The Rules of the Game
Banana Ball Rules
11 rules. One goal: make baseball fun. Every rule exists to make the game faster and more entertaining.
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Rule 1: Win the inning, get the point
Most runs in an inning earns the point — except the last inning, where every run counts.
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Rule 2: Two hour time limit
No new inning after 2 hours. In the last inning, 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're ejected from the game.
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Rule 5: Batters can steal first
On any pitch, the hitter can take off for first on a passed ball or wild pitch.
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Rule 6: No walks allowed
Ball four becomes a sprint — every defender must touch the ball before it's live, and the hitter grabs as many bases as they dare.
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Rule 7: No mound visits
No visits from the coach, catcher, or anyone else. Hype your pitcher up from afar.
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Rule 8: Fan catches a foul ball, it's an out
One catch: it has to be clean. No bobbles. No juggling.
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Rule 9: Showdown tiebreaker
Tied after two hours? One hitter vs a skeleton defense, round by round, until someone wins. Score = a point; an out is a Showdown Shutdown.
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Rule 10: The challenge rule
Each team gets one challenge — thrown onto the field as a prop before the next pitch. Win it, keep it. The fans get one challenge a night too, confetti included.
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Rule 11: The golden batter rule
Once a game, send any hitter to bat in any spot — so your best hitter bats when the game is on the line.
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See the rules live
Reading them is one thing. Watching a ball-four sprint in person is another.
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Other need-to-knows
Trick Play Equalizer Point — both teams compete for trick plays; if the visitors lead entering the final inning, they earn an extra point.
Trick pitches — must be delivered engaged with the rubber; violations are an automatic ball.
DH + extra hitter — ten-spot lineup with a designated hitter and an extra hitter who can rotate into the field.
Designated runner & fielder — a named runner may enter once per turn through the order; a named fielder may enter any inning at any position.
Trick play — a routine play made in a non-routine fashion that results in an out. Anyone on the diamond can record one.
More on the showdown
Round 1: pitcher, catcher + one fielder vs one hitter. Round 2: pitcher + catcher vs one hitter. Round 3+: pitcher, catcher + one fielder vs one hitter, bases loaded.
Up to 1 point in Rounds 1–2 and up to 4 points in Rounds 3+. A home run over the wall is a walkoff win.
Ball four in a Showdown places a runner at second (Rounds 3+: second and third, two runs score). Runners can’t lead off or advance on wild pitches or passed balls.