WDBC Event Guidelines (Draft)
These event guidelines apply to the 2026 World Deaf Baseball Championship (WDBC).
Organizer
Japan Deaf Baseball Association (General Incorporated Association)
Supporters
Kanagawa Prefecture Yokosuka City Fujisawa City Yokohama City
Japan Federation of the Deaf
Kanagawa Association of the Deaf
Kanagawa Sports Association
Kanagawa Shimbun Ltd.
ｔｖｋ(Television Kanagawa Inc.)
Sponsors
Mitutoyo Corporation MODEC, Inc. Granver Tokyo Rusk Co., Ltd. JDC Corporation KANTO KASEI Co., Ltd. AsianBridge Co., Ltd. Cochlear Limited SANSHIN KOGYO Co., Ltd. K・T・A Co., Ltd. HONMOKU Ltd. Ichiko Sports Co., Ltd. M.HASEGAWA AND.，LTD.
BOSSES Co., Ltd. STEP Co., Ltd. RION Co., Ltd.
KEIHIN KOUN Co., Ltd. NISSO HOLDINGS Co.,Ltd.
Starkey Japan Co., Ltd. The Kanagawa Shinkin Bank
Hakuhodo DY I-O Co., Ltd. H&N Holdings. water＊net corporation
Kowa Company, Ltd. MiyamotoSengyoten Arai Shoji Co., Ltd.
CHIBA Akio Yamakatsu Corporation I-TRUSTGROUP MERF Inc.
Applepark Co., Ltd.
Cooperating Organizations
PARACOM Inc. OverJet Inc.
Atsumi & Sakai Legal Professional Corporation
Japan Deaf Baseball League
TEIKYO UNIVERSITY JUNKO BASEBALL TEAM
IO Sports Massage Shonan
Dates
Competition Period: Saturday, October 31, 2026 – Wednesday,
November 4, 2026
Opening Ceremony: Saturday, October 31, １２:00 PM –
Competition Schedule: Sunday, November 1 – Tuesday, November 3
(Public Holiday)
Reserve Day: Wednesday, November 4
Venues
・Yokosuka Stadium (Yokosuka City)
・Happe Baseball Stadium (Fujisawa City)
Participating Teams
Japan, United States, Mexico, Taiwan, HongKong
Competition Format
The preliminary round will be a round-robin tournament. The top four teams in the preliminary round will advance to the final and third-place playoff.
Draw / Matchups
To be determined after entries are submitted.
Eligibility
National representative teams consisting only of hearing-impaired players aged 17 or older.
Tournament Entry
Each national representative team must complete tournament entry by registering, in the Japan Deaf Baseball Association registration system, the names of all officials eligible to be in the dugout and all players eligible to play, no later than Sunday, May 31, 2026.
The number of players that may be entered shall be limited to 25. A player-coach (player who also serves as manager) and coaches may be entered under the officials quota (up to 5 persons).
Officials and players who are not entered are not permitted to be in the dugout or participate in games.
Notification of Players Eligible to Participate in Games
The number of players eligible to participate in a match shall be limited to 25, excluding the manager and coaches.
Tournament Rules
The Official Baseball Rules and the Tournament Special Rules shall apply.
Submission of Batting Order and Determination of Offense/Defense
No later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time, the manager or captain shall submit to Tournament Headquarters a batting order listing all registered players (to be picked up from Tournament Headquarters immediately upon arrival at the stadium).
After verification against the official roster (entry application), and in the presence of the plate umpire, offense/defense shall be determined (the manager, captain, and plate umpire shall wear uniforms). At this time, the team must be ready to play.
After the entry application is submitted, changes/additions of players and changes of uniform numbers shall not be permitted; however, this restriction shall not apply in the event of an injury.
If, at the scheduled start time, players are not assembled without a valid reason, the team shall forfeit. Likewise, a team that cannot be in a ready-to-play state at that time without a valid reason shall, in principle, be deemed to have forfeited. (If the previous game ends early, the next game may start before its scheduled start time.)
Participation with nine uniformed players is permitted (however, participation by 13 or more is desirable). Home or away uniforms may be worn.
Dugouts will be decided after the drawing.
Tournament Special Rules
Assistive Devices During Games
To ensure fairness in competition, the use of hearing aids and cochlear implants is not permitted during games.
Games (Time Limits / Official Game)
Games shall be nine innings. However, once the prescribed time has elapsed after the start of the game (Preliminary: 2 hours; Final and third-place game: 2 hours 30 minutes), regardless of the inning. The inning in progress shall be the final inning, and no new inning shall begin.
If the game ends tied under the above condition, or if the score is tied after nine innings, a one-inning tiebreaker shall be played only if 2 hours 30 minutes have not elapsed. (In the final, the tiebreaker may be played for up to two innings. However, no new inning shall begin after 2 hours 30 minutes, including during the tiebreaker.)
Determination of Standings
In the preliminary round, teams shall be ranked in order of the number of wins.
If two or more teams have the same number of wins, the team that won the head-to-head game between the tied teams shall be ranked higher.
If the ranking cannot be determined by the head-to-head result, teams shall be ranked in order of the higher average runs per inning (total runs ÷ total offensive innings).
The top four teams determined by the above criteria shall advance to the final and third-place game.
Tiebreaker Method
The batting order shall continue from the previous inning. The previous inning’s last batter shall become the runner on first base, and the batter before that shall become the runner on second base. The inning shall begin with no outs and runners on first and second base. One inning shall be played, and the team scoring more runs shall be the winner.
Designated Hitter (DH)
The DH rule and the starting pitcher/designated hitter rule (the “Ohtani Rule”) may be used in all games. However, the starting lineup must be submitted before the game. The batting order shall remain fixed, and the batter may not be replaced in the first at-bat. However, this restriction shall not apply if the opposing team’s starting pitcher is replaced.
Mercy Rule (Called Game by Run Differential)
A called game due to run differential shall be:
• 10-run difference from the 5th inning onward
• 7-run difference from the 7th inning onward
Other reasons for a called game include rain, sunset, and ballpark usage time restrictions. This shall be applied only after completion of the 5th inning (an official game is established after five innings).
Forfeited or Cancelled Games
In the event of a forfeit or a cancelled game, the result of the game shall be reflected in the number of wins in the preliminary round and in the head-to-head record between the teams concerned. However, the runs scored and allowed by both teams in the game shall be excluded from the calculation of run differential and average runs per inning (total runs ÷ total offensive innings) used to determine the standings.
Pitching Limits
No restrictions shall be imposed on pitch count or pitching interval (consecutive pitching).
Equipment
The official game balls for the tournament shall be Ichiko Sports Co., Ltd. hardballs, and they will be provided by the tournament headquarters. Rosin bags will also be provided.
Bats must be wooden. The use of bat rings and warm-up swing pipes is prohibited; do not bring them onto the field. However, mascot bats are permitted.
Uniforms and Protective Gear
Except for spikes, uniforms, undershirts, etc. must be the same color, shape/design, and attire.
The batter, on-deck batter, runners, catcher, and base coaches must wear helmets that meet safety standards. Helmets with jaw guards are permitted, but modified helmets are not permitted. Catchers must wear a mask, leg guards, a protector (chest protector), and a foul cup. If a player receiving pitching practice is not wearing the above gear, they must receive pitches while standing (including in the bullpen).
Other Agreed Rules
Any conduct by baserunners or from the coach’s box or bench intended to inform the batter of pitch type or location (course) is prohibited.
Measures to Speed Up the Game
The battery must pitch with short intervals and good tempo. If the umpire judges the interval too long or unnecessary pickoff attempts excessive, the umpire may call a balk on the pitcher as a delay action.
After receiving a pitch, the catcher shall promptly return the ball to the pitcher. After receiving the return throw, the pitcher shall promptly step onto the pitcher’s plate and take the pitching position.
When the pitcher takes the pitching position, the batter shall promptly assume the batting stance. If the plate umpire recognizes that the batter intentionally leaves the batter’s box to delay play, the plate umpire shall issue a warning for up to the second violation in that game; from the third violation onward, the plate umpire shall call a strike without waiting for the pitch. In this case, the ball is dead.
Changeovers between offense and defense shall be done at a jog. When the third out is made, players shall promptly leave the bench and head to their defensive positions.
The leadoff batter of each inning, the next batter, and base coaches shall not participate in meetings and shall immediately take their designated positions.
Runners shall promptly return to base on foul balls. When infielders gather during “Time,” they must finish discussions quickly, return to their positions at a jog, and must not delay play.
In any circumstances, no delaying actions that hinder progress will be tolerated.
Miscellaneous
Participants shall exercise due care in their speech and conduct toward ballpark managers, officials, the opposing team, spectators, etc., and shall strive to improve manners.
Outside the field, playing catch and swinging bats are strictly prohibited.
Awards
• Champion: Champion’s Trophy and Medals
• Runner-up: Runner-up Trophy and Medals
• Individual Awards: Most Valuable Player Award; Fighting Spirit Award; Batting Champion Award; All-Tournament Best Nine Award
National Team Contact Sheet
Complete the designated form with the required information and
submit it to the tournament headquarters.
Expenses
Accommodation and airfare/transportation, as well as other expenses, shall be borne by each national representative team. Transportation costs between accommodation facilities and game venues shall be borne by Japan.
Accommodation
For accommodation arrangements, negotiations shall be conducted with the travel agency designated by the Association, and payment shall be borne by each country.
