Tournament Rules:
• Age Groups: 8-11 / 12-15 / 16+
• A max of 6 players per team - everyone on the team is allowed to bat each inning, however only 4 can play defense at any given time.
• Each team will play 2 or 3 pool play games and then be seeded into a single elimination tournament.
• Umpiring- All calls are final!! Fielder’s Advantage: All close plays will be called out.
• Umpiring: Teams will umpire their own games. Any disputes shall be settled by team captains. If an agreement cannot be reached, captains will use rock-paper-scissors to determine ruling.
• Unless seeding is applicable, rock-paper-scissors (best of 3) will be used to determine the home team. Winners may choose to be the away team.
• Equipment- All bats used in league play must be regulation, yellow WIFFLE bats,
• Rosters- An official game will be four-on-four. All teams must have no less than three players and no more than six players on their rosters. Each team shall have at least 3 players on the field to compete. No roster changes without the approval.
• Players in a game- Teams unable to field two players from their original roster, at any time, for any reason, will forfeit any games until able to field at least two players from the original roster. “Yes, you can play with only 3 players at any time without any penalty”.
• Substitutions- Substitutions may be made. Teams can rotate or shuffle players defensively throughout the game, (especially on 5-6 player rosters). But you cannot change the starting batting order. If a player suffers a tournament-ending injury, the last player that left the game may re-enter the game.
• All fielders must bat. No substituting players in and out of any current lineup during a game.
• Regulation Game- A regulation game will consist of five innings.
• A 30-minute drop dead will be in effect for pool play games. At the 30-minute mark, the game reverts to the score at the last completed inning.
• No new inning shall start after 30 minutes from the start of the game.
• Bracket games have 45-minute limit.
• Mercy Rule- If at the end of the home team’s third inning a team leads by 10 runs or more, the game will be over.
• Defense – On the field you must have a pitcher and you can field a catcher if desired. Your other fielders can play any position on the playing field, with a maximum of 4 total fielders.
• Strike zone will be approximately 28” high and 20” wide.
• 4 balls for a walk, 3 strikes for an out.
• 3 outs per inning.
• Pitching- (Underhand Style) All pitches must be slow and have an arc on them. No sidearm pitching will be allowed. The batter may ask the pitcher to slow the pitches down. Balks are legal. The pitcher must have one foot on the rubber when the ball has been released. The strike zone is the square behind home.
• Runner/ ball contact- Base runners hit with a batted ball within fair territory will be called out.
• Home Runs- All fair balls hit over the designated home run fence will be home runs.
• A foul tip with two strikes that hits the strike zone will be considered a strikeout.
• Bats and balls will be provided.
• Base running: batters must run the bases to be safe after contact.
• To get lead runners out, fielder must throw the ball to teammate at the advancing base.
• Runners can get hit by the wiffle ball to be called out. If it hits the ground and then hits the runner, they are out (pegs are allowed).
• No leading off, no stealing.
• No ghost men. If a player is on base when due to be up again, a different player may pinch run.
• Tagging up is legal.
• Infield fly rule: In the event of an infield pop-up and base runners on, a ball that hits the ground either on purpose or on accident can only result in 1 out.
• Bunting: No bunting is allowed.
• Ball in play: Any ball hit in “fair play” is in play.
• Ball caught in the air is an out.