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(Rules subject to change - Always open for suggestions)

Kickball Rules:

Game

Basic rules of the game

It is baseball/softball minus the bat and ball, plus a big rubber ball.

Game Time

Games will last 7 innings, or 45 min. No new inning can start after the time limit.

mercy/slaughter/obliteration

Mercy rule – Game ends if one teams leads by at least 10 runs after 4 innings.

Slaughter rule – 15 runs after 3 innings

Obliteration – 20 after 2 innings.

Note: Don't let these rules scare you, it is rare that these happen. Without these rules, things can get ugly.

Team

A full team consists of 6 males and 4 females. (There is no ratio rule. If a team is short handed a few males/females, they do not have to reduce numbers to level out the ratio.)

Teams may be larger than this but no more than 6 and 4 playing in the field. See Defense.

You may field a minimum team of 6, at least 2 of which must be female.

Short-handed teams may use subs from other teams or from any other source. Be sure they sign the waiver and thank them afterward. Keep the ringers to a minimum, the other team will not like it so much.

ALL PLAYERS MUST SIGN THE WAIVER COMPLETELY TO PLAY. These waivers, once signed, state that you acknowledge that Denver Pirate Leagues or affiliates are in no way responsible for injuries.

ALL DUES MUST BE PAID BY WEEK 1 or your team will be dropped from the league and replaced with a team willing to support the league.

Offense

Kicking

Team

Kicking orders rotate gender every other kicker.

If guy:girl ratio is not equivalent, then 2 kicking orders exist. A male order and a female order.

You do not have to submit copies of the order to officials, just make sure its understood through out the team.

All players on the team kick, even if they aren't playing the field.

No Bunting Rule: Intentional abuse of this rule will be BOOOOOOOed.
A bunt is any kick that does not cross the 1st-2nd or 2nd-3rd baseline. Kicks that fall short of the baselines (under the kickers contact) and stop before any defender has touched the ball, will be ruled a foul ball. However, if a defender touches the ball before it stops, this is a FAIR ball. Fielders are allowed to play inside the baselines to defend against short kicks.


Individual

You may get a running start to kick.

Try to stay behind home plate when kicking. Excessively in front of the plate will be ruled a foul ball. Its understandable that timing is different for kickers from pitcher to pitcher so a little lea way is provided with this as a flexible rule. Don't abuse it.

Base Running

No leading off. You must wait until the ball is kicked to advance toward the next base. Runners caught leading off will be called out.

You may headfirst slide into a base at your own risk. You assume all responsibilities of your actions. Foot first slides will be called out. (Barrel rolls, belly flops/bounces are acceptable as long as your hands are the first thing going to the base.)

(Why? Head first endangers yourself, foot first endangers the other player playing defense on that base. You chose to slide, lets not let others pay consequences for your decision.)

You may over run first base. If you over run second or third, you are off base and can get out if you are caught off.

Runners may advance one base on an over throw. This does not count the one the player is already running to.

(note: This is not an automatic base. You have to get there on your own, if the other team can get you out before you get to that base, then you will be called out. Put some hustle in those legs.)

Base runners may tag up after a ball has been caught and advance bases. There is no limit to the number of bases a runner can take on a tag up.

Base runners may not tag up on a foul ball that is caught. This is a dead ball and is no way possible to make a play in most cases.

Once the pitcher has possession of the ball, it is a dead ball. Even if the pitcher is behind home plate, in center field, on the bench, or anywhere else on the field. Runners may not advance past their current base.

Defense:

Your team may not field more than 10 players at a time. No more than 6 of those 10 are males, how ever, you may field an all female team. The normal ratio is 6 males, 4 females.

If your team has 10 players to field, you must play a catcher.

If you have 9 or less players to field, you may play without a catcher.

All defensive players must stand in fair territory.

Pitchers must pitch a normal roll, speed may vary so long as it is not excessively fast. No spins, bounces, knucklers, spit balls, ground hogs, or anything else you bowling types like to sneak in there. Pitches must be straight and as smooth as possible via grass. We love to see the offense and defense work, not watch a pitchers duel.

Fielders can not intentionally block base runners from advancing. Granted, if by chance you are in the baseline, but trying to make a play on the ball then the blockage is coincidental and thus legal.

Infield Fly – Make the catch, don't try to cheat a double play.

(what is an infield fly? An infield fly is when there is less than 2 outs and there is a base runner on 1^st and at 2^nd, then a kicker kicks a fly ball higher than 10ft and stays in the infield. The batter is automatically out and is a dead ball to prevent the defense from purposely dropping the ball in order to make more than one out.)

A player may not controllably bobble a ball in order to make a double play. The official will call possession, batter is out, dead ball, and all the runners get an automatic base.

You may hit the base runners with the ball to make an out if they are off base.

(note: if you throw the ball at a base runner and it hits them, out or not, this is a live ball still and runners may advance at will. Your consequence for throwing the ball.)

What is an out?

Two fouls is an out

A ball makes contact with a base runner, off base, runner is out. No exceptions.

A fly ball is caught, fair or foul.

A base runner does not tag up after a fly ball and the base or runner is tagged before the player gets back to the base the player was on.

A player is forced to run and the base was tagged before the runner could get there. Force out.

Foot first slide is an out.

Intentional Interference

Base runner interference: intentionally disrupts the natural direction of the ball movement.

ex. Base runner is tagged out of base then launches the ball into the outfield to help another runner advance. Due to the runners actions, the ball is called dead and all runners have to go back to the base where they were when the out occurred.

Fielder interference: Intentionally puts the ball out of play.

ex. Fielder throws the ball out of play in hopes to stop a runner from scoring with the 1 base rule. In this case, the ball is still live and the runners may advance at will.

Bench/base coach interference: People on the bench or base coaches should not touch the ball.

ex. Bench player stops a ball from going out of play. Base coach stops a foul ball thats catchable by the defense. This will be a referee judgment call as to what consequences offending team may face.

Bottom line, don't do it. It is poor sportsmanship and will not look good on your resume when you want to question the refs calls in the future.

Challenge a call
Each team captain is granted one challenge per game. If the official makes a call that could go either way or that you disagree with, you are welcome to challenge the call. This situation will be resolved by one Rock, Paper, Scissors round between the team captains.

Stipulations -
You can not challenge a home plate call.
A challenge request is only granted by the official if the call is close enough to challenge. (Please do not try to challenge an obvious call)
Teams can not challenge a challenge. (In other words, if team A wins the challenge, team B can not challenge the overturned call.)



Officials Judgment

Please keep in mind that the officials try their best to call a fair, unbiased game, with their very best judgment and perception. Although, we can not see everything from every angle. Until instant reply is available, you can make this a lot easier by fallowing the honor code. If you were out and know it, just accept the out and lets have some fun. Arguing with the ref will not make the situation better. Feel free, however, to ask nicely and peacefully for clarification of particular rules and why the ref called it that way. This will help the official better understand the game and will help us refine the rules as needed.