Western Carolina University Intramural Sports Spring 2018 Kickball
Western Carolina University Intramural Sports Spring 2018 Kickball The Intramural Sports program reserves the right to put into immediate effect any new sport rule changes or modifications based on eligibility, league and tournament structure, or participant safety. Current A.S.A. Softball Rules will govern kickball with the following emphases and modifications. I. PLAYERS a. Catcards are required. NO I.D. = NO PLAY! No exceptions b. A team consists of 10 players in the field. 8 needed to avoid forfeit. c. Each CoRec team shall consist of 10 players (5 male and 5 female) and minimum of 8. Allowed ratios: 5m:5f, 4m:5f, or 5m:4f, 4m:4f d. Teams must alternate male/female in batting order, or an out will be given. e. Maximum roster size is 20 f. Restricted players: must compete at the highest level of play (Competitive) i. Varsity Athletes - Teams are only allowed two varsity athletes. Check with Assistant Director regarding varsity status and eligibility. ii. Intramural Staff – Teams are only allowed three intramural staff members (including professional staff, officials, and supervisors) on entire roster. II. EQUIPMENT a. IM kickballs will be provided b. All players must wear proper athletic attire and shoes c. Jewelry: No metal, hoops, bars rings or necklaces. Studs and non metal bracelets may be worn. The IM Staff will not provide tape. All equipment and jewelry decisions are at the discretion of the supervisor d. Players wearing a cast or splint will not be allowed to play III. GAME FORMAT a. A pre-game coin toss will determine home and away status. b. Timing: Games will consist of six innings or a 40-minute time limit. No inning shall begin 35 minutes after the game begins. c. Mercy Rule: 15 after 4 and 10 after 5 d. Run Rule: A team may score a maximum of eight runs per half inning. e. Lineup: The batting lineup must be submitted before the game begins. CoRec teams must order their batters by alternating men and women. f. Regular season games cancelled (prior to game time) due to weather or field conditions will be considered a ‘no result’ for both teams. If inclement weather causes a started game to end early:
Kickball Policies and Rules
i. The game (and score) is final if the game has reached bottom of the fourth inning or at least one-half hour has elapsed. g. Playoff games cancelled due to weather or field conditions will be rescheduled if the game has not yet reached the bottom of the fourth inning or at least one-half hour has elapsed. i. If a game has not reach the above mentioned, the game will be restarted from beginning, regardless of score at time of cancellation. ii. If a game has reached the above mentioned at time of cancellation, the game (and score) is final. h. Late Penalty i. 0-3 Minutes = home or visitor, 1 run ii. 3-9 Minutes = home or visitor, 1 run for every minute late iii. At 10 minutes = game forfeited (8-0) i. Extra Innings: During the regular season, games may end in a tie. During playoffs, the tiebreaker rule will be in effect. Each extra inning will begin with the player who batted last in the previous inning being placed on second. This will continue until one team has scored more runs or until the home team has scored more runs. IV. PITCHING a. Defense will pitch to the opposing team. b. The kicker receives 3 total pitches. c. The pitcher must stand with at least one foot in contact with the pitching line until the ball leaves the pitchers hand. The pitch shall be underhand at a slow to moderate speed. d. Each kicker will receive a maximum of three pitches (including foul kicks). If the kicker allows three pitches to pass without kicking, he/she will be called out. V. KICKING a. All kicks must be made by the foot or leg (below the knee). b. The kicker must contact the ball behind the kicking line. If, at the umpire’s discretion, the kicker contacts the ball past the line, the kicker will be called out and runners will return to the base occupied at the pitch. c. There are no walks. d. A kicked ball must go past the buntline in front of home to be in play. Balls that come to rest inside this area or are fielded (touched by a defensive player with any part of the body above the waist) in this area are considered foul. VI. BASE RUNNING a. No stealing bases. b. Base runners may leave a base as soon as a ball is kicked. c. If a base runner goes out of the base path to avoid being tagged, they are out. d. Players are NOT allowed to slide. However, if a player deliberately or otherwise crashes into, or “take out”, a fielder who is attempting to make or complete a play, the base runner is out and the ball is dead. e. If a kicked ball strikes a base runner who is in fair territory and not in contact with a base, they will be called out. The ball will be dead and the kicker will receive first base. Kickball Policies and Rules
f. Runners traveling from home plate may overrun first base and may only be tagged out if actively attempting to advance to second base. g. Out of play i. Overthrows: An overthrow is a ball thrown, kicked or deflected into foul territory while making a defensive play towards a player or a base. ii. All runner(s) will be awarded one base from the last base legally touched on an overthrow. h. No pinch running is allowed. Exception: teams may substitute a runner only if the base runner is physically unable to continue. VII.
FIELDING a. No more than six players may be positioned in the infield area prior to a pitch being kicked. Two players must begin in the outfield area. b. Each team must provide a catcher. The catcher must field from behind the kicker and is considered one of the six infielders. c. Once the pitcher has the ball in control and retains possession on the mound, the play ends. Runners who are off base at this time and in forward motion may advance only one base. Runners who are off the base at this time and not in forward motion must return to the base from which they were running. d. All field players must stay behind the pitcher while the other team is kicking. e. The kicker is out when: i. Hit by a thrown ball below the shoulders by a defensive player ii. Tagged by the ball when a defensive player is in possession f. A runner is out when: i. The base they are advancing to is touched by a defensive player with the ball or by the ball when a defensive player is in possession during a force out ii. Hit by a thrown ball below the shoulders by a defensive player iii. Tagged by the ball when a defensive player is in possession g. A kicker/runner is NOT out when: i. Hit above the shoulders (neck, head). In the case of a head shot, play continues but the runner who was hit above the shoulders in NOT liable to be put out until after they touch the next base. However, if the runner intentionally uses their head to block the ball or ducks and is hit above the shoulders, the runner will be called out (the ball is immediately dead and all runners return to the base they last touched). ii. A thrown ball touches the ground or base prior to striking the kicker/runner iii. They are contacted by the ball that is kicked at them by the opposing team iv. They are obstructed by a fielder in the baseline who is not attempting to make a play on the ball. h. In the event a fielder intentionally throws and contacts a runner’s head, the play will be immediately dead and the fielder will be ejected. i. There is no infield fly rule and all caught balls must have a tag up in order for runners to advance.
Revised 3/18
Kickball Policies and Rules
Kickball Policies and Rules
i. The game (and score) is final if the game has reached bottom of the fourth inning or at least one-half hour has elapsed. g. Playoff games cancelled due to weather or field conditions will be rescheduled if the game has not yet reached the bottom of the fourth inning or at least one-half hour has elapsed. i. If a game has not reach the above mentioned, the game will be restarted from beginning, regardless of score at time of cancellation. ii. If a game has reached the above mentioned at time of cancellation, the game (and score) is final. h. Late Penalty i. 0-3 Minutes = home or visitor, 1 run ii. 3-9 Minutes = home or visitor, 1 run for every minute late iii. At 10 minutes = game forfeited (8-0) i. Extra Innings: During the regular season, games may end in a tie. During playoffs, the tiebreaker rule will be in effect. Each extra inning will begin with the player who batted last in the previous inning being placed on second. This will continue until one team has scored more runs or until the home team has scored more runs. IV. PITCHING a. Defense will pitch to the opposing team. b. The kicker receives 3 total pitches. c. The pitcher must stand with at least one foot in contact with the pitching line until the ball leaves the pitchers hand. The pitch shall be underhand at a slow to moderate speed. d. Each kicker will receive a maximum of three pitches (including foul kicks). If the kicker allows three pitches to pass without kicking, he/she will be called out. V. KICKING a. All kicks must be made by the foot or leg (below the knee). b. The kicker must contact the ball behind the kicking line. If, at the umpire’s discretion, the kicker contacts the ball past the line, the kicker will be called out and runners will return to the base occupied at the pitch. c. There are no walks. d. A kicked ball must go past the buntline in front of home to be in play. Balls that come to rest inside this area or are fielded (touched by a defensive player with any part of the body above the waist) in this area are considered foul. VI. BASE RUNNING a. No stealing bases. b. Base runners may leave a base as soon as a ball is kicked. c. If a base runner goes out of the base path to avoid being tagged, they are out. d. Players are NOT allowed to slide. However, if a player deliberately or otherwise crashes into, or “take out”, a fielder who is attempting to make or complete a play, the base runner is out and the ball is dead. e. If a kicked ball strikes a base runner who is in fair territory and not in contact with a base, they will be called out. The ball will be dead and the kicker will receive first base. Kickball Policies and Rules
f. Runners traveling from home plate may overrun first base and may only be tagged out if actively attempting to advance to second base. g. Out of play i. Overthrows: An overthrow is a ball thrown, kicked or deflected into foul territory while making a defensive play towards a player or a base. ii. All runner(s) will be awarded one base from the last base legally touched on an overthrow. h. No pinch running is allowed. Exception: teams may substitute a runner only if the base runner is physically unable to continue. VII.
FIELDING a. No more than six players may be positioned in the infield area prior to a pitch being kicked. Two players must begin in the outfield area. b. Each team must provide a catcher. The catcher must field from behind the kicker and is considered one of the six infielders. c. Once the pitcher has the ball in control and retains possession on the mound, the play ends. Runners who are off base at this time and in forward motion may advance only one base. Runners who are off the base at this time and not in forward motion must return to the base from which they were running. d. All field players must stay behind the pitcher while the other team is kicking. e. The kicker is out when: i. Hit by a thrown ball below the shoulders by a defensive player ii. Tagged by the ball when a defensive player is in possession f. A runner is out when: i. The base they are advancing to is touched by a defensive player with the ball or by the ball when a defensive player is in possession during a force out ii. Hit by a thrown ball below the shoulders by a defensive player iii. Tagged by the ball when a defensive player is in possession g. A kicker/runner is NOT out when: i. Hit above the shoulders (neck, head). In the case of a head shot, play continues but the runner who was hit above the shoulders in NOT liable to be put out until after they touch the next base. However, if the runner intentionally uses their head to block the ball or ducks and is hit above the shoulders, the runner will be called out (the ball is immediately dead and all runners return to the base they last touched). ii. A thrown ball touches the ground or base prior to striking the kicker/runner iii. They are contacted by the ball that is kicked at them by the opposing team iv. They are obstructed by a fielder in the baseline who is not attempting to make a play on the ball. h. In the event a fielder intentionally throws and contacts a runner’s head, the play will be immediately dead and the fielder will be ejected. i. There is no infield fly rule and all caught balls must have a tag up in order for runners to advance.
Revised 3/18
Kickball Policies and Rules
