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Sand Wiffleball Rulebook

Sand Wiffleball Rule Book

Roster

  1. Maximum number of 20 players allowed on a team roster.  All players must be listed on the roster and acknowledge, upon registration, the Terms & Conditions to participate.
  2. Players must be at least 18 years of age at the start of the season (tournament).
  3. Players can only be on one roster per league (tournament).
  4. Players may be added at any time, until the start of the first game of the season (tournament).
  5. A team must have at least 6 players and no more than 10 players on the field at one time.  Six (6) male/females (4M/2F, 3M/3F, or 2M/4F) is the minimum number of players per inning, unless there is an all-woman team.
  6. If a team has only 3 female/male players playing they will take an automatic out anywhere in the batting lineup.  
  7. If there are only 2 male/female players playing they will take an automatic two out anywhere in the batting lineup.
  8. If there is only one female/male, the team will take a forfeit.  The only exception to the rule is an all-woman team.
  9. If both teams are missing the same amount of  male/female players. Both teams can agree to cancel the automatic outs.
  10. A late arriving player may be inserted into the bottom of the lineup at any time. A late player may immediately enter the field on defense.
  11. Players registered prior to the start of the tournament are permitted to enter the tournament during any time of the day.

Uniforms

  1. The commissioner will provide each team with T-shirts for all teams.  All players should wear their team shirts for each game.
  2. Players may add their name, number, and other similar personal information to their T-shirt.  Additions may not cover the BYSC or Sponsor logo.
  3. Players may not add any corporate information to their T-shirt, including website addresses and company names.  Players may not include any offensive material on their T-shirt. The commissioners have the exclusive right to determine whether additions are offensive.

Start of the Game

  1. Each captain is to provide the opposing team a batting order prior to the start of the game.
  2. Home team will be determined by RPS or coin flip.  
    • Home team takes the field first.
    • It is up to the winning team to choose between home or away team.
  3. The umpire will meet with both the captains to review the ground rules prior to the start of the game.
  4. Three warm up pitches are allowed between innings.

The Clock

  1. Each game will be 50 minutes.
  2. There will be a 10 minute grace period for each team that does not meet the minimum roster requirements.
    • ONLY for the first set of games.  
    • This will count towards the 50 minute time limit.
  3. Games will be played to 6 innings or until time expires.
  4. If time expires in the middle of an inning, the inning will be played out. The bottom of the inning will be played out.
  5. If after the 4th inning, a team is up by 20+ points. (Mercy Rule)

Forfeits

  1. If any team does not have the minimum number of players (at least 2 male/female players, and a total of 6 on the field) to start the game, that team must take a paper forfeit.
  2. A team must have at least 2 male/female on the field.

Officials

  1. Games must be officiated by at least one authorized BYSC umpire, the Head Umpire.  When available, at least two officials will umpire each game; a head umpire and a first base umpire.
  2. The head umpire governs all game play and issues all final rulings.
  3. Only captains may dispute a call.
  4. Umpires have jurisdiction over play and may:
    1. Call a Timeout
    2. Call a game due to darkness, rain, or lightning
    3. Penalize a player, including game ejection, for any reason.  This includes, but is not limited to, unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting, delay of game, or excessive verbal abuse

Inclement Weather

  1. BYSC may, at its option, shorten the regular season and/or the playoff schedule (and the number of teams that make the playoffs) as cancellation due to weather.  NO REFUNDS.
  2. BYSC has the right to reschedule rain out games on days other than regularly scheduled games.
  3. If games are to be cancelled, the commissioner of the league will notify players via Facebook, e-mails, or text messages to all captains.

Fielding

  1. Fielders may freely rotate from one position to another.
  2. Fielders must try and stay out of the baseline.
  3. Fielders trying to make an out on the base may have their foot on base, but must lean out of the baseline to avoid contact with the runner.
  4. Runners hindered by any fielder within the baseline shall be safe at the base to which they were running.  The only exception is when a play being made by the fielder.
  5. If a fielder makes a play at first base by tagging the safety base, the runner is safe.
  6. No Infield Fly Rule.
  7. Pegging is allowed.  If there is contact to the head or face.  The runner will be awarded the base, unless the runner was sliding into the base.
  8. To tag a runner out at home plate, the catcher must tag the home plate for a force out or the runner must be tagged with the ball prior to touching home plate.
  9. A ball that hits the pitcher will be considered a foul ball.
    • If there are already 2 strikes, a ball that hits the pitcher is a foul ball
    • There is only 1 redo allowed.

Batting

  1. Every registered player present at the game who is on the roster must bat, unless injured.
  2. Team must bat in order. Batting out of turn will be an automatic out.
  3. Team pitches to themselves; 3 pitches for males, and 5 pitches to females.  3 strikes is an out.
  4. Bunting is not allowed. You must follow through with your swing.
  5. No Walks.
  6. No stealing, runners must wait for the ball to be hit before leaving the base.
  7. Sliding is permitted
  8. Tagging up is allowed.  
    • Runners can leave the base once the fielder has touched (first touch) the ball in fair territory.  
    • If the ball is caught in foul territory the base runner is allowed to tag up.
  9. Runners must stay within the base line.
  10. Runners cannot overrun any base except for first base.

The Call

  1. A foul ball occurs when:
    • A hit ball lands in foul territory or touches a fielder in foul territory
    • A hit ball lands in fair territory, but rolls into foul territory before reaching 1st or 3rd base
    • If a ball hits the pitcher (only 1 redo if there are 2 strikes)
    • If the ball is hit and lands on home plate
  2. An out occurs when:
    • The count reaches 3 strikes
    • A player is touched by the ball at any point while not on base
    • A leading runner who is on the same base with another runner is tagged by the ball
    • A hit ball, foul or fair, is caught in the air
    • A fielder tags a base to which a runner is forced to run
    • A runner is off the base when the ball is hit (no stealing)
    • A foul tip backwards that is caught above the batter’s head
    • A runner tags first base instead of the safety base (located on the outside of first base) when the first baseman is trying to make a play
  3. If a female has 2 strikes and hits the ball foul for her 3rd  and 4th pitch, she still has one last pitch.
    • She is out if she foul tips her 5th pitch.
    • She has 1 more pitch if she hits the pitcher on the 5th pitch
  4. On an overthrown ball that goes out of the field of play, a player is allowed to advance to only one base, as long as the fielder is not trying to make a play.
    • The advancement is not an automatic base and runners can still be tagged out.  
    • If the ball is overthrown again, the runner is allowed to advance to the next base, but still can be tagged out.
  5. A ball that is hit OVER the cones in the outfield will be an automatic home run.
  6. A ball that rolls past the cones in the outfield is a ground rule double.
  7. A ball that hits an object (chairs, porta-potties, etc) in the playing field is an automatic ground-rule double.
  8. If the ball hits the pitcher on the last pitch it will be considered a redo.
  9. If the ball is deemed to be intentionally filled with sand and thrown into the field to make a play the offensive player is allowed a free base they are heading to.
  10. Any player wholly or partially in fair territory is an extension of fair territory.  A player jumping from fair territory is in fair territory while in the air. A player in foul territory does not extend foul territory by jumping or reaching into fair territory.
  11. A pinch runner is permitted after he/she reaches first base.
    1. The substitute must stay in the game and the player they replace may not come back in.
    2. The pinch runner must be the last person out of the same sex, who is not already on base.
    3. The next at bat for the person who was replaced will be an out for the remainder of the game.

Team Standings

  1. Points will be awarded  to teams as follows:
    1. Win=1.0
    2. Tie=0.5
    3. Lose=0
  2. During the regular season, there will be no extra innings to break ties

Tournament Rules

  1. The commissioners will determine the number of teams making the playoffs.  The computerized playoff wizard will break regular season record ties.
  2. Single Seeded Elimination: Seeding will be determined by:
    1. Points
    2. Head-to-Head
    3. Runs Against
  3. Games will be 6 innings.