The Rules
NOTE: Wiffleball is a gentleman’s game, disputes should be handled maturely and diplomatically. Marshals will be brought in as a last case scenario, and their word is law. We argue all week, can’t we just get along.
1.0 The Playing Field
1.01 The field will be 85’ to the corners and approximately 95’ to straight away center. The inner foul line will be 5’ from the plate, the single line will be 42’ away and the double line will be 65’ away.
1.02 The pitcher’s mound will be flat, and located at a distance 40’ from the plate. **
1.03 The batter’s box will measure 4’ by 6’.
1.04 The strike object will be placed 3’ behind the plate. The strike object will be 22” wide by 30” tall. It will be 12” off the ground.
2.0 Equipment
2.01 All bats and balls will be provided.
2.02 There will be no doctoring of the balls (scuffing, damaging, or in any way changing the surface of the ball as to gain an advantage) or bats (corking the bats-automatic grounds for disqualification)
2.03 Players must play barehanded in the competitive division. Gloves will be allowed in the family division***
3.0 Umpiring
3.01 All balls and strikes are determined by the strike object. If the ball hits any part of the strike object the pitch is a strike. If it misses the object and is not swung at, it is a ball.
3.02 Two swings and misses is an out.
3.03 If the ball hits the target but the batter swung at the pitch it is only considered to be a swing and a miss; not a hit object.
3.04 4 balls is a walk
3.05 It is the responsibility of the batter to Make FAIR and FOUL calls, as he/she is on the line.
3.06 A ball that hits the foul pole is a home run.
3.07 Pitches must remain under 35 mph. Batters must warn the pitcher about speed, before a marshal is called over. If a pitcher is clocked over 35 mph, he/she is not allowed to pitch for the remainder of the game. After being clocked once, a marshal may check at any time when that player is pitching in a subsequent game, and if clocked over 35 for a second time, that pitcher will not be allowed to take the mound again.
3.08 3 outs per inning
4.0 Starting/Ending the Game
4.01 A regulation game will consist of six innings. Home and Away teams will be determined at the registration desk with the schedule.
4.02 If a game is tied at the end of six innings, the game will go to a regular extra inning for the 7th. If the game remains tied after 7, each team will begin the 8th inning with the bases loaded. Each subsequent inning will begin like the 8th.
4.03 There is a 10-run mercy rule that will end the game. If the visiting team goes up ten, the home team does have the bottom of the inning to attempt to continue the game.
4.04 PROTESTING GAMES-please don’t, but if you do we’ll talk about it then. ****
5.0 General Game Rules
5.01 ROSTER-A team will carry a minimum of three players and a maximum of five.
5.02 Only 3 players can play in the field at one time, however, all 5 players can bat.
5.03 Batting order must be maintained.
5.04 Substitutions
5.04.1 A pitcher may be substituted for at any time after he has faced a minimum of one batter
5.04.2 A fielder may be substituted by any of the bench players at the beginning of the inning, but must retain their place in the batting order.
5.04.3 A fielder must bat, but a batter doesn’t have to field.
6.0 Pitching
6.01 THE COUNT
6.01.1 4 balls is a walk
6.01.2 2 swings and misses is an out
6.01.3 2 fouls is an out
6.01.4 1 object strike is an out (provided the batter didn’t swing)
6.01.5 Any combination of a swing and a miss and a foul ball is an out. YOU CAN FOUL OUT.
6.02 The pitcher must have one foot on the rubber during the pitch
7.0 Offense
7.01 Each batter shall retain his/her place in the order.
7.02 THERE IS NO BASE RUNNING-It’s all about the Ghost men!
7.03 Automatic Runner Advancement
7.03.1 A runner will advance the same amount of bases that the batter advanced. (Example, a runner on second and the batter hits a double, the run scores)
7.04 HITS
7.04.1 Any fair ball that touches on or beyond the single line is a single.
7.04.2 Any fair ball that touches on or beyond the double line is a double.
7.04.3 Any fair ball that hits the fence in the air is a triple.
7.04.4 Any fair ball that clears the fence is a home run, regardless if the outfielder touches it.
7.04.5 Any fair ground ball misplayed by the fielder will be awarded the base in which the region the ball lies. (Example- A misplayed ball after the double line, is a double).
7.04.6 A ground ball may be bobbled and remain an out, but if it retouches the ground, than that is an error and the batter reaches. *****
7.05 Bunting is illegal and stupid because anything that doesn’t past the infield foul line is a foul ball.
8.0 Defense
8.01 A defensive fielder shall not place themselves in front of the pitcher.
8.02 A ground ball fielded cleanly before the single line is an out.
8.03 A fly ball caught is an out, and if there are less than two outs, you may attempt a double play (even if there is no one on base).
8.04 A double play is a continuous motion, in which after the ball is caught, the fielder throws the ball at the strike object. If it hits, then a double play is recorded. A bobbled catch can not be thrown for a double play.
9.0 HAVE A GOOD TIME
If you have any questions about the rules, do not hesitate to ask any of the marshals.
The 2013 Brian Kane Memorial Scholarship Tournament will be held on June 8, 2013 beginning at 9AM at the Groton-Dunstable Regional Middle School. Sign-up now!