground. The strike zone will be 42 feet from the pitching rubber.

REGULATIONS

  1. Four (4) players must be present to play a game without batting penalties (see BATTING);

  2. Teams may have as many players on a roster per game as they like, but must have at least 4 players on the roster to avoid batting penalties. Every player listed on the roster for a specific game bats;

  3. Teams must have no more than 4 players playing defense, that is, the pitcher and 3 outfielders;

  4. Each player can only play for one team during the tournament;

  5. Games are 3 Innings, using extra innings if necessary (see below), 3 outs per team;
    1. "Regular Season" games are allowed one extra inning. If the score is still even after the extra inning of play - the game shall end in a tie;
    2. The Playoff, Championship, 3rd Place, 5th Place and BWOS games are allowed unlimited extra innings, as necessary to crown a winner.

  6. A 5-run Mercy Rule per inning will be used to keep play going. However, the total runs scored in an inning may exceed 5 runs if:
    1. the 5th run and any additional runs are scored in the same at bat (for example, if a team has 4 runs scored in an inning and have runners on base, and the batter hits a home run, then the runs scored by the batter and the base runners shall count before sides are switched;
    2. the 5th run and any additional runs are scored on walks in the 3rd inning and/or each extra inning (i.e. No game can end in a walk unless a run is scored via the walk by the home team to win the game).

  7. Game Sheets will be used to record all stats, including the batting order for that game. Game sheets will be provided by the tournament organizers.

WALKS/STRIKEOUTS

  1. A walk is 4 balls;

  2. A strikeout is 3 strikes;

  3. It's a strike if...;
    1. It's swung at and missed;
    2. It's fouled off;
    3. It hits the Strikezone board;
    4. The batter messes with a good pitch with the hand or elbow. There is no first warning;

  4. A fouled third strike that hits the Strikezone board will result in a strikeout. Any other foul ball on third strike that is not fielded in the air by the defense, and that does not hit the strike zone shall not be ruled a third strike against the batter.

  5. Intentional walks are not allowed.

  6. In the 3rd inning or each additional inning thereafter (extra innings) - walks cannot end the inning via the mercy rule.

PITCHING

  1. Pitching is medium-fast speed. However, the pitching speed should be kept below 55 miles per hour (MPH), and may be enforced with a speed gun if necessary;

  2. Pitchers must pitch from the rubber or any mark on the ground meant to simulate the rubber;

  3. Any type of pitching grip is allowed, but pitchers may not dent, deform, wet, or weight the ball in any way;

  4. Any player is eligible to pitch.  However, a pitcher can only pitch 1 inning per 3 inning game.  For games that go extra innings, pitchers who pitched in innings 1 through 3 may pitch in the extra innings – but can only pitch in 1 of every 3 additional innings. No pitcher can pitch in consecutive innings in the same game (e.g. the pitcher who pitched in inning 3 cannot pitch in inning 4), but may pitch the last inning of one game, and the first inning of their next game;

  5. Pitching changes will not be allowed during an opposing team's at bat or during an inning. The only exception will be in the case of an injury to a pitcher during play.

  6. Pickoffs are allowed and Balks are not called. The pickoff rule is as follows:
    1. Runners can take as big a lead as they want - initial or secondary leads- at their own risk;
    2. Pitchers can walk/run a leading baserunner back to their base
      1. No baserunner may advance if the pitcher still has the ball, even if they have left the mound;
      2. If the pitcher beats any baserunner back to their base of origin, the runner is out and play is dead;
    3. Pitchers can throw the ball at leading baserunners;
      1. If a ball is thrown and misses a runner or is dropped, play is live and baserunners may advance;
      2. If a thrown ball hits a baserunner, the runner is out, play is dead, and no runners may advance.

BATTING

  1. Each team must submit a roster with a batting order prior to each game;

  2. Each team is required to bat all players listed on their roster;

  3. Batting out of order results in an automatic out;

  4. If a team member cannot be present during their at-bat for any reason, then the team will be assessed an out at that point in the batting order. If two team members cannot be present, then the team will be assessed two outs, and so forth;

  5. If a team cannot field at least three players, then the team forfeits that game;

  6. No stopping potential strikes by leaning into them or stopping them with the hand, elbow or body;
    1. The pitcher is entitled to make this call. First offense will result in a strike on the batter. Subsequent offenses result in an automatic strikeout;

  7. No bunting;

  8. Throwing bats deliberately to distract fielders will result in an automatic out.

  9. Player must hold and swing the bat with two hands (no one-handed swinging is allowed, Freed).

BASERUNNING

  1. No stealing is allowed but a runner may take a lead off a base and get a head start on a pitch at his own risk. See Rule 6 under "Pitching";

  2. Tagging on flies and liners is allowed; runners who leave early can be tagged out at the base they left;

  3. Runners are awarded the base they were headed to PLUS ONE on an errant throw that goes past the Out of Play lines;
    1. Out of play is considered to be the following:
      1. A ball that goes outside the fenced areas;
      2. A ball that travels inside fair territory on the neighboring field;
      3. A ball that gets caught or stuck in any chairs, coolers, equipment or vegetation along the side of the fields;

  4. On an errant throw that stays in play, runners may advance at will;

  5. A throw that misses a runner, hits an object (such as the fence), and then hits the runner when the runner is not on base is an out;

  6. A baserunner is out if...;

    1. The ball touches any baserunner and he's not on a base. This include being hit by a hit ball;

    2. He's forced out when a fielder tags the base he's headed for;

    3. He's tagged out or hit with a thrown ball;

  7. Pinch runners may be used in the event of an injury or for a player substitution. However, the player who was substituted for cannot re-enter the game in which he was replaced;

  8. Players may not switch bases for strategic advantage.

FIELDING

  1. No more than 4 fielders at one time on defense. Players may substitute freely on defense (with the exception of the pitcher);

  2. Fielders may not go behind the fence to catch a ball;

  3. If a fielder catches a fly ball and falls over the fence and retains possession of the ball, the batter is out;

  4. If a fielder leaps from fair territory to catch a fly ball passed the tall grass (home run) boundary and catches the ball prior to touching the tall grass, then the batter is out. However, if the fielder does not maintain possession, it is a home run;

  5. If a fielder makes contact with a fly ball in fair territory, misses, and the ball lands in the tall grass or in foul territory, the play is live, a fair ball but not an automatic home run;

  6. Fielders may throw balls at runners for outs. However, fielders may not throw balls at the runner's head. If the runner gets hit in the head, the runner is automatically safe.

  7. There is no infield fly rule. However, at no time shall a fielder deliberately miss a pop-up to attempt a double-play when there are runners on base. If it appears that the fielder deliberately dropped the ball, then all runners and the batter will be considered safe. This will be a judgment call made by the umpire, or by the batting team if no umpire is present.

GROUND RULE DOUBLE

  1. A fair, batted ball goes through or under the fence in any way;

  2. A fair, batted ball that is not ruled a home run gets lost in the high grass area.

HOME RUNS

  1. Ball goes over the tall grass boundary in fair territory in the air and is not caught or touched by a fielder before that fielder touches the tall grass;

  2. The ball hits a foul pole in the air;

  3. Batter legs out all four bases without a defensive error.

DEAD ZONE

  1. The "Dead Zone" is an area in fair territory which is approximately a 20 foot radius from the tip of home plate;

  2. Ground Balls that die in the "Dead Zone" are ruled as a foul ball;

  3. Pitchers who attempt to field a ball in the Dead Zone beware: it is considered fair territory, and if dropped (fly ball) or touched before the ball stops (ground ball), it is a live ball.

UMPIRING

Every effort will be made to provide an "umpire" for each of the games. The umpire's call shall be final and cannot be disputed. In some instances, there may not be an umpire available. In these instances, calls (safe/out, etc.) will be made only by players in the game. If the call cannot be resolved by the players involved in the game, then a "do-over" will occur.

The Jolly Wiffler.