Adult Kickball
Rules Manual
2015
Town of Amherst Youth & Recreation Department
Adult Co-ed Kickball League
2015
Kickball At A Glance
Kickball is a simple game consisting of two teams, bases and a big red ball. Played like baseball, the object is
to score more runs than the opposing team. In short, games are played with 11 fielders, 2 base coaches, no
head shots, one base on an overthrow, forced outs, no ghost men, and bunting is allowed so have a good
catcher on your team. The following rules will govern all kickball games. For the enjoyment of all, proper
respect and civility is required of all participants toward one another. Fighting is not allowed or tolerated.
Playing Field
1. The kickball diamond is a regular size softball field with 60 feet base paths.
2. The distance from home plate to second base and from first base to third base is 84 feet 10 ¼ inches.
3. The center of the pitching area is in the center of the diamond, 42 feet 5 1/8 inches and directly aligned
with the first base/third base diagonal. A circle will be drawn around the pitching mound for the area of
control.
4. All participants must respect and obey all rules and regulations pertaining to the field used for games.
5. Upon notification to the Head Referee of any improper field set up, the field layout shall be corrected
before the beginning of the next play. Protest based on the field set up will not be considered.
6. The Extra Base is only available for runners traveling from home plate.
-Fielders trying to make an out on first base must touch the base in fair territory (the first base). Runners
hindered by a fielder touching the base in foul territory (the extra base) will be safe.
-Once a runner has reached first base safely the runner must start the next play on the first base.
-The runner is permitted to use the first base if avoiding a collision with a fielder in foul territory. In this
event, the fielder in foul territory is permitted to tag the extra base.
-The runner may use first base if attempting to advance to second base, or if there is no fielder on first
base.
7. Sideline area. Prior to the kick no participants (or spectators) may be in the sidelines area except the
kicker, the catcher, referees and designated base coaches.
Equipment
1. Athletic shoes are required. Metal cleats are not allowed.
2. Team t-shirts must be worn at each game.
3. Any equipment deemed by the head referee as a performance enhancement must be removed or the
player will be removed from play.
All player attire is an extension of the player.
Officials
1. Games must be officiated by at least one authorized official, the Head Referee. When available, at least
two officials referee each game: a head referee and a first base referee. The head referee governs all game
play and issues all final rulings, and has final authority on equipment issues. Other referees may assist these
officials when available.
2. Prior to each game, the head referee must conduct a meeting with the captains of each team, to address
any ground rules in effect, to ensure the exchange of team lineups and to identify the designated captains
who will be authorized to discuss calls with the referees during the game.
3. Referees have jurisdiction over play and may:
-call a time out
-call off a game due to darkness, rain or other cause at the referee’s discretion
-penalize a player, including game ejection, for any reason. This includes but is not limited to unsportsman like conduct, fighting, delay of game and excessive verbal abuse. Ejected participants must
leave the field area and may not return to the game.
-referees have jurisdiction over play and must:
a.) cancel the game if lighting is seen, or delay it until safe to continue.
3. Referees may make rulings on any points not specifically covered in the rules (at the time of occurrence),
but the ruling shall not be deemed as a precedent for future rulings.
Participants
1. All participating players must appear on written lineups, reflecting that games kicking order, to be exchanged between the captains of each team before play begins.
A claim of improper kicking order must be made to the head referee who will make the final determination.
Such a claim must contain two parts: a) that the written kicking order was exchanged in accordance with
(officials rule #2) b)that the claim is made on the field no sooner that the first pitch thrown to the accused
“wrong” kicker, and no later than the first pitch thrown to the subsequent kicker. The burden of proof rests
with the accused team. Any resulting play is nullified by a finding of improper kicking order, with an out recorded for the wrong kicker.
Teams
1. Each game shall have two participating teams: the away team, which kicks first each inning, and the home
team, which kicks last each inning.
2. While fielding, each team must field at least eight and no more than eleven players, which must include
one pitcher and one catcher at any time during the game.
3. You must have at least four women present to play.
4. For a given game, each team shall have one Captain and one CoCaptain (collectively “the Captains”) who are jointly responsible for the team. The captains may discuss calls
with the head referee, but must accept the head referees final ruling. Other players besides the captains that
dispute calls with the referees are subject to ejection from the game.
5. Base coaches are two members of the team kicking that may coach first and third base, switching as
needed with other team members to remain in the proper written kicking order.
Game Play
1. Regulation games last 50 minutes.
2. In the event of a tie score at the end of the game, the game shall be marked as a tie.
Pitching/Catching
1. No bouncing of the ball to the kicker higher than one foot (as measured from the bottom of the ball). If
the ball is bouncing higher that 1 foot off the ground when it reaches the plate then it is a ball; however the
kicker does have the option of kicking it if he/she wishes.
2. The kicker gets four pitches to kick the ball.
3. The pitcher must stay inside circle in pitching area on the mound until the ball is kicked. If the pitcher
crosses outside the pitching area, an illegal pitch will be called. The kicker does have the option of kicking it if
he/she so chooses and takes the result of the play.
4. Infielders must start no closer than the chalked diagonal line form 1st to 3rd bases through the pitchers
rubber to the batter. After the ball is kicked they may advance towards the batter to defend against a bunt.
The pitcher cannot leave the circle or cannot jump in the air over the line after releasing the ball.
5. If a pitcher or fielder makes an out by illegally advancing beyond the 1st-3rd base diagonal, the runner will
be declared safe.
6. The catcher must be positioned outside the box behind the plate until the ball is kicked. The catcher
cannot interfere with the kicker.
7. The pitcher will pitch 4 balls to each kicker. If the kicker doesn’t kick the ball within 4 pitches, then he/
she is declared out. If a pitch is significantly bad, the umpire will declare a bad pitch. The kicker will be
granted another pitch.
8. Pitching must be underhand only. No sidearm or overhand delivery is permitted. Curving the ball or
excessive speed on the pitches will not be permitted.
Kicker
1. All kicks must be made by foot or leg
2. All kicks must be taken at or behind the line in front of home plate or a strike will be called. The kicker
may step on the line to kick. However no part of the planted foot may be in front of or cross the line in front
of home plate.
3. If the ball is kicked over the line and the kick is caught “out” by a fielder (or a force out occurs), the kicker
is out. The kicker may line up outside the kicking box but the kick must take place inside the box.
4. Bunting is legal. However, it must cross the 12ft. mark on the field.
5. No part of the plant foot may cross over the line.
Kickers cannot stop the ball and then kick it.
Running
1. Runners must stay within the base line.
2. Fielders must stay out of the base line unless they are attempting to tag the runner or catch the kicked
ball.
3. Fielders trying to make an out on base may have their foot on the base and can lean out of the baseline.
4. If a fielder attempts to physically obstruct a runner from advancing, the runner may advance as many
bases as they would have potentially earned had they been able to run unobstructed. This is a judgment call
by the head referee.
5. There will be double base at first base. (Section playing field #6)
It is the responsibility of the runner to avoid a collision. Please save yourself and your opponents from injury
by paying attention. Ties go the runner…There’s no need to take out the baseman.
When a defensive player has the ball and the runner remains upright and crashes into the defensive
player, it is considered a “crash”. If the act is determined to be flagrant, the offender shall be
ejected.
7. Neither leading off base, nor stealing a base is allowed.
8. A runner leading off the base before the ball is kicked is out.
Hitting a runner with the ball above the shoulder level is not allowed and the runner is safe and advances one
base except for the following situations:
if the runner intentionally uses the head to block the ball, and is so called by the official, in which case the
runner is out
if the runner is ducking, diving or sliding (i.e. attempting to dodge the ball) and is hit in the head because
of his/her action, this will be considered an out.
if the runner intentionally hits or kicks the ball out of bounds after being tagged out, the ball is dead and
all runners must return to their original bases.
10. When a runner is hit with the ball above the shoulder level, other runners on base may advance on a
force.
11. The runner may leave the base as soon as the ball is kicked by the kicker.
12. On an overthrow, all players advance as far as they can get. On balls out of bounds the runner only gets
one base.
13. When runners are on the same base at the same time, the fielder has the choice of tagging either runner
with the ball. The runner who is tagged is out and the other runner is safe and may stay on the base.
14. A tag-up is a requirement to retouch or stay on the base until a kicked then caught ball is first retouched
by a fielder. After a tag-up a runner may advance. A runner failing to tag-up as required is out.
15. Runners traveling from home plate may overrun first base, and may only be tagged out if actively attempting to advance to second base.
16. Running past another player is not allowed. The passing runner is out.
A run scores when a runner touches home plate before the third out is made, except that no run can score
when the third out is made during a force play situation, or when the kicker is put out before touching first
base.
Strikes
1. A count of three strikes is an out.
2. A strike is:
a.) a pitch that is not kicked and is not called a ball , that enters any part of the strike zone
b.) an attempted kick missed by the kicker inside or outside the strike zone
c.) foul balls never count as strikes
Balls
1. A count of four balls advances the kicker to first base.
2. A ball is:
a.) a pitch outside of the strike zone as judged by the referee when a kick is not attempted
b.) a pitched ball that does not touch the ground at lease twice or roll before reaching the kicking box;
c.) a pitched ball that exceeds one foot in height from the bottom of the ball as it enters the kicking box.
d.) a pitched ball that exceeds one foot in height from the bottom of the ball at any time while passing
through the kicking box, prior to reaching the kicker;
e.) a pitched ball that is higher than one foot at the plate.
Fairs and Fouls
1. A count of four fouls is an out. Foul balls never count as strikes
2. A foul ball is:
a.) a kicked ball first touching the ground in foul territory
b.) a kicked ball first touching a fielder or referee wholly in foul territory, while the ball is over foul
territory.
c.) a kicked ball landing in fair territory, but touching the ground in foul territory on its own at any time
before crossing the 1st-3rd base diagonal.
d.) a kicked ball landing in fair territory, then entering foul territory before crossing the 1st-3rd base
diagonal, and touching a fielder or referee wholly in foul territory.
e.) a kick made on or above the knee
f.) a kicked ball touched more than once or stopped in the kicking box by the kicker
g.) a kicked ball first kicked outside the kicking box
h.) a kicked ball first touching a permanent object, such as a backstop or fence.
3. A fair ball is:
a.) a kicked ball landing and remaining in fair territory
b.) a kicked ball landing in fair territory then traveling into foul territory beyond the 1st-3rd base diagonal
c.) a kicked ball first touching a player or referee in fair territory
d.) a kicked ball landing in fair territory, then touched by a participant in fair territory before touching the
ground in foul territory.
e.) a kicked ball that touched a runner before touching the ground in foul territory
f.) a kicked ball that touched the kicker once outside the kicking box before touching the ground in foul
territory
Outs
1. A count of three outs by a team completes the team’s half of the inning.
2. An out is:
a.) a count of three strikes or four fouls;
b.) any kicked ball (fair or foul) that is caught by a fielder. Any part of the ball may incidentally touch the
ground during the act of catching and still be ruled an out if the fielder first displays full control of the
ball and maintains control after touching the ground.
c.) a force out, being the tag by any part of a fielders body of a base to which a runner is forced to run,
before the runner arrives at the base, while the fielder has control of the ball. The ball may be touching
the ground if the fielder displays full control of the ball while simultaneously tagging the base;
d.) a runner touched by the ball or who touches the ball at any time while not on base while the ball is in
play;
e.)a kicker or runner that interferes with the ball
f.) a tag of a base by any part of a fielder’s body, while the fielder has control of the ball, before the
runner originating at that base can tag-up as required due to a caught ball.
g.) a runner off base when the ball is kicked
h.) a runner physically assisted by a team member during play
i.) any kicker that does not kick in the proper kicking line up
j.) a runner that passes another runner
k.)a runner outside of the baseline
l.) a runner who misses a base, as called by a referee upon the conclusion of the play
m.) a runner who fails to properly tag up on a caught ball, as called by a referee upon the conclusion of
the play;
n.)a runner touched by the ball while on a base they are forced to vacate by the kicker becoming a
runner;
o.) a runner coming from home plate who steps on first plate when required to use the extra base
p.) a player improperly occupying the sideline area after their team has been issued a warning
Ball in play
1. 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
base at this time and not in forward motion must return to the base from which they were running.
2. Inference is;
a.)
when any non fielder or non permanent object except a referee or a runner, touches or is
touched by a ball in play in fair territory. This interference causes the play to end, and runners
shall proceed to the base to which they were headed;
b.)
when any runner on or off base intentionally touches a ball, or hinders a fielder. This
interference causes the play to end, the runner to be out, and any other runners shall return
to the base from which they came, unless forced to advance
c.)
when any kicker intentionally touches a pitched ball by hand or arm before the pitch is called a
ball or strike, or intentionally touches a kicked ball to render it foul. This inference causes the
play to end, the kicker to be out, and any runners shall return to the base from which they
came.
3. During any play where a ball is popped or deflated significantly, that play shall be replayed with a
properly inflated ball.
Injury and substitutions
1. In case of injury or illness, a time-out may be requested for participant removal and replacement with
a teammate as a substitute. If the participant later returns to play, the participant must be inserted in
the same written, kicking order positions previously held.
2. If a player is ejected, injured, or becomes ill and cannot continue, the written kicking order will
continue in the same formation, less the removed player. There is no “automatic out” when the
removed player’s spot in the order is reached.
3. Injured players who do not kick shall not play in the game.
4. Any player removed from the game for injury or illness must be noted on both team written kicking
orders and mentioned to the head referee.
5. The pitcher and the catcher positions may only be replaced once per inning each, unless injury forces
another substitution.
6. Only runners who are injured while traveling to a base, and who successfully make it to base, may be
substituted. There are no other allowable runner substitutions. A runner may be substituted no
more than twice during the game. Upon the second substitution, the player will be removed from the
game and no longer be allowed to participate.
Other
1. The spirit of these rules is to ensure a fun environment and participant enjoyment. All games are to be
played in a sportsmanlike manner. If necessary, the Town of Amherst Youth & Recreation Department will
address any inconsistencies, discrepancies, and misunderstandings in accordance with the spirit of these
rules. These rules are maintained at www.amherstyouthandrec.org and are subject to change without
notice.
2. All players must be at least 18 years old.
Kickball League Rules Concerning Sportsmanship:
Good sportsmanship in this context is defined by a participant’s demeanor and conduct on and off
the field and includes fairness, respect for the opponent and graciousness in winning or losing.
The rules of good sportsmanship for our league are as follows:
1. Keep your comments positive. You can encourage your team without belittling others.
2. Understanding that winning isn’t everything. Support your teammates no matter how things
are going. Don’t blame others when things go badly.
3. Avoid put downs, trash talk or other negative statements toward all other players. This is not
the venue for expressing negative emotions brought on by competition.
4. It’s about being a good team player; having a good attitude and supporting others whether
they are on your team or not.
5. Point out negative behaviors of players on your team. If someone on your team is acting
obnoxious or being mean spirited toward others and you do nothing, you are sending the
message that the behavior is OK when it really isn’t
6. If your team loses, don’t complain about how others played; accept the loss and move on.
The consequences for violating good sportsmanship rules are:
- First Offense: a warning to player and team manager.
- Second Offense: Player suspended for remainder of current game and from the next game
- Third Offense: suspension for the remainder of the season (or permanent suspension depending
on the severity of the violation).
In the extremely unlikely event that someone initiates any unwanted physical touching such as
bumping, pushing, etc. (considered battery) and involvement with the Amherst Police and the Court
system
- Player will be suspended for remainder of season (or permanently depending on the severity of the
violation).
Also, anyone attempting to strike, or intentionally striking another player or league official will be
permanently barred from our league as well as face criminal charges for assault.