Pro Style Wiffle Ball Rules

1. Game Format

Each game consists of 3 innings.
A typical series consists of 3 games.
There is a 6-run limit per inning, except for the third inning.
Tournament scheduling and seeding will be published by the event director.
Tied Games: If a game is tied after 3 innings, the teams will play additional complete innings until one team has more runs after both teams have had an equal opportunity to bat. The 6-run limit remains in effect during extra innings. The home team bats second and may end the game by taking the lead during its half of the inning.

2. Teams, Rosters, and Lineups
Roster size - Each team must have a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 7 rostered players.

Eligibility - All players must be 18 years of age or older.
Players required to start - A team must have at least 4 players present and ready

to play at the scheduled start time.

Forfeit for insufficient players - A team with fewer than 4 available players must forfeit.
Borrowed players - Teams may not use substitute players or borrowed players who are not on the team roster.

Defensive positions - Five players take the field: pitcher, first base, second base, and third base.

Position rotation - Defensive players are not required to rotate positions.
Batting order - The batting order must be submitted to the umpires before the game. Once established, it may not be changed. A team that changes its batting order will
forfeit the game.

Lineup substitutions - Substitutions are permitted only between innings, except when an injury requires an in-game substitution.
Batting-order replacement - When a hitter is substituted, the replacement hitter must bat in the same order position as the player replaced.

Designated hitters - Designated hitters are not used.

3. At-Bat and Pitching Rules

Each at-bat begins with 3 strikes and 4 balls as the applicable limits.
A strike is recorded when the pitch hits any part of the rectangular strike zone, the batter swings and misses, or the batter hits a foul ball.
A foul ball remains two strikes when the batter already has two strikes. There are no foul outs.
A ball is any other pitch, including a pitch that hits the batter.
A hit batter is not automatically awarded first base. If a batter is hit a third time during the at bat then they are awarded 1st base.
Bunts are not allowed. A no-bunt line is located 8 feet from home plate. If a hit does not travel past the line, it is ruled a foul.

4. Strike Zone, Backstop, and Home Plays

Official tournaments use a rigid backstop/strike-zone target instead of a live catcher.
The standard strike zone measures approximately 22 inches wide by 30–32 inches tall and hangs approximately 15–18 inches above the ground.
There is no catcher at home plate.
To record an out at home, a fielder must throw the ball and hit the 14-inch by 7-inch backstop behind home plate.
If there is no force at home, the no-bunt line acts as the threshold beyond which the runner from third may not return to third base.
The runner is out only if the throw hits the backstop and reaches/passes home plate before the runner steps on home plate.
If the throw misses the backstop or does not reach home plate before the runner, the runner is safe.
Once the ball hits the backstop, the ball is dead and runners may not advance.

5. Baserunning, Hits, and Outs

Stealing and leading off bases are not allowed.
Hits are fair if they return to in-play bounds before reaching first or third base.
A fielder may throw and tag a live ball at a runner who is not on a base to record an out.
Any overthrown ball by a fielder to first or third base that goes out of play results in runners advancing one base.
A home run is a hit that goes over the fence. If the ball hits a tree, it must hit above the yellow line to be ruled a home run.

6. Equipment and Field Standards
Game balls - Official Wiffle Ball-branded balls only.
Bats - Standard yellow Wiffle Ball-branded bat only.
Equipment modifications - Tape is permitted on batting handle only. No other equipment modifications are allowed, including weighting, altering, or reshaping equipment.
Protective equipment - No protective equipment is required.
Gloves - Players can wear field gloves. Batting gloves are also allowed.

Footwear - Metal-spiked cleats are prohibited.

Ball replacement - A ball may be replaced only if it is broken, or at the umpire’s discretion.

Field Dimensions
Base paths 40–45 feet
Pitching mound 36.5–38 feet from home plate
Foul lines 75–95 feet
Center field 90–105 feet
Strike-zone target Approximately 22 inches wide by 30–32 inches tall; approximately 15–18 inches above the ground
Home backstop 14 inches by 7 inches for home-play outs

Base installation: Bases must be positioned consistently and secured for safe play. Exact base dimensions and anchoring specifications should be confirmed by the event director before the event.

7. Umpires, Scoring, and Disputes

Each field will have 1-2 umpires.
The umpires have final say on all plays and rule applications during the game.
There are no challenges. All plays are ruled on the field by the umpires.
Play may be stopped when, in the umpire’s discretion, a dead-ball situation or other stoppage is required.
The umpire will keep the official score.
An umpire may correct an obvious rule-application error.
Warnings or penalties for arguing balls and strikes are at the umpire’s discretion.

8. Player and Spectator Conduct

A first conduct infraction results in a warning.
A second conduct infraction results in ejection.
An ejected player is removed from the current game and suspended from the following game.
The umpires may apply conduct warnings or ejections for unsportsmanlike behavior, including inappropriate arguing, at their discretion.
Players and spectators must follow the directions of the umpires and event director.

9. Tournament Administration and Safety

Weather, lightning, heat, or unsafe field conditions: The event director may delay, suspend, relocate, or cancel play when necessary for safety.
Injuries and emergencies: Teams participate at their own risk and must report injuries or emergencies to the event director.
Waiver requirement: Every participant must complete the annual waiver on the Axiom Events website before participating: theaxiomevents.com/waiver.
Standings tie-breakers: Head-to-head record is the first tie-breaker, followed by margin of victory for the current event.
Late arrival: A 5-minute delay to the scheduled start time may be granted when required. If the required number of players is not present by the end of that period, the game is forfeited by the offending team.
Forfeits: A forfeiting team receives a loss, and the opposing team receives the event’s designated forfeit win or result.

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