Law 20: Official WBSC Events

The designated hitter is accepted at every WBSC tournament except the U-12 Baseball World Cup.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.1 · recall

U-15, U-18, U-23 and women's World Cup games are seven innings; U-12 is six and the Premier12 nine.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.2 · recall

Each team starts every extra inning with a runner on first and a runner on second and nobody out.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.4.2.3.1 · recall

In six-inning U-12 games the runners on first and second begin with the seventh inning.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.4.2.1.1 · recall

The placed runners count as the starting pitcher of the inning's runners, and their runs are always unearned.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.4.2 · recall

In U-12 play a game ends at 15 runs after four innings batted, or at 10 runs after five.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.4.1.1 · recall

The run difference rule does not apply to the World Championship game, though it does apply to the bronze medal game.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.4.1.2 · applied

The line-up continues as usual, and the visitors still bat first in each extra inning.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.4.2.2 · recall

A home-run hitter may not be touched until he has passed home plate: a warning first, then a fine and the manager's ejection.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.5.2 · recall

The two batters before the one due up take the bases: the one just before him on first, the one before that on second.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.4.2.3.2 · applied

Before a game is regulation it is not official, so it is resumed later at the exact point of suspension.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.6.1.1 · applied

Once it has become a regulation game, a stopped game is ruled complete.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.6.1.2 · applied

A regulation game stopped with the score tied, or with the visitors ahead in an unfinished inning, is suspended and played to a finish.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.6.1.3 · applied

Umpires at WBSC events wait from sixty to ninety minutes before deciding whether to call the game.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.6.1.6 · recall

For U-18, U-23 and the Premier12 the bat must be made of wood and comply with Rule 3.2.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.7.1.3 · recall

A U-15 bat may weigh no more than three units less than its length, so 33 inches means at least 30 ounces.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.7.1.2 · applied

Any solid colour may be used, two at most, but white is not allowed on the bat apart from lettering and logos.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.7.2.6 · applied

When the lights fail during a play, the game is suspended and later resumes as things stood when that play began.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.6.1.7 · recall

The maximum bat length is 33 inches at U-12, 34 inches at U-15 and 36 inches at the Women's Baseball World Cup.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.7.1 · recall

At the Women's Baseball World Cup bats may be up to 36 inches long and 2 3/4 inches across.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.7.1.4 · applied

The daily maximum is 85 pitches at U-12, 95 at U-15 and 105 at U-18.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.8.2 · recall

At U-18, 41 to 55 pitches mean one day of rest.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.8.3 · applied

A pitcher who reaches the limit during an at-bat may finish that batter but is removed when the at-bat ends.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.8 · applied

A pitcher on mandatory rest may not pitch but is allowed to play as a position player.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.8.2 · applied

Pitch count limits apply to the U-12, U-15 and U-18 World Cups, not to the U-23 and women's events.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.8.4 · recall

A forfeit is scored 7-0 in seven-inning World Cups, 6-0 at U-12 and 9-0 at the Premier12, whatever the score was.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A2.1 · recall

Electronic devices are forbidden during games, except an approved phone between the dugout and the bullpen.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A3.1 · recall

For the pitcher's safety the game is stopped and he is replaced; the manager is ejected and suspended, and the federation fined.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.8 · recall

Each band of pitches at U-18 adds a day of rest, up to four days for 91 to 105 pitches.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.8.3 · recall

At U-12 no headfirst slide into home is permitted: the runner is out, and the ball is live until play stops.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Appendix 1, A1.5.3.1 · applied