The Official Rules of the Wiffle Ball Bonanza
Written by:
Zachary Freeman (Director) & Trusted Friends
07/09/2013
*Throughout this set of rules the Wiffle Ball Bonanza will be referenced as the WBB
1 Section 1: The Basics
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The WBB is a ten (10) team, double elimination, one-day tournament.
Each team must consist of five (5) to nine (9) players.
Teams that are not registered beforehand will be formed by the “Luck of the Draw.”
Teams that are formed by “Luck of the Draw” must submit an appropriate team name before
the opening ceremonies take place.
5) Once all ten (10) teams are formed, the names of each team will be placed appropriately on
the tournament bracket. Playing spots are determined the night before the tournament.
Section 2: Starting the Game
1) Each team will select one Captain to represent his/her team.
2) Batting line-ups must consist of all five (5) to nine (9) players on the roster. Therefore, each
player on the team must bat. Line-ups will be submitted to the official scorekeeper before the
coin toss.
3) A coin toss will determine the home and away teams. The older of the two captains will
make the call in the air.
4) Once home and away teams are determined, play came begin.
Section 3: Defensive Alignment
1) Only five (5) defensive players are permitted to take the field, one (1) pitcher and four (4)
additional defenders.
2) The four (4) additional defenders can align themselves wherever they would like on
the field.
Section 4: Balls and Strikes (the Count), the K- Zone, and Outs
1) For pace-of-play purposes, each batter will start his/her at bat with one (1) strike against
him/her.
2) Balls and Strikes are determined by the K-Zone (22 X 24 piece of sheet metal directly behind
home plate). If a pitch hits the K-Zone’s sheet metal, it is a strike.
3) If a batter has two (2) strikes against him/her and foul tips a ball into the K-Zone, a
strikeout is recorded for the pitcher and the batter is out.
4) Four (4) balls equal a walk.
5) If a pitch hits the batter, the pitch is recorded as a ball.
6) There are three (3) outs per half inning
2 Section 5: Pitching (Games Pitched)
1) A player cannot pitch in three (3) consecutive games. For instance if a player starts in two (2)
consecutive games, or enters as a reliever in both of those games, he/she is not permitted to
pitch in his/her team’s next game.
Section 6: Pace of Play
* Due to a large number of teams and limited time, steps must be taken to increase pace of
play.
1) Only six (6) runs can be scored per each team’s at bats during an inning.
2) Teams can score additional runs by ending their at bats with a home run. For example, if a
team has already scored four (4) runs and the batter hits a home run with two (2) runners on
base, the team would be awarded seven (7) runs for that inning.
3) The eight (8) runs after two (2) full innings of play rule is in effect when a team is down by
eight (8) or more runs after two (2) full innings of play. This rule is similar to Little League
Baseball’s ten (10) runs after four (4) innings of play rule. The game will end immediately
after the 2nd inning if a team should be down eight (8) or more runs at the time.
Section 7: Pitcher’s Mound Poison
1) The pitcher’s mound serves only as a force out at 1st base. Balls fielded by defenders
can be returned to the pitcher (with his/her foot on the pitching rubber) before the batter
reaches 1st base to record an out.
2) Fielders can also use the pitcher’s mound to record an out at first base.
3) If fly ball is returned to the pitcher’s mound before a player tags up at 1st base, pitcher’s
mound poison is in effect and both the batter and runner will be ruled out.
4) A player must have his/her foot on the pitching rubber for pitcher’s mound poison to
apply.
Section 8: Recording an Out with the K-Zone at Home
1) The K-Zone, in addition to determining balls and strikes, can also be used to record an
out at home. If a ball is fielded, and the runner who started the play at 3rd base has left the
bag with the intent to score (momentum is taking him/her towards home plate), the ball
can be thrown at the K-Zone to record an out at home. Once the ball hits the K-Zone, the
play is dead and runners cannot advance. If the ball misses the K-Zone, play continues.
3 Section 9: The Peg Rule
1) The Peg Rule (hitting a runner with the ball at a reasonable speed to record an out) is
always in effect. The only exception is for batters trying to advance from home to 1st
base. Runners in between first and home cannot be pegged; however, they can be
tagged.
2) Hitting a runner above the shoulders (neck and head area) will automatically award the
runner the base he/she was running towards. *If a player is sliding, this rule does not
apply.
Section 10: Double Plays
1) Double plays are hard to come by in the WBB; however, they are possible. Players must
remember that pitcher’s mound poison only acts as a force out at 1st base. Therefore, once
an out is recorded using pitcher’s mound poison, force-outs do not apply other bags and
all base runners must be pegged/tagged. The K-Zone can also be used to record an out at
home (Sec. 8 Rule 1).
Section 11: Bunting
1) Bunting is only allowed to advance a runner(s). The batter is automatically out and
runners can advance at their own risk.
Section 12: Leading off/Stealing/Sliding
1) There is no leading off or stealing in the WBB. A base runner can leave the base once the
batter has made contact with the ball. Warnings will be issued to those caught leading off.
If those warnings are not abided by, an out will be issued to the base runner(s)
committing the act.
2) All forms of sliding are permitted in the WBB.
Section 13: Base Running/Interference
1) The most common incidence of interference occurs when a member of the offensive team
physically hinders the defensive team, decreasing its chances to make an out or
increasing the chance that a base runner will advance. Whenever this offensive
interference occurs, the ball becomes dead. If a batter or base runner committed the
interference, that player is called out and all other runners must return to the bases they
occupied at the time of the interference. All interference calls are made and ruled by the
umpire(s).
2) If a batted ball directly hits a base runner between bases, the runner is ruled out, the play
is dead, and the batter is awarded a base hit.
4 3) A base runner(s) must stay within a reasonable line of the base pad if a defender is trying
to record the said runner(s) out (umpire’s judgment). An out will be issued to the runner
exceeding a reasonable distance.
Section 14: Equipment
1) All batters must use the official bat of the WBB: Louisville Slugger, Black, Authentic
Replica of the Genuine C271 Big League Pro Stock Bat. It is 34" long, with a 2 3/4"
barrel, closed end bat.
2) The WBB uses the official Wiffle brand 9” Wiffle Ball Baseball.
3) If a ball becomes cracked or scuffed during the game, please discard.
Section 15: Ground Rules
1) A ball thrown out of play grants runners two (2) bags.
2) Batted balls that roll out of play will result in a ground rule double.
3) If a ball should roll under the outfield fence, players are asked to raise their hands, play
will stop, and the umpire will determine if the ball is a ground rule double. Base runners
are encouraged to continue running.
4) Batted balls that hit off of the fair/foul poles must clear the established home run height
to be ruled a home run.
5) A defender must have both feet established in play to record an out near the out-ofplay line. If the player’s momentum takes him/her across the line, but both feet were
established in play while making the catch, the batter is out, play continues and base
runners can advance at their own risk.
6) The rocks down the down the left field line are out of play. If a ball should hit one of
these rocks, the play is dead.
7) A player can leap the fence to make a catch and record an out; however, possession of the
ball must be maintained when the player hits the ground and play continues.
8) If a base pad becomes dislodged as a result of a player sliding, the play becomes dead.
Section 16: Games 18 and 19
1) These games determine the WBB Champion. The challenger (winner of the loser’s
bracket) must beat opposition (winner of the winner’s bracket) in back-to-back games to
be declared the WBB Champion.
Section 17: Awards
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MVP: The player most essential to his/her team’s success. Only player’s whose teams
make it to the final four (4) are eligible for this prestigious award.
5 •
Cy Young: The tournament’s most dominate pitcher. Determined on win-loss record,
strikeouts, ERA, and walks.
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Fantastic Phalanges (The “Jack Wilson” Award): This award speaks for itself. The
player that makes the crowd’s jaw drop the most during the WBB will walk away with
some hardware.
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All-Tournament Team: Being clutch and consistent is how players can snag one of
these five roster spots.
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v All judgment calls are determined by the Umpire(s). Players are asked to treat everyone
involved with the WBB with respect and to resolve all conflict reasonable.
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