How to Play Clarkball

---

All traditional baseball rules apply with the following exceptions:

• Equipment is prvoided at the tournament

• The ball is a 6 inch foam gator skin dodgeball

• The bat is a 34 inch plastic bat with a foam wrap on the barrel. 

• Six Innings per game.

• Two outs per inning.

• A minimum of 6 players on the field is required to play… teams will need a pitcher, catcher, and four fielders. 

• Extra Hitters are unlimited, you can bat as many people as you want to.

• A player can only play for one team during the tournament.

• Two home runs per team, per inning. All home runs after the second will be an out

• Ten run per inning limit for the first four innings, the 5th and 6th innings are unlimited.

• Runners struck by a thrown or rolling ball will be out

• There is no infield fly rule

• If the game is tied after 6 innings a “Blast Off” will take place, where each team brings 6 players to the plate, each with one swing to hit a home run. The team with the most home runs at the end wins. If it is tied after the first round, one batter from each side will be removed every round until a winner is declared.

• Bases are 35 feet apart and the pitchers mound is 30 feet from home.

• There is a large mat on home plate that will determine balls and strikes

• There is a line that arcs across the infield between pitchers mound and home… the ball must cross that line to be fair. The line will also serve as a commitment line, halfway between home and 3rd base, so all plays at home will be force outs. 

• Pitching is underhand slow pitch with a five to ten foot arc.
• Strikes will be called if the ball hits the large mat on home plate. 

• No walks will be issued… the mat is huge, if the pitcher throws 6 balls in one at bat, the umpire will force a meatball to be thrown for the batter to hit.

• Batters still get three strikes, however a foul ball on the third strike will result in an out.

• Spinning the ball is allowed, and encouraged, as long as the pitcher’s arm stays parallel with their body.

• The Tom Brady Rule… no deflating or compressing the balls before pitching. You can grip it tightly, but since the ball is foam, it’s possible to crush it down. That will result in an illegal pitch being called.