The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) released today the new Official WBSC Baseball5 Rulebook, and the new Baseball5 Competition Management and Scoring System. All changes go into effect immediately and will be enforced in any major international event, including the maiden edition of the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup, scheduled from 10 to 15 October in Ankara, Türkiye.
Both the Official WBSC Baseball5 Rulebook and the Baseball5 Competition Management and Scoring System have been published in English and Spanish, the two WBSC official languages.
One of the biggest modifications alludes to the batting box. According to the new rules, the lines are part of the batting box (the same as the lines are part of the field of play), so hitters are now allowed to step on the lines while hitting the ball. An out will be called only if the hitter crosses the batter’s box lines.
Another major change refers to the foul ball rule. The new rulebook states that, if after bouncing in fair territory the ball reaches foul territory before it passes first or third base, the hitter shall be ruled out. The hit ball still must have its first bounce in fair territory, it remains unchanged.
Regarding the Competition Management and Scoring System, the main update is on how a hit is assigned to the batter. If the batter reaches a base safely the scorer's table marks an S or and H:
- “H” when the Batter reaches base without the defense recording a force out on another runner;
- “S” when the Batter reaches base because the defense records a force out on another runner.
For this reason, also scoring symbols have been slightly amended.
You can find here a complete document with the detail of all the adjustments to the rulebook here in English.
This is the sixth edition of the Official Baseball5 Rulebook. The first set of rules of the WBSC new urban discipline was published on 1 March 2018, along with a dedicated website and an instructional video of the sport. Subsequently, a series of updates were released in January 2019, February 2020, September 2020 and October 2022 respectively, the last one just before the maiden WBSC Baseball5 World Cup in Mexico City.
