Coaches' Corner
Coach Matt Danziger

Rules & Rulebook

The Official
2025 Rulebook

with Coach Matt Danziger, Rules & Competition Chair

Everything you need to know about how WHGSL games are played. Division-specific rules, pitching regulations, game procedures, and the 2025 rule updates.

What Changed in 2025

Drafting from scratch for Majors and Juniors (no mandatory returns from prior year)
Head coach daughters and 1 assistant coach's child still pre-selected in draft
Majors: consistent 4-run cap per inning
Juniors: 9-batter rule per inning (except final inning)
Majors and Juniors playoffs: run/batter limits removed
Home runs and ground rule doubles exempt from run limits
Minimum players to start a game reduced from 7 to 6 (Training and Minors)
Dropped run differential from tie-break rules
Juniors games vs. other D7 towns do not count toward league standings

Rules by division

  • T-ball, with coaches officiating
  • 10-inch safety ball · 45 foot bases
  • 3 innings target, 1 hour maximum
  • No score or outs recorded, to keep it instructional
  • Continuous batting order, every player bats
  • Hitting off the tee; from the 4th game on, coaches pitch to their players
  • All players take the field: no catcher, 1 fielding pitcher, 4 infielders, the rest on the outfield grass
  • Station-to-station base running, maximum 2 bases on an outfield hit
  • No stealing, leading, sliding or bunting
  • No standings, no playoffs
  • Unlimited coaches on the field

Pitching rules

  • Legal pitch = underhand motion delivery
  • Pitcher must start with both feet on the ground, shoulders in line with 1st and 3rd bases
  • Must "present the ball" (hands separated, 1 to 10 seconds, at start of windup)
  • Windmill pitch = one 360-degree full circle arm motion only
  • Leaping while delivering is legal (both feet off ground simultaneously)
  • Three legal foot positions on the 24-inch pitcher's plate

See the full rulebook PDF for detailed foot position diagrams and division-specific pitching limits.

Need the full rulebook?

The complete 42-page WHGSL 2025 Coaches Manual and Rulebook covers everything in detail, including drafting procedures, field specifications, and equipment requirements.

Download Full Rulebook

All rules from the WHGSL 2025 Coaches Manual and Rulebook (Pre-K through 9th Grade).