Home of the New Jersey Wiffle®Ball Association

Dear Wifflers,

The NJWA's 2007 Summer Showdown tournament was a great success. There were 46 teams from six different states. The great response has led the NJWA to announce the 10th annual Wiffle®Fest on October 20th, for all the fall Wiffle®Ball players and for all those who missed out on our great summer tournament. All teams must act fast; the NJWA is only taking 64 teams for the fall classic! There is NO age limit for players; however most players are 14 years old or older.

The rules for the 2007 Wiffle®Fest tournament will be the NJWA rules( see website for all the rules). We will be using the TARGET for the strike zone, a 30 inch high by 20 inch wide piece of metal 12 inches off the ground. The count will be a 4 ball 3 strike count. All games will be 4 innings or a 10 run rule after 2 complete innings. If the score is tied after the 4th inning, the 5th inning starts with runners on 1st and 2nd base. The championship game is 6 innings with a 10 run rule after 4 complete innings. The pitcher's mound will be 42 ft. from home plate (45 ft. to the target). The roster may consist of a minimum of 2 players and maximum of 5 players. A team may bat 5 players, the pitcher, 2 fielders and two DHs.

The 2007 Wiffle® Fest tournament's format is as follows: A round robin (pool play) style format, each team will be placed in a bracket with three other teams. Each team will play each other once and all teams in every bracket that finish 2-1 or 3-0 will advance to the playoffs, which will than be single elimination. All teams are guaranteed a minimum of three games.

The entry fee is $100 per team. Credit Cards online are now being accepted or pay by check or money orders ONLY, made payable to the NJWA (include payment with your application when mailing it in). The top four teams will be awarded prize money; the amount is depending on the number of responses. Registration deadline is October 8th. All applications must be postmarked by October 8th; online registration deadline is October 12th. The NJWA will be taking 64 teams only. Once the NJWA receives your application along with your check, schedules will be made up and sent along with directions to the teams on October 15th. Please don't call or e-mail the NJWA a week before the tournament and ask if your packet was sent out, they will be mailed out on October 15th, your calls and e-mails will not be returned.

All games for the Wiffle®Fest will be played at the Cadwalader Park in Trenton; directions are on the website and will be included in your team's packet. Games will begin at 9am on Saturday morning. Bats, balls and NJWA T-Shits will be available for sale at the tournament.

I usually get a lot of the same questions from teams, so I am going to try and answer the most frequently asked. There is NO limit, however most players are in their 20's and 30's, but teen teams are welcomed. Please don't wonder why your check wasn't cashed yet or credit card charged, the NJWA usually cashes checks and processes the credit cards a week before the tournament. EVERY team is accepted to play; we always have room for your team. I mentioned the number 64 as the limit, but the NJWA will always make room for #65 and so on, please don't ask if we still have room for your team, the answer is YES. Your packet will be received a few days before the tournament with directions and everything else you need to know, please don't ask where the packet is. There are a lot of last minute teams and packets are sent out once the teams come in, usually a week before the tournament. The last question and this question drives me nuts! How long does the tournament last? Guys please use common sense, if your team goes 0-3 it will be a short day for you, if you win it all, pack a lunch, you'll be there for a while.

Start practicing and hope to see you in Trenton in October.

Sincerely Yours,
Mike Palinczar
President, NJWA