Intramural Rules

Whiffleball

I. Eligibility

1. In order to be eligible to participate in intramural activities, players must be a current OSU student with a valid OSU ID.
2. ALL PLAYERS MUST PRESENT A VALID ID TO PARTICIPATE.
   Players must be listed on the team roster in the Intramural Office prior to 12:00pm (noon) the day of the contest in which they plan to participate. The IM office is open Mon-Thurs. 8:00 am to 8:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am to 5:00pm. Names cannot be added by phone. Teams may add up to two players at the game site in the designated area on the scoresheet. These players will be permanently placed on the team roster.
3. Team captains and players are responsible for checking their eligibility status. A complete list of the intramural eligibility regulations is available in the Intramural Sports Handbook/Calendar, which can be obtained in the Intramural Sports Office.
4. All teams may add players throughout the season but a player's name must be on a team's roster for at least 1 regular season contest in order to be eligible for playoffs.

II. Equipment

1. Clean athletic shoes must be worn by all players.
2. Participants must remove all jewelry before playing.
3. The Intramural Office will provide bases, bats, and balls for each scheduled contest.
4. Teams must use the provided equipment.
5. Hats and bandannas may be worn.

III. Forfeits

1. Forfeit time is the starting time of the contest. A team must be present and ready to play at game time to avoid a forfeit.
2. If a team forfeits, they must pay a $10.00 forfeit fee. The fee will be charged to the Captain's Bursar Account.
3. In order to claim a forfeit, a team must have the correct number of players present and ready to play.
4. Two forfeits within the same sport will result in that team being dropped from league play. The team will not be eligible for playoffs.

IV. Players

1. A team will consist of seven (7) players.
2. A team may start and play with as few as five (5) players.
3. Each team must field a catcher, regardless of the number present.

V. Play

1. The Game
   1. A game consists of seven (7) innings or 50 minutes, whichever comes first. No new innings can begin after the 50 minute time limit has expired.
   2. The choice of "home" and "visitor" will be decided at game time.
   3. The batting order must be listed on the scoresheet prior to game time.
   4. There is a seven (7) run limit per team per inning.
   5. During the regular season, extra innings will be played as long as time allows.
   6. During playoffs, extra innings will be played until a winner is determined.
   7. A "Mercy Rule" will be in effect.
      1. After the 4th inning, if a team has a 15 run lead and the team behind has had its turn to bat, the game will be ended.
      2. After the 5th inning, if a team has a 10 run lead and the team behind has had its turn to bat, the game will be ended.
      3. After the 6th inning, once a team is ahead by 8 or more runs, the game will be ended.
2. Pitching
   1. Teams pitch to their own team members.
   2. The pitcher shall take a position with both feet firmly on the ground and with at least one foot in contact with the pitching rubber.
   3. The pivot foot must remain in contact with the pitching rubber until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand.
   4. A pitch can be overhand or underhand.
   5. Pitchers must not intentionally interfere with a batted ball.
3. Batting
   1. The extra hitter ("designated hitter") will not be used. Any player playing in the field must bat.
   2. Teams will have the option of batting all of their players in the batting order, including those who don't play in the field.
      1. Teams must designate their batting order on the scoresheet prior to the start of the game and AT THIS TIME decide if they will bat their entire roster.
      2. Teams choosing to bat their entire roster must list all of their players on the scoresheet.
      3. Teams may choose to bat only fielding players and follow normal substitution procedures.
   3. Batters receive 3 pitches to hit. If they fail to hit the ball fairly in 3 pitches, they are "out".
   4. A foul ball on the third pitch will be an "out".
   5. Bunting is not allowed.
   6. The ball can not make contact with the ground before being hit.
   7. If a ball hits a wall or basketball goal in fair territory, it is considered a live ball. Balls that hit any of the above will not be eligible to be caught for an "out".
   8. If a ball hits the ceiling in fair territory, it is considered a live ball.
   9. A ball that hits the ceiling can be caught for an "out".
   10. The infield fly rule will not apply.
4. Substitutions
   1. The captain making substitutions shall notify the supervisor of any changes.
   2. Players arriving late must sign in with the supervisor before they can play.
5. Re-entry
   1. Any of the starting players may be withdrawn and reentered once, provided the players occupy the same spot in the batting order.
   2. Violation of the re-entry rule will result in the violating player being ejected from the contest with no replacement player allowed.
6. Base Running
   1. Runners can't lead off or steal bases. The runner can't leave a base until the pitch is contacted by the batter.
   2. A runner is out when he/she is struck with a fairly batted ball in fair territory provided the ball has not passed an infielder, excluding the pitcher.
   3. Base runners are responsible for avoiding all collisions with fielders anytime a fielder is making a play on the ball (fielding, throwing, or catching). If the base runner does not avoid the collision, they are liable to ejection at the supervisor's discretion.
   4. A base runner may not charge into a fielder hoping to dislodge the ball. The runner will be called "out", and if the action was flagrant, ejected.
   5. Any fielder not making a play on the ball is liable to ejection from the game if they interfere with a base runner or cause a collision with a base runner. (This includes run-downs)
   6. Sliding is not allowed. Any violation of this rule, other than accidental, will result in an ejection.
   7. The ball may not be thrown at the base runner to get them "out". If this occurs, it will be a one base error. (ex. a runner going to first gets second).
   8. If the runner makes contact with a base and the base slides the runner is "safe" if it occurred before the tag or putout.
7. Overthrows
   1. There is no overthrow rule. Runners may advance at their own risk until the play is called "dead" by the supervisor.
8. Appeals
   1. An appeal occurs when a player requests a ruling on whether or not a runner touched a base, and at that time the supervisor will make a decision.
   2. The appeal must be made before the next pitch.
9. Homeruns
   1. If a ball hits any part of the black railing in fair territory, it is a homerun.
   2. If a ball hits a backboard or the support bars of a backboard and then hits any part of the black railing, it is a homerun.
   3. The team that hits a homerun is responsible for retrieving the ball.

VI. Protests

1. Only protests which concern rules interpretation and player eligibility will be considered.
2. OFFICIAL'S JUDGEMENT IS NOT PROTESTABLE.
3. Rules protests
   1. Rules protests must be filed at the time a question occurs and will be settled at that time by the supervisor.
   2. No contests, or portions thereof, will be replayed due to improper rules enforcement.
4. Player eligibility protests
   1. Eligibility protests will be decided at the time a question arises whenever possible.
   2. Players found to be ineligible after the contest will result in that contest being forfeited and/or that player being suspended.

VII. Player and Coach Conduct

1. Team captains and coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players and fans.
2. Only the captain may question the official during play.
3. Acts of unsportsmanlike conduct include, but are not limited to the following: Unnecessary roughness, arguing with officials, fighting, abusive language directed toward officials/opponents. These actions will result in the player(s) involved being ejected.
4. Any player ejected from a game will be ineligible to participate in any intramural event until he/she meets with the Graduate Assistant or Coordinator.
5. Penalties for ejected players may include, but are not limited to the following: probation, suspension from one or more contests, disqualification for the remainder of the sport and/or upcoming sports, being banned from Intramural Sports competition for the remainder of that school year, or future years.

VII. Playoffs

1. All teams that complete the season with an acceptable Sportsmanship rating are eligible for playoffs.

More Whiffleball Rules

The Playing Field

The fields will be set up similar to baseball. The pitching mound is 36 feet from the home plate (12 paces). The home run line is 100 feet (34 paces) from home plate. The distance between bases is 36 feet (12 paces).

The Game

1. Teams will consist of 6 players. Coed is made up of three (3) females and three (3) males.
2. Teams will pitch to their own batters. The pitcher must not interfere with the ball or impede a defensive player from making a play. Any ball which strikes the pitcher is a dead ball and does not count as one of the three (3) pitches.
3. Three outs to an inning per team. Nine (9) innings per game or fifty (50) minutes. In games ending in a tie in regulation play, additional innings will be played in the tournament until a team scores more runs in the extra inning(s).
4. Teams will choose the type of batting order. There are two (2) types: "limited" in which only six (6) people bat or "unlimited" in which all members of the team bat.
5. An out for a batter can be made in the following ways:
   • The batter is out after three (3) pitches. Foul tips count as strikes.
   • Fly balls caught in fair or foul territory (Not exceeding cone line).
   • Ground balls fielded to the base.
6. Bunting is not allowed. Only full swings are permitted.
7. The ball may not be thrown at the runner.
8. Tagging the pitching mound is not legal to get a runner out. Ball must be thrown to a defensive player who tags the base or runner.
9. No sliding or diving into a base. If this occurs, the runner is out.
10. No sliding or diving to tag a runner. If this occurs, the runner is awarded two bases from the last base touched.
11. Any ball thrown out of play will result in each runner being awarded one base beyond their location at the time the throw occurred.
12. Diving is not recommended to field the ball due to chance of injury. It is recommended that all players wear long pants and shirts due to possible abrasions from the synthetic surface.
13. Each game will be played using a limited or unlimited run rule. The decision will be made prior to the game by the captains. If a mutual agreement can not be reached, the limited run rule will be in effect. This limits the amount of runs scored per team half inning to ten (10) runs.
14. Each team will keep the score sheet with the field official keeping the official score.
15. The home run rule is similar to the touchback rule in football. If a ball is hit it can be caught if the defensive player catches the ball and keeps one (1) foot in front of the line. If the defensive player does not keep one (1) foot in front of the line it will be declared a home run. The defensive player is allowed to jump in the air to catch a ball as long as they jump from in front of the line and land in front of the line after the catch. Players may jump from the field of play and bat the ball back onto the field where they or another player may make a play on the ball.
    
    Equipment needed: whiffleball balls, bats, rubber bases, and some way to mark the "fence" in the outfield.

More Whiffleball Rules

The Game

1. Teams will consist of a maximum of 6 players. Teams must have at least 4 players. Co-rec teams may participate with no limit on male and /or female players.
2. Teams pitch to the opposing team. An umpire/program coordinator will call balls and strikes. Two warnings will be given if the pitcher pitches too fast. If addressed again that player will be removed from the mound.
3. Three outs per team per inning. Nine (9) innings per game or fifty (50) minutes. After a tie game, additional innings will be played until a winner is declared.
4. An out for a batter can be made in the following ways:
   1. Out after 3 strikes. Two foul tips are allowed.
   2. Fly balls caught in fair or foul territory (not exceeding HR cone line)
   3. A ground ball that does not travel into the outfield is an out.
   4. Bunting is not allowed. Only full swings are permitted.
5. The ball may not be thrown at the runner.
6. Tagging the mound is not a legal way to get a runner out. Ball must be thrown to a defensive player who tags the base or runner.
7. Sliding or diving into bases is not recommended.
8. No sliding or diving to tag a runner. If this occurs, the runner is awarded two bases from the last base touched.
9. Any ball thrown out of play will result in each runner being awarded one base at the time the throw occurred.
10. Each team will keep the score sheet with the field official keeping the official score.
11. Home Runs — If a ball is hit it can be caught if the defensive player catches the ball and keeps one (1) foot in front of the line. If the defensive player does not keep one (1) foot in front of the line it will be declared a home run. The defensive player is allowed to jump in the air to catch a ball as long as they jump from in front of the line and land in front of the line after the catch. Players may jump from the field of play and bat the ball back into the field where they or another player may make a play on the ball.

More Whiffleball Rules

1. Teams

1.1 Each team consists of 6 (six) players. You may have as many players signed in on the roster as you like, up to 16 (sixteen) players.

1.2 You must have 5 players to start. If you are playing with fewer than six players, each missing player is recorded as an "out" when his/her turn comes up in the batting order.

2. Field Size

2.1 Games will be played indoors @ SAC on Quads 3 and 4. Bases will placed accordingly on each court approximately 45' apart from each other.

3. Equipment

3.1 All players must wear tennis shoes. (Sandals are acceptable)

3.2 No gloves are permitted. No equipment can be used to field ? all outs must be made by hand. For example: no catching fly balls with hats or shirts.

3.3 Bats and balls are supplied.

4. Rules

4.1 Traditional baseball rules apply except for the following:

4.2 Each team will pitch to themselves. Every batter will have a maximum of 2 pitches. All pitches must be underhand. A foul ball is the same as a swing and a miss.

4.3 If a hit ball strikes the pitcher (from his own team) and he/she makes no attempt to get out of the way, the batter will be declared out. If he/she does make an attempt or simply doesn't have enough time to react, it will be declared a "no pitch".

4.4 Runners must remain on the base until the ball is hit. There is no stealing.

4.5 The ceiling, all overhead obstacles (steel supports), backboards, lights, and wall over fair territory are in play. A ball caught in flight off of the ceiling, overhead obstacles, backboards, and walls is an out. Any ball stuck in the ceiling is a one base hit and all runners advance one base. Any ball that hits the ceiling, backboards, walls, etc. in fair territory will remain a fair ball no matter where it rebounds.

4.6 A batted ball that hits the wall, backboard, or ceiling in foul territory before the ball becomes a legal fair ball (rebounds or bounces fair), will always remain a foul ball. However, any foul ball caught off of the ceiling, walls, or backboards carries the same rule as a fair ball and is considered and out if caught before it hits the ground.

4.7 Underneath the stairwells leading to the weight rooms are dead territory. Any ball hit under the stairwell or behind the equipment there will be declared "out of play" and the batter will be awarded two bases. Any runners will also receive two bases.

4.8 A ball hit into the weight room is considered a Home Run.

4.9 Sliding is NOT permitted.

4.10 No bunting or chop swings.

4.11 No "pegging or burnouts" of runners.

4.12 The batter must swing with TWO hands on the bat. If the batter swings with one hand, the result is an out.

4.13 Remember, like playing in the old neighborhood, this game is for fun. Any unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated.

5. Games

5.1 Seven inning games with a 55-minute time limit. No new inning can start after 55 minutes. Extra innings will be played when necessary. There will be no ties.

5.2 The "Mercy Rule" is as follows: 15 or more runs after 4 innings, 10 runs after 5 innings.