Wiffleball

SECTION 1: BASIC RULES

1. Have fun, try hard, it’s a game, don’t lose your cool.

2. PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP TO PLAY IF YOU CAN’T BE AVAILABLE TO PLAY ALL DAY.

3. The minimum age to play in the tournament is 15 years old. 

4. Please pay when signing up.

5. Teams are randomly assigned. Yes, really.

6. We try and accommodate all players and build a straightforward bracket for the tournament, which means that even previously announced teams can change, right up to the start of play. Please be patient with us. All changes to teams are also random.

7. Minor or unintentional infractions of rules, as determined by the umpires, may result in a warning or the full penalty for the infraction. The judgement of the umpires is final.

8. A coin flip determines home and away teams.

9. Games are 3 innings long, with extended play in championship rounds.

10.One strike is an out, three balls is a walk.

11.There is no running the bases, just hit the ball.

12.All players bat, in an order determined by the team. 

13.All players take the field, in any position, including catcher.

14.If the game is tied after regulation innings, each subsequent inning starts with the bases loaded until a winner is determined. There are no ties.

15.A pitched ball may hit a batter, which is a ball, but many wiffle balls curve! Batters may not “catch” or stop any pitched ball with their hands and they may not lean or even turn and lean into a ball. Do not alter the path of a pitch! Violations result in an automatic out. See additional “crowding” guidance in rule #40.

SECTION 2: GAME DAY BASICS

16.The pitcher must start the pitching motion with at least one foot in the pitching circle.

17.Pitchers may not pitch a ball in excess of 35mph. After a warning, pitches in excess of 35mph are a single for the batter, for the rest of the game. Multiple violations may result in an ejection. 

18.There is no maximum arc on a pitch.

19.One strike and you are out:

a. If you swing and miss you are out.

b. If you don’t swing and the ball hits the chair or goes through the arm of the chair, you are out.

20.Three balls constitutes a walk:

a. A ball is a pitch that does not hit the chair in the air.

b. A pitch that hits the ground and then hits the chair is a ball.

c. A pitch that hits the batter and then the chair (or just the batter) is a ball.

d. A check swing on a ball that does not hit the chair is not a strike, as determined by the umpire.

21.If you hit a foul ball or foul tip a ball that is not caught in the air, your at-bat continues. 

22.Any ball caught in the air, in fair territory, foul territory or a foul tip is an out.

23.You may not catch a ball for an out that strikes an object in foul territory (such as a cottage, golf cart or a tree), even if you subsequently catch the ball in the air.

24.Balls that hit tree branches that hang into fair territory on the fly are a single, even if caught in the air. Any such branches will be identified ahead of gameplay.

25.Balls that hit the “foul poles” at the home run line corners are considered home runs.

SECTION 3: FOUL AND FAIR BALLS

26.Foul and Fair Balls:

a. A struck ball that does not land in the field of play is a foul ball. Including balls that accidentally hit your bat when ducking away from a pitch. 

b. A ball must land fully outside the foul line to be considered foul.

c. A ball that lands on any part of the “foul line” in the air is a fair ball.

d. If contact is made with the ball into fair territory, but the ball does not fully cross line B (into the Ground Out Area A), it is a foul ball.

e. A ball that stops on any part of line B is a foul ball.

f. A ball that is fielded while still moving inside line B or still touching part of line B is a foul ball.

g. A ball that crosses the foul line on the ground prior to the imaginary 1st or 3rd base is a foul ball.

h. A ball that crosses the foul line on the ground after the imaginary 1st or 3rd base is a single. – It cannot be fielded for an out.

i. For pop-ups and fly balls, fair or foul calls shall be made by the umpire and shall be determined by the position of the ball when touched, where the player is standing is not a consideration.

27. Spinning balls

a. A ball that lands in the Ground Out Area A, and then subsequently spins backs towards home plate back across line B is a foul ball.

b. A ball that lands in foul territory and spins backs into the field of play inside and prior to reaching the imaginary 1st or 3rd base shall be considered in play and subject to the regular rules.

c. A ball that lands in foul territory after the imaginary 1st and 3rd base shall be a foul ball no matter where it subsequently rolls.

SECTION 4: OUTS

28.A batter shall be deemed out on a ground ball if the ball has fully crossed line B AND the ball HAS NOT fully crossed line C (i.e. is in the Ground Out Area A) AND the fielder takes the ball into their possession while the ball is still moving, without the ball subsequently hitting the ground. 

a. The batter is out if the fielder bobbles the ball in the air and secures it, as long as the ball doesn’t hit the ground.

b. A batter shall also be deemed out on a flyball that lands in the Ground Out Area A without being touched by any body part on any player, and the fielder takes the ball into their possession AND without the ball subsequently hitting the ground. 

c. The fielder may stand in any position, but must field the ball while the ball is inside of line C or with some part of the ball touching the line C. If the ground ball is fully over line C, even if the fielder is inside the line, it is a single.

SECTION 5: HITS

29.A batter shall be deemed to hit a “single” on a ground ball when:

a. Any batted ball fully crosses line C before being fielded.

b. Any batted ball fully crosses line B and the ball comes to a complete stop before being fielded. The ball must be moving for the fielding team to record an out.

c. Any batted ball fully crosses line B and has not fully crossed line C, but the fielder does not gather the ball cleanly, i.e. the ball touches the ground after they first make contact with the ball. NOTE: The fielder can bobble it in the air once they collect it, but the ball can’t touch the ground or it is a single.

d. Any batted ball that fully crosses line B and makes contact with a “foreign object” held by the fielder. Common “foreign objects” include other wiffleballs being held by the pitcher as well as phones and beer cans held by fielders. NOTE: A player may field the ball cleanly with their other hand not holding a foreign object.

e. Any ball coming to rest on line D. Any balls that rolls up to and onto the line, but does not cross is a single.

f. The pitcher throws a ball faster than 35mph after being warned is a hit.

SECTION 6: DOUBLES

30.A batter shall be deemed to hit a “double” on a ground ball when:

a. Any batted ball fully crosses line D on the ground.

b. Any batted ball that is still moving and that is accidentally diverted (kicked, slapped, bobbled etc.) on the ground fully crosses line D.

SECTION 7: HOME RUNS 

31.A fly ball that lands fully past line D in the air is a home run. 

32.A fly ball that strikes an object fully past line D (like a tree, cottage or the Pavilion) is a home run.

33. A fly ball that lands on line D in the air is a home run. It does not matter if it rolls back into the field of play or goes past line D.

34.A fly ball that is caught, diverted, dropped or touched by a fielder with either foot – or any other body part touching line D – is a home run. A player must be fully inside the line to catch a fly ball for an out.

SECTION 8: FLY BALLS AT “THE WALL”

35.A fly ball that is caught in the air in fair territory, with every body part fully inside line D, is an out. If the fielder has full possession of the ball, fully inside line D, and their momentum takes them across line D. It is still an out as long as they maintain possession throughout the catch.

36.A fly ball that is bobbled, batted or any way touched in the air in fair territory, and then:

a. Lands on or beyond line D -- is a home run.

b. Is carried over line D by the player without clean possession (i.e. they are bobbling is as they cross the line) -- is a home run.

c. Rolls past line D on the ground -- is a double

d. Lands and stays inside line D -- is a single.

e. Leaps and Bounds:

i. A player may attempt to prevent a home run by jumping, slapping or diverting a ball back into play near or at the home run line (line D). If the player jumps or diverts the ball with all body parts inside of line D and diverts the ball back into the field of play, it is a single.

ii. In the act of jumping at line D to divert a possible home run in the air back into the field of play for a single, the player may divert the ball and may land fully over the line, as long as they take off with no body part touching any part of line D.

iii. Remember, if the player is touching line D when they touch the ball, it’s a Home Run.

SECTION 9: OTHER:

37.In the course of a game, each team must use a minimum of two pitchers, in any order and for a minimum of one complete inning. Pitching one out in one inning and two outs in a different inning does not count. Alternatively:

a. A team may surrender four (4) runs to their opponent and have one pitcher for the entire game.

b. A team can start a pitcher and if that pitcher gives up four (4) runs prior to pitching one full inning, they may have another pitcher pitch for the reminder of the game.

c. You may switch pitchers during an inning, but not during an at-bat.

38. If your team bats out of order: 

a. The offending team is penalized one out.

b. All results of the players that batted out of order are reversed (i.e. hits, walks runs, whatever happened is wiped away).

c. Play resumes with the player that should be batting.

39. If your team is missing players. Every team must play each game with all the players assigned to their squad for every game. 

a. If a player goes missing or a player is injured mid-game, the tournament committee will try and make adjustments to accommodate your team. 

b. In consultation with the other team and at the discretion of the tournament committee – i.e. perhaps with pinch hitting or automatic outs, you may be allowed to continue or you may forfeit a game if you cannot field your full team in a reasonable amount of time after being called to play (or if in the middle of play). The tournament committee has the final say in player personal matters, you cannot “find your own sub”. 

SECTION 10: DON’T CROWD THE PLATE

40. More clarification on crowding the plate.

a. Many pitchers throw curve balls that may seem like they are going to hit the batter, or in some cases are behind the batter, but in the end, curve back, hitting the chair for a strike. 

b. Batters may not take an initial stance which crosses the plane of the strike zone.

c. The batter must give the pitcher an unobstructed opportunity for their pitch to hit the chair, including pitches that are curving back to the plate and the ability for the pitch to hit the inside part of the chair. 

d. Once pitched, a player may turn their head or body away from a pitched ball in a parallel line, remember that part, in a parallel line!

e. A player cannot lean in on the plate intentionally or unintentionally to get hit by the pitch. Batters can turn their body, but batters may NOT turn and lean into a ball or cross the strike zone with any part of your body, commonly done with shoulders or legs. 

f. Under no circumstances should a batter attempt to stop or catch a ball with their hands. This may seem like a courtesy or an obvious ball, but the ball can curve back. Let the ball go and hit the ground before helping to retrieve it.

g. All aspects of crowding and leaning are judgement call made by the umpire.

SECTION 11: MISC

41.A double play may be made by catching a ball in the air and then throwing the ball towards home plate and hitting the chair in the air with the ball. All caught balls for an out are eligible for a double play, including foul tips.

42.All baserunning is “ghost-running”, players do not actually run the bases. Runners move ahead one base for a hit and two bases for a double, but must be forced home on a walk. 

a. Example: With a player on 1st and 3rd, a walked batter would load the bases, not score a run. 

b. Example: With a player on 1st and 3rd, a single would score a run and then have a runner on 1st and 2nd. Everyone moves ahead one base.

c. Example: With a runner on 2nd, a double does score the run.

43. A batter may switch batters boxes during their at bat but they may not change boxes while the pitcher is in their motion towards home plate. Doing so is an out.

44.Knowingly using an illegal bat or an illegal ball is an automatic forfeit of the game and a lifetime ban from the SV Wiffleball Tournament.

45.A team may indicate that they would like to intentionally walk someone.

46.There is no infield fly rule.

47.There is no mercy rule, though a team may resign.

48. Reporting the official score will be the responsibility of the winning team’s captain.

49. Rules not stated herein will follow the rules of Major League Baseball.

50. FINALLY, please consider making a bid on a silent auction item for the Summer Village Cancer Event. At the tables under the Michigan Tent!!