Rules:

The League

1) The league will consist of teams with between 3 and 5 players each. Each season, the schedule will be set based on the number of teams and must include each team playing every other team at least two games at home and two games away with an equal number of each. Each season will conclude upon all teams playing all scheduled games and playoffs. The playoff bracket will be setup before any seasonal games begin, based on the number of teams. This may vary from season to season.

2) Games will only be played on approved American Wiffleball League fields.

3) Team players must wear league approved jerseys or uniforms. Sneakers or other approved shoes will be worn. No metal cleats may be worn.

4) Only official wiffleballs with holes on one side and yellow wiffleball bats may be used for play. Bat exceptions may be made for females. Balls shall be scuffed. Sports tape on bats may be used on the handle only (barrels may not be taped).

5) Three innings shall be played per game unless the score is tied after three, in which case, each additional half inning is played until game is resolved.

6) Teams shall have 3 minutes between innings to switch sides and take their respective positions.

7) No more than 5 runs may be scored in each half inning unless a homerun causes more after 4 runs are scored. However, there is no limit on the amount of runs the home team may score if losing in the final half of the last inning of the game.

8) Each team must field three to four players per game. All players on a team must bat in order.

9) All games must be officially scored and played to resolution unless weather or time (darkness or late hour) doesn’t permit.

10) Any games postponed must be replayed where left off with score and innings notated.

11) No cheating, bullying, or foul play is allowed! Be kind and courteous.

12) Gamesmanship is required, including fair play when resolving issues on the field. If players and coaches/managers can’t agree on any given issue, resolution will be decided by the commissioner.

Gameplay

Gameplay follows MLB rules with some of the following exceptions. Any debate on rules will be settled by the commissioner.

A- Pitching

1) Pitchers shall throw from the rubber which is 38 feet from home plate. The strike zone shall be 3 feet behind home plate. Pitches shall be thrown between 55 and 70 mph. Any speed outside these limits will be considered a ball for the batter and a walk may result.

2) A strike is called if the batter swings and misses, hits the ball foul on less than 3 strikes, or the ball hits the strike zone without prior interference and the batter doesn’t swing. Furthermore, a strikeout will result if a third strike is hit by the batter back to the strike zone. This would be the equivalent of a foul tip into the catcher’s glove.

3) A ball results in any pitch not swung on that doesn’t hit the strike zone, or if the batter is hit by the pitch, or results of pitch speeds outside official range. A batter being hit does not take first base on a hit my pitch unless it is ball 4.

4) No quick pitching is allowed. A batter must have time to ready before a pitch. A batter must signal he or she is ready to swing. If a pitcher is found guilty of quick pitching, the batter has the option to take first base as a walk or continue to hit with the current count. Additionally, a pitcher may be granted a strikeout on a batter who willingly holds up the pitcher or intentionally interferes with his or her delivery.

5) 3 strikes for an out, 4 balls for a walk.

B- Hitting

1) A batter must be in the batter’s box and ready to hit. Once the batter signals the pitcher he or she is ready, the at bat may commence.

2) Once a batter commits to bat from either side of the plate, he or she may not change sides during the same at bat unless a new pitcher comes in during the same at bat.

3) The batter must hit the ball past the bunt zone for a possible hit to result. If the ball does not pass the bunt line, a strike is called, including strike 3.

4) Bunting is not allowed.

5) Leading is not allowed.

6) Tagging up is allowed.

7) A batter reaches the furthest base touched if not thrown out, pegged, nor tagged prior to reaching.

8) Ghost runners on any base move the same speed as any batter that becomes a runner when the ball is put into play. So if there is a play at any base where a ghost runner would attempt to reach, outs are determined based on the batter’s reaching his or her base.

9) Plays at the plate may result in a fielder attempting a throw to the backstop. A ball that reaches and touches the backstop prior to any runner (physical or ghost) crossing home plate is out.

10) No one handed batting.