2023 Northwest Ohio Wiffle Ball Rules

 

ROSTERS:

• Game lineups can consist of 4-6 players.

• 6 players may bat but only 5 may be on the field at the same time

• Players may sub into the field freely but the batting order must stay the same.

• If a substitute is entered into the batting lineup, it must be made known and the player removed from the line up can no longer return.

• Rosters can be up to 8 players, if a fill-in player is needed it must be documented to the commissioner at least 30 minutes before game time. (Can not be on another roster)

• If a team only has 3 players, the team will start an inning with one out. (Changed from 2023)
   

EQUIPMENT:

• Yellow bats (official wiffle ball bats) these bats can have tape anywhere on the bat.

• No corking allowed.

• No metal cleats

  • Rubber or plastic cleats are allowed.

• Official-sized wiffle balls will be used. Teams "bring their own" ball. If you have a pitcher that likes to customize the ball by scuffing or cutting the ball they may. The ball may not be cracked and cannot have any substance put onto the ball. All wiffle balls that are used in-game must be checked for cracks and other substances before use.

  • There will also be balls provided for teams to use who do not bring their own wiffle ball, it could be used or new.​

• No scuffing or cutting wiffle balls for in-game use.

FIELD LAYOUT:

• 43 feet pitchers mound to the strike zone

• 45 feet bases

• Foul lines will form at about a 90° angle

• A fair play line will be drawn out in front of home plate declaring a dead ball zone. The ball must pass this line to be a fair ball.

• The Strike zone will be 28 inches tall and 24 inches wide. It will sit roughly 14 inches off the ground.

• Homerun fences will be anywhere from 80 feet to 110 feet.

OUTS:

• Strikeouts: 3 strikes against the batter

• Fly out: a ball hit in the air and caught before it touches the ground.

• Groundout: Fielding a ground ball and throwing it to first base before the runner gets to first.

• Any runner that is "forced" once a ball is put in play, the fielders may touch a base before the runner gets to that base.

• Any runner that is not on a base that makes contact with the wiffle ball will be called out. Players may throw at the runners (keep it respectable) or if a runner is hit by the ball after contact with the bat.

• If a runner has committed to running home, a fielder may throw it at the backstop or strike zone. If the ball hits the backstop or strike zone before the runner touches home, the runner is out. (If the ball misses the back stop or strike zone it is out of play and all runners advance 1 base)

STEALS (WSEM RULE) & LEAD-OFFS:

• Teams will have 2 steal attempts per game

• Once the pitcher starts their wind up any player on offense may yell "STEAL" loud enough for the fielders to hear.

• Pitchers have to throw home in this situation.

• If the ball misses the strike zone the runner is SAFE, if the ball hits the strike zone the runner is OUT.

• If the batter hits a foul ball during a steal attempt, the team retains the steal, and the runner returns to the base.

• If the batter puts the ball in play the steal is still used and the ball is live.

• No stealing home.

• NO LEADOFFS!

• Any runner who leaves the base before contact with the ball and bat of the hitter could be called out.

HITTERS:

1. 3 strikes for an out, 4 balls for a walk.

2. Being hit by the pitch counts as 1 ball, hit in the head/hat counts as a walk.

3. NO BUNTING, swing away!

4. If the batter has 2 strikes and foul tips the ball back into the strike zone the batter is OUT. (foul tip into catchers glove)

5. Crowding the plate is not allowed, multiple occurrences will result in an automatic out.

6. Must stay on the mat when hitting

7. Blocking the plate or stepping into pitches will be called a strike

8. Intentional walks are allowed, you only get 2 per game. (They cannot be used on the same player)

FIELDERS:

1. No gloves allowed, must use your hands to make a catch. Ex. No catches using a hat

2. Fielders must start in fair territory prior to a pitch, then players may position themselves anywhere

3. Position players can freely sub in and out of the game.

4. Only balls that are hit over the fence or behind the backstop will be considered uncatchable. Anything else is considered in play and able to be caught for a recorded out.

PITCHERS:

1. Only one ball in hand at a time, you cannot switch balls mid-inning. The ball can be changed in between innings. If there is a new pitcher entered in an inning they can use a different ball.

2. **57 mph is the speed limit. If the pitch is 58-60 mph that is a warning but it still can be a strike.

   1. You only get 1 warning per inning per pitcher.

   2. If you throw a pitch that is 61+ it is an automatic ball and a warning.

   3. Once you have a warning in the inning. Any pitch over 57 is a ball.

   4. If the ball is put in play but a warning (auto ball) occurs the hitter decides if they want it to be a ball or play on after. This is only if it is an auto ball pitch not a 58 mph first warning pitch. 

3. One foot must be touching the mound in order to throw a pitch.

4. Once a player is removed from the mound or pitching position they may not return for the remainder of that game.

5. Pitchers get 5 innings maximum of pitching per day (regular season 2 game week) (9 innings for 4 game weeks) Once 1 pitch is thrown in an inning, it counts for a FULL inning used.

6. If you miss the backstop on a pitch it is considered a wild pitch and all runners move up one base.

   1. If the ball hits the batters mat the ball is dead. 

      1. If the ball does not reach the batters mat which is also considered a wild pitch all runners will advance one base.​

LEAGUE GAMES:

• Each team will play 2 games each game week (both on the same day). 

• 4 innings (3 outs per inning)

• 50-minute time limit of 1st pitch.

• No new inning can start after the 50th minute of the game

• If the game is tied at the end of an inning past the 50-minute time limit, The home team decides if they want to hit or pitch with the scenario of - 1 out runner on 2nd the runner on 2nd is the player who made the teams last out. The batter is the next in the lineup from that previous inning.

• If the run scores the hitting team wins by +1 runs.

• If the run does not score the hitting team loses by -1 run.

MERCY RULES:

• 8 runs per inning (except the bottom of the last inning)

• 15 runs after 2 innings. 10 runs after 3 innings. 

 

OTHER:

• A team must play in 85% of the games scheduled to be eligible for the playoffs.

  • Individual players must play in 40% of teams games to play in playoffs​

• Tournament games are 4 innings with a different time limit.