The Rules

General Rules:

Each team must have a minimum of 15 players on your roster with at least 5 females. Tallahassee Kickball Association reserves the rights to add “Free Agents” to teams with less than 20 players. "Free agents" are individual players that do not register for a specific team.
Only players registered for a team can play for that respective team.
Game Eligible requirement: The standard fielded team is 11 total players with 4 female players. There must be at least 3 women and a total of 9 players at the start time of the game for a team to be "game eligible", otherwise the game may result in a forfeit loss. If you have 11 players and only 3 females, you can only play with 9 in the field and all 3 females must play each inning, additionally, you must insert the missing person in the lineup and take an out each time that empty spot comes up in the lineup. If you only have less than 11 players, but 4 females, you must take an out in the lineup for the missing players. If you have less than 11 and only 3 females, you must take 2 outs in the lineup. There will be no more than 2 outs in the lineup for missing players. All players must wear their current team t-shirt and be registered players of the respective team. If team has less than the required players, the opposing team may decide to allow the offending team to play with further restrictions, but once a team decides to let the offending team play, the game will count as played.
Forfeit games result in a 6-0 victory for the non-forfeiting team.
No more than 11 players can take the field at one time.
Team members are not required to take the field in order to kick.
Fielders can be changed between innings.
All fielders MUST kick.
All fielders and kickers must have footwear, bare-feet are not allowed. Depending on local City Parks and Recreation rules, cleats may or may not be allowed on the fields. Where cleats are not allowed, only turf or gym shoes are permitted for play. Metal cleats are not permitted and players will not be allowed to play with metal cleats. If players with metal cleats are not "caught" when game starts and they have been playing, they will be removed from the game. The offending player may change shoes and continue to play, but may not disrupt game flow to do so (i.e. removed from field of play until the next inning - they may not return on defense during that inning). If offending player is at kick, they will be called out and removed from the lineup. The offending player may change shoes and re-enter the lineup for their next scheduled kick. If they do not change shoes, their spot in the lineup will remain an out when the spot comes back up each time.
The kicking order must be written down and kept available for reference.
The kicking order cannot change during the course of a game.
If a team member cannot kick at their designated spot in the kicking order, their "at kick" will be counted as an out unless the kicker cannot kick due to injury.
Teams are allowed to have first base and third base coaches.
A Head Umpire will be provided for each game.
Umpires and Field Supervisors are trained and responsible for conducting games in a professional manner, and are empowered at their discretion to give a Warning and/or Eject any player that instigates arguments, foul language and/or flagrant abuse towards the opposing team, referee, field or park.
If a game is in progress and the remaining innings are cancelled due to lightning, four full innings or 3 1/2 innings if home team is in lead, will constitute a complete game. However, please stay in the area if the referee asks you, as the game may be able to be completed after a time delay. Games in progress will be picked up from where they were suspended. If a team leaves and does not come back as the referee indicated, that team will take a forfeit. If the game is not complete through four innings or did not start, any cancellations will follow the Rainout Policy.
Rainout Policy: If a game has been suspended and umpire has determined the game cannot be completed due to weather and the game was less than 4 innings, the game will be picked up where it left off the following week. The game will be completed prior to the first scheduled games of the following week. The suspended game will be given a 15 minute time limit or the remaining innings (whichever occurs first).
Kickball follows the same general rules as baseball. Any rule not defined here (adjusted for kickball rules), shall mirror or follow general baseball rules.
All players must adhere to the Code of Conduct. Any player not adhering to the Code of Conduct may be ejected from the game by the umpire. If a player has multiple ejections, they may be removed from the league.

Playing Rules:

Each game will be 6 innings or one hour in length, whichever comes first. For shortened games due to rain or any other reason, 4 full innings, or 3 and 1/2 innings if home team has lead, constitutes an official game.
If after 1 hour or 6 innings, the game is still tied, Dodgeball will determine the winner. 5 members from each team (no less than 2 female players from each team shall participate), will square off for the dodgeball tie-breaker. Standard dodgeball rules are in effect. Player struck by ball is out. Caught balls will result in throwing player being out and one of the team members from the team who caught the ball, who had previously been eliminated, shall return to the match. If a ball strikes a player and another team member catches the ball before it hits the ground, it shall be constituted as a catch. Bounced balls that hit a participant is dead and the participant is not eliminated. Game continues until all members from one team are eliminated. A 5 minute time limit will be enforced. Thus if all members aren’t eliminated within 5 minutes, the team with the most active participants shall be deemed the winner. You may not hold a ball on your side for more extended periods of time. You must keep game active. For example: say one team has a person eliminated and the opposing team now controls all of the balls. They cannot simply hold the balls for the rest of the time limit. A loose 15 second time limit to throw will be enforced. If referee determines you have held the ball too long on your side, they will instruct you to throw. If you still do not, you will be instructed to roll the ball over to your opponent. If both teams have equal amounts of active players, sudden death will determine winner. For sudden death, one player from each team will stand back to back with a ball each. Each player will take 5 paces away from each other, turn and throw immediately (you cannot hold the ball and wait). You can catch the ball as well. If you catch the ball, you win. If both players are eliminated or missed with their respective throws (each hitting one another or both missing), successive rounds of sudden death will occur until a winner is declared. For each successive round of sudden death, a new participant from the original 5 participants must participate.
All tournament games shall also have a 1 hour time limit. In the event of a tournament tie game, a winner must be crowned so the game will complete extra innings until one team wins outright. For tournament game extra innings, teams will start a player 2nd base with 1 out. The player who is placed on 2nd lineup to the next lineup scheduled kicker to lead off the inning. This person is not necessarily the “last out” from the previous inning. It is the last person who kicked when the inning ended. If game is still tied after the first extra inning, runners will be placed on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. The runners on 2nd and 3rd shall be the last two players in the lineup that precedes the next scheduled kicker in the lineup. If a third extra inning is needed, the inning will start with bases loaded for each team with same provisions of outs and runners as previous extra innings parameters. The game is over when, after each team has had an opportunity to kick, one team has a higher score than the other.
Each team gets to kick in each inning. Once 3 outs have been recorded against a team, their "at kick" is over. Once both teams have kicked, the inning is over.
A coin flip or Rock Paper Scissors at the beginning of the game will determine the home and away team. The home team is in the field first and has the last at-bat in the game.
For tournament games, the home team will be awarded to the highest seed.
Each team's roller rolls the ball to the opposing team's kicker.
The Roller must release the ball BEHIND the pitchers line and WITHIN the pitcher’s area. If a pitcher crosses the pitchers line before the kicker kicks the ball, the pitcher shall be considered as defensive encroachment and kicking team may decide to keep play as it stands or as a single and no outs recorded.
The Roller MUST roll or bounce the ball multiple times in route to home plate. If the Roller does not bounce the ball at least twice BEFORE home plate, the roll is considered a ball. If the second bounce hits the plate it will be considered a ball. A kicker may kick any rolled ball at any time within the kicking area. If a ball bounces only one time and inadvertently strikes the kicker without the kicker making an attempt to kick, the pitch is still recorded as a ball because it was an illegal pitch (by only bouncing once). If the kicker attempts to kick an illegal pitch, the play is live and proceeds as played.
Un-kicked balls will result in either a ball or a strike call by the umpire.
Any roll which results in the ball being outside the strike zone is considered a ball. The strike zone shall be considered WITHIN 1 ft on either side of the plate and below the kicker's knee. There is a 1 ft stripe on both sides of the plate that defines the strike zone.
Any roll which is more than knee high when it crosses the plate is considered a ball.
All other rolls are considered strikes (i.e. the ball rolls within the strike zone and is below the knee). If the kicker attempts a kick (swing of the leg) and misses contact with the ball, this also will be considered a strike.
Each kicker is allowed 2 strikes or 3 fouls. A kicker is called out on the third strike or fourth foul. Strikes and fouls are independent of each other.
A "double-kick" or the ball bouncing up and hitting the kicker after a kick is considered a foul. A kicker may not intentionally hit the ball a second time while in the kickers box. If umpire considers the second intentional contact to be obstructing the catchers attempt to catch the ball, the kicker will be called out, a deadball ruled by the umpire, and all runners return to their previous base.
A ball that is kicked and hits a 'back-stop', trees, wires or anything extraneous to the playing area before or after an opposing player touches the ball is considered a foul ball and is a dead ball after the contact occurs. If a kicked ball touches any player or object in foul territory (whether the ball is on the ground or in the air) will be considered a foul ball. Foul balls are determined by where the ball is at the time it is touched.
There are no "Knee Ball" fouls. Kickers may kick with any part of the leg. If umpire determines the contact occurred with any other body part than the leg (hip, torso, arm/hand), the kick shall be considered a foul.
Each roller is allowed 3 balls per kicker.
The kicker is awarded first base in the event of a FOURTH ball being rolled.
Fielders AND Pitcher (other than the catcher) must be behind the fielder's line until the ball is kicked. For the pitcher, the pitching line is also their fielding line. If a fielder or pitcher comes across the line before the ball is kicked, regardless if the offending player fields the ball, the kicker is automatically safe at 1st base and runners, if forced, will advance to the next base. However, the play will be allowed to play out. If any out is recorded on the initial play, all runners will be safe. Once a runner or kicker is beyond their required base safely, the encroachment is no longer valid and runners run at their own risk. The reason play is allowed to continue first is because the kicking team may be hindered by a dead ball and awarding of next base for runners and kicker. For example, If an error occurs, runners may advance or even score - which would not be allowed if play was stopped immediately Example of encroachment: Runner on first. Encroachment occurs when ball is kicked. Ball is thrown to second to get runner out and ball is brought to pitchers circle to stop the play. The umpire will rule the runner at second safe because of the encroachment. However, if the same play occurred and the runner makes it to second safely but overruns second base or tries to make it to third and is then tagged out, the runner is now out because the runner made it safely to second and tried to advance further at their own risk. The encroachment did not give the fielders an unfair fielding advantage because all runners were safe anyway.
The kicker must wait for the ball to reach home plate before kicking the ball. If any part of the kicker's "planting foot" (non-kicking foot) is in front of home plate when they kick the ball then the kick will be deemed a continuation play. The play will be allowed to proceed as normal with the umpire signifying the infraction by holding their arm out to their side. Once the play is complete, the defense will have the choice of allowing the play to stand or call a foul ball on the batter. For example: if the ball is kicked in the air and the defense catches it for an out, but a runner tags up and scores, the defense can either choose the out and run scored or call a foul on the kicker and player returns to original base, no out is recorded, and the "at kick" continues.
The kicker may kick the ball behind home plate and if the ball travels into fair territory before passing 1st or 3rd base then it is a FAIR ball - regardless of the path the ball travels before it reaches the base. For example: if the ball is kicked and it starts in foul territory, but spins back into fair territory before it reaches the base, it is a FAIR ball. If a player touches a ball in foul territory on the first fielder touch of the ball, the kick is foul. If a fielder touches the ball in fair territory and the ball rolls foul after the fielder touched it, it is a fair ball.
When a kick is made into fair territory, the kicker runs toward first base.
If the ball never hits the ground once kicked and is caught by a fielder, the kicker is out regardless of whether the ball is in fair or foul territory.
The kicker is also out if the ball is controlled by a player touching first base prior to the kicker reaching first base. Touching of first base by the fielder can be considered the fielder touching first base, with control of the ball, with their foot, hand, ball (while in controlled possession of the fielder, NOT by throwing or dropping the ball on the base), or any other part of the fielder's body. First base is defined by BOTH runner and fielder bag.
Forced outs can be made by the defense if a fielder has control of the ball and touches a base that a runner must run to (and cannot run back to the prior base since another runner is behind them) before the runner reaches the base.
Runners are NOT allowed to lead-off from a base or steal a base. Runners CANNOT leave their base until the ball is kicked. If the runner leads-off or runs prior to the kick, the runner is automatically out and the ball is dead. All subsequent runners return to their bases prior to the kick occurring and kicker is awarded first base.
Any runner not on a base can be hit with the kickball by a fielder or fielders. This includes a deflection by a fielder to redirect the ball to hit the runner. If the runner is hit while not on a base, the runner is out unless the runner is hit in the neck or head. The runner is not out if hit in the neck or head. If a runner is hit in the head or neck, the ball is immediately dead and runner is awarded the base they were running to. If runners are on base when the illegal hit occurs, runners cannot advance beyond the base they were heading to at the time the dead ball is called. For example, runner on second, kicker kicks ball and runs to first. Kicker is hit in head on the way to first. Kicker is awarded first base and runner from second stops on third. Also, runners are allowed to over-run first base, but must not show intention to round first and head to second base. If the runner shows intention to head to second (determination is at the discretion of the umpire) and is hit by the kickball below the neck then the runner is out. No other bases can be over-run. If a player has a ball thrown at their head and they put their hands up to protect themselves, it will still be constituted as an illegal hit even though it didn't actually hit their head. The umpire will have the final determination if a player was trying to protect themselves or not. If a runner slides, dives, or ducks and a throw hits them in the head, it will not be an illegal hit because the runner changed their head level. A player cannot intentionally deflect a thrown ball at them. If an umpire determines the runner purposefully deflects the ball, the play shall be called dead. Runners will be allowed to advance to their next base ONLY if the umpire determines the player would have reached the base safely. If the umpire determines the runner would not have been able to advance, the umpire shall send runner(s) back to previous base.
Any runner that is hit by a ball which was kicked by one of their teammates is considered out regardless of where the ball hits them. If the ball hits the runner in foul territory, the kick is considered a foul and the runner is not out. If a kicked ball hits a base runner, the runner is out, the ball is dead and subsequent runners must return to previous base occupied and kicker is awarded first base. For example: bases loaded, kicked ball hits runner from first base on their way to second. The ball is dead. The runner from first heading to second is out. Kicker is awarded first base. Runner on second must return to second. Runner on third must return to third.
Runs are scored when runners cross home plate. Runner must cross and touch each base on the way to home plate. If the runner crosses home plate during the 3rd out in the field and the 3rd out was a force out, then the run does not count. A thrown ball hitting a runner before the runner reaches their intended base - the runner is forced to run to - shall still be considered a force out and no run shall score.
If a fielder, not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes a runner from reaching a base (i.e. "blocking the base or baseline", etc), the runner will be considered safe at the intended base - unless the interference impedes the runner from (in the discretion of the umpire) advancing further. For example: Runner is running to second and is impeded to the point where the runner could have easily made it to third base, the runner may be awarded third base. Interference does not immediately stop the play. Play continues and runners advance until normal stoppage of play (ie: ball returned to pitching circle). It is at that point the umpire will decide on the awarding of bases to to runners. Fielder interference is ONLY called when impeding a runner prior to base they are running to. A fielder attempting to field the ball, receive a thrown ball at a bag (not off the bag), or catch a fly ball shall NOT be considered impeding the runner. If the thrown ball at a bag pulls the fielder off the bag, the umpire shall have sole judgement as to whether fielder obstructed the runner.This is the sole judgement of the umpire.
Running out of the Baseline - The baseline is considered a 6 ft zone extending 3 ft left and right of a straight line between bases when a runner is running from one base to the other. However, when a runner is rounding a base, the baseline will be determined by the umpire by the runners path. A runner will be determined out of the baseline when the runner runs outside the accepted boundary of the baseline to avoid a tag or throw by the defensive team and be called out by the umpire. The call is solely in the judgement of the umpire.
If a runner impedes a fielder from fielding a ball (i.e. bumping, pushing or distracting the fielder while the fielder is in the motion of playing a ball), the runner is out and all subsequent runners will return to their base prior to the kick. (i.e. if a runner scores on a runner interference play, the runner must return to their original base and no run is scored). Runners must avoid contact with defenders. The defender, making a play on the ball, has the ultimate right to the base path and the runner must avoid contacting the defender.
A runner may not intentionally yell or distract a fielder from fielding a pop fly. If an umpire determines a runner intentionally distracted a fielder from catching a fly ball, the umpire may issue a warning if the ball is caught, or call the offending runner out and send runners back to their original bases if in the umpire's opinion the runner caused the fielder to drop the pop fly.
If a ball is caught in the air by a fielder, runners must return to their base and "tag-up" before advancing to the next base. If the ball beats a runner to the base they were on before they "tag-up" and the defender controls the ball while in contact with the original base, the runner is out.
In-Field Fly Rule: There is no infield fly rule. A player may NOT intentionally drop a catch-able ball in an attempt to complete a double-play. If a player intentionally drops a ball as determined by the referee, then all players are safe at their next base including the kicker running to 1st base. If the Referee determines that the player accidentally dropped the ball, then play continues via normal rules of play.
Runners are allowed to slide into a base. If the runner slides or ducks to elude the ball and is hit while off the base (including the neck or head), they are out. If a base moves during the slide, the runner shall not be considered off the base as long as they are in the vicinity of the original location of the base.
Runners can advance on a caught ball as long as the runner has tagged their original base after the ball was originally touched by any fielder. One fielder can tip and then catch later or tip to another player, but the runner can tag up when less than 2 outs once the first contact happens between fielder and ball.
Pinch Runners: Pinch runners are allowed only when a player on base is injured. When a player requests a pinch runner, the opponent team selects a player on the requesting team to sub as the pinch runner. The pinch runner must be a male replacing a male or female replacing a female. The requesting player is still part of the game and MUST continue to kick and field if they are one of only 4 females and/or one of only 8 players on the team to maintain an official game.
After a ball is kicked inside the field of play, the ball is considered "live" and runners can advance until the ball is controlled by the roller on the roller's mound or the ball is ruled "out of play" by the umpire.
The catcher must play behind the Kicker until the ball is kicked.
CATCHER INTERFERENCE: The catcher must start the play outside of the kicker's area and behind the kicker (there is a painted box to define this area). If a catcher plays near the line and moves within 2 feet of the strike-zone AND/OR interferes with the kicker's ability to kick the ball in any way, as determined by the umpire, then the kicker will be awarded a Walk.
There is no “overthrow” rule. If the fielding team throws the ball and their teammate does not catch the ball, the runner may proceed at their own risk until such time the runner is out or the ball returns to the pitcher’s area (as determined by the umpire). The only time play will be halted will be if a ball goes into a dead area (over the fence, out of the field of play, or into team “dugout”/area where a fielder is unable to retrieve the ball). At that point, the play will be dead and the umpire will award the base the runners were running to when the ball was deemed dead, and no further runner advancement will occur.
If someone fouls out, the play is dead and no runners can advance. However, if someone catches a foul ball in the air, the runner(s) can advance at their own risk after tagging up, as if it were a normal fly ball.
Umpires are responsible for making calls on balls, strikes, outs, and runs scored for their respective fields, and the umpire’s call is the final decision in all matters.