Wiffle Ball Game

Who: 9-18U team having no more than 20 players What: Wiffle Ball game When: May be used in a regular practice or a small space practice. Why:

• For regular practices, this is an alternative form of a scrimmage
• For teams that practice more than once a week, the entire 2nd practice can be a Wiffle Ball game
• For small spaces, it is a perfect way to have a competitive scrimmage in a confined area
• Not just for little kids. Ben Zobrist, according to his father, played Wiffle Ball frequently. And former YBE contributor and current Chicago Cubs Director of Hitting Justin Stone runs Wiffle Ball leagues for 9-13U
• Wiffle Ball is helpful in training hand-eye coordination
• Games during practices help cultivate competitiveness and baseball IQ

Where: the infield area of a regular practice field or any area of a small space (e.g., a basketball court, half of a tennis court, small grassy area, etc.) How: here are Wiffle Ball-specific rules.

• Break up the team into squads of 3-5 players each. When forming teams, keep in mind that one game of two squads OR two simultaneous games of two squads each is a far better experience than one game of three squads. Two simultaneous games can be played on two half-court basketball courts, each side of a tennis court, a full-size baseball field with one game in the infield and the other game in the outfield grass, etc. If space does not allow for two simultaneous games, one game can be played with three squads
• For a game with two squads, one squad shall hit and the other shall play defense. For a game with three squads, one squad shall hit, a second squad shall play infield, and a third squad shall play outfield. Outfielders must play behind infielders. Rotation upon three outs shall be hitting → outfield → infield → hitting
• Each game shall be 6 innings
• Each game shall have a 40 minute time limit. No inning will start after 40 minutes of play
• Rock, Paper, Scissors to determine home team
• A full-length game can end in a tie if time expires. If time permits in a tie game, extra innings will use "California Rules" for any new inning: each squad starts with a runner on 2nd base and one out
• Players pitch to their teammates
• Batters can receive up to three pitches. If the batter fails to put the ball in play on the third pitch he or she is automatically out
• Pitchers are to remain within the designated pitcher’s area
• If a batted ball strikes the pitcher, the hitter will be called out
• Defensively, each squad shall have one catcher and 2-4 fielders. If a squad only has three players, a coach will serve as the catcher
• Regular baseball rules apply in the field with the exception of plays at home plate which will all be treated as a force out. A line will be marked past 3rd base and if the runner passes this line, he has committed to home and the force out will apply
• Overthrows will be limited to 1 base
• No bunting, lead offs or stealing
• Baserunners cannot leave their bag until the ball is contacted by the batter. Each squad will get 1 warning for a baserunner leaving early. After the warning, subsequent violations will be outs.
• Each half inning has a five run limit, except the last inning, which is unlimited runs so that the trailing team always has a chance to come back
• If the next batter in the line-up remains on base, the squad may substitute him with a teammate from the bench. If the squad has no bench players in that situation, the lead runner may be a "ghost runner"
• A coach shall be the umpire, or two coaches shall be the umpires with one coach as plate umpire and the other coach shall be the field umpire