Hammonds Plains Ball Association-
Hammonds Plains Ball Association-

WHIFFLE BALL RULES

WHIFFLE  BALL  LEAGUE  RULES – ALL  DIVISIONS

General

  • All games will be 3 inning games – 4 games per night (based on daylight – may have to go to 3 in mid-August)
  • 30 minute time limit per game – hard stop
  • 5 mins to move fields – start next game.
  • Helmets are not required
  • PLASTIC BATS ONLY – no wood/metal or foam bats. There will be 2 bats supplied per team.
    • So yes, if a player has a plastic bat – they can use it
  • Gloves are optional
  • They can wear whatever pants they wish – shorts etc.
  • Team shirt and hat will be provided first night
  • All teams will have their own bucket of balls each night– they must pitch with them and collect them after each at bat. They will take this bucket as well as their team bat to each field
  • All equipment is to be left at Highland – Staff will sanitize for next nights games
  • If HRM closes the fields – there are no games. I will update accordingly on questionable days.
  • The only time for makeups will be on the weekend. We will reschedule as fast as we can – however, not the long weekend in August.
  • Playoffs will start the last week of August – with championships to be held August 28th, 29th and 30th.

Field Rules

  • 30 feet for pitching for 9U & 11U
  • 40 foot bases for 9U & 11U
  • 35 feet for pitching for 13U & up
  • 50 foot bases for 13U and up
  • 2 outfielders
  • 1 pitcher
  • 1 catcher
  • 1 Summer Student (field manager) to make calls and help with rules
  • Circles around bases and home plate – defensive player and offensive player CANNOT be in the circle at the same time.
  • Batters will need to step out of the circle to allow the catcher to catch any pop ups.
  • Defensive players must avoid the base paths at all times – when runners are on base

Game Rules

  • 2 outs per team per inning
  • 4 balls – 3 strikes
  • Walks are allowed
  • Strikeouts are allowed
  • Batter is NOT out on 3rd strike foul
  • Hit batter – does not count – you do not get to take the base
  • No tagging the runner
  • No tagging the base as the defensive player
  • To record an out – simple throw the ball towards the base. If the ball beats the runner – they are out.
  • No – we do not throw the ball at the runner to record an put
  • No leading off
  • No stealing
  • No infield fly rule
  • Dropped 3rd strike – batter is out
  • 3 run rule per inning. However, if the batter hits an OVER the fence homerun – all runners on base would count.  So the most runs that could be scored in one inning is 6.
  • The same pitcher cannot pitch the entire game – if you pitch 2 innings in one game – you must take the next game off (unless of course you are only at 2 players)

Questions

  • We have 5 players? What does that mean?

Everyone can bat – but only 4 players max in the fielding positions.

What do we do when teams have less than four players?

  • We only have 3 players – can we play? Sure – eliminate the catcher’s position and use the screen.
  • The other team only has 2 players? And you have 4? – Then split the players evenly and play!!  This is all about having fun. But you have to stay in that new group the rest of the night (due to COVID rules)
  • The other team didn’t show? Well then, play 2 on 2.  The game can be modified to fit any number of players.

So what do we do when the runner at 2nd base – now has to bat?

Enter the Ghost Runner

The ghost runner takes the place of a player who was on base, and now needs to bat.

The ghost runner will always be the lead runner. Runners on 1st and 2nd – Ghost go to second. Runners on 2nd and 3rd – Ghost goes to 3rd.

The ghost runner cannot advance one base unless there is a runner directly behind them.

Example:

Ghost runner is on 2nd – no one on first.  They only can advance to 3rd on a double or more hit by the batter by one base.  And the ghost must stop at 3rd – batter now is at 2nd.

Ghost runner is on 3rd – no one on second – They can only advance on a triple or more by the batter. Single or double – they stay put.

Can the ghost runner be thrown out?

Ghost runner at 2nd

Runner at 1st

Batter hits ball to left field –

Outfielder throws the ball to 3rd base – and that ball reaches the bag – before the batter reaches 1st base

Therefore, the ghost runner is out.

Enter your keyword