Kickball

Grades 5 - 6

Time: Plan for at least 1 Hour (varies widely depending on how many students/classes are playing).

Equipment: 4 Bases, Pitching Rubber, 8" or 10" Playground Ball

Description:

In a students vs teachers kickball game the are two teams (students are on one team and the teachers are on the other team). Each team must have at least 9 players who try to score more runs than their opponent by rounding the bases and crossing home plate as many times as possible.

Playing Area:

The kickball field is laid out similar to a baseball diamond with 4 bases, a pitching rubber, an infield and an outfield.

The dimensions of the field can vary depending on the age of the players. The recommendations for players ages 9-12 (5th & 6th grade students) is 60' base paths and 42' to the pitching rubber

Positions:

Players line up in the following positions:

1. Pitcher – on the pitching rubber

2. Catcher – behind home plate

3. 1st Baseman – a few feet away from 1st base

4. 2nd Baseman – a few feet away from 2nd base toward 1st

5. 3rd Baseman – a few feet away from 3rd base

6. Shortstop – between 2nd and 3rd base

7. Left Fielder – outfield behind 2nd and 3rd base

8. Center Fielder – outfield behind 2nd base

9. Right Fielder – outfield behind 1st and 2nd base

Starting Play:

The students kick first, while the teachers start out in the field. The fielders must have one person on each of the 9 positions mentioned above. Any extra players on the fielding team must take positions in the outfield. Once the fielding team is in their positions the first kicker steps up to the plate to kick.

Pitching:

• The ball must roll on the ground (no bouncing) as it approaches and crosses over the plate or within a foot of the plate. If it's not a good or fair pitch the kicker doesn't have to kick it - this is called a "ball". There are no limits to "balls" in a students vs teachers kickball game. This means there are also no "walks" in a students vs teachers kickball game.

• The pitcher must stay behind the pitching rubber until the ball is kicked. Also, with the exception of the catcher, no other player on the fielding team can be closer to the kicker than the pitcher, until the kicker kicks the ball. Failure to do this results in a "ball."

• The strike zone is 1 foot inside and outside of home plate.

• If the pitch is not a good or fair pitch, the pitcher must re-roll the ball.

Kicking:

• The ball must be kicked with the foot or leg.

• All kicks must be made behind home plate. It's okay to step on home plate while kicking.

• No bunting is allowed (contacting the ball without fully extending the leg).

• No Stopping the ball and then kicking it, or double kicking the ball, etc.

Strikes:

If a kicker gets 3 strikes, they're out.

A strike is:

• a pitch inside the strike zone that isn't kicked.

• an attempted kick that's missed. It doesn't matter whether it was inside or outside the strike zone.

• a foul ball.

• a bunt, or any stopping of the ball and then kicking it, or double kicking the ball, etc.

Balls and Walks:

Usually, a kicker gets a free trip to first base after 3 balls. However, there are no limits to "balls" in a students vs teachers kickball game. This means there are also no free trips to first base (called "walks") in a students vs teachers kickball game.

A ball is called when:

• a pitch is outside the strike zone, and the kicker doesn't try to kick it.

• a pitch bounces as it approaches and travels across home plate or within the strike zone.

• any fielder, including the pitcher, who advances toward home plate before the ball is kicked.

Foul Ball:

A foul is a kick that:

• lands in foul territory.

• goes out of bounds before passing 1st or 3rd base that isn't touched by any player.

• A foul counts as a strike.

Runner:

• Runners must stay in the baselines.

• Sliding into the base or running into fielders is not allowed. The runner is out if they run into the fielder. The runner is safe if the fielder initiated the contact.

• Fielders must stay out of the baseline. Unless they are making an active play for the ball, if they interfere with a runner, the runner is safe at the base they are running toward.

• No runners may lead off or steal. They can only run after the ball is kicked. A runner who is off the base before the ball is kicked is out.

• Runners must tag up after a fly ball is caught before they can advance to the next base.

• Runners may overrun 1st base, but they must turn toward foul territory once they pass the base. If they overrun any other base, they may be tagged out by a defender with the ball.

• If the ball is overthrown, the runner may advance only one base.

• If a runner overtakes and passes a runner on the bases ahead of them, they're out.

• When the pitcher has control of the ball and is standing on the mound, all the runners must stop advancing, meaning the runners can finish to the base they were going to but they can't go further until the ball is kicked again.

Duration and other details:

Plan for at least 1 Hour (varies widely depending on how many students/classes are playing). A game can last several innings (consider having as many innings as there are classes, but I wouldn't go over 6 innings). Each inning is divided into a top and bottom half with each team having a turn to kick. The visiting team kicks the first half (or top) of each inning, and the home team kicks the second half (or bottom) of the inning. A half inning is completed when the kicking team gets 3 outs (or if you prefer, after every student has kicked). To start the game, I'd recommend a coin toss (have one of the teachers call it in the air) to decide who goes first.

If the game is tied at the end of the decided innings, teams continue to play complete innings until one team is ahead.

Scoring:

A team scores a point every time a player rounds all the bases and crosses home plate.

Outs:

A Kicker (Batter) is out if:

• they kick the ball, and it's caught in the air (even if it's in foul territory).

• they get 3 strikes, 3 fouls, or 2 strikes + a foul.

• they bunt the ball (doesn't take a full swing of the leg in an attempt to kick the ball a short distance).

A runner is out if:

• they're hit by a kicked ball while off base.

• a fielder tags them with the ball while they're not on a base (note: A fielder cannot throw the ball at a runner to get them out).

• they run out of the baseline.

• they're tagged by a fielder before reaching the base they're forced to run to, or if a fielder with a ball touches the base before they get there.

• they leave the base before the ball is kicked.

• they fail to tag up on a fly ball and the ball beats them back to the base they were on.

• they run past a runner in front of them.

• they run into a fielder who is trying to make a play on the ball.

Modifications:

Depending on the number of players, skill level, available equipment, or the size of your playing area, you can modify the basic kickball rules to fit your needs.

Here are some modifications you can make to get a game going:

• Reduce the size of the field.

• Reduce the number of bases.

• Use a bigger ball or a beach ball that moves slower.

• Allow every player on the team to kick before changing sides instead of playing 3 outs.

• Put a limit on the number of points a team can score each inning. When the limit is reached, teams change sides no matter how many outs there are.

• Don't call balls or strikes. Give each player 3 chances to kick the ball.

• On each kick, allow the kicker to run the bases all the way around to home. If they reach home before the kick is touched by every fielder, they score a point.

• Play the game in reverse – run to 3rd, 2nd, 1st, and home.