League Rules

Teams are made up of at least four players with a maximum of eight.

Each Team can have up to four players (pitcher and 3 fielders) on the playing field at one time.

Teams can play with 3 players only with the approval of the GCWL Commissioners in the event a player from that team is unable to attend or a substitute cannot be found. A player from a different team may be used as a substitute with the approval of the GCWL Commissioners. The substituted player’s stats will not be recorded into the season totals.

Teams may make defensive substitutions with players in the batting order ONLY between innings.

Teams may use a substitute player not listed on their roster ONLY with the approval of the GCWL Commissioners.

If a team has 8 players, all 8 can bat, but only 4 can be in the field defensively.

No player shall be listed in the batting order who is not present when the game begins. The player may be added to the lineup if he arrives prior his spot in the batting order comes up.

Players MUST BE listed on the team’s official roster in order to be eligible to play in the tournament. In the event of injury, a player can be added to the post-season roster with GCWL commissioners’ approval.

A game consists of 6 innings, with each team receiving 3 outs per inning.

The Black Bat may be used if a game is tied after 6 innings.

Both Teams will start each extra inning with a runner on second base when they come to bat.

If a game is still tied after 8 innings, the game will go to a "1 pitch" format.

For teams with 3 players, if all three end up on base at one time the runner on 1st becomes a "ghost runner".

In the event a team does not show, they will forfeit their game, and the opposing team will be given a win.

Teams have 15 mins from the scheduled start time to begin play unless the game before them has not finished. If a team does not have at least 3 players to start a game after the 15 minutes have expired, that team will forfeit the game. Any game started after 15 mins will be a 4 inning game.

Rules 2.02, 2.03, and 2.04 do not apply to playoff games.

Mercy Rules: 20 runs after 3 innings, 15 runs after 4 innings, and 12 runs after 5 innings. In any of these cases, if the home team is ahead by the requisite number of runs, the game will end after the top half of the inning.

Everyone must use traditional yellow Wiffle® bats and GCWL approved Black Bats.

Balls must be Wiffle®, baseball size. GCWL will provide the balls.

Players may use their own bats, but they must be inspected and approved by the GCWL Commissioner. Bats are allowed to use grip tape but may not go above the handle. Any player caught with an altered bat will be immediately removed from the game and will serve an automatic 1 game suspension.

No gloves of any kind are allowed.

Any ball that is blocked from entering the strike zone will be considered a strike automatically. This includes catching the ball or moving into it, etc. (pitcher discretion). If a batter catches a ball that is in front of them, they will be called out automatically.

There will be a strict speed limit in effect (we call this "pitch to hit" slow-medium speed pitching), but you can put any kind of curve, dip, knuckling effect, or whatever you can put on it. Speed limit is 55 mph or lower.

If it has been deemed that a pitcher threw the ball with more speed than allowed (55 mph), the pitch will be called a ball, unless the batter swings at the ball, then it will be considered a live ball.

The pitcher must have one foot on the Pitcher’s Rubber when the ball is released. No walk ups to the pitching rubber.

There are NO BALKS, and there are no pump fakes.

If a Pitcher is substituted during an inning, he cannot return to the mound until the following inning.

5 balls equals a walk, 2 strikes equals a strikeout.

If the batter has one strike and then foul tips a pitch that hits the strike zone, the batter has struck out.

A batted ball must touch the fair/foul line (15’ in front of the plate) or it will be ruled a foul.

Any ball landing past the fair/foul line and then spinning back in front of it will be ruled foul, if it has not been touched by a defensive player.

NO BUNTING or "SLAP" BUNTS! All contact must be made from "full" swings (with the exception being obvious check swings). If a player attempts a bunt, he will be ruled out immediately.

One-handed hitting is not allowed, unless a player only has the use of one hand due to incapacitation or disability.

A batter is not required to run after hitting a Home Run but expect to be ridiculed for not running it out.

There is NO BASERUNNING in this league, but players are asked to stand on base.

SAC-Fly: Runner on 3rd only must declare they are attempting to tag up and score on a pop fly that is caught in the air behind the pitching rubber. Once caught, the player can score from 3rd if the fielder is unable to hit the strike zone from the spot they caught the ball.

Base Runners move the same amount as the runner.

Moving Ball must be fielded cleanly (can not be bobbled) before leaving the Single zone. If this is done, then runner will be ruled out at first base.

Any ball caught in the air before hitting the ground is considered an out.

Balls that hit the ceiling past the pitcher’s rubber will be ruled a home run. Balls that hit the ceiling before the pitcher’s rubber are in play; balls that are caught before they hit the ground or before it bounces a second time in fair territory will be ruled an out. Balls hit above line on side nets are considered Home Runs, balls below the line will be marked as a hit in the corresponding zone.

There is no infield fly rule.

Pitching rubber is 40 feet from home plate. Strike zone is placed 2 feet behind tip of home plate.

Fair/Foul line is 15 feet from home plate.

Single zone is 15 feet to 50 feet from home plate.

Double Zone is 50 feet to base of wall.

Triple zone is any ball that hits the wall below home run line.

Home Run is any ball that hits the wall above the home run line.

The defense will make all out calls.

ONLY players on the field can make calls. Spectators cannot make calls UNLESS asked for help by the players on the field.

If there is a close play that is disputed, the dispute will be settled by playing "Rock, Paper, Scissors". Each team will get two challenges per game ONLY.

Ian Smith Rule – Players are encouraged to high five opposing teams between half innings.