Western Wiffle Ball Championship Rules

The Western Wiffle Ball Championship will play as follows:

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Format

1. 7 wiffle ball fields will be constructed along the outfield wall of Goodyear Ballpark.

2. Each team will play 3 pool play games to qualify for the playoffs. There will be blind draws to determine pool play matchups and game times. Tournament fee must be paid in full prior to the blind draw.

3. All pool play games will be 4 innings or 1 hour, whichever comes first. Teams suspected of stalling (purposefully failing to throw or swing at hittable pitches) may be cited for “unsportsmanlike conduct” and removed from the tournament.

4. Teams will be notified of the order of their round robin games prior to the start of the tournament. Teams will be notified of the order of all their playoff games at the beginning of the playoff round.

5. The top eight teams in both competitive and recreational divisions will qualify for a single elimination playoff bracket. The winners will advance until a champion is decided.

6. The home team will be decided by a coin toss or “rock, paper, scissors” between captains.

7. When determining the playoff bracket: If teams are tied, the tie breaker will be head to head. If a tie still remains, run-differential will be used to break the tie.

8. Teams will umpire their own games. Players will announce the score after each run scored and agree on the score after each half inning. Final score will be the winning team’s responsibility to report to the Commissioners table located in centerfield.

9. Any player or team, engaging in behavior that the tournament director deems to be “unsportsmanlike conduct” will be removed from the tournament immediately at the director’s discretion. Fans and players watching games must refrain from commenting on calls. Failure to comply will result in the fan or team’s removal from the event. Captains are responsible for monitoring fan behavior. If that monitoring becomes difficult, the captain shall seek the assistance of a Commissioner.

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Teams & Rosters

1. Teams will consist of three to five players. Rosters become locked upon registration. Any changes after a team has registered must be approved by a tournament official.

2. Teams can bat as few as three batters and as many as five batters.

3. Fielders may change positions and alternate with the extra hitter at any time

4. If a starting player is unable to continue and his team does not have any substitute players, his turn at bat will be considered an out. The batting order will not change during the game.

5. Teams may elect to utilize a Designated Hitter (DH) for any of the players playing the field (pitcher included). If the DH enters the game in the field for the player he is batting for, the player being substituted for is removed from the game entirely and can not return until the completion of the game.

6. If a team bats out of order and is caught, it will be ruled an automatic out.

7. Uniforms are not provided or mandatory. Same colored shirts are encouraged but not required. All shoes will be flat-soled (no cleats, turf shoes, spikes, trail running shoes, etc.).

8. Teams unable to field three rostered players at the beginning, or any time during a game will forfeit that game. The batting lineup must consist of everyone on your team who is present, and cannot be altered.

9. There are no refunds on tournament fees once a team is registered.

10.  Teams cannot choose to forfeit a game(s). Teams must play all of their scheduled games. Any forfeiture may result in the team being disqualified from the tournament.

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Gameplay

1. There is no mercy rule. Teams may score as many runs as they’d like in any given inning.

2. Each inning will begin with 0 balls, 0 strikes and 0 outs.

3. There will be three outs per team per inning.

4. Four balls is a walk. Three strikes are an out.

5. A ball foul tipped into the strike zone with two strikes is an out.

6. A ball in play caught in the air is an out.

7. There are no called balls or strikes.

8. Pitched balls that directly hit the sheet metal portion or PVC pipe frame of the strike zone target, as well as pitches that are swung on and missed or fouled are considered strikes. 

9. Pitches that are not swung at that do not hit the strike zone target are balls.

10. A hit-by-pitch is a ball. There are no intentional walks.

11. Batters who intentionally throw their bodies in front of pitched balls that are headed towards the strike zone will be called for batter’s interference and called out.

12. A batter's hands are considered part of the bat, balls striking the hands are considered either live or foul balls.

13. Fair and foul balls adhere to standard baseball rules unless otherwise stated.

14. A hit by pitch is ruled a ball.

15. Any disputes over game outcomes will be handled by the tournament official assigned to the game field. Requests to escalate issues further will be directed to the tournament director, whose decision is final and binding.

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Batting

1.  All fair balls landing over the designated home run fence will be home runs.

2. A ground ball past the pitcher and lines between the bases shall be counted a single

3. A double is any ball that reaches the outfield on the ground.

4. A triple is a ball that hits the fence in the air.

5. The batter may NOT intentionally move into the path of a pitch. If he does, he will be called for batter’s interference, and the pitch will be called a strike.

6. The batter’s hands are considered part of the bat.

7. The batter will NOT touch foul balls until they come to a complete stop. If the batter does touch a moving foul ball and the ball is determined to have a chance of rolling into fair territory the batter will be ruled out.

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Fielding

1. Four players can play in the field

2. A grounder caught in front of the pitcher’s mound, on the ground or before the line between the bases is an out.

3. Any hit ball bobbled, defined as the ball hitting the ground again after hitting a fielder’s hand or the fielder using 2 or more attempts to secure the ball, will revert to a hit in the form as if the error wasn’t committed.

4. There is no tag up, sacrifice fly play, or double play rules.

5. Caught fly balls are outs and the runners do not advance.

6. Check swing calls are the pitchers responsibility.

7. Fair and foul ball calls will be made by the batter. 

8. Single/double line calls will be made by the fielder closest.

9. There is no infield fly rule.

10. A ball that hits off the wall and is caught is ruled a triple.

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Competitive Division Equipment

1. All bats used in the competitive division must be rounded on all sides, and cannot exceed thirty-eight (38) inches in length, two and three-quarters (2 3⁄4) inches in diameter.

2. Bats may be taped to preserve the life of the bat (i.e. orange Nerf bats) but cannot exceed two and three-quarters (2 3⁄4) inches in diameter.

3. The tournament director reserves the right to declare a bat illegal for use,

4. Teams are expected to provide their own bats.

5. All balls used in the competitive division must be baseball size Wiffle® brand. The ball MAY be scuffed, sanded, or cut but no foreign matter can be added to the ball.

6. A ball will be declared illegal for use if it has a crack greater than one-quarter (1⁄4) inch and will be removed from the game.

7. Teams should supply their own balls. Each pitcher will keep possession of his or her balls. If a team doesn’t bring their own balls, there will be a limited amount of official wiffle balls and bats available for purchase at the entrance.

8. In preparing a ball, you may not alter the shape/roundness in a manner which diminishes the overall quality of the ball.

9. The tournament director reserves the right to remove a ball from play that has been altered to the extent that shape and/or integrity of the ball has been compromised.

10. A net backstop will be placed behind the strike zone.

11. Baseball gloves/mitts are not allowed. Only batters may wear batting gloves.

12.  A smaller strike zone for the competitive division will be used that is approximately 30” high, 22” wide, and 15” above the ground. The strike zone size is subject to change (TBD).

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Recreational Division Equipment

1. All bats used in the recreational division must be regulation yellow Wiffle® bats.

2. The entirety of the bat will be allowed to be taped up with bat tape/duct tape. Excessive amounts of tape (½ inch thick of tape/4+ layers) may result in a bat being deemed illegal (tourney director discretion).

3. All balls used in the recreational division must be baseball size Wiffle® brand. Scuffing is allowed, but NO other modifications including cutting balls.

4. Teams should supply their own balls. If not, there will be a limited amount of official wiffle balls and bats available for purchase at the entrance.

5. A net backstop will be placed behind the strike zone.

6. Baseball gloves/mitts are not allowed. Only batters may wear batting gloves.

7. A strike zone for the recreational division will be used that is approximately 36” high, 24” wide, and 12” above the ground. The strike zone size is subject to change (TBD).

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Pitching

1. The competitive division will pitch from 45 feet. The recreational division will pitch from 42 feet.

2. There is no speed limit.

3. Pitchers must face at least one complete batter before being replaced by a relief pitcher.

4. Once a pitcher is substituted out of the game, they cannot return. Exception: If a player suffers a tournament-ending injury, a player who has previously left the game may re-enter that game as a sub.

5. If a team has expended all pitchers and is on their last pitcher, that must finish the game as the pitcher.

6. New pitchers may receive up to 7 warm up pitches before entering a game. The pitcher may receive up to 3 warm up pitches before any given inning.

7. A pitcher must start his wind-up from the pitching rubber. The pitcher must have at least one foot touching the rubber when he releases the ball. A violation of this rule will result in a “no-pitch”.

8. There are no balks.

9. Distracting jewelry or clothing (as decided by tournament officials) may not be worn by pitchers.

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Base Running

1. There is no base running, ghost runners only.

2. There is no stealing.

3. Ghost runners advance the same number of bases as the hitter. One base on singles, two bases on doubles, and all ghost runners score on triples and home runs. On walks, runners only advance if forced.

4.  All fair balls landing over the designated home run fence will be home runs.

5. A ground ball past the pitcher and lines between the bases shall be counted a single.

6. A double is any ball that reaches the outfield on the ground.

7. A triple is a ball that hits the fence in the air.

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Playoff Bracket

1. The top eight teams in both competitive and recreational divisions will qualify for a single elimination seeded playoff bracket. The winners will advance until a champion is decided.

2. Both tournament brackets will be announced shortly after the conclusion of pool play. 

3. In the playoffs, there are no ties. Extra innings start with a runner on 2nd and will continue until the game is complete.

4. Games are 4 innings, there is no time restriction.

5. Tournament play games that enter extra innings will start with a runner on second base. Games that enter the 9th inning and beyond will start with the bases loaded.

6. The higher seeded team (lower number) is the home team. The lower seeded team (higher number) is the away team.

7. Although not required, teams are encouraged to remain at the field after elimination until the tournament concludes

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Home Run Derby

1. A single entry will cost $5.

2. Participants do not need to be registered players.

3. The competition will be open from 9am (start of games) until 4pm.

4. The batter may choose their pitcher.

5. The batter has 7 outs. Every hit not resulting in a home run is an out. At the end of the 7 outs the batter's turn is up.

6. Each ball hit over the fence or the designated line on the ground is counted as a home run.

7. Pitches can be thrown either overhand or underhand.

8. The person with the most home runs at the end of the allotted time is the winner.

9. Batters can play as many rounds as they want.

10. A tie for first is settled by another round of 7 outs, the most home runs in the tiebreaker round declares the winner.

11. Reporting home runs to the scorekeeper is the responsibility of the batter and the honor system is to be used.

12. A trophy shall be awarded to the winner.

 

Western Wiffle Ball Championship Commission’s Discretion

1. The Commissioner may resolve any and all conflicts regarding the interpretation of the above rules – or any loopholes therein – at their discretion. Commissioners will not rule on judgment calls.

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*The only rule differences between the competitive and recreational divisions are the strike zone dimensions, pitching distance, and eligible equipment - specifically size of bats and modifications to the balls.

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If you have any thoughts, questions, or concerns please contact us at wiffleblw@gmail.com