Kickball Rules- Pitch to other Team UPDATED 05/10/2024

IMPORTANT: Remember, everyone is out there for fun and it’s only a game.   No back talking or abuse of the umpires will be tolerated. Please treat them with respect, anyone not doing so will be asked to leave. NO ALCOHOL ON THE FIELDS OR IN THE DUGOUT.  PLEASE BE AWARE OF CITY RULES REGARDING THE FIELD YOU ARE PLAYING ON!

1. EQUIPMENT

1. All Players are encouraged to wear Club Sport shirts at every game for the season.
2. All games will be played with a 10” rubber kickball (league provided)
3. Cleats are allowed however, NO METAL SPIKES ARE ALLOWED
4. Shirts and closed toed shoes/cleats must be worn at all times while playing

2. PLAYER CONDUCT

1. Only the captain is allowed to dispute calls with the umpire.  Any excessive arguing or abuse of the umpire can result in the ejection of the player.
2. Players ejected from any game may be required to serve a one or more game suspension pending league review.  Fighting, wrestling, or pushing will not be tolerated and may result in ejection from the league altogether. Verbal abuse of the officials or players, foul language, and continued rough play could result in player ejections.
3. Any player or fan is encouraged to root for their own team, but rooting against or use of disparaging language is discouraged and could result in penalties of players or dismissals of fans.  Any fans of teams may be asked to leave by Club Sport staff.  Refusal to leave could result in forfeiture of games.
4. PROFANITY: Profanity will not be tolerated and may be grounds for players being called out or ejected on the discretion of the umpire. Any music being played (where allowed) should also adhere to the no profanity and be family friendly at a suitable volume.
5. CITY OF TAMPA does not allow amplified sound on its fields. This could lead to a warning or forfeiting of games.

3. ROSTER/LINEUPS

1. All players must be 18 and signed onto a roster/waiver for that night and location.
2. Only players that are on the signed roster/waiver are allowed to participate in playoffs.  Teams may add players to their roster up until their last regular season game.

1. Players may not appear on more than 2 official rosters per league unless approved by the Club Sport office.
2. Players on multiple teams can only play for one team per time slot (i.e. if any conflicts exist they can only play for one, no jumping back and forth)
3. Playing with ineligible players may result in a forfeit.  This call is made by Club Sport Staff.

3. Once a player has signed their team's roster they CANNOT be replaced or removed.
4. Teams that made team payments are covered up to a certain number of players (14) and any player after that number is an additional $10 per player.
5. In leagues that allow individual payments, team rosters will be capped at 14 players.  If a team is short of 14 players, players may add to the team at a prorated cost (please contact office  to add/pay for pro-rated player additions)

1. Any team that has registered individuals (free agents) must get permission from TBCS office staff to add more than the roster maximum.
2. Club Sport has the right to fill any INDY team with players until you reach the advertised maximum number of 14 players. If you wish to have less you may buy extra roster spots.

6. Play consists of 10 players per side.  Teams may not play with more than 6 male players in the field at one time.
7. A team may play a legal game with 6 players from their roster (with a minimum of 1 female).  If a team has less than 10 players, they can pick up players from another team.  
8.  PICKUP PLAYERS: Pick up players are NOT allowed during the playoffs. Any pickup players during the regular season must be signed on a TBCS roster for another team for that particular night/location. Failure to do so, even if discovered after the fact, may result in a forfeit.

1. Pickups must be brought to the attention of the umpire BEFORE they enter the game or may be assessed a 4 run per pick-up player penalty.
2. Teams with less than 10 eligible fielders may pick up one player at no penalty.  Any pickups in addition to this (not putting the team over 10 fielding players) will be assessed a 2 run penalty per player. All pick up player run penalties are added at the completion of the inning (teams may score 10 runs AND be given pick up runs after).  
3. AT NO TIME CAN A TEAM PICK UP PLAYERS OF A CERTAIN SEX TO ALLOW FOR SUBS IN THAT SEX.
4. If a team has the correct number of players to play in either sex, no pickups are allowed.
5. If more players from your team show up to allow subs, the free pickup player must be removed.  If you fail to report pickup players after the start of the game and it is reported or caught before the end of the game it will become a 4 run penalty for EVERY PLAYER picked up (included what would have been a free one), so please remember to report your pickup players to the scoring umpire.
6. If illegal players are discovered during the game they will be immediately removed and the other team will have the option of taking a forfeit win, or collecting 4 runs per illegal player (players will still be removed from the game).

9. Kicking lineups must be presented to the umpire before each game. Once the lineup cards have been submitted to the umpire, they become official and you may add players to the bottom of the line up only. If a woman shows up late, they may go into the automatic out spot on the lineup card. Captains must notify the umpire of any changes to lineup cards.
10. Teams may kick more than 10 players.
11. Kicking order can be random with no specific order as long as you follow the overall ratio.  When kicking 4 women you may kick up to 7 men , when kicking 5 women you may kick up to 8 men, when kicking 6 women you may kick up to 10 men.  You may always kick more women than these ratios, but not more men.   To prevent an out two men may share one (1) kicking spot and would alternate kicks each time up to stay within the appropriate kicking ratio. (women may also share kicking spots). Kicking ratios still have to be upheld.
12. All players in the field must be listed in the kicking order.  There are no “designated fielders” allowed.
13. If a player is injured during a game, the captain must notify the umpire to remove the injured player from the lineup card with no additional penalty (unless the injured player is a female and her removal drops the kicking from the required ratio - the spot then becomes an automatic out).  An injured player that has been removed from the lineup card cannot return to the game.
14. Roster Checks: Captains have the right to ask for a roster check of the opposing team. The request must be made with the coordinator either before or during the game but before the 30 minute mark. Once the game has played more than 30 minutes, no roster checks may be done unless a player shows up late. If it is found that the opposing team is playing with an “illegal player”  (i.e. not on that team’s roster or not signed) then staff reserves the right to remove the player and/or forfeit the game. Roster checks may not be done after the game and Club Sport staff decisions are final.

4. GAME PLAY

1. Forfeit time is game time.  Coordinator along with umps calls game time.  

1. If the opposing team wants to allow more time for players to show up, the clock will start and a max of 10 minutes will be given.
2. If a team forfeits twice within the season they may not be allowed to play in the playoffs. A forfeit will be counted as a 7-0 win.
3. If you know in advance that your team is going to forfeit a game, we encourage you to call our office during business hours M-F 9-5 (877-820-2582) or Facebook message TBCS, so we can notify your opponents.

2. All games are 55 minutes in length or 7 innings. Once the 55 minutes has expired we will finish the inning (unless the home team is up to kick and winning).
3. Games during the season can end in a tie.
4. There will be a 10 run limit per inning (10th run counts as the 3rd out) unless there are less than 10 minutes left in the game, at which point there is not a run limit (if a team is winning by more than 20 runs they will be held to 10 runs an inning)
5. Once 30 minutes have expired  it will be considered a complete game and the final score will revert back  to the last full inning played, unless the home team is kicking and winning at the same time.  If a game is called due to any circumstances (weather, darkness, etc) and less than 30 minutes have expired, the game will be restarted from the beginning at a future time.

5. OFFENSE

1. All kickers start with a 1-1 count and are allowed one courtesy foul.  A kicker will be called out on the second foul ball.  4 balls equal a walk.
2. The “strike-zone” extends to 1 foot on either side of home plate, and 1 foot high.  A kicker is only allowed one “strike”.  If a kicker does not make an attempt on the second “strike”, then he/she will be called out.
3. All kicks must be made by foot and must occur at or behind home plate.  If the kick is made beyond home plate, it will be called a foul ball.
4. Bunting is allowed but double hits will be called a foul and the ball must be kicked  beyond home plate.  Any ball that stops or is picked up on home plate will be called a fair ball.
5. If a male is walked, and female follows him in the kicking order, the female has the choice to take a walk or kick.  If the female chooses to walk, the male will advance to second base.
6. No lead-offs or stealing, runners can leave the base once the ball is kicked by the kicker.  If a runner is leading off, the ball is dead and the runner is declared out.  If a runner leaves early (after the pitch is made but before it reaches the plate), the play must be appealed by the defense.
7. Players are considered out by one of the following means: (1) striking out, (2) a fly ball caught by the defense, (3) a throw out at one of the lead bases if a force out, (4) the runner being tagged by the ball, (5) a foul out, or (6) a runner being struck thrown ball below that head while attempting to advance or return to a base.
8. Since catching a fly ball in kickball is no sure thing, there is no infield fly rule.  However, there is a no “cheese” rule.  If the umpire thinks a fielder intentionally misses or does not  to try to catch a fly ball in an effort to make a double play, or any other more advantageous play, both runners will be called safe.
9. Base runner to defensive player contact will be closely watched by the ump.  Any excessive contact or collision will result in and “out” and/or ejection.  This includes contact with the catcher.

1. While running to first base if there is a possible play at first (e.g. ball is till in the infield) the runner must touch the orange bag/safety bag (outside bag) or will be called out by the umpire (defense must touch only the white bag).  Once the runner has touched the orange bag the entire bag is considered ONE bag for both offense and defense and can be used for the runner to stand on or tag up on, as well as the defense to tag the bag on runners returning to first base.

10. Sliding is allowed.  Any sliding into a base to break up  a double play, or any intentional (in the eyes of the official) interference with the defensive player, the runner will be called out.

6. DEFENSE

1. There are no position requirements of any players (there need not be 2 females in the outfield and 2 in the infield).
2. Games will be played on a regulation softball/baseball diamond.  The pitcher and fielders must stay behind a parallel line runs from the 1st base line to the 3rd base line that runs across the pitcher's mound until the ball is kicked.
3. The catcher must stay behind the catcher line (which is 4 feet behind the front of home plate) until the ball is kicked.  The catcher may move before the kick however he/she may not interfere with the kicker in any way (physically or verbally).  If it is deemed the catcher has interfered with the kicker, the kicker will be awarded first base.  If a male is interfered with, and a female follows him in the kicking order, the female has the choice to take a walk or kick.  If the umpire deems the catcher is purposely interfering with kickers the umpire may eject the catcher from the game.
4. PITCHING:  must be rolled towards home plate.  Pitches must bounce at least 2 times before reaching the plate. Pitches that bounce more than one foot above the ground will be considered an illegal pitch, and thus deemed a ball. Kicker can still kick the illegal pitch.
5. Spinning/ curving the ball is not allowed. The umpire will monitor this rule and will call a “ball” if the pitch is too fast or too slow to keep both teams equal.
6. Any foul ball caught in the air is an out.  If a foul ball is dropped in foul territory, it remains a foul ball.
7. Players may be hit anywhere below the shoulders with a thrown ball and will be considered out.  Hitting a runner with a thrown ball above the shoulder level is not allowed.  Any hit above the shoulders is considered safe.  If the runner intentionally uses their head to block the ball, the runner will be called out.

1. The defensive player must have complete control of the ball prior to throwing a player out, the ball can not be slapped, hit, pushed into the offensive player for an out.

8. Defensive players may kick the ball to another defender player to make an out.  The ball must be kicked to another defensive player without making contact with a runner.  The defensive player receiving a kicked ball from another defensive player must then throw the ball at the runner, tag the runner with the ball, or step on a base holding the ball for a force out.

1. A defensive player may not kick the ball at a runner to make an out.

9. The first baseman must have a foot on 1st (not the orange/safety bag) in order to make an out.
10. Outfielders must remain behind the grass or cone “outfield line” until the ball is kicked.  
11. There can not be more than 6 players on the infield at any one time.  Once contact has been made the outfielders may cross the line.

1. If an outfielder crosses the line before contact has been made, the kicker may be awarded 1st base.

7. PLAYOFFS

1. Playoffs are a single elimination tournament based on regular season standings.
2. Playoff seedings will be based on the following criteria: 1) winning percentage, 2) head to head record, 3) run differential, 4) coin flip.
3. If a team plays an 8th game during the season due to a an odd number of teams this game will count in the standings.
4. There will be extra innings during tournament games where play ends in a tie.  Extra innings will start with a runner on a second base (base runner is the one who made the last out in the previous inning).  Championship game has no set number of innings, but the playoff run rule will apply.
5. All players, including added players, must sign their team’s roster/waiver before their team's last regular season game in order to be eligible to play in the tournament.  If a player is not signed on the roster by then, they are not eligible for  the tournament.  Playing with ineligible players may result in a forfeit. This call will be made by Club Sport staff. It is the responsibility of the team captains to make sure all players on their lineup card are eligible players for all games.
6. MERCY RULE: 20 runs after 3 innings, 15 runs after 4 and 10 after 5.

8. MISCELLANEOUS

1. No jewelry can be worn during the games (for safety of all players)
2. No metal spikes are allowed
3. All teams are responsible for their own trash
4. Club Sport reserves the right to adjust/or insert rules due to game day time restrictions to ensure fair play.
5. Most importantly, HAVE FUN!