Objectives of the Game 

1.01
Kickball is a game between two teams of at least 8 players each, played on a field in accordance with these rules, under the jurisdiction of one or more umpires. 

1.02
The objective of each team is to win by scoring more runs than the opponent. 

1.03
The winner of the game shall be that team which shall have scored, in accordance with these rules, the greater number of runs at the conclusion of a regulation game. 

1.04
The ball shall be a 10-inch, red playground ball. The Oregon Kickball Club (OKC) is responsible for providing bases, balls, pitching strips and cones.

1.05
A maximum of 10 players from one team may be on the field at any given point.

1.06
Teams that have at least 9 players must field a catcher. 

1.07
Players may not wear shoes with any metal on or in them whatsoever.  If there is a question, the shoes will not be permitted if the ref determines that the metal can be dangerous to a player. This includes steel toe boots. Additionally, all shoes must be closed toed and player must wear shoes.  If a player is unclear as to whether his footwear is legal he/she is encouraged to consult with the umpire before the game.

 

2.00 Definition of Terms 

A BALL is a pitch that does not bounce on the ground at least twice before passing completely through the strike zone, or does not also pass through the strike zone, and is not kicked at by the kicker, or is any pitch that does not contact the ground at least once before reaching home plate, regardless of whether it hits the kicker.

 

A BASE is one of four points which must be touched by a runner in order to score a run; more usually applied to the bags or rubber plates which mark the base points. Bases shall be set up 52 feet apart in a diamond shape with right angles. Home plate consists of two plates set up side-by-side. (see Strike Zone) The two plates are considered to be one base, with full use by both the offense and defense. 1^st base is the next base counter-clockwise around the diamond. It consists of two bases side-by-side, one extending on to the field of play from the foul line, the other extending into foul territory from the foul line. Both bases are considered to be one base, with full use by the offense, but the defense may only use the base in fair territory for the purpose of making outs. 2^nd and 3^rd base each consist of just a single base, and are placed around the diamond counter-clockwise from 1^st base, respectively.

 

A BUNT is a kicked ball not fully swung at, but intentionally tapped slowly within the infield. 

 

A CALLED GAME is one in which, for any reason, the head umpire terminates play. 

 

A CATCH is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in his hand of a ball in flight and firmly holding it. A catch is legal if the ball is finally held by any fielder, even though juggled, touched or held by another fielder before it touches the ground (See OOP). Runners may leave their bases the instant the first fielder touches the ball. 

 

A DO-OVER may be called once per game per team, but only if the umpire making the call agrees that there is sufficient uncertainty in the call to warrant a do-over. A do-over resets the entire play back to the pitch, and the count remains what it was before the play in question.  A do-over may be used on a fair/foul call.  Additionally, the team who the do-over is being used against may choose to accept the result of the call as the challenging team believes the play should have gone.  In such a situation, the challenging team does not lose its card.

 

A FAIR BALL is a kicked ball that settles on fair ground, or that first falls on fair territory on or beyond first or third base, or that, while over fair territory, passes out of the playing field in flight (home run). If a fly ball lands in the infield between home and first base, or home and third base, and then bounces to foul territory without touching a player or umpire and before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball; or if the ball settles on foul territory or is touched by a player on foul territory, it is a foul ball. If a fly ball lands on or beyond first or third base and then bounces to foul territory, it is a fair ball. 

 

FAIR TERRITORY is that part of the playing field within, and including the first base and third base lines, from home base to the cones or natural barrier determining the back limit of the outfield and perpendicularly upwards. Fair territory forms a 90 degree angle at home plate. All foul lines are in fair territory. At 1^st base, the base that sits outside of the foul line is considered foul territory. All other bases are considered fair territory.

 

A FLY BALL is a kicked ball that goes high in the air in flight. 

 

A FORCE PLAY is a play in which a runner legally loses his right to occupy a base by reason of the kicker becoming a runner. 

 

A FORCE TAG is when the runner is tagged with the ball before reaching the base to which s/he is forced to run. It is considered a force out.

 

A FORFEITED GAME is a game declared ended by the umpire in chief in favor of the offended team by the score of 5 to 0. 

 

A FOUL BALL is a kicked ball that settles on foul territory before reaching first or third base, or that first falls on foul territory beyond first or third base, or that, while on or over foul territory, touches the person of an umpire or player, or any object foreign to the natural ground, or a ball kicked above the knee and below the waist, or a kick in which the kicker’s plant foot crosses the front of the plate, or a ball kicked twice in foul territory. Any ball that touches a kicker above the waist is not considered a foul, and should called either a ball or a strike. For the purpose of this rule, “above the waist” includes arms, heads, torsos or any portion of the body not the legs or feet regardless of whether the body part is elevated above the waist at the time of contact.

 

FOUL TERRITORY is that part of the playing field outside the first and third base lines extended to the cones or natural barrier determining the back limit of the outfield and perpendicularly upwards.

 

A GROUND RULE DOUBLE is a play in which each runner including the kicker runner may, without liability to be put out, advance two bases, if a fair ball becomes entangled in a pre-determined obstruction in the playing field.

 

The HOME TEAM fields first. The home team shall be designated by mutual agreement (coin flip, Rochambeaux) before the start of the game by the head umpire and one representative from each team. 

 

An INNING is that portion of a game within which the teams alternate on offense and defense and in which there are three outs for each team. Each team's time kicking is a half inning. 

 

INTERFERENCE is an act by the kicking team that intentionally interferes with, obstructs, impedes, or hinders any fielder attempting to make a play, either during a live play or after the kicker/runner has been declared out. If the umpire declares interference, all other runners shall return to the last base that was, in the judgment of the umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference, and the offending player shall be called out (and if the offending player was already out, the ref may call other outs as warranted). Interference that is considered to be intentional may also warrant a yellow or red card, at the discretion of the umpire.

 

A MUNT is a bunt by a male kicker. See Sofa King.

 

OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner. If a fielder is about to receive a thrown ball and if the ball is in flight directly toward and near enough to the fielder so he must occupy his position to receive the ball he may be considered "in the act of fielding a ball." It is entirely up to the judgment of the umpire as to whether a fielder is in the act of fielding a ball. If obstruction is ruled, the involved runner shall be considered safe if the obstruction lead to the player being out, regardless of the result of the play, and awarded the last base the umpire decides s/he reasonably would have reached safely. 

 

An OOP is a legal catch where the ball is finally held by any fielder, even though juggled, touched or held by another fielder before it touches the ground. See CATCH.

 

An OUT is one of the three required retirements of an offensive team during its time kicking. An out may be any caught ball except a foul ball that has first touched an inanimate object; a runner not touching a base who is touched with the ball, unless hit in the head with a ball while standing upright; a fielder who is in possession of the ball touching a base to which a runner is forced to run; a double-kicked ball where the second touch occurs in fair territory; a runner who passes another runner before the preceding runner is out; a runner who intentionally interferes with a defensive play; a runner who leaves the baseline in order to avoid being touched with the ball.

 

An OVERTHROW is a ball thrown or kicked out of the infield into foul territory. If an overthrow is ruled by the umpire, the runners may advance one base in addition to the base to which they are heading at the time of the overthrow.  Throws that strike a runner are still considered overthrows if the requisite conditions are met, regardless of whether them glance a runner or bounce off a runner.

 

The PERSON of a player or an umpire is any part of his or her body, clothing or equipment.

 

A PINCH RUNNER can only be used for a runner who is already on base, and must be the last available player of the same gender in the lineup.

 

The PITCHING AREA – A ten-foot diameter extending from the center of the pitching strip 

(see pitching strip).  All pitches must be thrown from within the pitching area.

 

The PITCHING STRIP is defined by two cones placed about 10 feet apart in the center of the diamond on the imaginary line from 1^st base to 3^rd base.

 

A RED CARD is an immediate ejection of a player from a game by an umpire for crude actions not befitting the noble sport of kickball, or for wanton disregard of the rules. A player who has received a red card will not be allowed to play in the game following the one s/he received his/her red card, or longer, pending review of his/her actions with the Referee Board. The Referee Board will determine if further censure is needed (e.g., suspension, community service, public humiliation).Two yellow cards in one game are equivalent to one red card. See YELLOW CARD.

 

A REGULATION GAME is one in which at least four innings have been played. 

 

The RUN DIFFERENTIAL is the difference between the number of runs scored by opposing teams in a game. The winning team is awarded the positive result, while the losing team is awarded the negative result; however, no team may be awarded more than +/-10 points. The RUN DIFFERENTIAL is computed for purposes of standings only.

 

"SAFE" is a declaration by the umpire that a runner is entitled to the base for which s/he was trying.

 

The STANDINGS are determined by win/loss record. During the regular season, in the case of a tie, the run differential will be used. To compute standings , the win/loss record will be used. In the case of a tie, the result of the two teams’ regular season games will determine the higher ranking. If the teams remain tied, then the run differential will be used.

 

A STRIKE is a pitch that either is kicked at by the kicker and is missed; or is not kicked at, if any part of the ball passes through any part of the strike zone and it bounces at least twice before exiting the strike zone.

 

The STRIKE ZONE is two home plates wide and one foot above each plate.  If any part of the ball crosses through this area, and has bounced at least twice before exiting the strike zone, it is a strike. The back of the strike zone is considered to be an imaginary line that connects the farthest back tip of the plates, extending to the outer most edge on the side of each plate. (see image)

 

A TAG-UP is the act of a runner in returning to a base as legally required. 

 

A TRAP is when a fielder stops a fly ball with a part of his/her body and the ground. A trap is not a catch.

 

A WALK is an award of first base granted to a kicker who, during one time kicking, receives three “balls.”

 

A YELLOW CARD is a warning given by an umpire to a player for actions not befitting the noble sport of kickball, or for wanton disregard of these rules. Two yellow cards in one game are equivalent to one red card. See RED CARD. A yellow card should be considered a warning to the entire team, such that other players who continue the same activity that warranted the initial yellow card may be eligible for a red card, whether or not they were the individual player who received the yellow card for the activity.

 

3.00 Game Preliminaries 

3.01
Players are expected to be on time for their games. Field locations and schedule information is available on the website, www.oregonkickball.com.

 

3.02
A team must field at least 4 men and 4 women. If a team is short players, they may borrow from other league players in good standing, up to the minimum required to avoid forfeit. Short-handed teams will incur an automatic out if they use two subs. Teams using three or more subs will incur two automatic outs. There is no penalty for one sub. During one rotation through the lineup, a team is required to take the automatic Penalty Out(s), but may elect to take said out(s) at any time during each rotation through the lineup. If the last player in the lineup kicks before the out is taken for that rotation, the out is automatically enforced after the plate appearance of the last kicker. Subs must kick at the end of the lineup.

 

3.03
Once the game has begun, a team’s kicking order cannot be changed. All fielders must be in the kicking order. The kicking order must be created before the first kicker comes up to kick, however, late players shall be added to the end of the line-up as they arrive.  By operation of this rule, a sub that starts the game in the last slot will not be the last kicker if new players arrive.

 

3.04
A player may not be registered on two teams.

 

3.05
Drinking alcohol and/or smoking are not allowed on school grounds.  Further, players or their guests shall not engage in illegal activity while participating or viewing OKC games and shall abide by the terms of the field permits.

 

4.00 Starting and Ending a Game 

4.01
The players of the home team shall take the field, while the away team shall put up their first kicker to kick.

 

4.02
The kicking order shall be followed throughout the game.  If a player bats out of turn, then the skipped player shall be out.  

 

4.03
The offensive team may station two base coaches in foul territory during its turn kicking, one near first base and one near third base. The coach cannot interfere with the play in any manner. If the base coach intentionally interferes with the play, the coach shall receive a card, be prohibited from acting as base coach for the remainder of the game, and the ref may issue a do-over or require players to return to appropriate bases.  

 

4.04
HOW A TEAM SCORES. (a) One run shall be scored each time a runner legally advances to and touches first, second, third and home base (or if the runner fails to touch one or more bases, the play is not appealed [no play can be appealed after the next pitch]) before three players are put out to end the inning. EXCEPTION: A run is not scored if the runner advances to home base during a play in which the third out is made (1) by the batter runner before s/he touches first base; (2) by any runner being forced out; or (3) by a preceding runner who is declared out because s/he failed to touch one of the bases after appeal. 

 

4.05
A standard game consists of 7 innings of play, but may be shorter due to time, weather, or environmental constraints. An inning shall not be started after 55 minutes of play.

 

4.06
Tie games may stand in regular season play. Play-off games must end in a clear winner, and will involve more than 7 innings if necessary. In such a situation, after the 7th inning, the winner is the team that has the higher score at the end of any additional complete inning.

 

4.07
The game may be called off early in the case of forfeit or the umpire’s discretion (lack of sun, inclement weather, etc.). 

 

4.08
In the case of a called game, 4 innings of play must have been completed to count in standings. 

 

4.09
A game may be forfeited to the opposing team when a team fails to produce the required number and gender of duly registered players by 5 minutes after scheduled start time or a team falls below the required minimum number/gender requirements due to the issue of a red card. 

 

4.10
In the interests of mercy, no team shall be awarded more than 10 point for any game for the purposes of rankings, regardless of the final score, (e.g., a team that wins by 23 points will be awarded a 10 point run differential).

 

4.11
Forfeited games will be counted as a 5-0 game, (+5/-5 points). 

 

5.00 Putting the ball in play. 

5.01
At the time set for beginning the game the umpire shall call "Play Ball" at which time the pitcher shall pitch to the kicker.

5.02
The pitcher shall deliver the pitch to the kicker who may elect whether or not to attempt to kick the ball, as s/he chooses.

5.03
On fields without backstops, a cone shall be placed 12 feet behind home plate. The catcher is not required to stand any further back behind the plate than this cone, regardless of where the kicker chooses to stand. Any pitch that reaches the imaginary line that is parallel to the back of the strike zone and runs through this cone, is a dead ball as soon as it reaches this line, and will be called as a ball or a strike at that time, as the kicker no longer has the right to kick the ball.

5.04
No fielder may advance inside of the imaginary line between 1^st base and 3^rd base before the ball is kicked, with the exception of the catcher (see 5.05) and the exception of the one-footed follow-through of the pitcher. If a fielder encroaches beyond this line before the ball is kicked, the kicker will have the option of either taking a called “ball,” or the result of the play that takes place immediately following the encroachment.  The kicker must make contact with the ball in order for encroachment to be called.

5.05
The catcher is the only player allowed to line up in foul territory, and in front of the imaginary line between 1^st base and 3^rd base. The catcher must remain at least three feet behind the kicker, so far as the backstop or cone will allow, until the moment the ball is kicked, or encroachment will be called. On fields without backstops, the catcher does not have to be behind the kicker if the kicker is behind the cone. Called encroachment will result in the same options for the kicker as stated in 5.04. At no time may the catcher interfere with the kicker in the area between home plate and the backstop or cone before the ball is kicked. After the ball is kicked the standard obstruction and interference rules apply.  Only one catcher may play for a team at a time.

5.06
When three offensive players are legally put out in one-half inning,that team takes the field and the opposing team becomes the offensive team. 

 

6.00 The Kicker 

6.01
(a) Each player of the offensive team shall kick in the order that his/her name appears in his/her team's batting order. (b) The first kicker in each inning after the first inning shall be the player whose name follows that of the last player who legally completed his/her time kicking in the preceding inning. 

6.04
A kicker has legally completed his/her time kicking when s/he is put out or becomes a runner. 

6.05
A kicker is out when (a) his/her fair or foul fly ball is caught by a fielder, unless it is a foul ball that first touches an inanimate object (such as a backstop or tree); (b) the pitcher pitches a second strike (c) s/he kicks a third foul ball (d) s/he double-kicks the ball and the second touch occurs in fair territory; (e) after s/he hits a fair ball, s/he or first base is tagged before s/he touches first base. 

6.06
After a kicker is issued three balls, s/he must advance to 1^st base.

6.07
The kicker becomes a runner when s/he kicks a fair ball. 

6.08
Substitutions in the kicking order are not allowed. A kicker must reach base on his/her own power. A pinch runner may be used only after a kicker has reached base safely and the play has ended.

 

7.00 The Runner 

7.01
A runner acquires the right to an unoccupied base when s/he touches it before s/he is out. S/he is then entitled to it until s/he is put out, or forced to vacate it for another runner legally entitled to that base. In terms of first base, the kicker may use either base, but the defensive team may only make outs using the white base.

7.02
A runner may not leave his/her base until the ball is kicked by the kicker. If a runner is ruled to have left base early, whether it was before the kick or before the defense touched the ball on a play in which the ball is caught in fair territory before it touched the ground, the runner will be ruled out. However, it is the responsibility of the defense to appeal for such an out by, after the play has been called dead, bringing the ball to the base that the runner supposedly left early and asking for the out. At that time the umpire will then make a ruling as to whether the runner left the base early or not.

7.03
Two runners may not occupy the same base. If two runners are touching a base in a non-force situation, the following runner shall be out when tagged. The preceding runner is entitled to the base.  In a force situation, the preceding runner is no longer entitled to occupy the base and shall be out when tagged.

7.04
A runner may not advance when the pitcher has control of the ball in the pitcher’s mound area and is not actively making a play. When the pitcher so ends the play, the ball is dead, and the runner(s) must go to the base that they are nearest to (unless occupied) at the time the play is ended. This does not apply to any runner who has not yet reached his or her force base, as any runner has the right to attempt the base to which they are forced even if the pitcher controls the ball on the mound.

7.05
Each runner including the kicker runner may, without liability to be put out, advance to home base, scoring a run, if a fair ball goes out of the playing field in flight and s/he touched all bases legally 

7.06
Fielders must not impede the progress of the runner, including blocking the plate. Fielders must stay out of the baseline unless they are actively making a play on the ball. If the umpire rules that a fielder obstructed the base, the runner shall be awarded the base to which they were running.  The ref shall have discretion to award any additional base that the ref believes the runner would have (not could have) been able to reach but for the obstruction.

7.07
An offensive player cannot interfere with the ability of the defense to play a live ball. Doing so will result in the offending player being called out, and other runners not being allowed to advance. It may also result in a yellow card at the umpire's discretion.

7.08
Any runner is out when (a) s/he runs outside the baseline to avoid being tagged unless his/her action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a kicked ball (b) s/he intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to make a play on a kicked ball; (c) s/he is hit or tagged with the ball while off his base, unless hit in the head while standing upright (i.e. not sliding). EXCEPTION: A kicker runner cannot be tagged out after overrunning or oversliding first base if s/he returns immediately to the base and makes no attempt to obtain second base or if an an attempt at second is made the kicker remained in foul territory at all times after touching first; (d) s/he fails to tag-up after a fair ball is caught before s/he, or his/her base, is tagged by a fielder. (e) s/he fails to reach the next base before a fielder tags him/her or the base to which s/he has been forced to advance. However, if a following runner is put out on a force play, the force is removed and the runner must be tagged to be put out. (f) s/he passes a preceding runner before such runner is out.

7.09
If ball is overthrown out of the infield into foul territory, the runner is allowed one base in addition to the base s/he is heading to. (If runner runs through first and stays on the foul line, s/he is allowed to attempt to advance to 2^nd but not 3^rd.) It is not an advance without liability; the runner may be put out during the play. 

7.10
On a caught ball runners who are tagging up may do so on first contact made with the ball by a fielder.

7.11
A runner may not advance on a foul ball, caught or otherwise.

7.12
Runners may slide head-first or feet-first into a base or home plate, but must consider the safety of others while sliding. Runners who engage in a dangerous slide, including but not limited to attempting to “break-up” the play by means of the slide or sliding with raised cleats, shall be ruled out. In addition, as dangerous slides are considered unsportsmanlike conduct, the offending runner may also be subject to a yellow or red card, at the discretion of the umpire.

 

8.00 The Pitcher 

8.01
The pitcher must maintain at least one of his/her feet behind the front of the pitching strip from the time the ball is pitched until the moment the ball is kicked. Failure to do so will result in encroachment, with the same options for the kicker as stated in 5.04.

8.02
Pitchers may throw fast, slow, bouncy, underhand, overhand, sidearm, backwards, with spin, with no spin or upside down as long as the prescribed rules of pitching are followed.

 

9.00 The Umpire 

9.01
OKC will schedule two umpires to referee each game.

9.02
Only the captain of a team may question the umpire.

9.03
Players are encouraged to get rule clarification from the umpire when play is dead (preferably between innings).

9.04
Umpires have the sole discretion of using yellow and red cards.

 

10.00 The Official Scorer

10.01
Each team is responsible for keeping truthful and accurate scores for their game.