2024 Tournament Rules & Regulations

This page is devoted to rules for the All-Star Weekend Tournament games.  The following code of rules governs the playing of WIFFLE® Ball games under the Rhode Island WIFFLE® Ball League and closely resembles those rules governing the playing of baseball games by Major League Baseball and the leagues that are members of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues.

​Equipment & Setup

  1. WIFFLE® Ball:
    1. The only regulation WIFFLE® ball approved for official competition is manufactured by The WIFFLE® Ball Inc., P.O. Box 193, Shelton, CT. 06484. (U.S. Patent No. 2,776,139).  It is referred to as the WIFFLE® Ball, Regulation Baseball Size.  The ball is made of a rubbery, white plastic and has eight oval-shaped holes in one of its hemispheres.
    2. No alternate balls or brands are permitted.
  2. WIFFLE® Ball Bat: 
    1. ​The lone regulation WIFFLE® bat approved for official competition is made by The WIFFLE® Ball Inc. of Shelton, CT. and is referred to as the Official WIFFLE® Bat.  It is yellow, 32" long, 1.25" in diameter, and has a maximum circumference of 5½”.
    2. Tape may only be applied to the bat’s hand grip.
  3. Gloves:  No gloves shall be worn while playing a defensive position.  Batting gloves may be worn at the hitter's discretion.
  4. Food/Drinks:  Out of respect for the fields, no food/drinks are allowed on the field.  Please eat/drink off the field of play.​
  5. Team Managers:  Each club shall designate the manager not less than 48 hours before the scheduled event.
    1. The manager shall always be responsible for his/her team’s conduct, observance of the official rules, and deference to the umpires.
    2. If a manager leaves the field, he/she shall designate a player or coach as his/her substitute, and such substitute manager shall have the duties, rights, and responsibilities of the manager.
    3. If the manager fails or refuses to designate his/her substitute before leaving, the umpire shall designate a team member as such.
  6. Lineup Cards:  Each manager must present his/her batting order to the official scorer at the beginning of each game.  This shall include the fielding positions and all potential reserves.

Field Dimensions (2024)

  1. Pitching
    1. Distance:  The pitcher's mound will be approximately 35’ from the strike zone (45', if fast pitch).
      1. The pitcher's foot must stay in contact with the rubber for the duration of the pitch.
      2. Walk up pitching (i.e. standing next to/behind the mound & gaining momentum prior to making contact with the rubber) is not permitted.
    2. Strike Zone:  There will be a strike zone placed behind Home Plate (22” wide by 30.5” tall, elevating 13” off the ground).
  2. Hitting
    1. Not in Play Area (15 ft.):  An area in fair territory measuring approximately 15' radius directly in front of home plate will be considered not in play.   Any ball that lands or is fielded within the zone will be considered a foul ball. 
    2. "Doubles" Line (50-60 ft.):  Any ball hit between the "Not in Play Area" and the "Doubles" line on the fly (or on the ground) will be considered a Single if not fielded cleanly (See Fielding).
    3. "Triples" Line (90 ft.):  Any ball hit between the "Doubles" line and "Triples" line on the fly will be considered a Double, if not fielded cleanly on the fly.  Any ball hit between the "Triples" line and "Home Run" line on the fly will be considered a Triple, if not fielded cleanly on the fly.
    4. "Home Run" Line (100 ft.):  Any ball hit beyond the "Home Run" line on the fly will be considered a Home Run.
  3. Bases:   Although there is no baserunning at this year's tournament, each base is approximately 49.5 or 60 feet apart (depending on the field).

The Game

  1. Regulation Innings:  Differs by Tournament Round (or the number of completed innings after the allotted time)
  2. Number of Players:  4-7 (any number more or less will result in a forfeit)
    1. Batting Order:   All players of a team will be part of the team's batting order.
    2. Playing Defense:  A maximum of 5 fielders may play defense at one time.  If a team has more than 5 players, any excess players will be considered designated hitters at any time not playing the field.
  3. ​Mercy Rule to Conclude Game: If a team is up by 15 or more runs following the 4th inning, the game is over.​​

​Hitting

  1. Strikeouts/Walks:  3 strikes = strikeout; 4 balls = walk
    1. There is no limit as to the number of two-strike foul balls hit.
    2. Foul Tip Strikeout:  A two-strike foul ball that makes contact with the strike zone results in Strike Three (strikeout).
    3. All games will have each pitcher/hitter begin with a 1-1 count.
  2. Joining Late:  If a player joins late and is going to play, he/she will be put at the end of the batting lineup.​ 
  3. Hit-By-Pitches:  Being hit by a pitch is ruled a ball, and the hitter is not awarded first base (unless Ball 4).
  4. Hovering Over the Plate:  No part of your body, especially your arms, may extend into the strike zone.  It is at the discretion of the umpire to give a one-time warning if it was close or issue a strike.
  5. Bunting:  Bunting is permitted, however the ball must reach past the Not In Play line to be considered a fair ball.
  6. Batting out of Order:  Batting out of order results in an automatic out for the person who is batting out of order.
    1. For example:  If Bill (Batter 2) was due up but Amanda (Batter 1) batted out of turn, Amanda is out and Bill is up.
    2. Continued:  If Bill (Batter 2) was due up and Carla (Batter 3) batted out of turn, Carla is out and Bill is up; Carla would be skipped but no additional out would be recorded following Bill's at bat.​
Making an Out:
  1. The hitter’s fair or foul fly ball (other than a foul tip) is legally caught by a fielder.
  2. A third strike need not be legally caught by the catcher except for foul tips.  If no catcher, as in the case in this year's tournament, a two-strike foul tip that then makes contact with the Strike Zone is considered a strikeout.
  3. The hitter bunts foul on third strike.
  4. The hitter swings and misses with two strikes and the ball touches him/her.
  5. ​A member of the hitter's team hinders a fielder’s attempt to catch or field a batted ball.
  6. Foul Ball (not an Out):  A hitter unintentionally strikes the ball twice.
  7. Batter Illegal Actions (ruled Out):
    1. Hits a ball with one or both feet on the ground entirely outside the batter's box.
    2. Steps from one batter’s box to the other while the pitcher is in position ready to pitch.
    3. If a catcher is playing, the hitter interferes with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher’s play at home base.
    4. Uses or attempts to use a bat that, in the umpire’s judgment, has been altered or tampered with in such a way to improve the distance factor or cause an unusual reaction on the baseball.

Pitching

  1. Pitch Speed:  Generally slow to medium speed.
    1. A game may be played at fast-pitch, if both teams agree to doing so before the start of any game.
  2. Maximum Innings per Game per Pitcher:  3.0
    1. ​If each eligible player on one team has thrown 3 innings, a player may return to pitch up to 3 more innings (process repeats).
  3. Re-entry for Starting Pitcher Only:  For each starting pitcher's 3-inning allowance, one (1) re-entry is permitted.  For example, the starting pitcher could record 4 outs, then be replaced and subsequently re-enter to record up to 2 additional outs.  If the game goes to extra innings, and all eligible pitchers have reached the maximum inning allowance, each pitcher's innings count is reset to zero, and each pitcher is allowed one re-entry in his/her new innings.
  4. Extra Innings:  Should the game go to extra innings, a pitcher who has not exhausted the innings limit may re-enter and pitch until the limit has been reached.  If the pitcher has thrown the maximum allotted innings, he/she is allowed to return, only if all eligible pitchers have thrown the maximum allotted innings prior to the original pitcher returning.
    1. Example:  6-inning regulation game ... Starter completes 3.0 innings, Pitcher 2 completes 1.1 innings, Pitcher 3 completes 1.2 innings
    2. If the game goes to the 7th inning, Pitchers 2 and 3 must each attain 3.0 total innings prior to Pitcher 1 being able to re-enter.
    3. Once each eligible pitcher has reached 3.0 innings, each pitcher's innings limit is reset to zero (i.e. can now pitch 3.0 more innings). 
    4. At the reset, each pitcher is once again permitted one re-entry to fulfill the 2.0 additional innings.
  5. Strikeouts/Walks:  3 strikes = strikeout; 4 balls = walk.
  6. ​Intentional Walks: IBBs are not permitted under any circumstances.
  7. Hit-By-Pitches:  Being hit by a pitch is ruled a ball, and the hitter is not awarded first base (unless Ball 4).
  8. Balks:  Balks will be determined by the official scorer or umpire.
  9. Pitcher's Windup: The pitcher's foot must stay in contact with the rubber for the duration of the pitch.  Walk up pitching (i.e. standing next to/behind the mound and gaining momentum prior to making contact with the rubber) is not permitted.
  10. Wins:  A pitcher receives a win when he/she is the pitcher of record when his/her team takes the lead for good.
  11. Saves:  3- or fewer-run lead constitutes a save situation.
  12. Quick-Pitching:  Quick-pitching is not permitted.  Pitchers must allow a batter to put both feet into the box in addition to a one-second pause before starting their pitching motion.  The scorer or umpire will make the call at his/her discretion (1 warning then automatic balls).​

Fielding

  1. Gloves:  No gloves shall be worn while playing a defensive position.
  2. Players in Field:  There is a maximum of 5 players in the field, including the pitcher.
  3. Foul-to-Fair or Fair-to-Foul:  Any ball touched by a fielder in fair territory that then crosses into foul territory is considered a fair ball.  Conversely, any ball touched by a fielder in foul territory that then crosses into fair territory is considered a foul ball.
  4. Deflected Home Runs:  Any ball touched by a fielder while still in the air, then deflected into home run territory, is considered a home run.  Similarly, if a fielder catches a hit ball in home run territory, the hit is deemed a home run.
Making an Out:
  1. Ground Ball Outs:  A fielder makes a ground ball out by fielding a ball cleanly upon first touch, while the ball is still in motion (before coming to a complete stop) and is located in fair territory between the "Not in Play" line and the "Doubles" line.   If the ball comes to a complete stop in fair territory, it is deemed a Single.  If the ground ball reaches the "Doubles" line or beyond, the hit is considered a Single for the hitter.
  2. Fly Ball Outs:  A fielder makes a fly ball out by fielding a ball cleanly upon first touch after the ball travels in the air off the hitter's bat.  If the ball drops, the hitter will be awarded a Single, Double, Triple, or Home Run, depending on the location of the hit's first bounce.
    1. Both feet must not cross over the "Home Run" line for a caught fly ball to be considered an out.  If any part of one foot crosses the "Home Run" line, the hitter is awarded a Home Run, even if the ball is caught.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct & Penalties

No active participant shall at any time:
  1. Incite, or try to incite, by word or sign a demonstration by spectators
  2. Use language which will in any manner refer to or reflect upon opposing players, an umpire, or any spectator
  3. Call “Time,” or employ any other word or phrase or commit any act while the ball is alive and in play for the obvious purpose of trying to make the pitcher commit a balk
  4. Make intentional contact with the umpire in any manner.
  5. Take a position in the batter’s line of vision, and with deliberate unsportsmanlike intent, act in a manner to distract the batter.
 
Penalties
  1. The offender shall be removed from the game and shall leave the playing field, and, if a balk is made, it shall be nullified.
  2. When a participant is ejected from a game, he/she shall leave the field immediately and take no further part in that game.
  3. When the occupants of a player’s bench show violent disapproval of an umpire’s decision, the umpire shall first give warning that such disapproval shall cease.  If such action continues, the umpire has discretion to remove the offenders from active participation in the game.