Ottumwa Wiffle®Ball Association (OWA) League Rules
Infield line is 45 feet from home plate. Fair play line is 15 feet from home plate.
Fence will be at least 75 feet and no more then 90 feet from home plate. In center it will be no less then 85 feet and no more then 110 feet.
Pitchers rubber is 42 feet from home plate and 45 feet from strike zone.
Angle at home plate will be either 90° or 70°. (We are currently using 70°)
THE PLAYING EQUIPMENT
Only ball used will be the official Wiffle®Ball
baseball (eight slots on one side). The ball may be scuffed with sandpaper
before the game or between innings. A crack or tear of ¼ inch will force the
ball to be thrown out.
The bat must be
round on all sides. Not more then 38 inches long and 2½ inches in diameter. You
may not have any substance more the 18 inches from the handle. All bats must be
approved safe and well constructed by commissioner
No metal cleats
Batting gloves may be worn at bat. No gloves will be worn in the field.
Teams will be made up of up to 7 people on a roster. All people on roster must bat, only three will play in the field at a time.
Team must bat in same order throughout the game.
You may sub anytime defensively. Pitchers must face one complete batter before changing position.
THE GAME
A game is 5 innings with 3 outs per inning. 8 run limit per inning, trailing team has no run limit in the 5th inning or during extra innings.
Four balls is a walk. Three strikes is an out. Fouls are unlimited, but a foul on the 3rd strike that hits the strikezone is considered a strikeout. (A.K.A. catcher holding onto a foul tip.)
If a batter watches a ball hit the strikezone without swinging at it, no matter the count, the batter is called out looking. (Backwards K)
The strikezone is a board that is around 25 inches by 30 inches and is around 13
inches off the ground. The board is stationed 3 ft behind home plate.
There is no base running, stealing or bunting
Extra innings will start with a runner at 2nd for the 6th and 7th; but beginning in the 8th, all teams start with the bases loaded.
If you want to protest a game, talk to the commissioner. We shouldn't have any issues that cannot be taken care of. Commissioner has final say.
GAME SITUATIONS
· Fielding a ground ball on or before the infield line is an out. You may juggle it or even deflect it to another player, but it cannot touch the ground again or go past the infield line. In relation to the line, it's where the ball is… not the fielder.
· Any fair ball that goes past the infield line will be ruled a single. Runners advance 1 base, unless two outs. *See below.
· If a fielder drops a ball, it is considered an error. Everyone goes one base, no matter how many outs.
· Any ball that touches beyond the infield line in foul territory is a foul ball, even if it bounces back into fair territory. In the infield it is where it stops. (baseball rules)
· A ground ball that comes to a complete stop in the infield is ruled an infield single. Runners advance 1 base only. No matter how many outs. If someone dives in the infield for a grounder or line drive and knocks it to the ground. It's not an error, but considered an infield single. (This is for keeping the book info only.)
· A fly ball hitting the wall in the air is a triple. (Runners advance 3 bases). A ball hitting the wall… on the bounce or a grounder ruled a double (Runners advance 2 bases unless two outs*).
· A fly ball clearing the wall or hitting the foul pole is a home run. If a fielder touches a fly ball, then the ball goes over the wall it will also be a home run.
Base runners move as follows: One base on a single, two bases on a double and three bases on a triple. *With two outs all runners advance one extra base on a clean hit through the infield. An infield hit (stopped ball) does not get the two out extra base…. neither does an error.
Groundouts always force the lead runner, all others advance 1 base.
DOUBLE PLAY RULE: If a player hits a ground ball in the infield with less than two outs and a force situation, the fielder may attempt a DOUBLE PLAY. The fielder must field the ball cleanly (no juggle) and in less than three seconds throw the ball and hit the strikezone in the air. No bounce. If it hits the zone, the two lead forced runners are out, if the throw misses the strike zone, then only the lead runner is out. Other runners move one base, except they will stay at third.
SAC FLY RULE: Sac Fly is only with a runner on third base and less than two outs. The batting team may try and score only the runner on third base on a fly ball. When the ball is in the air the offensive team can yell, “TAG” to activate the runner. The fielder must catch the ball, throw home and hit the strikezone or the post. It may bounce or hit it in the air. If the ball misses; the runner on 3rd scores. If it hits the zone; the runner is out at the plate. All other runners will stay were they were. The offensive team must yell, “TAG” as soon as the ball is hit, without delay. The fielder has three seconds to make the throw after the catch.
A runner on 3rd may only score by way of a hit, sac fly, an infield hit or an error on a fielder. If a grounder is picked up in the infield, the runner at 3rd will not advance home unless the ball is 'booted'. The runner will not score from 3rd on a double play either.
THE BATTER
If the batter is ruled by the pitcher to have intentionally moved into the path of the pitch (leaning in) in an attempt to block the pitch from hitting the strike zone, he shall be called for batter’s interference, and the pitch called a strike. A warning must be given first, the warning remains with batter for the rest of the game.
Hitting a batter is only a ball, the hands are part of the bat, no matter if they swung or not.
THE PITCHER
A pitcher must face one complete batter and must have one foot on the rubber when releasing the ball. There are no balks.
A pitcher gets 10 warm-up pitches at the start of the game. Pitcher gets 5 between innings. Reasonable amount of time if replacing an injured player.
A pitcher may be asked by the batter to slow down pitches. This is only to keep from having someone throwing so fast that people can't catch up with the pitch. This is a slow pitch league, so If asked, the pitcher must make an effort to slow pitches down… a little… but this is not to get pitcher to lob pitches in either. This could be a very tricky rule… but it shouldn't be a big deal. We are adult here to have fun, we're not professionals… so we don't need someone throwing super fast, but we are also not in little league and need it lofted in to us.
Pitching Rotations
1.
Any pitcher who started and/or pitched 3 or more innings the previous game MAY
NOT PITCH AT ANY TIME during the following game. This is to avoid teams throwing
their ace pitcher every game in fairness.
2. Relievers who threw LESS than 3 innings 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.
THE FIELDER(S)
A fielder cannot line up to distract a batter in any way.
OFFICIATING AND SCORE KEEPING
Fair and foul calls will be the responsibility of the batter because he is looking down both foul lines.
Line calls (Single, Double and Triple) will be made by the fielder closest to the ball because he has the best view of the play.
Check swings and fouls off the hands will be called by the batter.
The pitcher will call interference by the batter.
Defense will make the decision if 'TAG' wasn't yelled soon enough or not loud enough.
Both teams will keep official score.
Rules not stated herein, will follow the rules in accordance with Major League Baseball.
*Team section rules will be different if teams are individuals
I must again mention that this is for fun. We will not fight, argue calls or storm off mad about things that don't go our way. VERY SELDOM will one play decide a game. We are adults and are expected to act like it. If problems arise… state your case… listen to the other side and make a decision one way or the other… or else do it over…. The commissioner shouldn't need to be called in to settle disputes.