The Rules of the Game
Banana Ball Rules
With 11 rules of Banana Ball, each rule exists to make the game more fast-paced and entertaining.
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Rule 1: Win the inning, get the point
Every inning is worth one point. The team that gets the most runs in an inning, gets a point for that inning, except for the last inning, where every run counts.
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Rule 2: Two hour time limit
No new inning can be started after two hours. In the last inning of the game, every run counts.
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Rule 3: No stepping out
If the hitter steps out of the box, it's a strike.
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Rule 4: No. Bunting.
Bunting sucks. If a hitter bunts, they are ejected from the game.
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Rule 5: Batters can steal first
On any pitch of an at-bat, the hitter can try to steal first base. This can happen on a passed ball or wild pitch.
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Rule 6: No walks allowed
Ball four becomes a sprint. The hitter will take off running while every defensive player on the field must touch the ball before it becomes live. The hitter may advance to as many bases as they want. The ball does not have to touch the catcher or pitcher.
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Rule 7: No mound visits
Let's keep the game moving. No mound visits from the coach, catcher, or any other player at any time. Hype your pitcher up from afar if needed.
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Rule 8: If a fan catches a foul ball, it's an out.
Why not let the fans get in on some of the action? There's one catch...it needs to be a clean catch. No bobbles. No juggling.
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Rule 9: Showdown tiebreaker
If the game is tied at the end of the two-hour time limit, the game will go into a Showdown Tiebreaker. See below for more details on the Showdown Tiebreaker.
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Rule 10: The Banana Ball Challenge Rule
Each team is allowed to challenge one ruling on the field. In addition to each team's challenge, the fans will have one opportunity to challenge a ruling during the game.
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Rule 11: The golden batter rule
One time a game, a team may send any hitter in the lineup to bat in any spot. Goal of the rule: Your Best hitter can hit when the game is on the line.
Other Banana Ball need-to-knows
- The Trick Play Equalizer Point shall be in effect for each and every Banana Ball game. Both teams shall compete to try to earn more trick plays than the other. If the visiting team collects more trick plays than the home team entering the final inning of play, they will have earned the equalizer point in that game, and an extra point shall be added to the visiting team’s total.
- A pitcher must deliver a trick pitch engaged with the rubber or as close to the rubber as possible, without gaining an unfair advantage toward home plate. If a violation occurs, the umpire shall call a ball by tapping the top of his head to signify that a violation has occurred, and an automatic ball shall be called.
- In Banana Ball, both a designated hitter and an extra hitter shall occupy two of the ten spots in a Banana Ball lineup. If the designated hitter comes into the game to be used on defense, they may continue to bat in the same position in the batting order, but the pitcher must bat in the place of the substituted defensive player. Unlike the designated hitter, the extra hitter is eligible to enter defensively at any point in the ballgame. For example, they may start as the extra hitter, move to first base for an inning (with the original first baseman taking over the extra hitter’s spot), and then move back to the extra hitter’s spot again, if desired.
- Before a Banana Ball game, both clubs may assign a player to serve as the designated runner for that ballgame. The designated runner may enter the game to run once every turn through the batting order. Once the lineup flips back over to the leadoff batter, the designated runner is eligible to enter and run again.
- Before a Banana Ball game, both clubs may assign a player to serve as the designated fielder for that ballgame. The designated fielder may enter any inning at any position with no repercussions. If the designated fielder enters the game to take an at-bat or replace a player in the starting lineup, the designated fielder’s spot is terminated for the remainder of the ballgame.
- By definition, a trick play out is a routine play made in a non-routine fashion that must result in an out. Any player on the diamond is capable of recording a trick play. A trick play can be made on the ground, in the air or via a strikeout.
More on Rule #9: The Showdown Tiebreaker
Round 1: pitcher, catcher and one fielder vs one hitter.
Round 2: Pitcher + catcher vs one hitter.
Round 3+: Pitcher, catcher + one fielder vs one hitter with bases loaded.
In this final Showdown, every run counts as a point. If no team has won after three Showdowns, they will continue with the bases loaded and one fielder until one team has won.
- In Showdown Tiebreakers, a club may only earn as many points as allowed in that specific round. A team may earn up to one point in Rounds 1 and 2 and up to four points in Rounds 3 and beyond.
- If at any point a homerun is hit over the outfield wall, it’s a walkoff win and the game is over.
- If a pitcher fires four balls during a plate appearance to a batter in Showdown Tiebreakers, it will result in a runner being placed at second base. The batter who earned the ball-four sprint can remain in the batter’s box and continue to bat in the round with the count reset. The manager may opt to bat another player following the ball-four sprint and may also designate which player they want to be the team’s runner. Runners on base in any round of Showdown Tiebreakers may not take leads off the bases and shall not be allowed to advance to other bases on any wild pitches or passed balls.
Below are the following scenarios for Showdown Rounds 1 & 2 and Rounds 3 and up if a ball-four sprint occurs.
- Showdown Rounds 1 & 2: A batter earns a ball-four sprint. A runner is placed at second base. The batter continues to bat with the count reset (if the manager so chooses). If the batter then puts the ball in play and scores the runner from second base, their team will earn the one point needed in the round, and the round shall end.
- If the batter draws a second ball-four sprint, the runner shall advance from second base to third base, and the batter continues to bat with the count reset (if the manager so chooses). If a third ball-four sprint is drawn, the runner from third shall score, and the team shall earn the one point needed in the round.
- Showdown Rounds 3 & 4: A batter earns a ball-four sprint. Runners are placed at second and third base, and two runners score. The batter continues to bat with the count reset (if the manager so chooses). If the batter then puts the ball in play and scores the runners from second and third base, their team will earn the four points needed in the round, and the round shall end.
- If the batter draws a second ball-four sprint, the runner shall advance from second base to third base, and the other runner at third base shall score. The batter continues to bat with the count reset (if the manager so chooses). If a third ball-four sprint is drawn, the runner from third shall score, and the team shall earn the four points needed in the round.
More on Rule #10 and #11
MORE ON RULE #10 – THE BANANA BALL CHALLENGE RULE
- Each team is allowed to challenge one ruling on the field. The coach of each team will have a challenge prop/item that they must throw/shoot on the field before the next pitch for the play to be challenged.
- The play will be reviewed by the umpiring crew and the call will be replayed to the Umpire Field Chief to make the call. If a team wins the challenge and the call is overruled, the team will retain a challenge for later in the game. If the call is upheld or the challenge is inconclusive, they will lose their opportunity to challenge for the rest of the game.
- CATEGORIES OF CHALLENGES: Fair/foul balls, Force/tag play calls, Catch plays in the outfield or infield, and Missed base calls
- THE FAN CHALLENGE RULE: In addition to each team’s challenge, the fans will have one opportunity to challenge a ruling during the game. If the fan representative chooses to challenge, the fan will shoot off confetti and hold up the “Fan Challenge” sign to make it official.
MORE ON RULE #11 – THE GOLDEN BATTER RULE
- Example 1: Due up in the lineup are hitters 6,7 & 8. Hitters 6 and 7 make the first two outs. The team then uses the Golden Batter Rule to hit their #3 hitter in the 8-hole. The #3 hitter reaches base. The 8-hole would stay in the game but he would not hit. The next hitter is the 9-hole. If the #3 hitter was on base and his spot in the lineup came to bat, the 8-hole hitter would become the pinch runner.
- Example 2: The Golden Batter could technically hit back-to-back in one inning if the team chose to do so.
