Inaugural Miracle League of Joliet Wiffle® Ball Tournament
OFFICIAL RULE BOOK
The Miracle League is a national organization determined to bring the game of baseball to children with disabilities around the globe. Our focus is to orchestrate baseball programs and to help build accessible rubberized fields so that every child has the chance to play baseball.
Section I: The Field of Play
1.00 1.01 THE PLAYING FIELD is the same one used by the Miracle League located just beyond center field at Silver Cross Field in Joliet, IL. It is a level playing surface made out of rubberized turf. THE DIMENSIONS are ideal for Wiffle ball as the field is shaped and marked like a real baseball field, giving the game a realistic feel. It is surrounded by a chain-link fence, including a homerun fence. THE PITCHING MOUND is painted like a real mound, less the elevation. It includes a pitching rubber and dirt encirclement. THE BATTER’S BOX is also painted to match the pros. While there is no strike zone in this tournament, players are required to stand in the batter’s box while hitting.
1.02 1.03
Section II: Equipment
2.00 2.01 THE BALL is the official Wiffle ball sold at all retail outlets. It includes eight slots on the “top” of the ball. The Miracle League will provide the Wiffle balls during the event. THE BAT is the official Wiffle bat that is sold with the Wiffle balls. There is also a thicker bat that will be available as a special Bonus. This special bat can be used for a $1 donation - maximum of three at-bats per inning per team. The Miracle League will provide the Wiffle bats during the event. GLOVES are not allowed. BATTING GLOVES are allowed, but only for the batter when at bat. FOOTWEAR: Gym shoes are recommended as the surface does heat up in the summer. NO SPIKES ARE ALLOWED.
2.02 2.03 2.04
Section III: Uniforms
3.00 MATCHING T-SHIRTS will be provided to all teams on the day of the event. Each team will be a different color. It is important to mark shirt-sizes down at the time of registration.
Section IV: Teams
4.00 ROSTERS consist of seven (7) to ten (10) players. Players can be added to a roster up to the day of the event, but correct shirt size is not guaranteed after the registration deadline. A player may only play for one team.
4.01
4.02
4.03
DEFENSIVELY, there are seven (7) players in the field, including a pitcher and a catcher. Because it is pitcher’s hand out, the positioning of the other 5 field players is up to the discretion of the team. THE BATTING ORDER must include all team members, even those that are not playing the field. The batting order must be established before the game starts and remain the same throughout. If batting out of order, the batter in question is ruled out. SUBSTITUTING PLAYERS in and out of the field is allowed at the beginning of the inning. A player can freely re-enter the field throughout the game if it is done at the beginning of the inning.
Section V: Pace of Game
5.00 FIVE INNINGS, or 45 MINUTES, constitutes a complete game. A game is considered “official” after three innings in case the game has to be called for any unforeseeable circumstances. Once the time limit is reached, if losing, the home team will be able to complete their full at-bat. THREE OUTS constitutes a team’s turn at bat. SEVEN RUNS are allowed per a team’s at-bat, after which, regardless of the number of outs, the half-inning ends. A “MERCY RULE” is in effect when a team is ahead by 15 runs after three completed innings. TIE GAMES after 5 innings will continue to be played until a team wins. IN EXTRA INNINGS, the beginning of the 6th inning will begin with runners on 1st and 2nd. The 7th inning is started with the bases loaded, and the remainder of the game is played this way.
5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05
Section VI: Hitting
6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 THREE SWINGING STRIKES is an out. There are no called strikes. FOUL BALLS are unlimited, however, if you foul off a pitch with two strikes and it is caught by the catcher, it will result in a strikeout. SWITCH HITTING is allowed during an at-bat, but must be done before the pitch is delivered. THE BATTER must be positioned within the painted batter’s box while hitting. BUNTING is not permitted.
Section VII: Fielding
7.00 7.01 7.02 PITCHERS HAND is out. The pitcher must have possession of the ball with at least one foot in the mound area to force a runner out at first. THE PITCHER is the only fielder that can use the mound to force an out at first. For example, the pitcher cannot field a ball outside the area and throw to a teammate who runs onto the mound. FORCE OUTS can be made on runners advancing to 2nd, 3rd or home by touching the appropriate base. 1st base cannot be used for a force out. The only way to force a runner at first is for the
7.03
pitcher to have possession while on the mound. This includes trying to get a runner out if the runner did not tag up on a fly ball. TAGGING A RUNNER can be made on runners advancing to 2nd, 3rd or home. You cannot tag a runner if they have yet to make it to first base safely.
Section VIII: Baserunning
8.00 8.01 8.02 BASERUNNERS must make it to first base before the pitcher has possession of the ball while on the pitching mound. STEALING AND LEAD-OFFS are not permitted – you can only advance once the ball is put into play. TAGGING UP is permitted, but you cannot advance on a fly ball until it is caught.
Section IX: Pitching
9.00 9.01 9.02 THE PITCHER must be within one foot of the pitching rubber when the pitch is thrown. OVERHAND is required. PITCHING SPEED is equivalent to playing catch. This is a recreation tournament and we want everyone to have an opportunity to hit. The umpire will monitor this during each game.
Section X: Officiating and Score Keeping
10.00 SCORE will be kept by an official score keeper from the Miracle League. 10.01 AN UMPIRE will be present at all games to rule on plays on the base paths, foul balls, check swings and to monitor pitch speed. This is a family friendly event, please keep this in mind if you question a call made by the umpire. 10.02 GROUP format will be used. There will be four (4) teams in each group and they will play double-elimination until two teams are left. These two teams advance to the next round. All teams are GUARANTEED to play two games. A single-elimination bracket will determine the champion once pool play is complete. 10.03 A COIN TOSS before the game will decide which team is the home team. The only exception is that for those teams that made it through group play without a loss will be the home team for their first game of the single-elimination knockout stage. 10.04 MIXED teams are welcome. 10.05 MUST BE 16 years or older to play. 10.06 WEATHER CONDITIONS: Games will be played in all weather conditions unless the Tournament Commissioner decides otherwise. 10.07 ALL OTHER RULES not stated herein, will follow the rules of Major League Baseball.