Lakeland College

Lakeland Intramurals Wiffleball Rules

1. THE FIELD
   1. The field will be a level surface. The angle created by the foul lines at the tip of home plate will be ninety (90) degrees.
   2. The infield will be a forty-five (45) foot square. Home plate and three (3) bases will be placed in normal baseball fashion. A fair play line will be drawn in front of home plate; the line will intersect each foul line at twelve (12) feet creating a triangle.
   3. The pitching distance is forty-two (42) feet from the rubber to home plate (back point)
2. EQUIPMENT
   1. The official ball will be white, and baseball size. Only one (1) ball will be allowed on the field during a game. The ball may be scuffed but no foreign matter can be added to the ball.
   2. The bat MUST be regulation size; they may not be altered in any way. However, they may have black plastic tape on the handle ONLY. The intramural director reserves the right to inspect and declare a bat illegal for use.
   3. Proper footwear is required. Spikes/cleats are prohibited.
   4. Baseball gloves/mitts are not allowed. Only batters may wear batting gloves.
   5. Uniforms are encouraged but not required for the tournament.
3. TEAMS
   1. Teams consist of 5 to 6 players. Each team shall begin the game with four (4) players in the field, not including the pitcher. Teams may finish with three (3) players but no less on the field. Roster changes may be made up to the first pitch of the tournament, but not after.
   2. The pitcher and all fielders must bat. The batting order will not change during the game. Batting out of order will result in an out.
   3. All starting players may change positions at any time defensively, however once a non-starter substitutes a player, the starter is out of the game and cannot re-enter until TWO full innings have been played. Therefore, if a substitution occurs after the 5th or 6th inning, the sub, may only re-enter if the game goes into extra innings.
4. THE GAME
   1. Six (6) innings equal a normal game. Extra innings will be allowed until there is a winner after any complete inning. In Extra Innings, each team will begin its half of all extra innings with 2 outs. The last batter from the previous inning, (whether finished with his or her at bat or not), will go to 3rd base and the next batter will bat first. A ten (10) run "mercy rule" is in effect after any complete inning.
   2. Each team receives three (3) outs per inning.
   3. All pitches will be thrown “over-hand”. All pitches must be slow and have an arc on them. No sidearm pitching. The batter may ask the pitcher to slow the pitches down. The pitcher must have one foot on and one foot in front of the rubber when the ball is released.
   4. There will be NO one-handed batting, unless a disability calls for one-handed batting.
   5. Fair and foul balls adhere to standard baseball rules unless otherwise stated.
   6. Pitcher’s Hand—All force plays on the batter going to first base may be made to the pitcher, who may be anywhere on the infield. The runner may also be put out by force at first base. All other force plays must be made to the bases or to home plate.
   7. There will be no balls, walks (see next rule), or called strikes. There are NO balks. Batters may strike out swinging (a foul ball for the 3rd strike will result in a strike out.) Hit batters do not advance.
   8. Each team may intentionally walk one batter per six innings each game (including extra innings). The batter will go to first on the command of the pitcher.
   9. The "infield fly" rule remains in effect. The infield is defined as the area between straight lines drawn directly from home plate to 1st to 2nd to 3rd and back to home plate.
   10. Base runners may not lead off of 1st, 2nd, or 3rd nor may they steal.
   11. Batters may not steal first base after the catcher drops strike three (A catcher may be a player from the opposing team to give the team on defense more fielders).
   12. Runners in contact with a base that are hit with a batted ball will be safe. Runners between bases hit with a batted ball will be out.
   13. Teams will umpire their own games, unless an umpire is appointed to the game by the intramural director.
   14. Because of the confided nature of the game and unique setup, fans and players watching games MUST refrain from commenting on calls. Failure to comply will result in removal from the activity!
   15. Wind and, or slow play may cause games to run long. The intramural director may, at his discretion, shorten games or inform captains that the game being played will end after the next inning.
5. GENERAL RULES
   1. Tournament format will be determined by number of team participation.
   2. A coin toss will decide the Home team.
   3. Forfeiting games is not allowed; teams must play all of their scheduled games. Any forfeiture may result in the team being disqualified from the tournament.
   4. All teams and players will respect and adhere to the rules. All players will conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike fashion. Taunting, or other type of disrespectful conduct towards opponents and/or league officials will not be tolerated. Any violations may result in an ejection from the game and/or tournament.
   5. Rules not stated, will follow the rules of Major League Baseball.
   6. Foul play will not be tolerated. An unsportsmanlike act can include any acts of intentionally giving cheap shots, fighting, flagrant actions, or any act intending to cause harm or an unfair advantage.
   7. Any player involved in a fight during the game will be immediately ejected from the game, and will have to speak with Mike Bachar (Intramural Director) and Jane Bouche (Athletic Director) the next day.

The Intramural Director is in complete charge of the tournament. Any other questions or concerns, please contact Mike Bachar at ex. 1411 or email bacharma@lakeland.edu.