WBSC launches expanded Urban Baseball5 Rulebook

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) today released new and expanded rules to WBSC Baseball5™, the urban, five-on-five variation of the global sport of baseball and softball.

Following requests from National Federations, organisers, teams, schools and others embracing baseball and softball’s new urban game, the new rulebook comes with an Official WBSC Baseball5 Line-Up Card template.

The new WBSC Baseball5 Rulebook also introduces clarifications to keep the new urban game evolving and fast-paced:

• Basic governance principles
• New dimensions for the sideline’s fences
• Clarifications on illegal hitting and outs
• Specifications for mixed-gender teams
• Regulations on substitutions
• Particular game situations
• Ball technical specifications
• Official WBSC Line-Up Card

“Baseball5, which only requires a rubber ball to play, has already been introduced in over 40 countries and across all five Olympic continents since its official launch less than a year ago,” said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. “The second edition of the Baseball5 Rulebook provides the provisions and international architecture for this urban discipline to continue growing at a fast pace while maintaining our standardization objectives. This new rulebook is a major step toward our upcoming Baseball5 World Cup and continental championships, with an eye set towards its inclusion into major multi-sport events”

The amendments and expansion of the new WBSC Baseball5 Rulebook follows recommendations from the WBSC Baseball5 Commission and formal approval by the WBSC Executive Board. The result is this newer more complete set of rules that aims to set the new standard for the urban version of baseball and softball, Baseball5.

Additionally, to Baseball5’s rapid growth since its official launch in March 2018, the WBSC Executive Board mandated the Baseball department the development of a comprehensive international competitions structure, World Cups, world rankings and the development of a pool of certified continental instructors.

Download the full rulebook here