(Updated 11/2016)

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. These are not "professional" kickball umps and mistakes may be made. 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 THE CITY RULES REGARDING THE SPECIFIC FIELD YOU ARE PLAYING ON!!

KICKBALL RULES

1. LINEUP/KICKING

1. Everyone playing must be 21 and must sign the team's roster before playing.
2. 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 only. All substitutions must be given to the umpire as they are made.
3. 6 men and 4 women is the standard line up must appear in the top 10 kickers with the women not batting back to back.  Teams may kick up to 15 kickers with 11-15 containing at least 2 women.  Any teams missing women in their line-up will receive an automatic out for each of the women missing. (IE...Only 2 women show up, team only kicks 8 and has 2 automatic outs in the line-up.  Per the forfeit rules...if you have 0 women from your roster, you will forfeit).
4. A team must have at least 6 players (with a minimum of one female) to start a game.
5. Any player kicking out of order will be considered an automatic out. If a girl shows up late, they may go into any automatic out spot on the line-up card. Captains must notify umpire of any changes to line-up cards.
6. PICKUP PLAYERS: Pickup players are NOT allowed during the playoffs. Any pickup players during the regular season must be signed on a SFCS roster for another team for that particular night/location. Failure to do so, even if discovered after the fact, may result in a forfeit. Pickups must be brought to the attention of the umpire BEFORE the game or may be assessed a 4 run per pick-up player penalty. Teams may pickup up to 2 players at no penalty in order to field a minimum team number (10 fielding players, example: 6 men and 4 women does NOT allow a free pickup). If more players from your team show up to allow subs, the free pickup player must be removed.  ANYONE CAUGHT USING ILLEGAL PLAYERS DURING PLAYOFFS WILL FORFEIT THEIR GAME AUTOMATICALLY.
7. LATE PLAYERS: Any players arriving after the first pitch of the game (not already placed on the line-up card) must be placed at the end of the batting order. If the player bats in any other spot, it is considered an automatic out. If a girl shows up late, they may go into the automatic out spots on the line-up card. Captains must notify umpire of any changes to line-up cards.
8. INJURED PLAYERS: If a player is injured during a game, captain must notify umpire to remove injured player from line-up card with no additional penalty (unless the injured player is a female and her removal falls behind the required ratio -- then becomes an automatic out). An injured player that has been removed from line-up cannot return to the game.

2. GAME PLAY

1. FORFEITS: Forfeit time is game time. Umpire calls game time. 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.
2. GAME TIMES: Games will last 7 innings or 45 minutes in tournament play, whichever comes first.  A new inning starts when the last out is completed.
3. RUN LIMIT/MERCY RULE: There is a 10 run limit per team, per inning.  A mercy rule applies for a lead of 20 or more runs after 3 innings, in which case the team with the lead may continue with the game or take the win.
4. FIELDING RATIOS: Teams may not have more than 6 men in the field defensively.  A full defense of ten players would be 6 men and 4 women (or more women with less men).
5. 10 RUN RULE:. When a team brings in the 10th run of the inning, it is counted and is also the 3rd out. In the final 10 minutes of the game (or the 7th inning), the 10 run per inning rule does not apply (unless the team that has scored 10 runs is up by 20 or more runs). This DOES NOT apply during playoffs (see below).
6. BALLS/STRIKES/FOUL BALLS: Each Kicker starts with a 1 ball & 1 strike.  Kickers are OUT on 3rd strike fouls.  No courtesy fouls.
7. RUNNERS: Stealing bases and "leading" is not allowed (will result in an out). SLIDING IS PERMITTED.  If the ball beats a runner to a forced out base in time to peel off, the runner must do so or both runners may be called out.
8. POSITIONING OF OUTFIELDERS: When a female is kicking, all infielders must stay behind the 1st to 3rd imaginary line.  All outfielders must stay outside of the outfield line or If there is no coed line in the outfield, outfielders must maintain a position a minimum of 10 feet from the infield dirt, until the ball is kicked. If this rule is violated, the following procedure will take place: 1st infraction is a team warning.  2nd infraction is the kicker is awarded 1st base automatically.  
9. BUNTING IS ALLOWED FOR WOMEN ONLY! For women, any kick that crosses the kicking line is legal. Double touching/kicking the ball is a foul or an out if 3rd strike. The catcher must stay behind the kicking line until the ball is kicked and cannot interfere (verbally, physically, or visually) with the kicker. If interference is called the kicker and all runners are awarded a base.
10. PITCHING: All pitchers must pitch from a standing position.  No running or taking steps leading up to a pitch.  Sidearm & underhand rolls allowed, but no overhand.  The ball must roll through the strike zone and not bounce to be a called strike.  
11. STRIKE ZONE - The ball must cross over the designated area to be called a strike.  The designated area is 1 foot to either side of home plate.  The ball may bounce no higher than the height of the ball as it crosses through the the strike zone.  This is a judgement made by the umpire.  If it’s close, kick away!
12. POSITION OF FIELDERS: A defensive player may not impede a runner’s progress by standing in the baseline, unless the defensive player is fielding a batted ball. In this instance the defensive player has the right to field it and the runner must avoid contact with the fielder.  A defensive player may not block a base unless they have possession of the ball. Defensive players must catch the ball, block the base, then make the tag- in this order. Blocking of the bag without the ball shall result in an obstruction call, a warning to the offending player, and the runner will be awarded the base. In games where an orange "extra base" is being used at first base players must step on the orange base when overrunning first base, or when there is a legitimate play at first base (ball still in the infield).  Players stepping on the white base in these instances may be called out.  Balls that have gotten past the infielders and have reached the outfield will allow the runner to touch the white base in an attempt to advance to second base.  When in doubt runners should touch the orange base to avoid being called out.
13. OUTS: Outs can be made by throwing to the baseman or by hitting the runner with the ball.

1. Runners may only be hit from the shoulders down.  
2. Throws to hit the runner must be made underhanded or 2 handed chest pass.
3. No overhand, two handed or sidearm throws are allowed to peg a runner..
4. If the ball contacts a defensive player or the ground, regardless how it was thrown, then touches the runner, the runner will be OUT.  
5. Any blatantly hard or dangerous throw, regardless of how it is thrown, will result in the runner being called safe and may result in the ejection of the player.  The umpire's discretion will be used in whether or not a throw is legal.  
6. If a runner moves in a way that is not a normal running position to escape being out (ie ducks into a throw that was aimed below the shoulders) and is hit above the shoulders, the runner is out.  

3. PLAYER CONDUCT 

1. DISPUTES AND PROTESTS: In a disputed play, only the team captain may discuss the play with the umpire. If a protest is made by the team captain, the captain must notify the umpire and opposing team captain before the next pitch.
2. EJECTIONS:  Players ejected from any league may be required to serve a one game suspension pending league review (this may included a 2nd game of a night if a team has a doubleheader and is the call of SFCS field staff). Fighting, wrestling, or pushing will not be tolerated and may result in multi-game suspensions or ejection from the league altogether. Verbal abuse of officials or players, fighting, foul language, and continued rough play could result in player ejections.
3. FAKE TAGS AND VERBAL/PHYSICAL DISTRACTIONS: No fake tag outs or yelling at a defensive player as they are making a play will be allowed. Doing so MAY result in the runner being called safe (fake tags) or out (verbal distraction) and possible ejection of the offending player.
4. PROFANITY: Profanity will not be tolerated and may be grounds for players being called out or ejected on the discretion of the umpire.
5. FANS: Any player or fan is encouraged to root for their own team but rooting against teams 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. PLAYOFFS

1. FORMAT: Tournament is single elimination with seeding based on regular season standings. All teams make the tournament.
2. SEEDING: Tournament seeding will be based on the following criteria (based on won-lost percentage where applicable): 1) winning percentage, 2) head-to-head play (if 3 or more teams are tied this means head to head record amongst all tied teams),  3) Overall Run Differential for the season 4)  Overall runs scored  5) coin flip.
3. EXTRA INNINGS: Will be in the playoffs only.  No extra innings during regular season games where play ends in a tie. Extra innings will start with a runner on second base (base runner is the one who made the last out in the previous inning) and each kicker receives 1 pitch.
4. UNLIMITED RUNS: There is no 10 run per inning rule.  A team may score an unlimited number of runs per inning.
5. MERCY RULE: There is a 10 run mercy rule after 5 innings.
6. TIMED GAMES: All games will be 45 minutes in length (or 7 innings).  Games will still be subject to the rainout rule.
7. ELIGIBLE PLAYERS: All players, including added players, must sign their team's roster/waiver BEFORE the end of their team's final regular season game in order to be eligible to play in the tournament. If a player is not signed in 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 SFCS staff.  It is the responsibility of the team captains to make sure all players in their line-up card are eligible players for all games.

5. MISC

1. TRASH: ALL TEAMS are responsible for their own garbage.  Please keep the park clean.
2. CLEATS: No metal spikes are allowed. Wearing metal cleats is an ejectable offense.
3. JEWELRY: No jewelry can be worn during the games, for the safety of all players.
4.  SFCS reserves the right to adjust and/or insert rules due to game day time restrictions or to ensure fair play.
5. Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!!

If you are having difficulty interpreting the rules, please ASK!