National Wiffle Ball Circuit 2026 Madisonville Wiffle Bash Rules

Official Tournament Rulebook & Player Guide

Welcome to the 2026 Texas Bash Wiffle Smash. This rulebook is designed to keep competition fair, consistent, and fun. Please review all sections carefully. Unless otherwise noted, rules are enforced by tournament officials and umpires.

 

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1. Tournament Contacts

Marshall Jensen
Phone: (678) 462-6088
Email: nationalwiffleballcircuit@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578155738490

Krew Richter
Phone: (210) 540-5372

 

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2. Game Structure & Timing

This section explains how games are timed and what teams should expect on game day.

Game Length

• Pool Play: 3 innings or 45 minutes
• Bracket Play: 3 innings or 45 minutes
• Championship Game: 4 innings or 1 hour

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Game Start Requirements

• First-round pool play times will be posted the night before the event.
• Teams must be ready to play at their scheduled start time.

Late Arrival Penalties

• 15 minutes late: Team begins with 3 outs recorded
• 25 minutes late: Game is ruled a forfeit

 

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3. Game Balls

Our goal is fair and consistent ball performance across all games.

• Each team receives three (3) new official Wiffle balls at the start of the tournament.
• Teams use these balls throughout the event and may keep them afterward.
• Sandpaper will be provided for legal scuffing.

Ball Modifications

• Allowed: Surface scuffing only
• Not Allowed: Cuts, punctures, melting, heating, or structural changes
• Tournament officials may inspect balls at any time.
• Officials may replace any ball deemed too damaged for safe play.

 

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4. Bat Regulations

• Maximum barrel diameter: 3 inches
• Bats must be plastic only
• No metal bats allowed
• Handle grip tape is permitted
• No barrel performance modifications allowed
• Any brand is acceptable if it meets size and material requirements

If you are unsure about a bat, tournament staff will be happy to review it before your first game.

 

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5. Field Setup & Dimensions

Playing Surface

• Must be level grass or turf
• Foul lines should form a 60–90 degree angle from home plate depending on available space

Infield

• 45-foot square base layout
• Fair Play Line marked 8 feet from home plate extending to foul lines
• Balls must pass this line to be ruled fair

Outfield

• Foul poles: 75–100 feet from home plate
• Center field: 85–120 feet
• Outfield walls must be at least 4 feet tall and free of sharp edges

Pitching Distance

• Rubber to strike zone: 42 feet
• Rubber to home plate: 39 feet
• Mound is level with field surface

Batter’s Box & Plate

• Batter’s box: Between 3×4 ft and 4×6 ft
• Home plate width: 17 inches

Backstop

• Size: 8 ft × 8 ft
• Distance: 4 feet behind home plate
• Includes frame, netting, mesh, and vertical supports
• Ground braces and outward supports are not in play

Out-of-Play Areas

• Surrounding field must be clear of equipment and obstructions
• Adjacent fields are considered out of play

Ground Rules

• Park-specific ground rules will be explained before games begin

 

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6. Divisions & Eligibility

Divisions are structured to keep competition fair and appropriate for skill and age levels.

Division 1 – Open Elite

• Minimum Age: 12+
• Pitch Speed Cap: 72 MPH
• Base Running: Live
• Prize: $1,500

Division 2 – Competitive (Medium Speed)

• Minimum Age: 12+
• Pitch Speed Cap: 60 MPH
• Base Running: Standard / Ghost advancement
• Prize: $1,000

Government / First Responders Division

• Eligible: Police, Fire, EMS, Military, Government Employees
• Minimum Age: 18+
• Light verification may be required

Youth Divisions

• Tee Ball: Ages 4–6
• Coach Pitch: Ages 7–8
• Minors: Ages 9–10 (60 MPH Pitch Speed Cap)
• Majors: Ages 11–12 (60 MPH Pitch Speed Cap)
• Juniors: Ages 13–15 (60 MPH Pitch Speed Cap)

Play-Up Policy

• Players may play up in age or division
• Players may not play down
• Teams may not enter younger divisions

Multi-Division Entry

• Teams may enter multiple divisions
• Schedule conflicts are not adjusted
• Missed games due to conflicts are forfeits

Director Discretion

• Divisions may be combined or adjusted based on registration totals

 

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7. Division 1 Gameplay — Live Base Running

The following rules apply to Division 1 (Open Elite) games.

Game Format

• 3 innings regulation
• Extra innings until a winner is determined
• 3 outs per inning
• Count starts at 0–1
• Walk: 4 balls
• Strikeout: 2 strikes

Strike Zone

• Strike if ball hits any part of strike zone target or frame
• PVC base does not count
• Target: 23 in × 27 in
• Bottom 13 inches above ground
• Positioned 3 feet behind plate

Foul Balls

• Count as strikes
• Foul into strike zone with two strikes = strike three

Run Limits

• 5-run limit per inning
• No limit in final inning of bracket play
• 10-run mercy rule after equal innings

Lineups & Defense

• 4–6 player lineups
• 4 defenders in field including pitcher
• Fielders must bat
• DH allowed for pitcher only

Batting Rules

• Hit by pitch = ball
• Intentional walk allowed after one strike
• Batter must accept intentional walk
• Pinch hitting allowed by substitution
• Batter may switch boxes before pitching motion
• Leaning into pitch intentionally is not allowed
• Infield fly may be called by offense with bases loaded on infield pop-up

Pitching Rules

• One foot must touch rubber during delivery
• Warmups: 10 (starter inning 1), 5 thereafter
• No balks
• Pitcher may not re-enter as pitcher
• Speed cap: 72 MPH (spot checked)

Live Base Running Rules

• Outs recorded by force, tag, or peg
• Pegged runner is out even if ball hits ground first
• Peg to head = runner safe
• No stealing or leading off
• Runners may leave once pitch reaches plate
• Tagging up allowed
• Sliding allowed; no collisions
• One base awarded on throws out of play
• Interference rules enforced both ways
• Appeals allowed for missed bases

Boundary Rules

• Bounce or under fence = ground rule double
• Fair pole in air above fence = home run
• Catch over fence valid if body in play
• Throw out of play = one base
• Ball hitting backstop/zone on play home = time

 

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8. Division 2, Government, Majors, Juniors — Ghost Running

The following rules apply to Division 2, Government, Majors (11–12), and Juniors (13–15) divisions.

Game Format

• 3 innings regulation
• Extra innings until winner is determined
• 3 outs per inning
• Count starts at 0–1
• Walk: 4 balls
• Strikeout: 2 strikes

Strike Zone

• Strike if ball hits any part of strike zone target or frame
• PVC base does not count
• Target: 23 in × 27 in
• Bottom 13 inches above ground
• Positioned 3 feet behind plate

Run Limits

• 5-run limit per inning
• No limit in final inning of bracket play
• 10-run mercy rule

Lineups & Defense

• 3–5 player lineups
• 3 defenders including pitcher
• Fielders must bat
• DH allowed for pitcher only

Hit Result Zones

• Out = Cleanly fielded before infield line
• Single = Dropped before infield line
• Single = Stops before infield line
• Single = Passes infield line on ground
• Double = Rolls into fence
• Triple = Hits fence in air
• Home Run = Clears fence

Ghost Running Advancement

• Runners advance only when forced
• With 2 outs, runners advance one extra base
• Infield singles advance runners one base only

Double Play Option

• Clean infield grounder may start double play attempt
• Defense has 3 seconds to hit backstop or strike zone with throw
• Success = two outs
• Failure = lead runner out only

Tag-Up Scoring Play

• Runner on third may tag and score on caught fly ball
• Offense must call “Tag” while ball is in air
• Defense has two steps to hit zone/backstop for out

Pitching Rules

• One foot on rubber required
• Warmup pitch counts same as Division 1
• No balks
• Pitcher may not re-enter as pitcher
• Speed caps enforced by division limits

 

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9. Youth Modified Divisions

Tee Ball (Ages 4–6)

• Basic Tee Ball rules apply
• Tee batting only
• Bases in play
• No score kept
• 3 outs per side

Coach Pitch (Ages 7–8)

• Basic Coach Pitch rules apply
• Coach pitch with tee backup
• Bases in play
• Score kept
• 5-run inning limit
• 3 outs per side

Minors (Ages 9–10) (60 MPH Pitch Speed Cap)

• 3 outs per inning
• After three outs are recorded, any players in the batting lineup who have not yet had an at-bat that inning may still take one plate appearance. These additional at-bats are for participation and development only and do not count toward game results or base runner advancement.
• Otherwise follows all Division 1 – Live Base Running rules

 

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10. Sportsmanship & Conduct

We want this tournament to be competitive, respectful, and fun for everyone involved.

Expectations

• Respect for players, opponents, and staff is required
• Positive celebration is encouraged
• No abusive language or personal attacks
• No fighting or physical confrontation
• Team names must not contain explicit language

Penalties

• Player ejection
• Team removal from tournament
• No refunds for conduct violations

 

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End of Official Rulebook