Kickball
IM Sports Kickball Rules are based on the World Kickball Association rules. All players are responsible for reading this document prior to participating in kickball.
- Number of PlayersaddTen (10) players are allowed on the field at any given time. A minimum of eight (8) players is needed to start and finish a legal game. All participants must sign their team’s Release Agreement before participating in their first game. Each team is allowed a maximum of sixteen (16) players on their Team Roster.
- Roster LimitaddEach team is allowed a maximum of sixteen (16) players on their Team Roster.
- Participant AttireaddAll participants must wear athletic-type shoes appropriate to the playing surface. No metal cleats, bare feet, street shoes, sandals, etc. are allowed. No cleats are allowed on any grass playing surface. Cleats/spikes are not allowed on IM Sports natural grass fields (Levine-Fricke Softball Field and Witter Rugby Field).
- EquipmentaddIM Sports will provide the game ball. Teams must bring their own balls to warm-up with.
- Length of GameaddGame time will be 50 minutes. No new inning will begin after the completion of the 50th minute of play, however, any inning started before the fiftieth minute will be completed regardless of time. The game shall be 7 innings or end after 50 minutes of play, whichever occurs first.
- TiesaddAny game that is tied after 7 innings or after an inning is completed after 50 minutes have been played, shall result in a tie. During the playoffs, extra innings shall be played until the tie is resolved after the completion of an inning.
- Mercy RuleaddA game will end if a team trails by 10 or more runs if: The trailing team has had at least 4 innings to kick and as many innings to kick as the team in the lead. An inning is completed after 40 minutes of play. After the game finishes, if the difference in score is greater than six (6), the score will be adjusted to a six (6) point difference.
- SubstitutionsaddFree substitutions are allowed; all participants must kick in the kicking order. Participants arriving late must be placed at the bottom of the lineup. Courtesy runners are not allowed. If a runner is injured, he or she may be replaced with the last male or female out (as the situation dictates) but may not return to the line-up. If an injured player (or player who leaves the game for whatever reason) cannot continue to play and there is no substitute available to meet the minimum Number of Players Rule (i.e. eight players), the game shall be over. In addition, if an injured player or player who leaves the game drops a team to less than 10 players (but they have at least eight players remaining), the game may continue but an out shall be recorded each time that player(s)’ spot comes up in the line-up. If ten (10) or more eligible kickers still remain after this action, no out is recorded when that player(s)’ spot comes up in the line-up.
- CountaddA count of three (3) strikes is an out. A strike is a pitch that is not kicked and is not called a ball (outside of the strike zone) or an attempted kick missed by the kicker inside or outside of the strike zone. Foul balls never count as strikes.
- Strike ZoneaddThe strike zone is the area defined by the black "strike zone mat" and the back triangle of home plate. If the pitch is a legal pitch (the highest point of its arc is above the kicker's head level) and lands on the strike zone, it is a strike. If the pitch lands on the front rectangle of home plate it is an automatic ball unless kicked at.
- Arguing Balls and StrikesaddParticipants may not argue balls and strikes. Any arguing the judgement of balls and strikes constitutes a team warning. A repeat offense by the same team results in ejection of that team member.
- Kicker's BoxaddA kicker is out if he/she steps out of the kicker’s box and makes contact with a pitched ball. One or both feet must be entirely outside the box and in contact with the ground to be considered out. If the kicker has any part of both feet inside the box or on the line, the kicker is considered to be in the box.
- Balls Hit Out of Playadd
Maxwell South: If a fair fly ball leaves the field of play to the south of (to the right of) the nearest light stanchion, all runners, including the kicker-runner, may advance one base (established at the time of pitch) without liability to be put out. If a fair fly ball leaves the field of play between the first and second light stanchions, all runners, including the kicker-runner, may advance two bases (established at the time of pitch) without liability to be put out. If a fair fly ball leaves the field of play between the second and third light stanchions, all runners, including the kicker-runner, may advance two bases (established at the time of pitch) without liability to be put out. If a fair fly ball leaves the field of play beyond the fourth light stanchion, all runners, including the kicker-runner, may advance four bases (established at the time of pitch) without liability to be put out.
Maxwell North: If a fair fly ball leaves the field of play, all runners, including the kicker-runner, may advance four bases without liability to be put out.
Levine-Fricke: If a fair fly ball leaves the field of play, but does not cross the secondary, 20-foot fence, it shall be a ground-rule double; else, a home run.
If a base is dislodged from its position during a play, any following runner on the same play shall be considered as touching or occupying the base if he touches or occupies the point marked by the dislodged bag or he touches or occupies the dislodged bag itself.
All runners, including the kicker-runner, may advance two bases when, with no spectators on the playing field, a thrown ball goes into the stands, or into a bench (whether or not the ball rebounds into the field), or over or under or through a field fence, or on a slanting part of the screen above the backstop, or remains in the meshes of a wire screen protecting spectators, or is caught in equipment left in foul territory (including nets and goals). The ball is dead.
- BaserunningaddNo runner shall leave his or her base before the kicker makes contact with the pitch. There will be no warning given. If a runner is off the base illegally, he/she shall be declared out.
In addition, when a defensive player has possession of the ball, runners must attempt to avoid contact. Penalty: Runner is out, ball is dead, and all other runners return to the last base touched at time of collision. If the contact is malicious, the runner shall also be ejected. - Force Playsadd
All plays at home plate are force plays. The defensive player may touch the plate or the runner to record the out. There is a perpendicular line (“commit” line) crossing the 3rd base line approximately 20 feet from home plate – any runner touching or crossing this line with at least one foot is committed to home plate and this creates a force situation at home.
- Foul Ballsadd
A count of three (3) fouls is an out. Foul balls never count as strikes.
- First Baseadd
There are two first bases – one in the standard position inside the baseline and a second outside the baseline. The standard first base shall be used to determine fair or foul balls and for defensive players to use in making plays. The “second” first base shall be outside the baseline and may be used by all kicker-runners when attempting to reach base. On a force play at first base, the kicker-runner must use the extra base.
Use of this “second” first base is to help prevent collisions and injuries at first base. The kicker-runner may use either first base when rounding the base on hits to the outfield.
- Force Plays at Home Plate / Commit Lineadd
A commit line is painted on each field approximately two thirds of the way from 3rd base to home plate. Once a runner comes in contact with either the commit line or any part of the field past the commit line, the runner is committed to going home. Since all plays at home plate are force plays, if a runner passes the commit line and retreats to third base, the defensive team only needs to touch home plate with possession of the ball to retire the runner.
Note: This is essentially a live ball appeal. Once time is out, the defense will not have the opportunity to appeal to the runner passing the commit line.
- Pitching Regulationsadd
The pitcher’s pivot foot must be in contact with the pitcher’s plate throughout the delivery. The delivery must be a continuous motion. The pitch shall be released at a moderate speed. A pitcher must allow the pitched ball to bounce twice (2x) or roll before reaching the kicker otherwise it is a ball. The pitched ball must not be higher than one foot at the plate otherwise it is a ball.
- Quick Pitchadd
The pitcher shall not attempt a quick return of the ball before the kicker has taken a position in the kicker’s box or when the kicker is off balance as a result of the pitch.
- Co-Rec Rule Modificationsadd
A team may never have more men than women on the field. Exception: With five (5) men and four (4) women present, the game may be played with the fifth male playing the catcher position. A team fielding enough players to start a game but not enough of a particular gender (male or female) will be awarded an automatic-loss, however, will not be forced to forfeit the game.
Entire female teams are permitted in CoRec leagues.
Teams must kick in alternating and separate orders unless the team is occupied completely by women. If there are an uneven number of players (i.e. 5 men and 4 women) teams may not have a man at the top and bottom of the kicking order. Teams with both men and women must ALWAYS have alternating kicking orders.
No fourth outfielder may move into the infield during a half-inning; if a team is to use 10 fielders, either four or three must be positioned in the outfield at all times during one half-inning. A line is arched this distance from home plate and shall restrict outfielders until contact with the ball is made (including the 4th outfielder). Penalty: kicker will be awarded two bases, all runners advance if forced.
It is prohibited for a man to take a play away from a woman in any position. Exception: At home plate, a male may cover. Penalty: kicker and all runners advance to base they would have reached had infraction not occurred without liability to be put out.
- FightingaddFighting of any kind will not be tolerated by IM Sports. Involvement in a fight includes an automatic, minimum, 365-day suspension. Involvement includes but is not limited to: instigation, retaliation, physical or mental intimidation and being an accessory to a fight. Participants who are not currently in the game can not enter the floor to break up a fight. Participants who leave the bench area during a fight will be ejected from that contest and can face a suspension of up to five years.
