2025 TWBL Rulebook

General Rules

All players will respect and adhere to the rules of TWBL and conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike fashion. Taunting, berating, or other disrespectful conduct towards opponents or commissioners will not be tolerated. Any violations may result in an ejection from the game. Formal protests can be made to the commissioner on staff at your field. Judgment calls cannot be protested. Calls by the commissioner will be final. Rules not stated herein will follow the rules of Major League Baseball. And lastly, live your backyard wiffle ball dreams to the fullest and have fun.

Equipment

The ball may be scuffed, sanded, or knifed, but will be declared illegal and removed from play if it meets any of the following conditions:

• Foreign substances have been added.
• Foreign substances have been added.
• It has a crack longer than ¼ inch.

Big barrel bats—Moonshots, Whatabats, etc.—are allowed so long as the size of the barrel is within reason. The legality of a bat is up to the discretion of the commissioner.

Teams and Rosters

• A maximum of 4 players (1 pitcher and 3 fielders) may take the field at one time, but players may be rotated in and out of positions throughout the game.

• There is no maximum batting lineup length.

• The batting order must remain constant throughout the entire game, with the exception of batters being skipped due to them having to leave; batting out of order will result in an out.

• Once a pitcher exits the game, he may not re-enter to pitch; however, he can play another position.

• Other substitution matters will follow the rules of Major League Baseball.

The Game

Texas Wiffle Ball League games will last 4 innings. If a game reaches the 35-minute mark, the current inning will be deemed the last inning. If teams are tied at the end of 4 innings the winner will be determined on total bases.

Default or Standard Rules

• Each team receives 3 outs per inning.
• Fouls are unlimited unless a foul tip with two strikes hits the strike zone, in which case the batter will be out.
• There is no physical baserunning. All baserunners will be imaginary or "ghosts." There is no stealing.
• Fair and foul balls adhere to standard baseball rules.
• The pitch count is 4 balls to a walk and 3 strikes to a strikeout.

Caught-Looking

If, at any point, the batter watches a called strike, he is deemed out via a "caught-looking" strikeout. 

Mercy Rule

The mercy rule is 20 runs after 1 complete inning, 15 runs after 2 innings, and 10 runs after 3 innings. A 10-run mercy rule will remain in effect for the remainder of that game. If a team's lead satisfies these differentials at the end of a complete inning, that team is deemed the winner. If a game exceeds the 35-minute mark, the current inning will be deemed the final inning, regardless of the score.

Hits

• New this season, a batted ball that is dropped by a fielder and hits the ground will be ruled a hit. For an out to be recorded in any scenario, the ball must be fielded "cleanly." Balls that hit the ground after the fielder makes initial contact will not be considered a clean fielding play. However, if the ball is bobbled in the air but never touches the ground, an out may still be recorded. Importantly, no outs will be recorded on any infield pop-up that hits the ground.
• A ground ball that comes to a complete stop inside the infield baselines is ruled an infield single.
• A fair ball that passes all eligible infielders (see below) and enters the outfield before being fielded by an outfielder will be ruled an outfield single. Infielders may attempt to make plays on deep ground balls, provided the ball is fielded within the general infield area and the throw is made in a timely manner. The reasonableness of such plays is up to the commissioner's discretion. 
• A ball that rolls or bounces into the fence is ruled a double. This includes balls deflected by fielders that hit the fence after touching the ground at some point. 
• A ball hitting the wall in the air is ruled a triple. This includes balls deflected by fielders that hit the fence without touching the ground at any point.
• A ball that flies over the outfield fence in fair territory is ruled a home run. This includes balls deflected by fielders that clear the fence without touching the ground at any point and balls that hit the top of the wall before going over.

Tagging Up

With runners on third and/or second base and less than 2 outs, a team may try and advance the runners on a fly ball. When the ball is in the air, the offensive team can yell “TAG” to activate the runners. If the fielder who catches the fly ball throws and hits the backstop or strike zone in the air (see the Infield Throwing Outs section for what counts as the backstop and strike zone), the lead runner will be out. If the throw is not successfully made, runners on second and/or third will advance one base. The throw to the zone or backstop must be made within a reasonable time. In general, the fielder is allotted 2-3 seconds or 1-2 shuffles to make a throw. The timeliness of this throw is adjudicated by a commissioner or the batting team if no commissioner is present.

Total Bases

Total bases are determined by the outcome of the batter’s plate appearance. The batter does not earn a base when he reaches via fielder’s choice. There are no errors.

• Homerun = 4 bases
• Triple= 3 bases
• Double = 2 bases
• Single = 1 base

The Pitcher

In general, the pitcher is allowed 3 minutes before the start of his first inning to warm up and 90 seconds between innings. He receives no warmups if he decides to change balls on his own during an inning. Relief pitchers entering the game will get the same 3 minutes for warm-up pitches if they need them.

• A pitcher must start his wind-up from the pitching rubber. The pitcher must have one foot over the rubber when he releases the ball. If the ball is thrown in violation of this rule, it will be ruled “no pitch." Repeated violations may result in the pitcher being removed from the game.
• A pitcher entering the game must face 1 complete batter before being replaced.
• A wild pitch will be declared whenever a pitched ball completely misses and breaks the plane of the backstop without hitting the target, strike zone, batter, or the bat. All base runners will advance one base.
• There are no called balks in wiffle ball. However, the pitcher is not allowed to intentionally deceive the batter by balking.

Pitch Speed Limits

• The speed limit for pitchers is 60 MPH. The batting team is responsible for enforcing this rule.
• For pitches clocked between 60 and 65 MPH, the pitch will be deemed a "no pitch."
• For pitches above 65 MPH, the pitch will be deemed an automatic ball

The Batter

The batter may not intentionally move into the path of a pitch. If he does, he will be called for batter’s interference, and the pitch will be called a strike. A warning must be given first, and will result in a “no-pitch.” The warning remains with that batter for the remainder of the game.

• Bunting is not allowed.
• The batter’s hands are considered part of the bat ONLY if the batter is swinging.
• The batter will not touch foul balls until they come to a complete stop. If the batter does touch a moving foul ball and the ball is determined to have a chance of rolling into fair territory, the batter will be ruled out. 
• If the batter is standing in front of the backstop and/or strike zone and is hit by a fielder’s throw while the ball is in the air, the fielding play will be deemed successful.

Base Runners

There is no physical base running. Base runners are imaginary and move as follows:

• One base on a single
• Three bases on a double and triple. Both a double and triple ALWAYS clear the bases.
• With two outs, all runners advance one extra base on an outfield single. Infield singles are not awarded the extra base. To be clear, balls deflected by an eligible infielder (see below) that roll into the outfield will be considered an outfield single and the extra base will be awarded. Balls deflected by an eligible infielder that either stay in the general infield area or stay in front of the infielder will be ruled an infield single and the extra base will not be awarded.

Fielders and Double Plays

All fielders must start in fair territory and may not line up in any manner to distract the batter. A fielder who started in the outfield is not allowed to field and record outs for ground balls in the infield. (see Double Plays for note)

Positioning of Eligible Infielders

• Fielders must position themselves in the general infield area (defined as approximately 5 feet behind the base path as if there was imaginary infield dirt) to be eligible to field a ground ball for an out. The fielder must take this position before the pitch is released from the pitcher's hand. 
• Fielders who enter the general infield area late will not be deemed eligible infielders and may not field ground balls for outs. However, outfielders may come in to stop the ball from advancing any further. If an outfielder brings the ball to a stop within the infield baselines, the hit will be deemed an infield single. To be clear, unlike infielders, outfielders do not get to make this play in the "general infield area" for the hit to be ruled an infield single.
• The batting team is responsible for adjudicating whether a fielder was positioned correctly before the pitch was released.
• For the purposes of ground ball rules, the pitcher is also considered to be an eligible infielder.

Infield Throwing Outs

An out is recorded when a ball is thrown directly toward home plate and hits the backstop or strike zone in the air. In addition to the backstop net, the entire backstop frame that is perpendicular to the ground counts as the backstop. This means that the bottom bar and the holes between the bar and the net are considered to be the backstop, whereas the outside legs are not. The strike zone metal, its frame, and the diagonal legs of the strike zone are considered to be the strikezone, whereas the base is not. Even though zip tie "tails" should be tucked behind the strike zone and out of reach from the ball, if the ball happens to hit a zip tie, the ball will be considered to have hit the strike zone. In general, the infielder is allotted 2-3 seconds or 1-2 shuffles to release the throw. The timeliness of throwing outs is determined by the offense.

Double Plays

A successful double play is performed in three main parts:

1. A ground ball is cleanly fielded by an eligible infielder (the fielding player).
2. The ball is tossed or thrown to another player (the receiving player) standing on second base.
3. The player who received the ball throws from second base, hitting the backstop or strike zone in the air.

An outfielder who is not considered to be an eligible infielder is still allowed to be a part of double plays as the receiving player, but they cannot be the fielding player (step 1). 

• If the receiving player fails to get the out at home, one out is recorded for the batter and the lead, forced runner is safe at the next base.

• The fielding player may perform an “unassisted” double play if he is on or near the base when the ball is fielded. At this point, he also becomes the receiving player.

• If the initial ground ball is bobbled in any fashion, the fielder can still complete the out at home like normal, but the possibility for a double play is negated. If the throw or toss to the receiving player at second base is dropped or bobbled, all runners are safe and the batter is credited with an infield single. To be clear, this is a stricter bobble interpretation than normal ground balls. 

• Successful double plays will always record an out for the lead, forced runner. For example, with the bases loaded and less than two outs, a successful double play will record an out at home and an out at first for the batter. The remaining ghost runners will reside at second and third base.

• With runners at first and third with less than two outs, the team must decide between a double play or holding the runner at third by performing a typical ground-out play at home. The runner at third cannot advance home if a team chooses to forego a double play by throwing to the strike zone or backstop like normal. Successfully turning a double play awards the defense two outs, but the runner at third has now scored a run.

• With two outs, double plays may not be performed. Though this may seem obvious, teams may not get the final out of an inning using the fielding and tossing parts of a typical double play.

Triple Plays

A successful triple play is performed in four main parts:

1. A groundball is cleanly fielded by an eligible infielder (the fielding player).
2. If the fielding player is in the vicinity of third base, he is allowed to step on third base to record an out. If not, another fielder must cover third base to record the first of 3 outs. (the first receiving player)
3. The fielder on third base (whether that's the initial fielder or his teammate) must then throw to second base where another fielder (the second receiving player) is positioned to receive the throw, similar to how a double play is turned. This second receiver must cleanly catch the ball thrown from third.
4. The second receiver then must execute a throw home that hits the strike zone. If the ball misses the strike zone but hits the backstop, a double play is recorded. Missing the backstop completely will result in a failed triple play and an out will only be recorded for the batter.

As with double plays, an outfielder who is not considered to be an eligible infielder is allowed to be a part of triple plays as either receiving player, but they cannot be the fielding player (step 1). 

• If all of the above steps are completed in a timely fashion with clean fielding and receiving, the fielding team will be awarded three outs and the inning will be over.

• If the initial batted ball is juggled, yet a triple play is still attempted, everyone will be safe. However, like with double plays, if the fielding player bobbles the ground ball, he may still attempt to record an out at home like normal. 

• The timeliness of a triple play will be assessed like a double play with slightly more grace for the added step.

Who makes the call?

• Fair/Foul: Batter

• Foul balls off the batter’s hands: Batter

• Singles, doubles, and triples: Fielder closest to the ball

• Check swings: Pitcher

• Batter’s interference: Pitcher

• Determining the timeliness of “TAG” calls: Offense

• Whether a thrown ball hits the backstop/strike zone (tags and infield ground balls) & the timeliness of the throw: Offense

• Wild Pitch: Offense

• Legal Pitch: Offense

• Infield Positioning: Batter

---