Official Rules

Copyright © 1980, 1982, 1994, 2002, 2008
World Whiffleball Championship
All Rights Reserved

The World Whiffleball Championship will utilize the same rules used in Major League Baseball, with the following exceptions:

1. Sportsmanship - All teams engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct will be removed from the tournament immediately at the discretion of the tournament director. Because of the confined nature of the game and unique umpiring setup (see rule 2), fans and players watching games will refrain from commenting on calls. Failure to comply will result in removal from the park or facility.

2. Umpiring - Teams will umpire their own games. Captains will settle all disputes. Tournament officials will not rule on judgment calls. Home team will be decided by a coin toss.

3. Equipment - All bats used in league play must be regulation, yellow Wiffle® bats. They may not be altered in any way; however they may have plastic tape on the handle. Balls must be baseball size Wiffle® brand. All shoes will be flat-soled (no cleats, turf shoes, spikes, etc.).

4. Rosters - All teams will have five players on their roster. Each team will have four or five players in the game at all times. No roster changes will be allowed under any circumstances, after tournament play begins.

5. Players in a game/Optional designated hitters - Teams unable to field four rostered players, at any time, for any reason, will forfeit any games scheduled at that time. At the beginning of a game, teams may choose to play four players or choose to utilize their fifth player as a designated hitter (for the entire game only). If a player is removed for any reason during a game, that player may not re-enter the game (see rule 6) and that player's at bat in the order will become an automatic out for the remainder of that game.

6. Substitutions may be made, however once a player leaves a game, that player may not return to the same game. Exception: If a player suffers a tournament-ending injury, a player who has previously left the game may re-enter the game as a sub.

7. Innings and slow play - Games are six innings (also see rule 18). Unless a game is tied, after 55 minutes, new innings will not be initiated.

8. Pitching - All pitches must be slow and have an arc on them. No sidearm pitching will be allowed. The batter is the sole judge of pitch speed and may demand slower pitches. Balks are legal. The pitcher must have one foot on, and one foot in front of the rubber when the ball is released.

9. At bats - There will be no balls, walks (see next rule), or called strikes. Batters may strike out swinging (including fouls before the third strike). Batters may choose not to swing at any pitch. Hit batters will not advance. One-handed batting will not be allowed.

10. Intentional walks - Each team may intentionally walk one batter per game (including any extra innings). The batter will go to first on the command of the pitcher.

11. Pitcher's Hand - All force plays on the batter going to first base may be made to the pitcher, who may be anywhere in fair or foul territory. The runner may also be put out by force at first base. All other force plays must be made to the bases or to home plate.

12. No infield fly rule will be in effect.

13. Stealing first base - Batters may not steal first base after the catcher drops strike three.

14. Stealing home and leading off - Base runners may not lead off of first or second; nor may they steal second or third. Runners may lead off of third and/or steal home at any time. Runners on first and second leaving their base before the batter makes contact with the ball will be out.

15. Pegging - Fielders may throw the ball at runners. Runners struck below the neck will be out. Runners hit below the neck with a thrown ball which first hits any player, a base, or the ground first, will be out.

16. Runner/ball contact - Base runners in contact with a base that are hit with a batted or thrown ball will be safe. Base runners between bases hit with a batted ball will be out.

17. Home runs - All balls hit over the designated home run fence, fair or foul, will be home runs. (Captains will agree on ground rules for irregular fields before the game begins). The batter and all base runners must touch all bases — in order — after a home run.

18. Extra innings - Each team will begin its half of all extra innings with two outs. The last batter from the previous inning, (whether finished with his, or her at bat), will go to third base and the next batter will bat first.

19. Mercy rule - If after three innings, or at the end of any subsequent inning, a team leads by 15 runs or more, the game will be over. (If the home team leads by 15 or more runs after the top of the third or any later inning, the game will be over.)