On Saturday, November 22nd, the nation's finest wiffle ball squads battle it out for the 5th Annual Palm Beach Wiffle Ball® World Series (PBWWS) title!  Whether you're playing ball or just a spectator at the park, Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL provides a ballpark experience that you will never forget.

1) REGISTRATION & PREGAME
A. Each PBWWS team must check-in at the registration table upon arrival at the park entrance (45 minutes prior to game time is recommended). Check "'Event Schedule" icon on web site for exact game times. Team payment will be verified and PBWWS jerseys, souvenir cups and other team items will be issued in locker room area. The minimum age to play in the tournament is 14 years old.

B. All PBWWS fans (ie, family and friends) will enter through main entrance to Village Park where variety of ticket packages are available. Teams encouraged to invite fans!

C. Uniform team baseball caps are required (lose home field advantage without -see rule 2C).

D. Team must wear official PBWWS issued jersey to play (each league will be identified by different colored jerseys).

E. 'On-deck' teams (game next on schedule) given priority in Village Park bullpen.

F. First Pitch and National Anthem will take place at 9:55am and first scheduled game begins shortly thereafter (see "'Event Schedule" for exact game times as subject to change).

G. 5 minute late grace period will be given to all teams - After 5 minutes, the team is awarded a 7-0 loss.

2) THE TEAM
A. PBWWS teams consist of 4 player teams: 1 Pitcher and 2 Fielders (4th player is DH and will bat only).

B. Team must have at least 3 players to start and play the duration of any game.  These 3 or 4 players must be listed on official roster submitted by Team Captain and will be verified by PBWWS Commissioners. 

C. Regular Season home field advantage is determined in this order: 1) Team without uniform ball caps is the visiting team 2) If both teams have uniform ball caps, team will throw 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine home team. Note: With the exception of the PBWWS championship game where 'rock, paper, scissors' will be implemented, all playoff home field advantage will be given to higher seed team based on criteria unless no uniform ball cap worn by higher seed team.

3) THE GAME - General Rules
The distance from the pitching mound to the strike board is approximately 42-43ft long and the distance from the home plate to the foul pole is about 75ft on the average. The strike board size is 2.5ft by 2.5ft and about 15 inches high above the ground.

A. PBWWS time limitations allow 30 regulation minutes (or as stated by umpire and/or PBWWS Commissioners depending on time constraints) for each regular season divisional game.

B. Regular season and playoff games last 4 innings.

C. During regular season - if a game is tied after 4 innings, there will be extra innings. However, bases will automatically be loaded with ghost runners at the start of each extra inning until winner is decided*. Keep in mind that winning team will be awarded a 1 run win no matter how many runs are scored in the extra innings (ex. game is tied 3-3 going into extra inning and home team scores 3 runs to win 6-3. The score that will be reported will be 4-3 as teams do not get credit for ghost runners when playoff criteria is determined. This will not matter during playoffs, so score reflecting ghost runners can be reflected on scoreboard. This rule does not apply during PBWWS championship game (no ghostrunners).

*IMPORTANT NOTE: If time does not permit the play of extra innings, then Home Run Derby (HRD) will be implemented (See Rule 4F-HRD).

D. If tied after regulation and through 1 extra inning (bases loaded with ghostrunner rule applies), playoff games will continue to extra innings or HRD (See Rule 4F) depending on time (Umpire Discretion) to determine winner. Championship Game will continue to extra innings until PBWWS champion is determined (no bases loaded ghostrunner rule and no HRD).

E. 2 outs per innings for each team.

F. Outs: 1) Strikeout. 2) Fly ball caught by opposing team in field of play or foul territory. 3) Any ground ball fielded 'cleanly' by a fielder BEFORE it stops rolling (Umpire discretion), AND BEFORE it rolls past single line designated with white paint/chalk (also, Umpire discretion) - and then with a continual motion is thrown to pitcher who has at least 1 foot on pitcher's mound/board (ie, fielder can not hold ball for extended period and can not take more steps than natural throwing motion--Umpire discretion). 4) Any ground ball fielded 'cleanly' by the pitcher (see rule 3F5) BEFORE it stops rolling (Umpire discretion) AND BEFORE it rolls past single line designated with white paint/chalk (Also, Umpire discretion). 5) A 'cleanly' fielded ball is defined as one that rolls into players hands and does not subsequently hit ground (ie, bobbled balls in the air are allowed, but a grounded ball which touches a players hands and then hits ground is ruled a hit by error). Note: So, a ball that is hit and rolls into fielder's hands, then proceeds to hit ground is ruled a dead ball and classified as a single by fielder error (this justifies why a bobbled ball in air is considered 'clean' as long as it doesn't hit the ground).

G. Double-play: When ghost runner(s) on base is in a 'force-out' situation (ie, runner on first, runners on first & second, bases loaded), ball can be fielded 'cleanly' by fielder and subsequently thrown to pitcher for 1st out and then pitcher can turn and hit strike board for double-play (pitcher must have continual motion throw with no extended pause - Umpire discretion). When receiving ball from fielder to complete double play, pitcher must have one foot within marked pitcher's circle/box.  However, if pitcher fields ball for 1st out he can immediately throw to hit strike board for double-play. Note: No double plays with fly outs.

H. The Pitch: 1) There will be a SPEED RULE in effect throughout PBWWS (Umpire discretion). 2) Batter may only appeal a pitched ball that hits the strike board and Umpire will decide if pitch was illegal. 3) If Umpire decides pitch was illegal, it is ruled as a 'No-pitch" and the count remains the same. 4) Umpire can also decide to issue 'warnings' if pitch was ruled legal, so that pitchers know they are bordering on speed rule infraction. 5) In the case of 'warnings', pitch remains as called towards the count. 6) Any pitch that is lobbed in (over 10 feet tall) is ruled illegal and will also be called a 'No-pitch'.*

*Note:  If both captains decide at the start of the game that SPEED RULE will be removed from game, then the heat is on! Captains must notify Umpire at the start of the game.

I. Strikes: 1) Any pitched ball that hits the strike board. 2) Batter swings and misses. 3) Foul ball. 4) When batter has 2 strikes in the count and hits a foul ball, 1 'Courtesy Foul' is awarded -- any foul ball after Courtesy Foul has expired is ruled an out. 5) Any pitched ball that hits the top, side or bottom edges of the board is considered a strike.  Note:  A Courtesy Foul is defined as ball hit off bat into foul territory when count is full.

Foul balls: 1) Any ball hit outside of fair territory marked w/ white chalk foul lines. 2) Any ball hit forward but not past 'foul arch' marked w/ white lines in front of batters box (any ball hit off a batters body into fair territory -other than batters hands around bat- is ruled a ball). 3) Any ball hit that stops rolling on the left or right field foul line (past the foul arch) is ruled a hit. 4) Any ball that hits chalk on line is rule fair. Note: Rule 2I defines Courtesy Foul. 5) Any ball that hits chalk on the line is rule fair.  Note:  Rule 2I defines Courtesy Foul.

K. Balls/Walk: 1) Any pitched ball that does not hit the strike board and batter does not swing is ruled a ball. 2) 4 consecutive pitched balls that do not hit the strike board are ruled a Walk. 3) Batter keeps his 'At Bat' when Walk is awarded and ghost runner goes to first (ie, new count for batter) . 4) Any pitched ball that hits strike board erases all previously pitched balls (ie, 2-0 count, pitcher throws strike, count now 0-1).

3) THE GAME (cont.) - SCORING
L.  Substitutions.  1) Fielders and DH can be substituted during the course of the game; however, any substitutions must occur during "change of sides" only - unless injury to existing fielder.  2) Pitchers can be substituted any time during the game but if a pitcher is "pulled from the mound", then he can NOT go back to the mound during the game (with the exception of HRD-see Rule 4F).  3) Teams with 4 players:  If DH comes in for pitcher, then pitcher either becomes DH or becomes new fielder - and existing fielder whose was replaced goes to DH (teams with 3 players, pitcher goes to outfield). 

M.  Player Injury/Player Exit. 1) If a player from a 4 person team suffers an injury (Umpire discretion - see #2 below) during course of game, batting order automatically goes to 3 (no new players from the "stands" can be added during the tourney and no automatic out if player injury). 2) If Umpire determines that justification is not sufficient for a player leaving during course of game, then Umpire reserves the right to give automatic out every time the exiting player comes up in batter order. 3) Teams with 3 players where player is injured can play remainder of current game with 2 players. If third player can not play next game, then a new player must be added from the "stands" (see #4 below) to bat/field only for remainder of tourney or team must forfeit (team can not continue to play in tourney with only 2 players) ---- however, this new player can NOT pitch (this situation is very rare but the rule is in effect to deter teams from adding "ringer pitchers" late in the tourney). 4) A player from the "stands" is defined as someone who is/was not on another team in the tourney and would like to play ball. 

N. Baserunners: No baserunning -- All runners are 'ghost runners' and situation will be announced by Umpire before each 'At Bat'. The only time a player can run bases is when a home run is hit (touch all bags!)- optional for hitter. 

O. Single: 1) Any ground ball that comes to a complete stop past the foul ball arch before fielded by a pitcher or fielder. 2) Fly ball not caught by a pitcher or fielder -- NOTE: Fly ball is defined as 'over 6 feet tall' (Umpire discretion). 3) An error by the pitcher or fielder in the field of play is constituted as a single by error. 4) Any ball hit on the ground past 'single line' designated on field with white chalk/paint before being touched by fielder. The distance from the pitching mound to the single line is approx. 48-50 ft. NOTE:  Fielders should still play ball that rolls past single line in order to stop hard grounder from reaching fence for double. NOTE #2: Ball must clear ENTIRE white line to be ruled a single (Umpire discretion).

P. Double: Any hard ground ball which rolls to the home run fence without touching a fielder or pitcher.

Q. Triple: Any fly ball that reaches home run fence 'on the fly'!

R. Home Run: 1) Fly ball that goes over fence (Batters name will be credited to the "Babe Ruth Dinger Diary Tally Board") -see rule 4N. 2) Fly ball that hits foul pole above fence. Note: Fielder must keep ball in park to 'rob' home run - Umpire discretion --- Fielders can not jump over fence to 'rob' home run; however diving/crashing into the fence while reaching for ball is permitted --- Fielder can not run through fence to catch well hit home run. 

S. Advancing ghost runners: Every ghost runner is automatically advanced as many bases as the hitter behind him earns (ie, if a ghost runner is on first and the batter hits a double -- ghost runner advances to third and new batter/ghost runner goes to second)

NOTE: Walks DO NOT always advance ghostrunner on base -- ONLY when ghostrunner 'forced' to next base (ie, ghostrunner on 1st, ghostrunners on 1st and 2nd, bases loaded).

T. NO bunting is allowed.

U. PBWWS will be played RAIN or SHINE! - Remember last year!

4) HOME RUN DERBY (HRD)
Top 5 homerun hitters of the regular season will compete in a homerun derby to be held at the championship field at 5:10pm.

A. Each hitter will draw a number from the hat to determine who goes first, second, third, etc.

B. Each hitter elects 1 pitcher from his/her own team to throw meatballs to him/her.

C. HRD consists of 1 round with top 2 homerun hitters advancing to the championship round.

D. Each hitter has 5 outs. NOTE: Batter can take up to 5 meatballs between each out as desired from the pitcher to find their "sweetspot".

E. Derby homerun is awarded if the ball clears the fence in fair territory.

F. An out is awarded if:
1. Batter swings and misses
2. Batter swings and hits a foul ball
3. Batter hits ball into fair play but does not hit a home run.

G. If batters are tied after 5 outs or batters do not hit homeruns, HDR goes another round of sudden death. The batter that takes the fewest number of outs to hit his/her first homerun will be determined as the winner.

F. During regular season, HRD may take place to determine winner after extra innings if time does not permit complete inning of play (Umpire and Commissioner discretion). Captains throw 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine home team.  Captains decide who will hit for their team, and who will pitch for their team.  Pitcher from same team pitches to designated batter on their team.  Visiting team batter goes first and gets 3 "cuts" to hit as many home runs as possible.  A "cut" is defined as "batter swings and misses", "batter swings and hits foul ball", "batter hits ball into fair play but does not hit home run" or "batter hits a home run".  Batter can take as many balls as needed (pitcher should throw 'meatballs").  Sides change and home team takes their cuts.  Team with most home runs after complete round wins.  If winner is not determined after 1st round, then new batter for each team - and same 3 cuts apply for 2nd round until winner is determined. New batter every round - and if no winner determined after all have been up to bat, order starts over again with 1st batter from 1st round. 

5) THE WIFFLE BALL® AND BAT (and other equipment)
A. Regulation PBWWS bats will be provided at Wiffle Park (Do not bring your own bats, unless they are legal yellow wiffle ball trademark bats - pending Umpire/Commissioner approval).

B. PBWWS balls are regulation wiffle ball trademark balls, however, 2 strips of silver duct tape (we try to avoid covering holes when applying duct tape) are added to protect balls from cracking and add weight in the event that weather is not favorable (ie, windy or hard rain).

C. Mitts are not permitted (batting gloves optional).

D. Cleats are useful when playing the field, but may be difficult to wear on batters box/board (tennis shoes ideal).

6) THE REGULAR SEASON DIVISIONS
A. Each team from each division will play against each other during the regular season (minimum 3 games).

B. Division Champion will be based on the following criteria in this order: 1) Win-Loss Record, 2) Runs Ratio (runs scored for / against), 3) Total Team Home Runs (NOTE: If team has a total of 10 runs scored for and 5 against, then Runs Ratio = +5).

C. All divisions winners and wild card teams will advance to the playoffs.

D. Wild card teams will also be determined on basis of criteria from Rule 8B.

7) THE PLAYOFFS AND AWARDS
A. Sixteen (16). Note: Seeds based on criteria from Rule 8B.

B. PBWWS Championship Game (winner takes all) - Game played under the lights and will go extra innings until champion is determined.

8) SLAUGHTER RULE
A. Once 10 run maximum in one 1/2 inning takes place, teams change sides.

B. After 2 complete innings, if one team is ahead by 10 runs - game is over.

C. During regular season, home team is allowed their 2nd inning 'at bats' even if ahead by 10 runs after top of inning.

9) OTHER
All other situations not addressed here will be dealt with on a 'case by case' basis by the PBWWS Commissioners and Umpire staff during the course of play.