Total Wiffleball
Wixom
Wiffleball at Wixom
Total Wiffleball Rules and Regulations
Objective:
To establish easy to follow rules to increase the consistency and fun of Total Wiffle League
Details of Procedures:
3.1. Season Regulations
3.1.1. GAME TOTAL: Each team will play 8 total regular season games. Top 4 teams will advance to the playoffs.
3.1.2. ROSTERS: A player will officially be added to a team roster after they have paid their league dues. A minimum of 4 players are required for a team roster. The maximum of roster size per team is capped at 8 players. A temporary player may be try out the League until week 4 at which point rosters are finalized for the remainder of the season. Temporary players may play no more than 3 league games per season. A player must play in 1 games before the start of the 6th week to be eligible to play in the Playoffs. Exceptions can be made by a League Officer and will be addressed individually.
3.1.3. LEAGUE DUES: Dues are $400 per team. Fees are due before the first pitch of your first game.
3.1.3.1. Dues break down to $1.90 per game for the regular season.
3.2. Playing Equipment
3.2.1. BALL: Only baseball sized Wiffle ball brand balls will be used (8 slots on one side).
3.2.2. BASES: All Bases will be approximately 45’ apart.
3.2.3. STRIKE BOARD: The strike zone will consist of a board that measures 20” wide by 30” tall. The strike zone will be 12” off the ground, and located 48’ from the pitching rubber.
3.2.4. BAT: Only “classic Yellow” Wiffle bats are to be used. Bats cannot be taped at the barrel, but can be taped on the handle for grips. No filling bats with foam; they must be standard hollow plastic.
3.2.4.1. Bats cannot be tapped any higher than the molded grip on the Wiffle bat.
3.2.4.2. The bottom hole of the bat must be unobstructed and remain uncovered. No exceptions.
3.2.5. GLOVES: Baseball gloves are NOT allowed, but batting gloves may be used while batting only. If you choose to wear batting gloves you will be ridiculed.
3.2.6. FOOTWEAR: No metal spikes are allowed. Plastic cleats or turf cleats are permitted. No bare feet allowed.
3.2.7. UNIFORMS: Matching team uniforms are required. The minimum required consistency for uniforms is shirts of matching color. Basic matching team’s shirts will be provided by the League at the start of the season.
3.2.8. FIELDS: Field setup is uniform for each game.
3.2.8.1. Bases are set 45’ apart.
3.2.8.2. The front of the pitching rubber is 46’ from the apex of home plate.
3.2.8.3. The strike board is 2’ behind the apex of home plate.
3.2.8.4. Fair / Foul (Foul Arc) minimum distance set at 20’ based on measuring from apex of home plate down the first and third baselines and drawing a straight line between those points.
3.3. Team and Game Regulations
3.3.1. TEAM PLAYER REQUIREMENTS: Minimum of 4 players per team to play a regulation game. The maximum number of players per team is 8.
3.3.2. AGE REQUIREMENT: All players MUST be at least 18 years of age.
3.3.3. FIELDING: Teams are required to have 3 fielders; two fielders and one pitcher.
3.3.4. Ladies’ FIELDING: Teams consisting of all women are permitted to have 3 outfielders and 1 pitcher
3.3.5. GAME LENGTH: Games are 6 Innings, using extra innings if necessary, 3 outs per team.
3.3.5.1. Mercy Rule Adjustment. 10 runs after 4 complete innings. If home team is up by 10, they would not bat their bottom half of their inning (including the 4th). The innings must be completed, but the losing team will not get any additional at bats beyond a normal complete inning. (i.e. if a home team scores 10 runs in the bottom of the 5th, the visiting team would not get another at bat. If the visiting team scored 10 in the top of the 5th, the home team would get their at bats).
3.3.8. STATISTICS: Game Sheets will be used to record all statistics, including the batting order for that game. If a team bats out of order, an out would be received for every batter that batted out of order. It is the team’s responsibility to keep track of the order, not the stat keeper or opposing team. Stats sheets must be submitted to the League within 48 hours of game completion.
3.3.9. FORFEITS: If a team forfeits before the game has begun the game will be scored as 9 – 0. If a team forfeits after a game has begun all stats to that point will count.
3.3.9.1. If the teams are tied, the forfeiting team will be deemed to lose by 1 run.
3.3.9.2. The pitcher of the forfeiting team will be given a minimum 6 innings pitched or actual innings if pitched past 6.
3.3.10.4. If a player shows up to a game late, it is the opposing team’s decision to allow them to join in the current game or make them wait until the next game.
3.4. Pitching
3.4.1. SPEED LIMITS: Pitching for the league is Medium-Fast.
3.4.2. GRIPS AND THROW: Any type of throw, overhand or underhand is allowed. Any type of grip is allowed, but no deforming or altering the ball. No “loading” the ball with rocks, dirt or other debris.
3.4.3. BALKS: Balks are not legal. Just pitch the ball.
3.4.5.5. Once a pitcher has been removed, they may not be pitch again in that game.
3.4.7. PITCHER BALL IN HAND: Pitchers may have ONE ball in hand, which is the one he/she is pitching. Offensive team may call this violation if the pitcher has more than one ball, and, if called, is an automatic ball. If the play results in favor of the offense (i.e., base hit or HR), the offensive team does not need to call the violation out. The pitcher or defensive team may NOT overrule a hit or other favorable offensive result by invoking the “ball in hand” rule. It’s purely the offense’s call. Balls in a pitcher’s pocket or clothing do not count as “in-hand”.
3.4.8. BALLS IN PLAY: It is the pitcher’s (defense’s) responsibility to make sure the field of play is clear of extra balls. A batted ball that hits any ball or ball bucket in the field of play (fair territory) results in an automatic single. It is a dead ball, and all runners advance one base. On a bucket kick play will continue unless the live ball cannot be determined or the live ball strikes a bucketed ball. If this occurs, play stops and all runners advance one base.
3.5. Offense – General
3.5.1. Bunting is not allowed.
3.5.2. Any interference with fielders making plays is an automatic out.
3.5.3. Stopping potential strikes by leaning into them intentionally or stopping them with the elbow or hand is prohibited. The pitcher is entitled to make the call. First offence is a warning; second offence would result in called strike. Any offence after that will be called automatic strikeout.
3.5.5. LINEUP: Teams maybe bat a minimum of 4 players. There is no maximum number of players allowed to bat.
3.5.6. SWITCH HITTING: All though not required, Switch hitting versus the lower winning percentage teams is encouraged!
3.5.7. FOUL BALLS: Foul balls are any balls that go into foul territory and do not return to fair territory prior to reaching the 1st or 3rd base. If a ball comes from a foul territory into fair territory before the 1st or 3rd base the ball will then be deemed a Fair Ball and playable. Any ball landing in fair territory and then bouncing foul after the 1st and 3rd base are fair balls. If a ball hits the base, it is a fair ball.
3.5.7.2. If a batter hits a ball off his body arm/wrist on a swing, the ball would be playable if fair or a foul ball if in foul territory.
3.5.7.3. Any batted ball must pass a minimum distance (20’ Foul Arc) to be considered fair and playable. If a defensive player stops a ball from passing the Foul Arc it is considered a foul ball.
3.6. Offense – Homeruns
3.6.1. Any ball that goes over the designated fence in the air.
3.6.2. Any ball that hits the foul pole in the air above the fence line
3.6.3. Batter legs out all four bases without a defensive error.
3.6.4. Any ball that hits the top of the fence and bounces over.
3.7. Offense – Triple
3.7.1. Any batter legs out three bases without a defensive error.
3.8. Offense – Double
3.8.1. Any ball that bounces under or over the fence or is trapped in or around the fence.
3.8.2. Any batter legs out two bases without a defensive error.
3.8.3. Any ball that hits the off the fence in the air. If the ball hits off a fielder’s body and hits the field in the air, it is still a double.
3.8.4. Any Fair ground ball that that rolls past the outfield fence line is a ground rule double.
3.9. Offense – Single
3.9.1. A fair hit ball that the batter beats out for one base. With or without a defensive error.
3.10. Balls and Strikes
3.10.1. It’s a strike if…
3.10.1.1. It’s swung at and missed.
3.10.1.2. It’s fouled off.
3.10.1.3. It hits the strike board
3.10.1.4. The batter messes with a good pitch with the hand or elbow. There is one first warning.
3.10.2. It’s a ball if…
3.10.2.1. It hits a batter.
3.10.2.2. It misses the strike zone board
3.10.2.3. The pitcher messes with the ball.
3.10.3. Strikeout = 3 Strikes.
3.10.3.1. If a ball is fouled into the strike board with 2 strikes on the hitter will result in a strike out.
3.10.4. Five balls = Walk.
3.10.4.1. A batter must walk after 5 balls, no exception.
3.10.5. The pitcher may intentionally walk a batter at any time. Pitches do not need to be thrown.
3.11. Base Running
3.11.1. A base runner is out if…
3.11.1.1. The ball touches any base runner and he’s not on a base.
3.11.1.2. He or She is forced out when a fielder tags the base he’s headed for.
3.11.1.3. He or She is tagged out or hit with a thrown ball.
3.11.1.4. He or She is the lead runner on a pitcher’s hand force out
3.11.1.5. He or She contacts a fair batted ball with at least one foot in fair territory.
3.11.2. No leading off or stealing.
3.11.4. Runners must yield right of way to the fielders. A runner cannot intentionally interfere with any fielder making a play on a ball. If a fielder runs into an unsuspecting base runner, the play continues regardless of the interference. A runner DOES NOT have to move off a base for a charging fielder. The runner may stand safely on the base, but may not interfere with the play in any way. This includes but is not limited to; waving of arms, stretching body out of the base while the foot is planted, and making intentional contact with the ball.
3.11.5. OVER THROWS: Runners may advance at will, if the overthrown ball stays inside the fair field of play.
3.11.6. PLAYS AT THE PLATE: If there is a play at the plate, the fielders can either tag the runner with the ball, or hit the strike board before the runner crosses home plate. If runner is out at home and the ball hit the strike board, the ball is dead and runners can no longer advance. If the ball travels beyond the backstop, the play becomes dead and runners only advance one base. The ball may hit the ground, or any other object, prior to hitting the strike board on a runner going home and still record the runner as an out.
3.11.7. CLOSE PLAYS AT BASES: Tie goes to the runner on any close plays at any base.
3.11.8. PEGGING: Pegging runners with the ball is legal. Pegging constitutes the ball leaving a fielding players hand and hitting a base runner before reaching a base safely. Tagging constitutes the ball in possession of the fielding player and contacting a base runner before reaching a base safely. Once pegging of a base runner has occurred the play is deemed Dead. Once a tag on a base runner has occurred the play is deemed Live.
3.11.9. PINCH RUNNING: Once a hitter reaches base safely, they must remain the base runner until forced to take their next scheduled at bat. When a base runner is scheduled up any player not on base can be designated as a pinch runner. Injured player exception: A player may pinch run for an injured player after the player has safely reached base. If a player is opting for a pinch runner, they may not field during the game.
3.11.10. TAGGING UP: A base runner may tag on any ball caught, whether fair or foul, except for a ball caught in air in the infield. This catch would automatically make a pitcher’s hand dead ball.
3.11.11. BALL/RUNNER CONTACT: If a batted ball hits a runner while he/she is safely standing on a base, the play would become dead. The batter would be awarded a single, runners would advance only if forced. A runner MAY NOT intentionally contact the ball from a base. If this happens, the hitter would be called out and scored as a normal ground out.
3.11.12. BASE COACHES: Teams may opt to use a first or third base coach to aid the runners. The base coach may not make on field calls unless the fielding team asks. The coach must avoid the fielders.
3.12. Fielding
3.12.1. Fielding positions may be changed at the discretion of the defense. Extra Hitters may field as well. Teams consisting of all Ladies are allowed to field 3 outfielders and 1 pitcher.
3.12.2. The infield fly rule is not in affect.
3.13. Pitcher’s Hand Out
3.13.1. Pitcher’s hand is in affect when:
3.13.1.1. A defensive player has control of the ball with at least one hand, foot, or knee in the Pitchers Circle.
3.13.2. The ball must be in the Pitcher’s hand cleanly (no bobbling) before the batter reaches 1st base is out.
3.13.3. FORCE OUTS: In a force situation, the lead runner would be out on pitchers hand. Pitchers hand must beat the batter reaching first.
3.14. Umpiring
3.14.1. Calls (safe/out) will be made by only players in the game. On close calls, players can ask people on the bench or people that are watching. If calls cannot be resolved, then a “do-over” will occur.
3.14.1.1. Players, Friends and Family outside of the game cannot make calls inside the game. The calls must be made by the players that are participating in the game. As respect to your opponent, please keep your friends and family from inserting un-needed comments and opinions! If they are not part of the game, they are not part of the calls!
3.14.1.2. League Officers are also not part of the game. You may ask for rule clarification, but do not ask for them to make calls inside the game.
3.14.2. If there are any gaps in the rules above, major league baseball rules apply.