NORTH FORT MYERS CIVIC ASSOCIATION SIGNARAMA / ALL-AMERICAN PRINTING WIFFLE BALL BASH TOURNAMENT RULES Welcome and Thank you for your participation in the North Fort Myers Civic Association / Signarama / All- American Printing Wiffle Ball Bash: Here is your rules packet for the North Fort Myers Civic Association/ Signarama / All-American Printing Wiffle Ball Bash Tournament. As in any sport, rules and regulations are part of the game and are required to insure fair, competitive, and safe play. The North Fort Myers Civic Association/ Signarama / All-American Printing Wiffle Ball Bash wants to make sure that your participation at our tournament offers you the most enjoyable, and satisfying experience we can offer, by presenting our recreational Wiffle Ball tournament in a way that will make you feel like you and your teammates are playing in the big leagues, regardless of age, gender, or skill level. The Wiffle Ball Bash Tournament is designed to make sure that safety is a top concern while on and off the field for not only players, but fans and spectators as well. Most of all the North Fort Myers Civic Association / Signarama / All-American Printing Wiffle Ball Bash is all about having FUN!!!!! So, we have established for your fun, enjoyment, and safety a few rules and guidelines for the Wiffle Ball Bash Tournament that will make you feel like you re playing in the big leagues. Now, we don t expect you to know every one of these rules when you come to play. So, that is why we are here to help with tournament officials, umpires, questions and answers by e-mail, and maybe a video or two coming soon to help you understand them a little easier. We want to make to make sure your Wiffle Ball Bash Tournament experience is a top notch and fun-filled experience. So, Here we Go...Here are the Rules.
RULE #1 HAVE FUN AND PLAY BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2-PLAYING FIELDS Enough Said 2.0: PLAYING FIELDS: Playing fields will be on a level grass surface. The playing field area will be kept clear of any objects. 2.1: PLAYING FIELD LAYOUT: The playing field will be designed as a no run recreational field. The pitchers plate will be located 42 feet from home plate. Field lines will designate the locations of hits on the playing field. The single line will be 25 from home plate extending the width off the playing field. The double line will be 65 from home plate also extending the width of the playing field. 2.2: FIELD LENGTH: The field length will be 70 feet from home plate in both left and right field. The center field wall will be 90 from home plate. The outfield fence will be no lower than 4 feet in height. 2.3: PITCHER S PLATE: A pitching plate will be used and will be exactly 42 feet from the tip of home plate. 2.4: BATTER S BOX: The Batter s Box will be no less than three feet wide and four feet long and no more than four feet wide and six feet long. Home plate will be the standard 17 inches in width. A Batter s Box Mat may be used. 2.5: STRIKE ZONE TARGET: The strike zone target will be made of PVC piping and place directly behind home plate. The Strike Zone Target will be no less than 20 inches wide and 30 inches high and no more than 24 inches wide and 34 inches high. The Strike Zone Target will start at no less than12 inches above the ground and be no more than 18 inches above the ground. These dimensions will allow a consistent strike zone. 2.6: BACKSTOP: The backstop will be no less than four feet high and six feet wide. 2.7: FOUL TERRITORY: A buffer will be designate the foul territory on either side of the foul lines on the field. The buffer will be marked with signage in which fans or spectators may not cross during play. 2.8: FIELD MARKINGS: Field lines designating fair territory and hit lines will be painted lines. 3 -EQUIPMENT 3.0: BALL: The sanctioned white baseball size Wiffle Ball, (eight slots on one side) will be used for play. The ball can be scuffed prior to the start of the game the umpire only. If a ball is torn more than 1/4 inch it will be ruled illegal for play and will be removed from the game. No foreign matter can be added to the ball. 3.1: BAT: The sanctioned Yellow Wiffle Ball Inc. Bat is the only bat allowed for play. Bat size will be adjusted per division.
3.2: GLOVES: Baseball gloves are not allowed. Batting gloves may be worn only when at bat. 3.3: SANCTIONED PLAYING EQUIPMENT: All Bats and Balls used for the tournament will be supplied by the North Fort Myers Civic Association and sanctioned by Wiffle Ball Inc. No outside Wiffle Balls or Bats are allowed. 4- UNIFORMS 4.0: UNIFORMS: Matching shirts or uniforms are strongly recommended and encouraged for all teams, however not required. 4.1: SHIRTS: Shirts must be worn by all players during tournament games. No shirt no play. 4.2: GRAPHICS: Graphics on team shirts are to be in good taste and reflective of a family type atmosphere. Undesirable graphic content may result in removal of team shirt from the tournament. 4.3: SHORTS: Shorts may be worn for tournament play. 4.4: FOOTWEAR: Proper footwear must be worn. Cleats or turf shoes on grass are allowed (No metal spikes or golf shoes are permitted.) Barefoot play is prohibited. 5-TEAMS 5.0: TEAMS: A roster may consist of a maximum of five players and a minimum of three players. All players may change positions defensively. Only three players will be on the field defensively at one time, a pitcher and two fielders. (Rookie League may have all 5 players on the playing field defensively 5.1: PLAYERS: Players may play in multiple divisions but may only play in one division when there are scheduling conflicts. 5.2: INJURY TO PLAYER: If a team of 3 players has an injury the team must select a registered tournament player to fill the spot. Teams of 4 and 5 players do not require injury replacement players. 5.3: SUBSTITUTION: Players may change positions defensively during the game in between innings. Defensive substitutions made not be made during an inning unless due to injury or a pitching change. A pitcher must face a complete batter before changing to a defensive position or removed defensively from the field in which a player may enter the field of play at that time. 6-GAME 6.0: GAME: Games are 6 innings or a 45-minute time limit whichever comes first (Rookie Division games are 4 innings with a 30- minute time limit). A 10-run rule is in effect after four complete innings, a 20-run rule after two complete innings (Rookie League 10-Run rule after 2 complete innings). Once an inning has started and the time limit is reached the inning may be played until completed. 6.1: OUTS: Three outs per inning for each team. 6.2: BATTING ORDER: Teams will bat all players on the team s roster. Batting order will be established prior to each game. The batting order will not be changed during the game, if a team bats out of order that batter is ruled out. If a player is injured and cannot continue his turn at bat offensively it will be considered an out (unless a proper substitution is made / see 5.2) 6.3: EXTRA INNINGS: In extra innings, the beginning of the seventh inning runners will start on first and second base with one out. The eighth inning is started with bases loaded and the remainder of the game is played with bases loaded and 2 outs until a winner is determined. 6.4: PROTESTING A GAME: There is no protesting of games. The Field Umpire makes all decisions regarding play and enforcement of ALL playing rules. The Field Umpire s rulings are final with no higher appeal. 6.5: WAIVER: All players will be required to sign a liability waiver and understanding of rules sheet prior to taking the field.
6.6: FIELD ETIQUTTE: All players, fans, and spectators will treat field umpires, as well as tournament officials, with respect during the tournament. Field Umpires, and Tournament officials will in-turn treat all players, fans and spectators with the same degree of respect in making the event a fun filled time for everyone involved. 6.7: GROUND RULES: Ground Rules will be discussed with all teams prior to the start of each game or before the beginning of a tournament. 7-GAME SITUATIONS 7.0: All batted balls must reach the single line at 20 to be considered a fair ball. A batted ball not reaching the 20 foot line is considered an out if in between the foul lines. All batted balls hit outside the foul lines is considered a foul ball. 7.1: A fly ball caught in the air either fair or foul is an out. No runners advance 7.2: A ground ball picked up while moving either fair or foul is an out. No Runners advance. 7.3: A ball coming to final rest whether touched or untouched in the singles area is considered a base hit single. All Runners advance one base. 7.4: A ball coming to final rest whether touched or untouched in the doubles are a is a double. All Runners advance two bases. 7.5: A fly ball hitting the fence in the air is ruled a triple. All runners advance three bases. 7.6: A fly ball clearing the fence is a home run. 7.7: Any ball that touches to the outside of the foul line is a foul ball, even if the ball bounces back into fair territory. 7.8: If a batted ball is dropped by a fielder and the ball falls on the ground, it will be ruled an error and one base will be awarded to the batter. All runners advance one base. 7.9: Juggling or deflecting to another fielder while the ball is in the air is an out if the ball does not hit the ground. A player s position to the infield line does not matter, the ball is the key, it must land past the line to be ruled a hit. If the ball hits the line and is caught, it is still an out. 7.10: A fly ball hitting a fielder in the air and then hitting the fence is ruled a double. 7.11: A ball hitting a marker cone is considered a fair ball and resting of ball will be determined at which area marker the ball hits. 7.12: A fly ball hitting the fence first and then being caught by a fielder is considered a ground rule double, all base runners advance two bases. 7.13: Any ball that reaches the fence on the ground or by bouncing will be ruled a double. 7.14: A fly ball hitting a fielder and continuing over the fence is ruled a home run. 7.15: A flyball clearing the fence and hitting a scoreboard or sign placed behind the fence above the top fence line is considered a home run. 7.16: A fly ball hitting the top of the fence and continuing over the fence will be a ruled home run. 7.17: A flyball hitting the top of the fence and returning to the field of play will be considered a ground rule double. 7.18: A fly ball hitting the foul pole above the fence level is a fair ball and is considered a home run. 7.19: No infield fly rule will be called. 7.20: Strikes and Ball calls will be the responsibility of the umpire and are indisputable. 7.21: Fair and foul calls will be the responsibility of the umpire and are indisputable. 7.22 Line calls (Single, Double and Triple) will be made by the umpire and are indisputable.
7.23: There is no Tagging up on hits. 7.24: Intentional diving on the field or jumping over fence to catch a ball is strictly prohibited and subject to player removal from the tournament. 8-BASE RUNNNERS 8.1: BASERUNNERS: There is no base running. All Base Runners are imaginary. 8.2: IMAGINARY BASE RUNNERS: Imaginary baserunners move as follows: One base on a single, two bases on a double, three bases on a triple. Home run clears the bases. One base on a fielding error. 8.3: FORCE OUTS: the lead runner is always the runner forced out. All runners other advance one base. 8.4: DOUBLE PLAY: If the offensive team hits a ground ball and the defensive team properly picks it up for an out and there are less than two outs, or the defensive player catches a flyball with less than two outs the defensive team may attempt a DOUBLE PLAY. In doing so, the fielder must field the ball cleanly, throw the ball, and hit the strike zone target from the position where they acquired the ball. If the ball hits the target the batter and lead runner are out, if the throw misses the target, then only the batter is out. The ball may hit the target in the air or on a bounce. 9-BATTER 9.0: BATTER S COUNT: Batter assumes a 1-1 count at the plate. If pitched ball hits target the batter is struck out regardless of count. Foul balls are unlimited. First foul ball is considered a strike. A foul tip hitting the target will result in the batter being out. A swing at a missed ball that does not hit the target constitutes as a strike. If pitched ball does not hit target and is not swung at by the batter it is considered a ball. Three balls constitute a walk being issued to the batter 9.1: SWITCH HITTING: The batter must determine what side of the plate they will hit from before stepping into the batter s box. The player must hit from that position for the duration of that plate appearance. The batter may not switch sides during the at bat. The batter may choose what side of the plate they would like to hit from before any at bat. Switching during an at bat will result in an out. 9.2: POSITIONING: A batter must have both feet completely in the batter s box. The white lines are part of the batter s box and if the batter has one or both feet on the white lines this is considered a legal stance. It is legal for a batter s feet to leave the batter's box during as long as the batter was legally positioned when the pitch was thrown. If a batter intentionally steps out of the batter's box during a pitch, the pitch is ruled legal and a ball or strike will be call accordingly. 9.3: BATTER S INTERFERENCE: Once the batter has legally positioned himself within the batter s box, he is not required to move out of the path of the pitch. However, if the batter is ruled to have intentionally moved into the path of the pitch (leaning in) to block the pitch from going through the strike zone, he shall be called for batter s interference, which will be called a strike. A warning will be given first for the first offense. Second and subsequent infractions thereafter are considered an out. 9.4: HITTING THE BATTER: There is no hit batsman. A ball that hits the batter will be ruled a ball and no base will be awarded unless it is ball three. 9.5: BATTER S HANDS: The batter s hands are considered part of the bat. A ball hitting the batter s hand(s) and landing in foul territory is considered a strike if the batter is in the act if swinging, if not the pitch is ruled a ball. If a ball hits a batter s hand(s) and lands into fair territory, the ball will be ruled a fair ball. 9.6: FOUL BALLS: The batter will not touch foul balls until they come to a complete stop. Foul balls have been known to spin back into fair play and are NOT too be touched by the batter until they stop spinning or moving in any way. 9.7: BUNTING: Bunting is not permitted. Bunted ball will be considered an out 9.8: CHECK SWING: Check swings will be called a strike. 9.9: BATTING GLOVES: Batting gloves may be worn only when at bat.
10-PITCHER 10.0: A pitcher entering the game must face one complete batter before leaving the mound. 10.1: A pitcher does not have to start his wind-up from the pitching rubber. The pitcher must have at least one foot touching the rubber when he releases the ball. If a ball is pitched in violation, the pitch will be considered a ball. 10.2: BALKS: There are no balks. 10.3: WARM-UPS: A pitcher will get ten warm-up pitches before the start of the game once he takes the mound and three between innings. If a relief pitcher comes into the game due to a result of an injury to the active pitcher, a reasonable amount of time will be allowed for the relief pitcher to warm-up. 10.4: INHERITING THE COUNT / SITUATION: A pitcher must face one complete batter before being replace by a relief pitcher. A Pitcher may be replaced during a batter only if an injury occurs. The relief pitcher inherits the count from the exiting pitcher. 10.5: WALKS BY PITCHER: Three consecutive batters being walked by the pitcher requires a pitching change by the defensive team. The pitcher removed is not eligible to pitch again for remainder of inning and one inning thereafter. If after the 5 th inning the removed pitcher may not re-enter to pitch for the remainder of the game, including extra innings if needed. 11- FIELDER(S) 11.0: NUMBER OF FIELDERS: three fielders are allowed on the field of play defensively. One Pitcher and 2 fielders. (Rookie League all 5 players can play defensively). 11.1: FIELDER POSITIONING: Fielders can position themselves on the playing field behind the pitcher. The fielder may not position themselves directly next to, in front of, or within a reasonable vicinity of the pitcher. A fielder may not line up defensively in any manner that in any way distracts the batter. 12 -OFFICIATING AND SCORE KEEPING 12.0 OFFICAIL SCORING: Score will be maintained on scoreboard by umpire or scoring official. 12.1 TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE: The Wiffle Ball Bash Tournament Committee reserves the right to make changes, to rules and regulations at any point to make sure the tournament is run in an organized safe, and efficient manner. The Tournament Committee also reserves the right to adjust scheduling at any time to ensure a quality event. The Tournament Committee holds the sole right to make decisions concerning the Wiffle Ball Bash regarding weather, delays, safety concerns, or any matters that may affect the integrity of the event. North Fort Myers Civic Association / Signarama / All-American Printing Wiffle Ball Bash is a Sanctioned Wiffle Ball Inc. Recreational Tournament.