KC Olympics Wiffleball Rules - KC Crew

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KC Olympics 2017 Rules of Wiffle

Part of what makes Wiffle so unique is its rules. Every backyard has its own custom book of quirks, wrinkles, and the wacky. Our rules and fields are no different. They have been developed through decades of backyard battles, in the spirit of sheer Wiffle whimsy, and have been thoroughly tested by KC Wiffle, Kansas City’s premiere Wiffle League (https:// www.facebook.com/KCWiffleBall/).

There will be a 1-person umpiring crew enforcing these rules at each of the two fields. Naturally, these umpires will not also play. There is a handful of people, however, who are pulling off this Wiffle tournament and they are playing on various teams. This is simply to adhere to one of the most basic laws of Wiffle: Wifflers Must Always Wiffle. To work at Wiffle without playing Wiffle is to chew without swallowing. But be rest assured these men are honest, decent human beings so there will be no funnybusiness.

Standard Rules

Unlike other sports in KC Olympics, this is a men’s tournament only. (Sorry! Maybe next year?)

Each game will last 9 innings or 60 minutes, whichever comes first.

If the home team is trailing and time expires, they must finish the full inning.

If there’s a tie at the end of the allotted innings or time, then we have a “Home Run Derby”. See the rules below. (#theresnotieinwiffle)

• You’re allowed no less than 5 players and no more than 8 on the field. All the players that are present must bat in the lineup. If you show up with less than 5 players, you are assigned one out per # of guys you’re missing every time you go through the lineup. • • • •

(E.g. If you only have 4 guys and your opponent agrees to play, then there’s one extra out applied every time you go through the lineup. If you play with three, then there’s 2 extra outs every time through your lineup.)

• Every batter begins with a 1 and 1 count. There is no foulball limit.

• Strikezone: the metal, upright folding chair – anything that “pings” (all but the legs beneath the seat)

• The Meatball Rule - there will be no walks.  If a pitcher "walks" a batter, the batter gets to choose a teammate to throw ONE pitch to him.  Anything less than a hit is an out. The pitch must be thrown overhand and from the actual rubber.

• Every team must use a minimum of 4 pitchers. At least 4 pitchers need to make at least one out. All pitchers will not be allowed to make more than 6 outs, which do not need to occur consecutively.  The pitcher's 6 outs may occur at any time throughout the game (i.e. a pitcher can get 3 outs in the first inning and then get three outs in the sixth inning, or one out every inning, etc).

• We run the bases. No leads, steals, or advances. You can leave the bag when the ball crosses the plate.

• Bunting is not the wiffle way and ANY attempt is an automatic out.

• In order to get an out that’s not a force play, you may tag or "bean” the runner on any part of their body. Just don’t aim for the head ok?

• Standardization of Equipment - all fields will use the trademarked Wiffle Ball and either the Wiffle yellow bat, the blue Blitz bat, or the plastic Easton or Louisville Slugger black bat. If under windy conditions, the Umpire Chief may decide to apply a strip of white duct tape to the balls to assist with pitching accuracy.

• Crying is not allowed unless you lose by one run.  If you lose by one run, crying is encouraged to show that you care.

Field Specific Rules

Each field will also have it's own unique set of rules.  

“Stables Field” – this field boasts a short porch in left, “urban warfare” walls in right, and maintains all the makings of that backyard charm Wiffle demands. You’ll love it. The rules will make sense once you can see it and we can walk you through them on site. Left Field: 1. Telephone Pole in left = foul pole

2. The shrub next to the foul poul in left = PLAYABLE!

3. The three trees in left = HOME RUN PLINKO. If it hits any branch, twig, or trunk on the fly it’s a home run UNLESS a defender can catch it before dropping to the ground. If not, it’s a dinger. The outfielder cannot catch the ball while touching the sidewalk or anything past it towards the street. That’s an automatic homerun. You may position as many players under the trees “beneath” the sidewalk as you choose.

Center Field: 4. There is a spraypainted line marking the homerun line. The ball must fully and entirely clear the line. An outfielder may catch the ball or bat it in play while keeping both feet inside and not touching the lines while making contact (think NFL endzone rules for a receiver).

Right Field: 5. Home run over the concrete wall.

6. If the ball bounces on any of the concrete divider walls on the fly and then bounces over the wall, it is a homerun. If it does not bounce over the wall, it’s in play!

7. The concrete pocket in right center with trees, brush, and weeds is a homerun if it lands in it on the fly (any part of that entire concrete pocket, even if it doesn’t land in the deep mush). If it bounces before the concrete and rolls in, it’s an automatic double.

Other: ▪ If the ball goes behind the batter and over the roof into the caged-in Stable area, it’s an automatic out.

▪ It’s a bumpy track so be careful. Watch for rocks/potholes etc!

Sled Hill Park – this field creatively leverages the very best of a softball field to make for a deep porch in left, incorporates a utility box in center, and boasts the steepest grade right-field in all of Wiffledom. Tal’s Hill has nothing on us. Left Field/Center ▪ Foul pole = stone pillar that lines up with the edge of the outfield

▪ Home run must fully clear wooden and chained link fence, or hits/lands atop the roof of either building

▪ Home Run X 2!!!! If it lands and stays inside the utility box, it’s not only an absolute MASH and a home run, it’s also worth double the runs. (E.g. If the bases were loaded, it’s 8 runs)



Everything else in and around the fence and building is in play, including the stairs.

Right Field/Center ▪ Right field foul pole will be in line with the big tree, but roughly 90-100 feet from home plate.

▪ The homerun line will be a spray painted line from the stairs all the way to the right field foul pole. The ball must fully and entirely clear the line. An outfielder may catch the ball or bat it in play while keeping both feet inside and not touching the lines while making contact (think NFL endzone rules for a receiver).

Extra Innings “Home Run Derby” Format

• Total batters will be the number of players on the smallest team (i.e. if one team has 5 and one has 8, then five batters will hit for each team in the Derby)

• Each batter gets only one pitch (aka: “Meatball”) from their own teammate, who must throw overhand and from the rubber.

• Both teams will alternate hitters until all have hit through their lineup.

• The team with the total # of bombs wins.

• If it’s still tied after all hitters have gone through the lineup, then Round 2 ensues in a sudden death format. If the first batter for the first team hits a home run, the first batter from the second team must also go yard. If he does not, they lose. If he does, it goes on to the second batters.

• If there’s a Round 3, it remains a sudden death format AND the pitchers get to move halfway between the mound and the plate. They still must throw overhand.

• If a Round 4, all the rules of Round 3 apply BUT, if it’s still tied at the end of the round, the team with the longest ball (on the fly, where it first hits the ground) wins. So be sure to mark your longest ball in Round 4.

That should cover it.

May the best country win.

Wiffleon!