Official RCSSC Kickball Rules
Last updated September 5th, 2010
FIELD:
The diamond is a square with equal sides of 60 feet.
The distance between home plate and second base and between first base and third base is 84 feet 10¼ inches.
The center of the pitching area is in the center of the diamond, 42 feet 5⅛ inches, and it is directly aligned with the first/third base diagonal. A box behind the pitcher's strip will designate the “area of control.” This box will measure 9 feet wide by 9 feet deep.
The strike zone extends 1 foot on either side of home plate and 1 foot high. There will be a box around the plate (1 foot on all sides) that marks the strike zone.
GAME REGULATION:
All games will last 50 minutes without inning restrictions.
Games will be official after 4 innings or 3½ innings if the home team is ahead. At the end of regulation, the score will revert back to the last full inning played if time has expired and the game is in the middle of an inning. However, if the home team has taken the lead or ties the game when time expires, the score will not revert back. Games can end in a tie.
A horn will blow to start and stop the 50 minute games.
All play will stop 50 minutes from time the game begins with the 2nd horn.
EXCEPTION: If the Home Team is batting and a player is in the kicker’s box, that player will be allowed to finish his/her at bat (kick).
There is a 9 run limit per inning.
EXCEPTION: The bottom of the last inning if the team is behind more than 9 runs.
Slaughter Rule - Any team that runs up the score will receive a loss! ( more than 20 pt diff.) That is based on the final score, not just when you hit 20 pts in difference. No Slaughter Rule during playoffs.
PLAYOFFS - If the horn blows during an inning, you will be allowed to finish the inning. Games that are tied after 50 minutes will then have a “sudden death” playoff. The inning will start off with one out and a runner on 2nd. The last person out from the previous inning will become the 2nd base runner. Each team will then proceed to play the inning. If still tied, then the next inning will start with a similar situation, but there will be 2 outs and the runner will start on 3rd.
TEAMS:
All players must be 22 years of age or older.
You must wear the shirt provided by RCSSC and be a paid player. You will receive the drink special at the bar ONLY if you are wearing the RCSSC team shirt.
The home team is listed first on the schedule and will take the field first.
The Home team will use the 1st base side of the field. (This is helpful when both teams are the same color)
One player must be a catcher.
Teams shall consist of 10 players on the field at one time with a maximum of 6 male players and at least 4 female players. If you do not have at least 4 female players, you must play short and will get an automatic out when that position, the “ghost player”, is reached in the batting order. If you play with 8 players but have at least 3 female players, you do not have to take an automatic out.
Teams must have a minimum of 8 players, 2 of whom must be female players, to start a game. One player must be the catcher.
If a team does not have sufficient players five minutes into game time, the game is considered a forfeit. (SEE FORFEIT RULE FOR FINES) The team that is shorted players will kick first and become the “away” team.
All players can kick, but no more than 2 male players may kick in a row. A female player may kick twice in the same lineup to accommodate the 2 to 1 ratio of batting. That means the women rotate through, but remain in the same female order (including the “ghost player” female when only 2 females present)
The batting lineup cannot change. Late players can be added at the end of the lineup in accord with the 2 to 1 ratio.
The field lineup can change as often as you would like. The idea is to let everyone play!
LINE-UP CARDS
• Line-up cards will be given to captains before the start of the game.
• Cards must be filled out before the start of the game with the following information:
o Captains name~ Team color~ Team #~ Players’ 1st name & last Initial.
• Card must be returned to Umpire prior to 1st horn.
o Teams not handing in their card prior to start of game will penalized 1 out 1st at bat.
o If card is not handed in by the end of the 1st inning, then that team will forfeit the game.
• The Umpires line-up card will be the official card for both teams.
PITCHING/CATCHING:
The strike zone extends 1 foot left and right of the plate and 1 foot above the ground from the bottom of the ball.
Pitching must be underhand only.
All pitches should be kickable (no fast balls, curving balls, bouncing balls, or spinning balls).
No bouncing balls. If 1 foot above the plate, it will be called a ball. (You may still attempt to kick it.)
The Umpire will call “ illegal pitch/ dead ball” if they deem the pitch to be unkickable.
o If the pitcher continues to pitch “illegal balls”, the umpire will remove the pitcher.
o Teams will have the option of removing the pitcher from the game or replace them with a player who is already playing the field.
If the pitch touches the lines around the plate, then it is a strike.
The pitcher must stay in his box until the ball is kicked.
No player may advance forward of the first/third base line (diagonal) until the ball is kicked.
Outfielders may not come within 10 feet of the first-second and second-third base line before the ball is kicked.
Infielders may not move out more than 5 feet from the first-second and second-third base line before the ball is kicked.
Fielders may switch positions only once per inning. No switching back and forth repeatly.
If a fielder or pitcher makes an out by illegally advancing beyond the first/third base line, the runner will be declared safe.
The catcher must stay 3 feet behind the kicker before the kick.
The COUNT begins with 1 Ball, 1 Strike.
The kicker is out after 3 strikes. A foul ball that is kicked after 2 strikes will be the third strike on the kicker.
If ball is caught in foul territory after the third strike, then the ball remains live. If the 3rd strike is called because of kicking the ball in front of the plate. Catching the ball is not a factor.
BALL IN PLAY: Once the pitcher has the ball in control and is inside the “pitchers box,” the play is over. Play resumes once the next pitch is thrown. ONLY the pitcher may gain control of the ball inside the pitcher’s box to stop play. He or she must have control of the ball. No fake outs. Time will be called by the Umpire to end the play.
KICKING:
Kicker must stand between the 15’ “kicker’s line” and home plate before the ball is pitched.
All kicks must be made by foot or shin.
Player must strike the ball with force. This is Kickball NOT Buntball. use a full follow through kicking motion when striking the ball. Bunting, pouching, tapping, or putting the ball is NOT allowed. (Foot must cross in front of other foot with at least a ¾ swing). NO BUNTING!
A kick must be made at or behind the plate or a strike will be called. If a ball is kicked in front of the plate and is caught in the air, the kicker will be called out. (see Dead Ball)
All male players must kick the ball past the first/third base line (diagonal). All balls that do not reach this line will be called a foul. If the ball is fielded before reaching the line, it is in fair play.
All female players must kick the ball past a line that is 25 feet from the plate. All balls that do not reach this line will be called a foul. If the ball is fielded before reaching the line, it is in fair play.
Kicker may not stop the ball then kick it.
Kicker stopping the ball behind the plate with foot technically can be called a strike. PLEASE let the catcher field the ball.
If a player is injured while kicking, the next kicker in the lineup should replace that person in the batting order with the ball/strike count remaining the same. If a female player is injured and the 2 previous kickers were male and next kicker is male, then the team should rotate its female players in the lineup so that it does not violate the rule prohibiting more than 2 male players kicking in a row.
If an injury occurs but the player reaches first base safely, the player may designate a runner.
The injured player cannot return to the game.
If a player kicks an “illegal ball” called by umpire, they do so at their own risk.
• KICKING OUT OF ORDER
o If a player is caught kicking out of order while at the plate, the player who was supposed to kick will approach the plate and assume the baa/strike count of the player who was kicking out of order.
o If the player who was kicking out of order is caught after reaching base safely, that player will be called “out” and all runners will return to their original base.
RUNNING:
Runners must stay within the base line and fielders must stay out of baseline.
Players must stay out of the base line unless attempting to tag the player or catch the kicked ball.
A fielder attempting to make an out by way of tagging the base may have his or her foot on the base, but he or she must lean out of the way of the baseline.
Running to First Base. The runner must run to the orange base. The fielder must use the white base for making the out. The fielder may tag the runner with the ball. PLEASE avoid body contact at all costs.
If fielder uses the orange base to make a play, the runner will be safe.
If the runner tags white base and is not rounding to go towards 2nd, then the runner is out.
If a fielder is obstructing the runner within the base line, the runner will be safe.
Running to Home plate. The runner must run to the orange home plate. The fielder must use the white home plate for making the out. If the runner tags the white home plate and not the orange home plate, he/she is automatically out. There is always a force out at home. ONLY exception: if there is not a true force out (runner on 2nd and 1st), then the runner coming from 3rd can stop before crossing the half way-line and run back to 3rd. Once you have gone beyond the half-way line, you MUST proceed to the orange home plate, the play is over. You either beat the throw or you did not.
NO Sliding. Automatic out!
Neither leading off base nor stealing a base is allowed.
A runner leading off base before the ball is kicked is out.
Hitting a runner above the shoulders is not allowed and the runner is safe. The runner advances one base for his/her headache! (Exceptions: if the runner ducks, slides, or dives attempting to dodge the ball, it is the umpire’s judgment.)
After a kicked ball is caught, runners must tag their original base before proceeding to the next base (i.e., tag up). If the runner has not left the base, he or she may simply run to the next base without a tag up.
At their own risk, a runner can advance to the next base after a fly ball has been caught.
o If a fly ball is “bobbled” before being caught, the base runners may proceed to the next base once the ball is first touched. “tag up”
All ties go to the runner.
A runner may advance only one base on an overthrow. Overthrow: the ball has gone out of the field of play. (more than 12ft outside the foul lines or behind the home plate) In cases where there are fenced in fields (i.e. A baseball diamond) an over throw will be called if it goes over/beyond the fence. A ball that bounces over the fence In the outfield, will be called a double. One field has the “Green Monster” and if the ball gets stuck on the hill of that field, it’s an automatic double. (Field # 8)
• If a ball thrown at a runner is deflected into foul territory, a dead ball will be called.
• If a ball thrown at a runner stays in fair territory, the ball is “live” and all other runners may advance at their own risk.
If two runners are on the same base at the same time, the fielder has a choice to tag either runner with the ball. That runner is out and the other may stay on that base.
Once the pitcher has control and base runners are less than halfway between bases, they must return to their original base (called by the umpire).
If a runner intentionally touches or stops the ball, the play ends. The runner is out.
If a runner hurts himself or herself on the way to first base (or any base), he or she may have a pinch runner if he or she reached the base safely. The last player out from the proceeding inning will become the pinch runner.
THE CALLS:
STRIKE: A pitch within the strike zone that is neither kicked or is missed by the kicker. If the ball hits the line on either side of the plate, that is a strike.
A kick occurring in front of the “kickers” home plate.
A kick occurring behind the kicking line or where a player started behind the kicking line.
A kicked ball not passing the 20’ line or the 1st to 3rd base line.
A foul ball.
A BALL: A pitch outside the strike zone, an illegal bounce, or any pitcher or field player advancing on the plate prior to the kick.
A FAIR BALL: A legally kicked fair fly, line drive or grounder shall be judged by the Umpire according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, including the cone at the end of the foul line, and not with respect to the position of the fielder (on fair or foul ground) at the time the ball is contacted.
A ball that is touched in or over fair territory and rolls into foul territory.
A kicked ball that has passed 1st or 3rd in the air, lands in fair territory, and then travels out of bounds, is still a live ball.
FOUL BALL: A foul ball counts as a strike even on the third strike. A foul occurs when:
A kick lands out of bounds.
A kick lands in bounds but travels out of bounds (on its own) before it reaches first or third base. (Any ball that is touched is automatically in play.)
A kick that does not meet the minimum kick requirement (first/third base line for male players or the 20 foot line for female players).
A ball that is kicked in front of the home plate. (If ball is caught during this play, then it is an out). No runners may advance if on base.
OUTS: An out occurs when:
The count reaches three strikes.
A player is touched by the ball at any point while not on base.
A runner who is on the same base with another runner is tagged by the ball.
A kicked ball, foul or fair, is caught in the air.
A fielder tags a base to which a runner is forced to run.
A runner is off the base when a ball is kicked.
Hitting the base with a kicked ball does not cause an out.
A count of three outs by one team completes the other team's half of the inning.
WALK: Occurs once 4 balls are called, keeping in mind the count is 1 and 1 before the first pitch.
Any walk to a male player with a female player next at bat will result in a one base advancement if there are runners on base. If the bases are empty, then he will proceed to second base. If there are 2 outs, the woman will have an option to kick or take the base. Otherwise the woman must kick.
DEAD BALL:
KICKING:
The Umpire will automatically call a “dead ball” if the ball is kicked by a player who is behind the 15’ kicking line, has traveled beyond home plate, bunted or not attempt to use a full follow through.
If a “dead ball” is caught in the air by the fielding team, it will be ruled an out.
If a “dead ball” was kicked on the ground, then a strike will be called.
FIELDING:
When a ball is thrown to the pitcher (ONLY) from one of the fielders, 9x9 pitcher’s box will be considered “dead ball” territory.
The Umpire will call “time” or “dead ball” once the pitcher has control of the ball inside the pitcher’s box. All play will stop.
All runners that have not reached the ½ way line, will return to the previous base.
All runners that have passed the ½ way line, will be allowed to advance, including home plate.
INFIELD FLY RULE:
• For an “infield fly rule” to be called, 1st & 2nd base must be occupied with LESS then 2 outs.
• The kicker is automatically out when the infield fly rule is called by the umpire and the ball will be declared a dead ball, if kicked up into the air (not line drives) to an infield player.
• With 2 outs, a ball kicked in the air to the infield, will remain a live ball.
UMPIRING:
KICKBALL IS UMPIRED by RCSSC staff members.
Umpires will stand just outside the 1st base line to the right of home plate.
With the line-up cards in hand, staff will announce the current and the “on deck” kicker. On deck must be in position to kick next.
After the end of each one-half inning, the staff will announce the inning and game score.
If there is discrepancy in the score, the team’s captain must make the staff aware of the discrepancy immediately.
The umpire will call “Time” to end each play. Once the word “Time” has been spoken, all advancements must stop. i.e. throws, and runs.
He/she will make all calls: balls, strike and outs.
He/she will announce “illegal pitch/dead ball”. (high bounce, to fast, etc)
He/she has final call on every play.
FORFEITS:
If a team does not have the minimum number of players by 5 minutes after game time, a $50 forfeit fine will be assessed. The money will go towards the forfeiting team’s opponent’s bar tab the following week. Teams that receive a forfeit fine must use it the following week or lose it. (No carryover).
If a team contacts the Commissioner by 5:00pm on Thursday, a forfeit fine will not be assessed. This will allow the Commissioner to inform the opposing team of the forfeit in time. Email forfeits to rivercityssc@aol.com .
FINES:
All fines must be paid before the next game. Teams not paying will have 2 points taken off their win total for each week that fine is not paid.
OTHER RULES:
NO GLASS containers!
NO Alcohol.
NO PARKING on the field.
PLEASE police yourself.
Coaches are responsible for controlling their team. We are all adults. Enough said.
Coaches are responsible for keeping track of batting order, innings, and score in their score book.
NO SLIDING.
There are no errors.
If a rule is not otherwise stated here standard ASA softball rules apply.
The umpire has final ruling.
No metal cleats.
ALL CONTACT MUST BE AVOIDED AT ALL TIMES.
EJECTIONS:
Metal cleats
Unsportsmanlike conduct.
Arguing with the umpires.
Throwing the ball at another player in an unsportsmanlike manner.
IF ejected, you cannot play at the following week's game.
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