Kickball Rules – SF

START OF THE GAME

Both captains will meet at home plate to discuss the ground rules with the umpire.

LINE-UP CARDS

Each team must complete a lineup before their turn “at bat.” Once submitted the lineup is final and cannot be changed unless there is an injury or additional players show up and need to be added. Additional players will be added to the end of the lineup. Lineups can be revised by the umpire to preserve the male/female lineup rules.

All games are seven innings or about 60-minutes (warm up time included); the last inning will start 15 minutes before the next scheduled game. [If there is no scheduled game after the current game, the umpire will allow the teams to complete the game as long as it does not exceed 90 minutes in length.] The umpire will enforce this rule and will make the call at the top of the final inning. Note: Due to differing circumstances in each and every game, some games will finish short of the full 60 minutes, while others might run over the time limit. Please respect your umpire’s call in this matter. He/she must keep all games on time in fairness to teams playing later games and due to Parks permit restrictions.Exception: A 10-minute grace period will be allowed for the first game only, but this will come out of the game time. The umpire’s watch is the official game time. Umpires or the league supervisor may call an end or a postponement of a game at any time due to time restrictions or weather conditions. No protests will be accepted concerning calling a game due to time limit restrictions.Rainout/Time Expiration During a Game/InningThe score will revert to the last full inning played if the time expires or a rainout occurs in the middle of an inning. If a rainout occurs while a game is in progress, 3 innings must be completed for the game to count. (If the home team is ahead after the completion of the top of the 3rd, this constitutes a complete game). The umpire’s clock is the game clock and will inform both teams when the game has started. No minimum number of innings for a complete game if the time limit has been satisfied. After your game is completed, please clear all benches ASAP and get to the bar. Playoff games will not have a time limit to complete 7 innings.Tie Rule – If a game is tied after seven innings, one extra inning of play will be allowed to break the tie, time permitting. If time expires and game is tied, the game stands as a tie.

ROSTERS

There is no maximum number of players allowed on your roster. Teams can drop and add players until the end of week 2. Rosters are frozen at the start of week 3. All roster updates must be submitted by the last game played in week 2.

Officially, if you are short-handed during the season, you may pick up another ZogSports player(s) not on your roster for the game. However, there is a 1 run penalty for each player picked up and you must have 6 players officially on your roster to begin the game. A team must inform the ref of the extra players, failure to do so can result in a forfeit. Also, you cannot pick up more than 4 players (i.e. cannot pickup to equal a full squad).

DURING THE PLAYOFFS, ONLY PLAYERS ON YOUR ROSTER ARE ALLOWED TO PLAY. Waivers must be signed by all players and handed in before the start of the first game. PLAYERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY GAME WITHOUT SIGNING THE ZOGSPORTS WAIVER.

KICKBALL EQUIPMENT

ZogSports will supply a red bouncy kickball and bases for each game.

KICKBALL RULES 

Only captains can discuss a rule with the umpire and no judgment calls will be discussed. Players will be ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct towards an umpire.Playing Field – The field is the same as a softball field. The dimensions for field set-up are as follows:

• The distance between bases is 60 feet (or about 20 paces)
• 2nd base is about 85 feet (or about 28 paces) from home plate
• The pitcher’s mound/line is about 42 ½ feet (or about 14 paces) from home plate Number of Players on the Field

Number of Players on the Field

• Maximum number of players in the field is 11, including at least 4 women.
• There are no position requirements by gender of players, (i.e., there need not be 2 females in outfield and 2 in the infield).
• Minimum number of players in the field/your starting line-up is 6 (at least 2 of whom must be women). There is no maximum number of women allowed on the field/in your line-up. No more than 7 men are allowed on the field at one time. Minimum 2 women.
• A team does not need to play someone at the catcher position unless they have 9 or more players.
• A player arriving late may be inserted at the bottom of the order even if you have kicked around one or more times. You are allowed to place that player in the field, if your team is not kicking. Make the umpire and opposing team aware of these additions.
• If a team has less than the minimum required number of players it is up to the opponent as to what is allowable (i.e., the opposing team may give a team a player or allow them to pick up another ZogSports player). If this is not possible, the game will be ruled a forfeit.

Number of Players in the Kicking Order/Line-Up – In order to encourage maximum participation, teams must kick every player present. You must kick 4 women in the first 11 spots and no more than 3 men can kick in a row. In situations where a team has more men than women present, some women may need to kick twice in the rotation. Men may never kick twice in the rotation. Line-ups must be given to the umpire for every game.

Teams must designate which women will kick twice on their line-up card. Only those women will be allowed to kick twice or the kicking out of order rule will be enforced.

No player may be dropped from the kicking order, absent extenuating circumstances such as injury, as determined by the umpire. Gaining a tactical advantage is not an exigent circumstance. If an injury occurs and a player cannot kick, the next kicker “moves up” to kick with no penalty. Any player (without approved injury excuse) who is not available to kick when due up receives an automatic out.

Kicking Out of Order – If the error is discovered while the incorrect kicker is kicking, then the correct kicker will assume the ball/strike count of the incorrect kicker. If the incorrect kicker reaches base safely and the error is discovered, the correct kicker will be called out. All runners will return to their original base and the incorrect kicker will return to the bench. The opposing team must make the umpire aware of “kicking out of order” before a pitch is rolled to the next kicker. If not, then the incorrect kicker will stay on base.
Position Changes/Substitutions – Players may move freely from one field position to another, enter, leave, or re-enter the fielding team (free substitution), but the kicking order must stay the same.

Pitching – The pitcher must roll the ball from behind the pitcher’s line (the 1st/3rd base diagonal) and stay behind the line until the ball is kicked (i.e., they cannot rush in towards the kicker). Bouncies are not allowed (i.e., any ball that bounces higher than 1 foot as it crosses home plate). If the pitcher throws a bouncy as determined by the ump, it is a ball.

Fielding/Catching – No player can cross the pitcher’s line (i.e., the 1st base – 3rd base diagonal) until the ball is kicked. If someone does, this results in a ball. The catcher must start behind home plate, behind the kicker and may not cross home plate or be in front of the kicker before the ball is kicked.

Strike Zone/Strikes – Extends 1 foot on either side of home plate and is 6 inches above the ground. Any pitch outside the strike zone is a ball. Three strikes is an out. A foul counts as strike 1 or strike 2, and you can foul out.

Fouls – In order to keep the game moving, once a player has 2 strikes they will only be allowed to foul the ball off twice. On the 3rd foul after 2 strikes the player will be called out.

Balls – Four balls is a walk. A ball is awarded if 1) the pitch is a bouncy, 2) the pitch is outside the strike zone, 3) the pitcher and/or fielders move towards home plate before the ball is kicked or 4) the catcher crosses home plate before the kicker or is not positioned behind the kicker

Kicking/Bunting – All kicks must be made with the foot (not knee, thigh or arm – those would be considered a foul) and must take place behind home plate (unless otherwise instructed based on field dimensions/limitations). Bunting is allowed but a team can only bunt 3 times per inning and bunts cannot be consecutive. Any bunts after 3 will be considered a foul as well as any bunts kicked in consecutive order. A bunt is defined as a non full swing (up to the ref’s discretion).

Running (No Leading or Stealing, Yes Tagging Up)

• Runners can leave the base once the ball is kicked. If a runner leaves early, the ball is dead and the batter is assessed a strike.
• Runners must stay within the base line and fielders must stay out of the base line.
• Tagging up is permitted. A player can tag up and advance after the ball is caught and ruled an out.

Interference – If a fielder interferes with a runner, the runner will be safe at the base they were running to. Interference is physical contact or blocking the base path that would hinder the runner getting to the base.

Outs – Three outs ends a half-inning. You can make an out in 5 ways: 1) any kicked ball (fair or foul) that is caught in the air), 2) a force out – the ball beats the runner to a base they are forced to run to, 3) a runner hit by the ball (whether thrown or kicked) or who touches the ball when not on base, 4) three strikes or 5) a runner is off his/her base when the ball is kicked

No Head Shots – Part of the fun of kickball is throwing the ball at the runners. However, you cannot hit them in the head or neck. If you do, the runner is safe and advances 1 extra base (beyond the base they were running to). If the runner intentionally blocks the ball with their head, the runner will be out. (Ump’s discretion)

Courtesy Runners – Injured players may receive a courtesy runner once they reach first base. The courtesy runner must be the last player of the same gender to make an out in the game. A female must be replaced by a female and a male must be replaced by a male.

Overthrows/Out Of Play – Runners are limited to 1 base maximum (in addition to the base they were running to) if an overthrow goes out of bounds. This is the maximum and is not necessarily an automatic award.

All thrown balls are deemed out of play when the ball is thrown over/beyond the fence or beyond the imaginary line extending from the end of the backstop (if there is no fence). This imaginary line applies to overthrows and caught fly foul balls.

If the ball is overthrown and hits the fence behind the 1st or 3rd base lines, this is NOT considered out of play and the runner may advance, BUT at his/her own risk.

Double First Base – Two bases will be placed at first base to avoid collisions. A kicked ball hitting the inside base is declared fair, and a kicked ball hitting the outside base is declared foul. Both the inside and outside bases are treated equally for both the offense and the defense when running out a base hit or attempting to tag the bag for a force out. Once the runner has reached first base and attempts to go beyond first base, the inside base is the only playable portion of the base.

Home Plate Rule – If there is a play at the plate, it is the runner’s responsibility to avoid contact. The umpire has discretion to decide whether the runner initiated contact and should be called out. Any excessive contact or collision will result in an “out” and/or ejection. This includes contact with the catcher. Sliding is allowed but not encouraged as we play on the black top.

Fake tags and barreling will result in immediate ejection from the game and will not be tolerated. Sliding is not required, however a runner must be attempting to reach base and the defensive player must be attempting to catch the ball. If there is no play, the defensive player cannot block a base. Warnings will be issued, followed by ejection from the game if necessary. Collisions and injuries are to be avoided if at all possible.

TIE BREAKERS FOR PLAYOFFS/SEEDINGS (Half of each division qualifies) 

1. Winning percentage
2. Head-to-head competition
3. Record against other teams in or tied for playoffs (winning percentage – i.e., 0-1 is same as 0-2, but 1-3 is better than 0-1)
4. Number of wins
5. Record against next best common opponent
6. If team forfeited, loses tie breaker if other tiebreaker rules don’t resolve seeding

SPORTSMANSHIP

ZogSports is a charity-focused, social sports club. Our goal is for you to have fun. We hope that you keep this in mind when participating. Although the games may become intense, you still can be competitive while maintaining good sportsmanship. With this said, any behavior deemed unacceptable by the umpire or ZogSports staff may result in suspension and/or ejection from a game or the league. ALL PROTESTS MUST BE MADE AT THE FIELD. WE WON’T CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF A COMPLETED GAME.

SUSPENSIONS/EJECTIONS

• Metal spikes are not allowed. Any player wearing metal spikes will be ejected from the game. If that player is caught wearing spikes a second time, they will be removed from the league. No warnings.
• Any player(s)/team(s) that are involved in a fight will be suspended from all ZogSports Leagues for life. Any teams will forfeit all remaining games. The umpire has the right to sit a player for an inning if necessary.
• Any excessive contact or collision will result in an out and ejection of player. You must give yourself up, get out of the way or slide. No exceptions, IMMEDIATE ejection if players do not follow this rule.
• Any player abusing the umpire will automatically be ejected from the game without a warning.
• A player ejected for ANY reason will be suspended for the next game. If that player is caught playing in that game, the team will forfeit.

BEER/CLEAN-UP 

Beer is not allowed on/at the field. Please do your part to keep the parks clean and use the trash cans provided. This is really important. If anyone drinks alcoholic beverages at any of the fields, we risk losing our permits. Anyone who is caught drinking at the field risks being suspended for the remainder of the season without refund. We also risk losing our permits if we do not clean-up any trash left behind.ZogSports is a Charity-Focused, Co-ed Social Sports League
While we appreciate the level of competitiveness in our league, we do not tolerate any unsportsmanlike behavior. This includes anyone who:

• Antagonizes players on other teams or their own teammates
• Exhibits excessive uncontrollable play
• Inappropriately “mouths off” to the referee(s)
• Verbally or physically threatens a member of our staff
• Any player ejected from a game will be suspended for a minimum of one game
• ZogSports reserves the right to remove any player from a game(s), season and/or future season
• ZogSports reserves the right to remove a full team from the schedule and/or future seasons if we feel they are unable to participate in a manner in keeping with ZogSports’ mission to provide a fun, charity-focused, co-ed league

Uniforms/Footwear 

• No metal spikes may be worn. Sneakers are suggested
• Every player must wear the team uniform.