Do you have any suggestions to help us improve our rules? Email NCWBL@hotmail.com
Official Rules for the 2009-2010 NCWBL and NCWBL Tournaments
1. Field Setup 1.01 The bases will be set at 50 feet apart. 1.02 The pitchers mound will be 40 ft from home plate 1.03 The strike zone will be 2 ft behind home plate. 1.04 The fence distance will be 95 ft to the corners and 120 ft to centerfield. 1.05 Cones and/or rope will be the fence boundary if not on field one. 1.06 The strikezone will be (to be added) 2. Teams and Rosters 2.01 A team must have at least 4 players present at the start of the tournament. 2.02 Teams must produce a batting lineup before the start of each game. 2.03 Teams must have a player designated as the team captain. 2.04 Teams are not required to wear uniforms, but may provide their own uniforms. 2.05 Teams can only play a maximum of 4 players on defense. All other players must be used as extra hitters. 2.06 A player will not be allowed to play in any NCWBL event without a signed waiver form. Any player under 18 years of age must have waiver signed by a parent or guardian 2.07 Teams may be co-ed. 2.08 A team may use 3 players if due to injury during tournament. In a 3 man team situation when the base's become loaded the runner on third will return home to bat. In doing this there will be no ghost runner's and the 3 man team will lose the runner on third. The base will remain empty until play allows a runner to occupy the base. This rule will repeat itself throughout the game. 3. Rules of Play 3.01 Games will be 7 innings. Extra innings will be allowed to settle a tied score. 3.02 All games, excluding the championship, will have a 1 hour 15 minute time limit. 3.03 Games will be played with the WIFFLE® Brand balls. 3.04 There will be 3 outs per inning, 3 strikes per out, and 4 balls to a walk. 3.05 Pitches that strike a batter will be called balls. The batter must at least try to avoid being struck by the pitch. If a batter leans into a pitch to gain a ball in the count the official may call it a strike instead. A batter struck in the head by a pitch will be awarded a walk. 3.06 Check swings will be called strikes. A check swing will be called if a batters front shoulder opens to the pitcher. This must be obvious. A flinch will not be called a strike. This call is a judgement decision by the official. 3.07 Leading off and stealing bases will not be allowed. Any of these will be called an out. The runner may not leave the base until contact has been made. 3.08 Peg-outs are allowed. If the runner is hit in the head without ducking, he is safe. The ball must hit the runner in the air for an out. If the ball deflects off one base runner and hits another base runner, both are out. A base runner may dodge the ball at any time, but must stay in the baseline. 3.09 If for some reason the ball shatters, the play is re-done. 3.10 Sliding will be allowed at players own risk. 3.11 Bunting is not allowed. This will be ruled an out and the ball is dead. 3.12 Substitutions may be made any time during the game. If a player is replaced by a substitute he/she may return to that same game as a substitute. However, players may not return to the same inning they were subbed out of unless injury is the reason for needing a substitute. Pitchers may stay in the game if a fielding player replaces them as a relief pitcher. A pitcher may be replaced at any time. 3.13 If the ball is thrown at a runner for an out and misses the play is still live. 3.14 If the ball is thrown at a runner for an out and hit’s the runner the play ends and all other base runners remain at the base the are currently occupying. If the base runner is trying to advance to the next base when a runner gets pegged, he must be at least half way to the base. 3.15 A fielder must catch the ball with both feet in play when attempting to rob a homerun. The fielder must keep both feet in play and maintain possession without stepping over the fence line in order for the catch to count. If the fielder makes the catch and then steps over the line due to momentum, the batter is ruled outA fielder may dive over the fence line and knock the ball back into play as well. If this is the case the ball is live and the fielder who knocked the ball back into play cannot be the first person to touch the ball. 3.16 Any ball that has been thrown and hits a fan will be a dead ball. Each runner moves up one base. 3.17 When the batter that is due up to bat is on base, an available player must take his place to run the bases while the batter takes his/her turn at bat. 3.18 Bats used in games can be: WIFFLE® Brand, Moonshot, Junkball Brand, or Easton (plastic). All others must be approved by an NCWBL Official. 3.19 A ground ball that rolls past the fence boundary is a live ball. If not playing on field one. 3.20 If bases are loaded and a ground ball is hit, a defensive player may throw to plate to get a force out by hitting the strike zone. If the player hit’s the strikezone the play is dead. If the player misses, the ball is still live. 3.20 If bases are loaded and a ground ball is hit, a defensive player may throw to plate to get a force out by hitting the strike zone. If the player hit’s the strikezone the play is dead. If the player misses, the ball is still live. 3.21 The batter may not interfere with the pitch while in flight such as catching the pitch. This will be ruled as an automatic strike no matter where the pitch is located. 3.22 When attempting to get an out the tie goes to the fielder, not the base runner. 3.23 A pitcher may not possess more than one ball when pitching. The pitcher may only possess the ball he/she is pitching. On the first offense the pitcher will be given a warning. On each offense following the warning the play will be ruled an illegal pitch which will be ruled a ball. The will be made once the pitcher toes the rubber. 3.24 When playing on Field One, if the ball gets stuck in the right field wall window, the ball is still live. If the ball is pushed through the wall, the play will be ruled a home run. 3.25 A pinch runner may be used if in the case of injury or physical disability. The NCWBL official will determine if pinch runner can be used. The last recorded out will be the pinch runner. 3.26 After 4 consecutive walks the pitcher must lob the ball until an out is recorded. After an out is recorded the pitcher may pitcher regularly. 4. Officials 4.01 An NCWBL Representative will official each game. 4.02 Arguing with the official will not be tolerated. All who do not abide by this rule are subject to ejection. 4.03 If an NCWBL Representative is unable to officiate a game, the scorekeeper will have the final decision in all calls. 5. Fighting 5.01 Fighting will not be tolerated. If a player is in a fight, that player will be ejected from the rest of the tournament or league. The player is then subject to suspension by the NCWBL. 6. Mercy Rule 6.01 After the 5th inning if a team is leading by 15 or more runs the mercy rule will come into effect and end the game. 7. Traditional Baseball Rules 7.01 All other MLB rules apply. 8. Tardiness 8.01 8.01 If a team does not have a minimum of 4 players ready to play 5 minutes after the start of the original game time, the present team will be given 3 runs. If the team is not ready to play by 15 minutes after the original game time, the game is forfeited and the present team wins 7-0. Forfeited games will NOT result in a refund. 9. Weather 9.01 Games may be called due to lightning, heavy rain or strong winds. In most cases, games will not be cancelled. Be prepared to play every game. The decision will be made by an NCWBL Official. You will be informed of any cancellations or delays by an NCWBL Official as well.
For a printer friendly copy of the 2009 NCWBL Tournament Rules please email NCWBL@hotmail.com
