Kickball Rules - City of Shoreview - Sports Leagues

CoRec Kickball Rules
MANAGER’S DUTIES
1. Make sure you have a full team.
2. Manager must handle any disputes. Don’t let one of your players face suspension.
3. You are responsible for taking charge of your team’s and your spectators’ conduct. Abusive language, improper
drinking, litter and other irresponsible acts will not be tolerated.
4. Any schedule information, changes, make-ups or other league information will be sent to you. Make sure we have
your current address (and/or e-mail address.) It is your responsibility to pass this information on to your players.
5. Know the rules and tell your players the rules. This will help the game run smoothly.
SPORTSMANSHIP & EJECTIONS
The Parks & Recreation Department is interested in ensuring that a high level of sportsmanship be maintained in this
sports program. Although the element of competition plays a major role in athletics, the game should always maintain its
recreational and social values. It is necessary for each participant to be responsible for the promotion of good
sportsmanship and fair play. Therefore, the following policy for dealing with cases of unsportsmanlike conduct will be
instituted:
1. To help ensure a high quality kickball league that provides a desirable playing experience, we will handle any
unsportsmanlike acts (i.e. swearing, arguing calls, verbal sparring, threats, intentional contact) using the steps below.
a) First Offense – Warning (unless the behavior is deemed too severe)
b) Second Offense – Ejection & one game suspension (Amount of games depends on the severity of the act)
2. An ejected player must leave the field immediately. The game will not resume until the player has left. If persons are
uncooperative in leaving, the remainder of the game will be forfeited to the opposing team.
3. If a player is ejected from the game that spot in the kicking order will be treated as an out unless the team has a "legal
substitute".
UMPIRES
1. Games will be umpired by a Park & Recreation staff member.
2. THE UMPIRES DECISION IS FINAL – NO EXCEPTIONS.
3. Umpires have the authority to eject players or call off the game.
4. If an umpire does not show up for your game, team managers are urged to have a spectator or team managers umpire
the game. If this should occur, please report the incident to the Parks and Recreation Department. If the game is
played, it will be counted as an official game in the standings.
ROSTERS
1. Minimum age for players is 16 years old.
2. The minimum number of players that may be on the roster is 10; maximum is 20.
3. Rosters need to be completed and turned in to the program supervisor before your first game. No additional players
can be added to the roster after the 4th week of games has been played unless approved by the league director.
4. No player shall appear on more than one team’s roster during the course of the season.

EQUIPMENT AND APPAREL
1. 8.50 inch kickball
2. Bases (umpires will provide bases each week)
3. Air pump
4. Scorebook
5. Rubber cleats are recommended, metal cleats are not allowed
6. Uniforms are not required to participate
PROTEST
1. Protests of judgment calls will not be accepted.
2. Protest will only be accepted in cases involving the eligibility of a player. The player in question must show picture
ID to the umpire. The umpire will submit the name of the player to the program supervisor to verify said players
eligibility. If a protest is upheld, the protested games will be forfeited for the team with the violation.
STANDINGS & TIE BREAKERS
1. Final standings are based on:
a. Points earned (Win = 2 points, Tie = 1 point, Loss = 0 points)
b. Tie breakers for teams:
i. Head-to-head record
ii. Total runs scored between tied teams
iii. Total runs scored during regular season
iv. Total runs against during regular season
v. A coin flip will determine the winner
Playing Rules
Any rules not noted in this manual will follow USAAA softball rules when applicable
PLAYING FIELD
Similar to baseball and softball, the kickball infield consists of home plate and three bases; first, second and third. The
pitcher’s mound will be 40 feet. The distance between home plate and first base, first base and second base, second base
and third base and between third base and home plate will be 60 feet (approximately 23 big walking steps).
INCLEMENT WEATHER
The weather lines (651-490-4765 or 651-792-7841) are updated by 3:30 pm, after 3:30 pm the decision to play will be
made on the field by the team managers.
LATE ARRIVALS AND FORFEITS
1. A team must have at least 8 players to start a game; no team shall start with less than 8 players.
2. A team not ready to play at game time will be given a 5 minute grace period.
3. At 5 minutes, the game is forfeited.
4. A forfeit shall count as a 7-0 loss in the standings.
5. If both teams scheduled to play each other forfeit the game, the game will be marked as a 0-0 tie. Each team will get
one point for the tie but will not receive any runs to determine tie-breakers at the end of the season.
6. Forfeits are frowned upon, but if it is an emergency and your team cannot field enough players to participate, the team
manager is responsible for contacting the team you are scheduled to play and the league director as soon as possible.

REGULATION GAME
1. A regulation game shall consist of 7 innings or a time limit of 55 minutes. No new inning may begin after 55
minutes. For the purpose of clarification of the time limit rule, a new inning starts as soon as the home team makes the
third out. Tie games end at the time limit.
2. In the case of rain or darkness, an umpire decision of “calling off” the game holds. An official game is after 4 innings
are completed or 3½ if the home team is in the lead. The game score at the end of the last full inning shall determine
the winner. If the game is not official when it is stopped due to weather or darkness, the game will be replayed in its
entirety at a later date.
INJURIES / REMOVED PLAYERS
There will be no penalty for a player removed from the lineup due to injury. Shrink the kicking order without conceding
the spot as an out. Any player removed for any other reason will be considered an out every time that spot in the kicking
order comes up unless the team has a legal sub. A team that falls below 8 players will forfeit the game. Any player that
leaves the game for injury or other circumstances may not re-enter the game.
RUN RULE
Any team having an advantage of 15 runs or more after 4½ innings of play will automatically win the game.
KICKING
1. Visiting team kicks first.
2. All players present must be in the kicking line-up.
3. Teams must alternate male and female players in the kicking order at all times. A floating kicking order will be
used when you have unequal number of male/female players. A floating kicking order is when you create a separate
kicking order for each gender. The same gender must follow each other in the kicking order (males follow males and
females follow females). Male and female players must still alternate. For example, John will always follow Tom in
the kicking order, but there will always be a different female player kicking between them each time there spots
comes up in the kicking order because the female players are following each other as well. It may sound confusing,
but is very easy once you figure out how it exactly works.
4. Bunting is NOT allowed. Player must use a full kicking motion. A kick that travels less than 15 feet will be
considered a bunt. If this occurs, redo the kick over without any penalty. The player will receive the same
ball/strike count prior to the bunt. Any players on base must return to the same base they had occupied.
5. All kicks must occur at or behind home plate.
6. If a male player walks, he will advance to 2 nd base. The next kicking female has the option to kick or take 1 st base.
BASE RUNNING
1. Once the Picher has the ball in control and on the mound, play ends.
2. No leading off or stealing is allowed. A runner off of their base before the ball is kicked will be called out.
3. Sliding is allowed
4. If a base runner advances in front of another runner or touches the runner in front of them they will be called out.
5. Balls thrown at base runners must be below the shoulders. Hitting a runner in the head with the ball is not
allowed. Any runner hit in the head as they are running to a base will be safe. If the runner gets hit in the head
because they are ducking, diving, or sliding to avoid the ball – they are just out with no penalty given to either team.
If a player intentionally throws at the head of another player, they will be ejected.
6. After a kicked ball is caught, runners must tag their originating base before running to the next base.
7. If a fair kicked ball hits a runner not on base they are out.
8. One extra base is awarded on an overthrow. An overthrow constitutes a ball that is thrown out of play. A ball thrown
that remains in play is not considered an overthrow and runners advance at their own risk.

FIELDING
1. A maximum of 10 players in the field at all times, 4 players in the outfield while the remaining six play the infield (1 st
base, 2 nd base, 3 rd base, shortstop, pitcher and catcher).
2. A maximum of 5 male players and minimum of 4 female players are allowed in the field at any given time. The
following gender combinations are acceptable (5 male/5 female, 5 male/4 female, 4 male/5 female, 4 male/4 female,
etc…). A team may always play with more female players than male players in the field.
3. When playing defense, positions do not matter. Men and women can play any position they desire.
4. No player may advance forward of the 1 st – 3 rd baselines until the ball is kicked. Failure to abide by this rule results in
a ball.
5. All outfielders must be set on the outfield grass before the ball is kicked.
6. The catcher must field directly behind the kicker and may not cross home plate before the ball is kicked or interfere
with the kicker.
7. Once the Picher has the ball in control and on the mound, play ends.
8. Balls thrown at base runners must be below the shoulders. Any headshots result in advancement of an extra base.
Any intentional hitting of the ball with the head by a runner will result in an out. If the runner gets hit in the head
because they are ducking, diving, or sliding to avoid the ball – they are just out with no penalty given to either team.
9. Players in the field are allowed to kick the ball (as opposed to throwing) towards another team player in the field.
This is particularly helpful if you have a long throw from the outfield.
10. There is no in-field fly rule.
PITCHING
1. Pitchers must “roll” the ball to the kicker at “moderate” speed.
2. The strike zone extends to 1-foot on either side of home plate and 1-foot high.
3. No bouncing or curve pitches are allowed.
4. A pitch that is higher than 1-foot at the plate results in a ball.
5. If the ball falls short of the plate and does not cross over, the pitch will be called a ball.
6. The pitcher must stay at the pitching rubber until the ball is kicked. Failure to do so results in a ball.
STRIKE ZONE / BALLS / STRIKES
1. The strike zone is considered when the ball passes over home plate and 1 foot on either side of home plate and no
more than 1 foot high.
2. 3 balls/2 strikes will represent a walk and strikeout, respectively with one courtesy foul after 1 strike.
Strikes:
A count of 2 strikes is an out. A strike constitutes:
1. A pitch within the strike zone either not kicked, or missed by the kicker.
2. A kick occurring in front of home plate (kicks occurring in front of home plate that are caught by the
fielding team are called out.)
3. A foul ball; after 1 strike, the kicker will get one courtesy foul ball.
4. Kicker is out after kicking a second foul ball after one strike. No runner may advance, regardless if the
ball is caught or not. Play is stopped, as in any other dead ball situation.

Balls:
A count of 3 balls advances the kicker to first base. A ball is:
1. A pitch outside the strike zone.
2. A ball falling short of the plate and does not cross over the plate.
3. A bouncing ball that is higher than 12 inches as it crosses home plate.
4. Any fielder advancing forward of the 1 st – 3 rd baselines before the ball is kicked.
• What if the umpire observes a defensive player stepping in front of the baseline prior to the
ball being kicked? The umpire will call "Illegal". The kicker does not need to kick the pitch
regardless of where it crosses the plate; it will be called a ball as a result of a defensive player
stepping in front of the baseline. If the kicker kicks the ball, it will be a live ball and play will
resume like normal.
5. A pitcher advancing in front of the pitching rubber before the ball is kicked.
6. Any catcher advancing forward of home plate before the kicker kicks the ball.
FOULS
A foul is:
1. A kick landing out of bounds.
2. A kick landing in bounds but traveling out of bounds on its own before reaching first or third base (any ball touched
by an in bounds fielder while it is in bounds is automatically in play even if the ball is heading out of bounds).
OUTS
A count of three 3 outs by a team completes the team’s half of the inning. An out is:
1. A count of 2 strikes.
2. A count of 1 strike and having already received the one courtesy foul.
3. A runner touched by the ball at ANY time while not on base.
4. Any kicked ball (fair or foul) that is caught.
5. A ball tag on a base to which a runner is forced to run. The fielder must have control of the ball (i.e., the ball must be
off the ground).
6. A runner off of their base when the ball is kicked.
7. If a base runner advances in front of another runner or touches the runner in front of them, they will be called out.