Section 1: Equipment and Regulations
Equipment
1. Only baseball size Wiffle Ball brand balls are to be used. Only balls provided by the league are official- no personal wiffle balls.
a. Any player found violating this rule will be given a warning. After the warning the next violation will result in a change of pitcher for the violating pitcher's team.
2. There will be four (4) bases as First Base, Second Base, Third Base, and Home Plate, 45 feet apart.
3. There will be an object strike zone, placed 2 feet behind the tip of Home Plate and measuring 20 inches wide, and 30 inches tall. The strike zone will be 42 feet from the pitching rubber, and 12 inches off the ground. The top of the strike zone shall be the equivalent height as a wiffleball bat.
4. Only official yellow Wiffleball bats are allowed.
a. A bat may be taped up to the top of the handle, but any tape above that will disqualify the bat from league use.
5. NO metal spikes (rubber cleats OK)
Regulations
1. At least 6 players total (3 per team) must be present to play a legal Wiffle Atlanta game.
2. Teams may not have more than 8 players for a given game.
3. Teams must have exactly 3 players playing defense. That is, the pitcher and 2 outfielders.
4. Games are 9 Innings, using extra innings if necessary, 3 outs per team, per inning.
5. 10-run Mercy Rule will be used after 4 innings if one team is ahead by 10 or more runs.
6. A 10-run per inning rule is enforced, except past the 4th inning by the losing team.
7. Games are to be no longer than 80 minutes in playing time from the first pitch. Except for games in which the teams are tied at the end of playing time, the final score will be the score as of the end of the last completed inning.
8. Game Sheets will be used to record all stats, including the batting order for that game.
9. The areas considered out of play for fields are designated by lines 10' outside of each foul line, or onto another field. Foul, fly balls may be chased beyond 10' lines.
Section 2: Pitching
Pitching
1. Pitchers must pitch from or near the rubber or any mark on the ground that is used to denote the pitching mound.
2. Any type of pitching grip is allowed.
3. No loading (i.e., putting rocks inside the ball) or otherwise doctoring balls.
4. Pickoffs are allowed.
5. Balks are not called.
a. The pitcher may walk/run the runner back to their base.
b. No runner may advance until the ball is thrown by the pitcher.
c. If a pitcher picks off a runner, the play is dead and runners must return to their bases. If the pitcher misses the hitter with a throw, then the play is live and runner may advance at will.
6. A pitching speed limit of 65 MPH (pitches 66 MPH and up are penalized as described below) will be enforced game-to-game by a league-provided speed gun, should it be deemed necessary by any participating players or members of the commissioning body. Should a pitcher throw a pitch that exceeds the limit, the penalties for such an issue are as follows:
a. For all pitches measured from 66-70 MPH, it is the hitter's choice between a no-pitch do-over, or the result of the pitch in violation (should the hitter decide that its result is more favorable than a do-over.
b. For all pitches measured 71+ MPH, the batter and all base runners may advance one base without a warning being issued to the pitcher.
Walks/Strikeouts
1. A walk is 4 balls.
2. A strikeout is 3 strikes.
Section 3: Offense
Batting
1. No stopping potential strikes by leaning into them or stopping them with the hand or body. Failure to abide will result in a strike on the batter, at the pitchers discretion.
2. Bunting is allowed. The ball must be bunted fair and beyond the dud zone to be ruled a fair ball.
3. Throwing bats deliberately to distract fielders will result in an automatic out.
4. Teams may bat more than 3 in their batting order, but may use extras as designated hitters.
5. Batting out of order results in an automatic out.
6. A player may not throw the bats or damage them, especially if they are using another players bat!
7. A batter that is hit in the head with the ball may elect to take a walk, or to take a new count and continue hitting.
Base Running
1. No stealing is allowed, but a runner may lead off a base and get a head start on a pitch at his own risk. A base runner can run once the pitcher releases the ball.
2. Ghost runners (if they are needed) can be forced out, if they are forced to run, by tagging the destination base before the runner gets to first. (i.e., the ghost is as fast as the batter.)
3. Tagging on flies and liners is allowed; runners who leave early can be tagged out by tagging the base they left before they get back to it.
4. Runners are allowed to "get in the way" (but not touch) of a ground ball for distraction as long as the runner remains in the base line. A base runner that is touched by a live ball, while not on a base, is ruled out.
5. Runners are awarded the base they were headed to plus one base on an errant throw that goes past the Out of Play lines.
6. On an errant throw that stays in play, runners may advance at will.
7. If a ghost runner is needed the team may choose which base runner he represents. The ghost runner advances as far as the trailing runner (the hitter leaving the box) advances.
Section 4: Fielding
Fielding
1. No more than 3 fielders (1 pitcher, 2 fielders) at one time on defense. Players may substitute freely on defense.
2. Fielders may not go behind the fence to catch a ball.
3. If a fielder catches a fly ball and falls over the fence and retains possession of the ball, the batter is out. However, all base runners advance one base.
4. Fielders may hit runners with the ball to record an out.
Section 5: Game Situations
A hit ball is a base hit if:
1. The ball touches the ground on or behind the baseline without touching the ground first. This is considered an "automatic hit," and the hitter is safe going to first base. All other runners are fair game.
2. A ball is not deemed "in control" of the fielder when the runner reaches first.
3. The batter reaches first base before a grounder gets to the fielder's glove.
4. A batted ball hits a foreign object (ball, bucket, etc. but not including an overhanging tree or base) that interferes with the balls path. Play is deemed finished and dead- all runners advance one base.
5. A batted ball hits the outfield fence, either on the fly or from the ground.
6. A batted ball hits any part of a tree that is stationary or hanging outside of the field of play and within the fair/foul lines. This is a home run.
7. If a ball gets stuck in a tree or in the fence in fair territory, the batter is credited with a ground rule double and base runners advance accordingly. If a ball gets stuck in a tree or other object beyond the fence it is ruled a home run.
Ground ball rule
1. A ball is a ground ball if it hits the ground anywhere inside the hit line, regardless of whether it is a high bounce or a pop-up that drops to the ground.
2. A ground ball fielded for an out is an out of the batter runner. All runners advance at their own free will.
A hit ball is a double play if...
1. A ball is hit to a fielder on the ground and they are out (ball is fielded before runner reaches first) and the runner that was formally on 1st, 2nd, or 3rd base is tagged.
2. A ball is hit in the air to a fielder and a runner is tagged out or leaves the base without the ball touching the ground. Tagging the base before the runner can get back to it is the second out.
Ground Rule Double
1. Ball bounces over the boundary, or gets stuck in a tree, in fair territory, or the fence.
Home Runs
1. Ball goes over the fence in the air, or hits a foul pole, or tree trunk/limb beyond the fence in the air.
2. Batter legs out all four bases without a defensive error.
Dud
1. The "Dud Zone" is an area which is approx. a 15 foot radius from the tip of home plate.
2. Balls that stop or are fielded in the "Dud Zone" are ruled as a foul ball, and are therefore considered in foul territory.
Out of Play
Any fielded ball that goes outside the field of play or onto the adjacent field is OUT OF PLAY. If the ball crosses the out of play lines, the play is dead and the base runners advance to the base they were heading to plus one. A fly ball may be chased anywhere and caught for an out.
A grounder is an out if:
1. It's fielded cleanly (can be bobbled, as long as it doesn't touch the ground) before the runner reaches first base.
2. Any base runner is touched by the ball.
a. The runner is out and play is dead.
b. The hitter is credited with a hit and takes first base.
It's a strike if:
1. It's swung at and missed.
2. It's fouled off except with 2 strikes.
3. It hits the strike zone board.
4. The batter messes with a good pitch with the hand or elbow (this is the pitcher's call). There is no first warning.
5. A fouled third strike that hits the strike zone will result in a strikeout.
6. A bunt attempt that goes foul with 2 strikes.
A base runner is out if:
1. The ball touches any base runner and he's not on a base.
2. If he's a force out and a fielder tags the base he's headed for.
3. He's tagged out or hit with a thrown ball. If a runner is pegged out, the play is dead and all runners must return to the closest base and cannot advance because of the throw.
a. If the runner has hit successfully for an automatic single, no play is allowed to be made on the runner at first, unless he or she makes an attempt to reach second base, as in baseball.
4. A base runner going home may be thrown out by throwing the ball and hitting the K zone. The runner must be more than half way between 3rd and home for this rule to be in effect. Otherwise, it is a dead play and the lead runner stays at third (and accordingly situated for the remaining base runners).
Section 6: Miscellaneous
A word on Umpiring
1. Calls (safe/out) will be made only by players in the game. On close plays players often ask people on the bench or others watching if they saw the play. If the call cannot be resolved by the players involved in the game, then a "do-over" will occur, or the dispute may be resolved with a coin flip
2. Balls, strikes and check swings are the pitcher's call.
a. A check swing is defined as: the batter advances the bat in front of home plate; the front is defined as a vertical plane extended directly up from the front edge of home plate.
3. Fair and foul balls are the call of the closest fielder to the play.
4. A ball is in play until it strikes the ground, a tree trunk, or a light post beyond the fence or outside the field of play.
Regular Season and Playoff Roster Declaration
1. Regular season rosters must be declared, by filling out the roster sheet, before the first game of the season.
2. Playoff rosters must be declared on or before the first game of the post-season. A player must have appeared in 4 regular season games, before the end of the season, to be eligible for playoff roster consideration.
Section 7: Scheduling
Adverse Weather Situations
1. In the event of a game being delayed due to weather the game will be delayed no longer than 30 minutes, unless work is being done to make the field playable at the point that 30 minutes passes.
2. In the event of a game being cancelled by weather, the games will be in suspension until the league can work out a rescheduled date, if at all possible.
3. No game shall be played during and/or if lightning occurs in the general vicinity of the field.
Attendance and Rescheduling
1. Games begin promptly at 2:30 unless otherwise agreed to by the captains.
a. The first game is forfeited by the short team if there are not enough players to play after 15 minutes past the starting time.
b. After 30 minutes past the starting time and with inadequate numbers the short team forfeits both games to the opponent, given their opponent has enough players to play. Every effort must be made to have 3 fielders for the short team before a forfeit is called.
2. A team may reschedule a game if there has been contact between the two parties on the day before the games are to be played. If this is not followed, see part 1 of the "Attendance and Rescheduling" section.
3. Should both teams have inadequate players show and no advance contact has been made both teams lose the game day and their records are not affected.
4. A team forfeits its game if it has less than 3 players, (the forfeit may be avoided by playing with 2, however the 2 man team only gets 2 outs per inning. A 3rd player arriving late may be inserted at the start of the next inning, the team then gets 3 outs per inning.)
Note that any rules not specified in this rulebook may defer to the Major League Baseball rules of play.
Pitching Rotation
1. Any pitcher who started and/or pitched more than 3 innings the previous game MAY NOT PITCH AT ANY TIME during the following game.
2. Relievers who threw 3 innings or less the previous game MAY start the following game.
3. No matter how many innings a starter goes in the previous game, they may not pitch AT ANY TIME during the following game, unless they run out of pitchers and under extreme circumstances.
a. For example: a pitcher that started the second game of one week may not start the first game of the next week. These are considered consecutive games.
4. Every team's pitching rotation resets before the first game of the playoffs, and follows these same pitching rotation rules for the entirety of the post-season.
Equipment
1. Only baseball size Wiffle Ball brand balls are to be used. Only balls provided by the league are official- no personal wiffle balls.
a. Any player found violating this rule will be given a warning. After the warning the next violation will result in a change of pitcher for the violating pitcher's team.
2. There will be four (4) bases as First Base, Second Base, Third Base, and Home Plate, 45 feet apart.
3. There will be an object strike zone, placed 2 feet behind the tip of Home Plate and measuring 20 inches wide, and 30 inches tall. The strike zone will be 42 feet from the pitching rubber, and 12 inches off the ground. The top of the strike zone shall be the equivalent height as a wiffleball bat.
4. Only official yellow Wiffleball bats are allowed.
a. A bat may be taped up to the top of the handle, but any tape above that will disqualify the bat from league use.
5. NO metal spikes (rubber cleats OK)
Regulations
1. At least 6 players total (3 per team) must be present to play a legal Wiffle Atlanta game.
2. Teams may not have more than 8 players for a given game.
3. Teams must have exactly 3 players playing defense. That is, the pitcher and 2 outfielders.
4. Games are 9 Innings, using extra innings if necessary, 3 outs per team, per inning.
5. 10-run Mercy Rule will be used after 4 innings if one team is ahead by 10 or more runs.
6. A 10-run per inning rule is enforced, except past the 4th inning by the losing team.
7. Games are to be no longer than 80 minutes in playing time from the first pitch. Except for games in which the teams are tied at the end of playing time, the final score will be the score as of the end of the last completed inning.
8. Game Sheets will be used to record all stats, including the batting order for that game.
9. The areas considered out of play for fields are designated by lines 10' outside of each foul line, or onto another field. Foul, fly balls may be chased beyond 10' lines.
Section 2: Pitching
Pitching
1. Pitchers must pitch from or near the rubber or any mark on the ground that is used to denote the pitching mound.
2. Any type of pitching grip is allowed.
3. No loading (i.e., putting rocks inside the ball) or otherwise doctoring balls.
4. Pickoffs are allowed.
5. Balks are not called.
a. The pitcher may walk/run the runner back to their base.
b. No runner may advance until the ball is thrown by the pitcher.
c. If a pitcher picks off a runner, the play is dead and runners must return to their bases. If the pitcher misses the hitter with a throw, then the play is live and runner may advance at will.
6. A pitching speed limit of 65 MPH (pitches 66 MPH and up are penalized as described below) will be enforced game-to-game by a league-provided speed gun, should it be deemed necessary by any participating players or members of the commissioning body. Should a pitcher throw a pitch that exceeds the limit, the penalties for such an issue are as follows:
a. For all pitches measured from 66-70 MPH, it is the hitter's choice between a no-pitch do-over, or the result of the pitch in violation (should the hitter decide that its result is more favorable than a do-over.
b. For all pitches measured 71+ MPH, the batter and all base runners may advance one base without a warning being issued to the pitcher.
Walks/Strikeouts
1. A walk is 4 balls.
2. A strikeout is 3 strikes.
Section 3: Offense
Batting
1. No stopping potential strikes by leaning into them or stopping them with the hand or body. Failure to abide will result in a strike on the batter, at the pitchers discretion.
2. Bunting is allowed. The ball must be bunted fair and beyond the dud zone to be ruled a fair ball.
3. Throwing bats deliberately to distract fielders will result in an automatic out.
4. Teams may bat more than 3 in their batting order, but may use extras as designated hitters.
5. Batting out of order results in an automatic out.
6. A player may not throw the bats or damage them, especially if they are using another players bat!
7. A batter that is hit in the head with the ball may elect to take a walk, or to take a new count and continue hitting.
Base Running
1. No stealing is allowed, but a runner may lead off a base and get a head start on a pitch at his own risk. A base runner can run once the pitcher releases the ball.
2. Ghost runners (if they are needed) can be forced out, if they are forced to run, by tagging the destination base before the runner gets to first. (i.e., the ghost is as fast as the batter.)
3. Tagging on flies and liners is allowed; runners who leave early can be tagged out by tagging the base they left before they get back to it.
4. Runners are allowed to "get in the way" (but not touch) of a ground ball for distraction as long as the runner remains in the base line. A base runner that is touched by a live ball, while not on a base, is ruled out.
5. Runners are awarded the base they were headed to plus one base on an errant throw that goes past the Out of Play lines.
6. On an errant throw that stays in play, runners may advance at will.
7. If a ghost runner is needed the team may choose which base runner he represents. The ghost runner advances as far as the trailing runner (the hitter leaving the box) advances.
Section 4: Fielding
Fielding
1. No more than 3 fielders (1 pitcher, 2 fielders) at one time on defense. Players may substitute freely on defense.
2. Fielders may not go behind the fence to catch a ball.
3. If a fielder catches a fly ball and falls over the fence and retains possession of the ball, the batter is out. However, all base runners advance one base.
4. Fielders may hit runners with the ball to record an out.
Section 5: Game Situations
A hit ball is a base hit if:
1. The ball touches the ground on or behind the baseline without touching the ground first. This is considered an "automatic hit," and the hitter is safe going to first base. All other runners are fair game.
2. A ball is not deemed "in control" of the fielder when the runner reaches first.
3. The batter reaches first base before a grounder gets to the fielder's glove.
4. A batted ball hits a foreign object (ball, bucket, etc. but not including an overhanging tree or base) that interferes with the balls path. Play is deemed finished and dead- all runners advance one base.
5. A batted ball hits the outfield fence, either on the fly or from the ground.
6. A batted ball hits any part of a tree that is stationary or hanging outside of the field of play and within the fair/foul lines. This is a home run.
7. If a ball gets stuck in a tree or in the fence in fair territory, the batter is credited with a ground rule double and base runners advance accordingly. If a ball gets stuck in a tree or other object beyond the fence it is ruled a home run.
Ground ball rule
1. A ball is a ground ball if it hits the ground anywhere inside the hit line, regardless of whether it is a high bounce or a pop-up that drops to the ground.
2. A ground ball fielded for an out is an out of the batter runner. All runners advance at their own free will.
A hit ball is a double play if...
1. A ball is hit to a fielder on the ground and they are out (ball is fielded before runner reaches first) and the runner that was formally on 1st, 2nd, or 3rd base is tagged.
2. A ball is hit in the air to a fielder and a runner is tagged out or leaves the base without the ball touching the ground. Tagging the base before the runner can get back to it is the second out.
Ground Rule Double
1. Ball bounces over the boundary, or gets stuck in a tree, in fair territory, or the fence.
Home Runs
1. Ball goes over the fence in the air, or hits a foul pole, or tree trunk/limb beyond the fence in the air.
2. Batter legs out all four bases without a defensive error.
Dud
1. The "Dud Zone" is an area which is approx. a 15 foot radius from the tip of home plate.
2. Balls that stop or are fielded in the "Dud Zone" are ruled as a foul ball, and are therefore considered in foul territory.
Out of Play
Any fielded ball that goes outside the field of play or onto the adjacent field is OUT OF PLAY. If the ball crosses the out of play lines, the play is dead and the base runners advance to the base they were heading to plus one. A fly ball may be chased anywhere and caught for an out.
A grounder is an out if:
1. It's fielded cleanly (can be bobbled, as long as it doesn't touch the ground) before the runner reaches first base.
2. Any base runner is touched by the ball.
a. The runner is out and play is dead.
b. The hitter is credited with a hit and takes first base.
It's a strike if:
1. It's swung at and missed.
2. It's fouled off except with 2 strikes.
3. It hits the strike zone board.
4. The batter messes with a good pitch with the hand or elbow (this is the pitcher's call). There is no first warning.
5. A fouled third strike that hits the strike zone will result in a strikeout.
6. A bunt attempt that goes foul with 2 strikes.
A base runner is out if:
1. The ball touches any base runner and he's not on a base.
2. If he's a force out and a fielder tags the base he's headed for.
3. He's tagged out or hit with a thrown ball. If a runner is pegged out, the play is dead and all runners must return to the closest base and cannot advance because of the throw.
a. If the runner has hit successfully for an automatic single, no play is allowed to be made on the runner at first, unless he or she makes an attempt to reach second base, as in baseball.
4. A base runner going home may be thrown out by throwing the ball and hitting the K zone. The runner must be more than half way between 3rd and home for this rule to be in effect. Otherwise, it is a dead play and the lead runner stays at third (and accordingly situated for the remaining base runners).
Section 6: Miscellaneous
A word on Umpiring
1. Calls (safe/out) will be made only by players in the game. On close plays players often ask people on the bench or others watching if they saw the play. If the call cannot be resolved by the players involved in the game, then a "do-over" will occur, or the dispute may be resolved with a coin flip
2. Balls, strikes and check swings are the pitcher's call.
a. A check swing is defined as: the batter advances the bat in front of home plate; the front is defined as a vertical plane extended directly up from the front edge of home plate.
3. Fair and foul balls are the call of the closest fielder to the play.
4. A ball is in play until it strikes the ground, a tree trunk, or a light post beyond the fence or outside the field of play.
Regular Season and Playoff Roster Declaration
1. Regular season rosters must be declared, by filling out the roster sheet, before the first game of the season.
2. Playoff rosters must be declared on or before the first game of the post-season. A player must have appeared in 4 regular season games, before the end of the season, to be eligible for playoff roster consideration.
Section 7: Scheduling
Adverse Weather Situations
1. In the event of a game being delayed due to weather the game will be delayed no longer than 30 minutes, unless work is being done to make the field playable at the point that 30 minutes passes.
2. In the event of a game being cancelled by weather, the games will be in suspension until the league can work out a rescheduled date, if at all possible.
3. No game shall be played during and/or if lightning occurs in the general vicinity of the field.
Attendance and Rescheduling
1. Games begin promptly at 2:30 unless otherwise agreed to by the captains.
a. The first game is forfeited by the short team if there are not enough players to play after 15 minutes past the starting time.
b. After 30 minutes past the starting time and with inadequate numbers the short team forfeits both games to the opponent, given their opponent has enough players to play. Every effort must be made to have 3 fielders for the short team before a forfeit is called.
2. A team may reschedule a game if there has been contact between the two parties on the day before the games are to be played. If this is not followed, see part 1 of the "Attendance and Rescheduling" section.
3. Should both teams have inadequate players show and no advance contact has been made both teams lose the game day and their records are not affected.
4. A team forfeits its game if it has less than 3 players, (the forfeit may be avoided by playing with 2, however the 2 man team only gets 2 outs per inning. A 3rd player arriving late may be inserted at the start of the next inning, the team then gets 3 outs per inning.)
Note that any rules not specified in this rulebook may defer to the Major League Baseball rules of play.
Pitching Rotation
1. Any pitcher who started and/or pitched more than 3 innings the previous game MAY NOT PITCH AT ANY TIME during the following game.
2. Relievers who threw 3 innings or less the previous game MAY start the following game.
3. No matter how many innings a starter goes in the previous game, they may not pitch AT ANY TIME during the following game, unless they run out of pitchers and under extreme circumstances.
a. For example: a pitcher that started the second game of one week may not start the first game of the next week. These are considered consecutive games.
4. Every team's pitching rotation resets before the first game of the playoffs, and follows these same pitching rotation rules for the entirety of the post-season.
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