Intramural Sports â Kickball Rules
Intramural Sports – Kickball Rules GENERAL INFORMATION Changes from last year’s rules are highlighted in grey. (Updated 8/1/2017) 1. All participants must meet the eligibility requirements listed in the Intramural Sports Policies and Procedures handbook. Each player must be an FIU MMC student or FIU Wellness and Recreation Faculty/Staff Member. 2. Participants must have a valid government issued photo ID at every game: Panther ID, Driver’s License, or Passport. 3. All intramural participants must personally sign the Waiver Release and are responsible for their own medical expenses. 4. Any games in which an ineligible player signs in will be considered a forfeit. 5. Teams are responsible for keeping their players and spectators under control. Misconduct of players, coaches, managers or spectators can result in penalty, ejection or forfeiture of the game. Spectators must also remain within the area designated by the IM Sports staff. 6. Alcoholic beverages, smoking, and pets are prohibited from all intramural contests. 7. IM Sports Officials/Supervisors will have absolute authority during the contest and can make decisions on any matter or question not specifically covered in the rules.
RULE 1. EQUIPMENT SECTION 1. EQUIPMENT ART. 1… Players must wear similarly colored team jerseys. If teams do not have team jerseys, IM Sports will issue jerseys. ART. 2… All jewelry must be removed before participating, with the exception of medical alert jewelry. ART. 3… All players must wear shoes. Tennis shoes, soft-soled shoes, and rubber cleats are legal. No metal cleats, shoes with detachable cleats, or steel-toed shoes are allowed. Any player found wearing illegal shoes would be ejected immediately. ART. 4… Intramural Sports will provide all balls for games. IM Sports uses the WAKA Official Kickball.
RULE 2. OFFICIALS AND THEIR DUTIES SECTION 1. GENERAL ART. 1… A crew chief and two referees control each game.
ART. 2… The officials shall be dressed alike in the uniforms primarily consisting of: • A striped FIU referee shirt and whistle • Black shorts or black training pants • Black shoes • An FIU cap or black cap can be worn at the table. SECTION 2. OFFICIALS’ JURISDICTION ART. 1… The officials shall make decisions for infractions of the rules committed within or outside the boundary lines. The use of any replay or television monitoring equipment by the officials in making any decision relating to the game is prohibited. ART. 2… The officials' jurisdiction, prior to the game, begins when they arrive on the court. ART. 3… The officials' jurisdiction extends through periods when the game may be momentarily stopped for any reason. ART. 4… The jurisdiction of the officials' is terminated and the final score has been approved when all officials leave the visual confines of the playing area or when the next game has begun. SECTION 3. REFEREE’S AUTHORITY Three referees who have full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game control each game. SECTION 4. OFFICIALS’ AUTHORITY No official has the authority to set aside or question decisions made by the other official(s) within the limits of their respective outlined duties. SECTION 5. OFFICIALS’ GENERAL DUTIES The officials shall conduct the game in accordance with the rules. This includes: ART. 1… Conducting the pregame coin toss or rock/paper/scissors. ART. 2… Notifying the captains when play is about to begin at the start of the game. ART. 3… Putting the ball in play. ART. 4… Determining when the ball became an out. ART. 5… Administering strikes and balls. SECTION 6. OFFICIALS’ ADDITIONAL DUTIES The officials shall: ART. 1… Penalize unsporting conduct by any player, coach, substitute, team attendant or follower.
NOTE: The captain or head coach for spectator behavior, insofar as it can reasonably be expected to control the spectators. The officials may call fouls on either team if its supporters act in such a way as to interfere with the proper conduct of the game. Discretion must be used in calling such fouls, however, lest a team be unjustly penalized. When team supporters become unruly or interfere with the orderly progress of the game, the officials shall stop the game until the head coach or captain resolves the situation and the game can proceed in an orderly manner. The supervisor may remove team supporters. ART. 2… Penalize and disqualify the offender if flagrant misconduct occurs. ART. 3… Remove a player from the game who commits a dangerous play. ART. 4… Notify the captain/head coach and then notify the player on a disqualification. SECTION 7. SUPERVISOR’S DUTIES The supervisor’s duties, relative to the kickball game, include, but are not limited too: ART. 1… Sign all players in prior to the game NOTE: All players must show a valid ID to participate: FIU ID, Driver’s License, or Passport. ART. 2… Signal the officials by using the game horn or a sounding device unlike that used by the referee and umpire(s). This may be used immediately if, or as soon as; all balls are dead or are in control of the offensive team. ART. 3… Keep a running summary of the points scored. ART. 4… Record the technical called on each player and notify an official immediately when a technical is charged to any team member, bench personnel, or the head coach.
RULE 3. PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTES SECTION 1. PLAYERS ART. 1… Players may be added to the roster throughout the regular season. Rosters will be frozen upon completion of a team’s last regular season game. ART. 2… Teams will consist of eight (8) players in the lineup. ART. 3… A minimum of six (6) players is required to begin and continue a game. ART. 4… A player or substitute is officially in the game when he or she either is placed in the line-up (visiting team) or takes a defensive position (home team). Any player who is in the game at the beginning of an inning must play the full inning (offense and defense) unless he or she is injured and cannot complete the inning. Team may change offensive and defensive line-ups every inning without regard for kicking order or defensive position. Ejected players may not be replaced in the line-up or on the field, and their team must play short-handed for the remainder of the inning.
RULE 4. THE GAME SECTION 1. TEAMS ART. 1…The visiting team kicks first and the home team kicks second in every inning. When the umpires meet the captains, a coin toss will be held to determine who shall be the home and visiting team with the winning team being given the option.
SECTION 2. REGULATION GAME ART. 1…A regulation game consists of seven innings or a thirty (30) minute time limit. Teams need not play seven innings if: •
the home team scores more runs in six and one-half innings;
•
the home team scores more runs before the eighth offensive player comes to kick in the last half of the seventh inning; it is impossible for a team to score enough runs—due to the number of players left to kick—to tie their opponents. o EXAMPLE: If the defensive team leads by six runs, and the first three kickers get out in the final inning,
•
ART. 2…If the game is tied at the end of seven innings or after the time limit has been reached: • in the regular season, the game is over and is recorded as a tie; • in the playoffs, extra innings shall be played until one team has scored more runs than the other at the end of a complete inning or until the home team has scored more runs or it is impossible for a team to score enough runs—due to the number of players left to kick—to tie their opponents. Each extra inning shall begin with the offensive team placing any player on second base. This player does not have to appear in the kicking order, but if he/she will kick in the half-inning, he/she must kick last. If he/she is on base when his/her time at kick comes up, he/she may be freely replaced by a courtesy runner. ART. 3…The umpire may call the game—after consultation with the Supervisor—at any time because of rain, fire, panic or any other cause that puts players or spectators in danger. In the event a game must be suspended because of conditions which make it impossible to continue play, the umpire shall declare it an official game if three and one half (home team ahead) or four (either team ahead) innings more of the game has been played (regular season or post-season tournament if the game is not tied). If less than the previously mentioned time-frame has been completed, or the game is tied at any point, the game may be restarted from the suspension of play (post-season tournament only). Otherwise, the game will be declared a no-contest. SECTION 3. GAME LENGTH ART. 1…Game time is forfeit time. If, at the scheduled game time, a team does not have 6 players, a 10-minute grace period will be granted in an attempt to ensure that the game is played. The 10- minute grace period will be deducted from the actual game time. During this grace period, the team with the minimum number of players present will be awarded 1 run for every 2 minutes or portion of 2 minutes after the scheduled start time up to the tenth minute. If, at the end of the grace period, the team still does not have the minimum number of players the game will be declared a forfeit. ART. 2…The winner of the coin toss chooses to take the ball on offense or side. ART. 3… Each game consists of seven innings or a 30-minute time limit. Extra innings will be played for games that end with a tie score only during the playoffs.
ART. 4… Mercy Rule: •
After 5 complete innings (4 1⁄2 if the home team leads); if a team is ahead by 17 or more runs, the game will be called.
•
After 6 complete innings (5 1⁄2 if the home team leads); if a team is ahead by 9 or more runs, the game will be called.
SECTION 4. SCORING OF RUNS ART. 1…A team scores one run each time a runner touches first base, second base, third base and home plate in succession. ART. 2…A team does not score a run if the inning-ending out results from any of the following situations: • A force-out. • A runner is put out by a tag or a live ball appeal before the lead runner touches home plate. • A preceding runner is declared out on an appeal play. NOTE: An appeal can be made after the third out and, if successful, can nullify a run. SECTION 5. PITCHING ART. 1… Teams will pitch to their own kickers. A member of the defensive team will position him/herself no closer to the pitcher to act as a fielder. ART. 2… Pitchers (of the kicking team) are not responsible for playing defense. When the pitcher is struck by a kicked ball before it passes a member of the defensive team, the kicker will be called out and all runners must return to the base occupied at the time of the at bat. In all other situations, the pitcher must move out of the defender’s way. If the pitcher interferes with the defense, a runner or kicker may be called out as appropriate. ART. 3… The ruling will follow guidelines similar to interference and obstruction in the ASA softball manual. ART. 4… The pitcher does not have to be one of the kickers in the lineup. If the pitcher is a kicker in the lineup, another player will be required to enter the game to pitch. ART. 5… Each kicker will be allowed a maximum of 3 pitches. If the kicker allows 3 pitches to pass, he/she will be out. ART. 6…The following are pitching guidelines: • Before the release of the pitch, the pitcher must have one foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate. • The pitcher must use a definite underhand motion in delivering the pitch. • The pitcher may release the ball in any manner using any type of motion. • After the pitcher starts the delivery motion, the umpire should not call time unless an unusual event occurs. SECTION 6. KICKING ART. 1… All players in the lineup will kick each inning. ART. 2… The kicker must wait for the ball to be within 3 feet of home plate before kicking it. If the kicker contacts the ball outside the 3-foot area he/she will be called out. ART. 3… Any foul ball is an out. ART. 4… There are no walks. ART. 5… There is no infield fly rule.
ART. 6… The offensive team is responsible for notifying the defensive team when the last kicker is preparing to kick. When the last kicker of an inning kicks, play reverts to regular “2-out” softball play. Therefore, the inning is over when any out is recorded. ART. 7… Base runners may not leave the bases until the ball is kicked. If a runner is off his/her base before the ball is kicked, a “no pitch” will be declared and the runner is called out. SECTION 7. FIELDING ART. 1… The following restricts defensive positioning: • No more than 6 players may position themselves within the traditional infield area prior to a pitch being kicked. ART. 2… Each team must provide a catcher. ART. 3… The catcher must field from behind the plate and may not cross home plate until the ball is kicked. ART. 4…The fielding pitcher may not move in front of the pitcher’s plate until the ball is kicked. ART. 5… The kicker is out in situations similar to softball. In addition, a runner is out when a thrown ball below the shoulders hits him/her. ART. 5… Any runner hit above the shoulders is safe. • In this case, play continues but the runner who was hit above the shoulders is not liable to be put out until he/she touches the next base. • However, if the runner intentionally uses the head to block the ball or ducks, the runner will be called out (the ball is immediately dead and runners return to the last base they legally touched.) ART. 6… In the event a fielder intentionally throws a ball that contacts a runner’s head, the play will be immediately dead and the fielder will be ejected. SECTION 8. INTERFERENCE ART. 1…An act by players or others that interferes with a fielder’s opportunity to make a play on a kicked or thrown ball. Contact is not necessary. SECTION 9. OBSTRUCTION ART. 1…Occurs in either of the following situations: •
•
A defensive player or team member hinders or prevents a kicker from striking at or kicking a pitched ball.
A fielder who is not in possession of the ball, in the act of fielding a kicked ball, or about to receive a thrown ball impedes the progress of a runner or kicker-runner who is legally running the bases. SECTION 10. BASE STEALING ART. 1… No base runner may steal a base.
RULE 5. CO-REC MODIFICATIONS SECTION 1. RULES ART. 1… In Co-Rec, the kicking team shall alternate male and female batters ART. 2… A maximum of 2 males and 2 females may play the infield. The fielding pitcher and catcher must be of opposite genders. ART. 3… Female players WILL be allowed to bunt.
RULE 1. EQUIPMENT SECTION 1. EQUIPMENT ART. 1… Players must wear similarly colored team jerseys. If teams do not have team jerseys, IM Sports will issue jerseys. ART. 2… All jewelry must be removed before participating, with the exception of medical alert jewelry. ART. 3… All players must wear shoes. Tennis shoes, soft-soled shoes, and rubber cleats are legal. No metal cleats, shoes with detachable cleats, or steel-toed shoes are allowed. Any player found wearing illegal shoes would be ejected immediately. ART. 4… Intramural Sports will provide all balls for games. IM Sports uses the WAKA Official Kickball.
RULE 2. OFFICIALS AND THEIR DUTIES SECTION 1. GENERAL ART. 1… A crew chief and two referees control each game.
ART. 2… The officials shall be dressed alike in the uniforms primarily consisting of: • A striped FIU referee shirt and whistle • Black shorts or black training pants • Black shoes • An FIU cap or black cap can be worn at the table. SECTION 2. OFFICIALS’ JURISDICTION ART. 1… The officials shall make decisions for infractions of the rules committed within or outside the boundary lines. The use of any replay or television monitoring equipment by the officials in making any decision relating to the game is prohibited. ART. 2… The officials' jurisdiction, prior to the game, begins when they arrive on the court. ART. 3… The officials' jurisdiction extends through periods when the game may be momentarily stopped for any reason. ART. 4… The jurisdiction of the officials' is terminated and the final score has been approved when all officials leave the visual confines of the playing area or when the next game has begun. SECTION 3. REFEREE’S AUTHORITY Three referees who have full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game control each game. SECTION 4. OFFICIALS’ AUTHORITY No official has the authority to set aside or question decisions made by the other official(s) within the limits of their respective outlined duties. SECTION 5. OFFICIALS’ GENERAL DUTIES The officials shall conduct the game in accordance with the rules. This includes: ART. 1… Conducting the pregame coin toss or rock/paper/scissors. ART. 2… Notifying the captains when play is about to begin at the start of the game. ART. 3… Putting the ball in play. ART. 4… Determining when the ball became an out. ART. 5… Administering strikes and balls. SECTION 6. OFFICIALS’ ADDITIONAL DUTIES The officials shall: ART. 1… Penalize unsporting conduct by any player, coach, substitute, team attendant or follower.
NOTE: The captain or head coach for spectator behavior, insofar as it can reasonably be expected to control the spectators. The officials may call fouls on either team if its supporters act in such a way as to interfere with the proper conduct of the game. Discretion must be used in calling such fouls, however, lest a team be unjustly penalized. When team supporters become unruly or interfere with the orderly progress of the game, the officials shall stop the game until the head coach or captain resolves the situation and the game can proceed in an orderly manner. The supervisor may remove team supporters. ART. 2… Penalize and disqualify the offender if flagrant misconduct occurs. ART. 3… Remove a player from the game who commits a dangerous play. ART. 4… Notify the captain/head coach and then notify the player on a disqualification. SECTION 7. SUPERVISOR’S DUTIES The supervisor’s duties, relative to the kickball game, include, but are not limited too: ART. 1… Sign all players in prior to the game NOTE: All players must show a valid ID to participate: FIU ID, Driver’s License, or Passport. ART. 2… Signal the officials by using the game horn or a sounding device unlike that used by the referee and umpire(s). This may be used immediately if, or as soon as; all balls are dead or are in control of the offensive team. ART. 3… Keep a running summary of the points scored. ART. 4… Record the technical called on each player and notify an official immediately when a technical is charged to any team member, bench personnel, or the head coach.
RULE 3. PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTES SECTION 1. PLAYERS ART. 1… Players may be added to the roster throughout the regular season. Rosters will be frozen upon completion of a team’s last regular season game. ART. 2… Teams will consist of eight (8) players in the lineup. ART. 3… A minimum of six (6) players is required to begin and continue a game. ART. 4… A player or substitute is officially in the game when he or she either is placed in the line-up (visiting team) or takes a defensive position (home team). Any player who is in the game at the beginning of an inning must play the full inning (offense and defense) unless he or she is injured and cannot complete the inning. Team may change offensive and defensive line-ups every inning without regard for kicking order or defensive position. Ejected players may not be replaced in the line-up or on the field, and their team must play short-handed for the remainder of the inning.
RULE 4. THE GAME SECTION 1. TEAMS ART. 1…The visiting team kicks first and the home team kicks second in every inning. When the umpires meet the captains, a coin toss will be held to determine who shall be the home and visiting team with the winning team being given the option.
SECTION 2. REGULATION GAME ART. 1…A regulation game consists of seven innings or a thirty (30) minute time limit. Teams need not play seven innings if: •
the home team scores more runs in six and one-half innings;
•
the home team scores more runs before the eighth offensive player comes to kick in the last half of the seventh inning; it is impossible for a team to score enough runs—due to the number of players left to kick—to tie their opponents. o EXAMPLE: If the defensive team leads by six runs, and the first three kickers get out in the final inning,
•
ART. 2…If the game is tied at the end of seven innings or after the time limit has been reached: • in the regular season, the game is over and is recorded as a tie; • in the playoffs, extra innings shall be played until one team has scored more runs than the other at the end of a complete inning or until the home team has scored more runs or it is impossible for a team to score enough runs—due to the number of players left to kick—to tie their opponents. Each extra inning shall begin with the offensive team placing any player on second base. This player does not have to appear in the kicking order, but if he/she will kick in the half-inning, he/she must kick last. If he/she is on base when his/her time at kick comes up, he/she may be freely replaced by a courtesy runner. ART. 3…The umpire may call the game—after consultation with the Supervisor—at any time because of rain, fire, panic or any other cause that puts players or spectators in danger. In the event a game must be suspended because of conditions which make it impossible to continue play, the umpire shall declare it an official game if three and one half (home team ahead) or four (either team ahead) innings more of the game has been played (regular season or post-season tournament if the game is not tied). If less than the previously mentioned time-frame has been completed, or the game is tied at any point, the game may be restarted from the suspension of play (post-season tournament only). Otherwise, the game will be declared a no-contest. SECTION 3. GAME LENGTH ART. 1…Game time is forfeit time. If, at the scheduled game time, a team does not have 6 players, a 10-minute grace period will be granted in an attempt to ensure that the game is played. The 10- minute grace period will be deducted from the actual game time. During this grace period, the team with the minimum number of players present will be awarded 1 run for every 2 minutes or portion of 2 minutes after the scheduled start time up to the tenth minute. If, at the end of the grace period, the team still does not have the minimum number of players the game will be declared a forfeit. ART. 2…The winner of the coin toss chooses to take the ball on offense or side. ART. 3… Each game consists of seven innings or a 30-minute time limit. Extra innings will be played for games that end with a tie score only during the playoffs.
ART. 4… Mercy Rule: •
After 5 complete innings (4 1⁄2 if the home team leads); if a team is ahead by 17 or more runs, the game will be called.
•
After 6 complete innings (5 1⁄2 if the home team leads); if a team is ahead by 9 or more runs, the game will be called.
SECTION 4. SCORING OF RUNS ART. 1…A team scores one run each time a runner touches first base, second base, third base and home plate in succession. ART. 2…A team does not score a run if the inning-ending out results from any of the following situations: • A force-out. • A runner is put out by a tag or a live ball appeal before the lead runner touches home plate. • A preceding runner is declared out on an appeal play. NOTE: An appeal can be made after the third out and, if successful, can nullify a run. SECTION 5. PITCHING ART. 1… Teams will pitch to their own kickers. A member of the defensive team will position him/herself no closer to the pitcher to act as a fielder. ART. 2… Pitchers (of the kicking team) are not responsible for playing defense. When the pitcher is struck by a kicked ball before it passes a member of the defensive team, the kicker will be called out and all runners must return to the base occupied at the time of the at bat. In all other situations, the pitcher must move out of the defender’s way. If the pitcher interferes with the defense, a runner or kicker may be called out as appropriate. ART. 3… The ruling will follow guidelines similar to interference and obstruction in the ASA softball manual. ART. 4… The pitcher does not have to be one of the kickers in the lineup. If the pitcher is a kicker in the lineup, another player will be required to enter the game to pitch. ART. 5… Each kicker will be allowed a maximum of 3 pitches. If the kicker allows 3 pitches to pass, he/she will be out. ART. 6…The following are pitching guidelines: • Before the release of the pitch, the pitcher must have one foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate. • The pitcher must use a definite underhand motion in delivering the pitch. • The pitcher may release the ball in any manner using any type of motion. • After the pitcher starts the delivery motion, the umpire should not call time unless an unusual event occurs. SECTION 6. KICKING ART. 1… All players in the lineup will kick each inning. ART. 2… The kicker must wait for the ball to be within 3 feet of home plate before kicking it. If the kicker contacts the ball outside the 3-foot area he/she will be called out. ART. 3… Any foul ball is an out. ART. 4… There are no walks. ART. 5… There is no infield fly rule.
ART. 6… The offensive team is responsible for notifying the defensive team when the last kicker is preparing to kick. When the last kicker of an inning kicks, play reverts to regular “2-out” softball play. Therefore, the inning is over when any out is recorded. ART. 7… Base runners may not leave the bases until the ball is kicked. If a runner is off his/her base before the ball is kicked, a “no pitch” will be declared and the runner is called out. SECTION 7. FIELDING ART. 1… The following restricts defensive positioning: • No more than 6 players may position themselves within the traditional infield area prior to a pitch being kicked. ART. 2… Each team must provide a catcher. ART. 3… The catcher must field from behind the plate and may not cross home plate until the ball is kicked. ART. 4…The fielding pitcher may not move in front of the pitcher’s plate until the ball is kicked. ART. 5… The kicker is out in situations similar to softball. In addition, a runner is out when a thrown ball below the shoulders hits him/her. ART. 5… Any runner hit above the shoulders is safe. • In this case, play continues but the runner who was hit above the shoulders is not liable to be put out until he/she touches the next base. • However, if the runner intentionally uses the head to block the ball or ducks, the runner will be called out (the ball is immediately dead and runners return to the last base they legally touched.) ART. 6… In the event a fielder intentionally throws a ball that contacts a runner’s head, the play will be immediately dead and the fielder will be ejected. SECTION 8. INTERFERENCE ART. 1…An act by players or others that interferes with a fielder’s opportunity to make a play on a kicked or thrown ball. Contact is not necessary. SECTION 9. OBSTRUCTION ART. 1…Occurs in either of the following situations: •
•
A defensive player or team member hinders or prevents a kicker from striking at or kicking a pitched ball.
A fielder who is not in possession of the ball, in the act of fielding a kicked ball, or about to receive a thrown ball impedes the progress of a runner or kicker-runner who is legally running the bases. SECTION 10. BASE STEALING ART. 1… No base runner may steal a base.
RULE 5. CO-REC MODIFICATIONS SECTION 1. RULES ART. 1… In Co-Rec, the kicking team shall alternate male and female batters ART. 2… A maximum of 2 males and 2 females may play the infield. The fielding pitcher and catcher must be of opposite genders. ART. 3… Female players WILL be allowed to bunt.
