Kickball Rules


The first and foremost goal of Kickball is to HAVE FUN. We’re looking to provide you with a fair, safe, and fun environment. Enjoy yourself, make new friends, and kick that little ball into the middle of next week! And remember, we are all just a bunch of grown-ups playing a kids game and are probably overcompensating for the fact that all of us at one time or another were picked last as a kid, and it sucked.

Summary of Kickball Rules

The important stuff you should know

  • In general, softball rules apply to kickball rules. 
  • No unsportsmanlike conduct (it’s only kickball y’all).
  • All players must sign a waiver before being eligible to play (we will provide this when you arrive).
  • Metal spikes/cleats are not allowed. Rubber cleats are fine.
  • All games are seven innings or a time limit of 50 minutes, whichever comes first. If a game is tied at the end of 7 innings, extra innings may be played.
  • All defensive players must stay in the same position that they started the inning playing, except in the case of injury
  • Teams must kick their fully attended roster and maintain a 1 male - 1 female rotation in the line-up.
  • To foster an inclusive and respectful atmosphere, we invite players identifying as 'nonbinary' to engage in kickball while selecting a gender role of their preference throughout the entire game. Recognizing that kickball may have some outdated gender norm rules, we've adopted this approach temporarily until a comprehensive update can be made to the game.
  • BUNTING IS LEGAL, but a few rules apply:
  • All bunts must be originally kicked from on or behind the plate.
  • All bunts must travel past the buntline or it is considered a foul ball.
  • You can throw the ball at the runner to ‘tag’ them out.
  • If a runner intentionally or unintentionally gets hit by the ball before safely getting to base then that player is ruled out, however a thrown ball that hits the ground before making contact with the runner is invalid.
  • Runners must be hit ABOVE the knees and BELOW the neck.
  • There is ABSOLUTELY NO DIVING OR SLIDING ALLOWED BY THE BASE RUNNER! 
  • Getting injured playing a game of kickball is not a cool story.

A few other important notes

  • Blocking the Plate: a runner has the right to an unobstructed path to a base. If you’re playing defense do not stand on the base or you will risk injury for yourself and the runner. Please stand in front of the base to catch the ball and make on play, not ON the base.
  • Foul Balls: If you attempt to catch a foul ball and miss, it remains foul. If a player bunts a ball that's close to becoming 'fair' and the catcher prevents it from crossing the buntline or taps it out of bounds, the ball stays in play.
  • Defending the Bunt: If the ball stops on its own and does not pass the bunt line, it's considered foul. If the ball does not pass the bunt line because the defending team picks up the ball, then the ball is fair and in play.
  • Tagging Up: While on a base, players must wait until the kicker kicks the ball. Tagging up is when a baserunner touches or stays on their starting base until a fielder first touches a kicked ball. Baserunners must tag up if the ball is caught before it bounces, and they are out if a fielder with the ball touches their base before they do. After tagging up, runners can try to advance, even if the ball was caught in foul territory.
  • Forced Outs vs. Not Forced Outs: ​​A forced out happens when a baserunner is required to leave their current base because the kicker is heading to that base. To achieve a forced out, the defending team must tag the base with the ball before the baserunner gets there, resulting in the baserunner being called out. If it's not a 'forced out,' the defense must tag the players with the ball.
  • Respecting the Umpire's Calls: Judgment calls made by the umpires shall not be contested.Their decisions are based on their best judgment, and to maintain fairness in the game, their calls are final.
  • Infield Fly Rule: Infield Fly Rule: The infield fly rule treats certain fly balls as though caught, before the ball is caught, even if the infielder fails to catch it or drops it on purpose. The umpire's declaration of an infield fly means that the batter is out (and all force plays are removed) regardless of whether the ball is caught. The rule exists solely to prevent the defense from executing a double play or triple play by deliberately failing to catch a ball that an infielder could catch with ordinary effort.

Deep Dive of the Rules

For topics that may require more clarity

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

  • Any individual who by his/her misconduct (profanity, gestures, physical or verbal abuse toward officials, players, etc.) causes himself/herself to be removed from a game is automatically ineligible to participate for the remainder of that game, any other games that day and one full week of games. That person may also be disqualified for future games/seasons.
  • Judgment calls made by the hosts or umpires shall NOT be contested.

FUNDAMENTALS

  • In general, softball rules apply to kickball rules.
  • All players must sign a waiver before being eligible to play (this will be provided when you arrive).
  • All games will be played on softball diamonds or open fields with bases approximately sixty (60) feet apart. The pitching rubber is 40 feet from the home plate, along the home/second base diagonal.
  • 10-inch rubber kickball.  Balls and bases will be provided by game coordinators.
  • Metal spikes/cleats are not allowed at any time.  

GAME DURATION

  • All games are SEVEN innings or a time limit of 50 minutes, whichever comes first 
  • Games are to be started on time as scheduled. 
  • All innings once started must be finished.
  • If a game is tied at the end of 7 innings, extra innings may be played.

MERCY RULES

  • Teams may score a maximum of 10 runs each inning. Teams may score an unlimited number of runs in the final declared inning.
  • If a team trails by 20 or more runs at the end of the 3rd inning, 15 after the 4th, or 10 after the 5th or later, the game may end on a mercy rule unless team captains want to continue the game.

FUNDAMENTALS

  • In general, softball rules apply to kickball rules.
  • All players must sign a waiver before being eligible to play (this will be provided when you arrive).
  • All games will be played on softball diamonds or open fields with bases approximately sixty (60) feet apart. The pitching rubber is 40 feet from the home plate, along the home/second base diagonal.
  • 10-inch rubber kickball.  Balls and bases will be provided by game coordinators.
  • Metal spikes/cleats are not allowed at any time.  

OFFENSIVE LINEUP REQUIREMENTS

  • Teams must kick their fully attended roster, but not everyone has to play defense if they do not want to. Teams must also have their lineup written down and present to the other team should they request it. There are no “Designated Fielders.”
  • Teams must maintain a 1 male - 1 female rotation in the line-up.  
  • To foster an inclusive and respectful atmosphere, we invite players identifying as 'nonbinary' to engage in kickball while selecting a gender role of their preference throughout the entire game. Recognizing that kickball may have some outdated gender norm rules, we've adopted this approach temporarily until a comprehensive update can be made to the game.
  • All players must kick in the same designated order as the initial lineup.

DEFENSIVE LINEUP REQUIREMENTS

  • A normal kickball defensive lineup consists of 9 players in some cases there are fewer. 
  • The minimum number of defensive players with which a team can take the field is 7.
  • The minimum number of female players with which a team can take the field is 4. If only 7 defensive players are present, then the minimum number of females players with which a team can take the field is 2.
  • All teams must field a catcher (unless playing with 7).
  • All defensive players must stay in the same position that they started the inning playing. 
  • Outfielders must stay on grass or designated area of turf until the ball is kicked.
  • Outfielders cannot play in the infield, but infielders can play in the outfield.
  • If a runner advances on an overthrow, that runner only gets one base. However, Runners will NOT automatically get a base on an overthrow if they choose not to advance on the next base.
  • There can only be 5 players in the infield when the ball is kicked by an opposing team. This includes the pitcher but NOT the catcher.

How the Game is Played

KICKING AND BUNTING

  • All kicks must be made by the foot (below the knee).
  • All kicks must be made on or behind home plate. Any kick made in front of home plate will result in a dead ball situation and a foul will be assessed to the kicker’s strike/foul count. If the ball is caught in the air, the kicker is out.
  • “Double kicking” the ball in fair territory will result in a foul ball.
  • All batters start their at-bat with 1 ball and 1 strike. 
  • Defensive players cannot intentionally drop a ball. If the umpire determines the defensive player intentionally dropped a ball, the kicker is safe AND RUNNER WILL ADVANCE A BASE.
  • All bunts must be originally kicked from on or behind the plate.
  • All bunts must travel past the buntline or it is considered a foul ball. 

BASERUNNING

  • If a runner intentionally or unintentionally gets hit by the ball before safely getting to base then that player is ruled out. If the ball hits a player after it hits the ground, then it’s invalid.
  • Runners must be hit ABOVE the knees and BELOW the neck.
  • Any article of clothing, item hanging from a player, or a player's hair (assuming it doesn't hit their head) hit by the ball will be ruled out.
  • Intentional Head Shots:  Intentional headshots will result in immediate ejection, if not, worse.
  • Accidental Head Shots:  If a player is accidentally struck in the head by a thrown ball, the runner will be considered SAFE.  This will result in a dead ball situation, and all runners will be allowed to advance to the bases that they were attempting to achieve at the point of the foul.
  • If the runner intentionally uses his/her head/knee to block the ball or is struck in the head/knee as a result of ducking, running, jumping, etc, the runner is OUT. This will be left to the discretion of the coordinator/umpire on duty
  • Runners may safely overrun 1st base provided that they come straight back to the base after turning either direction and do not indicate any intention to run to 2nd base.
  • Runners hindered by a fielder NOT making a play on a ball shall be safe and will be awarded the base to which he/she was running.
  • Runners must make every effort to avoid contact with a fielder trying to make a play on the ball, otherwise, they will be called out if interfering.
  • Tagging up on a caught fly ball is legal provided that the runner tags his/her base of origin after the ball is touched.  If a defender touches the ball, then bobbles it, the runner is allowed to leave his/her base once the ball was touched originally.
  • On most fields, there is an orange safety bag at 1st base or there is a second base place in the foul territory next to 1st base. That base is used for the kicker running to 1st base and the white bag is for the fielder. If the fielder blocks the orange bag even if attempting to catch an errant throw and interferes with the kicker’s ability to reach the base, the kicker will be awarded 1st base
  • There is ABSOLUTELY NO DIVING OR SLIDING ALLOWED BY THE BASE RUNNER! If they slide or dive they will be ruled out.

DEFENDING THE BUNT

  • The Pitcher’s Strip: an imaginary line extending from 1st to 3rd base and crossing the pitcher’s rubber. No player may cross in front of the Pitcher’s Strip before the ball is struck by the kicker. Additionally, no player may advance towards the Pitcher's Strip with the intent of carrying forward momentum past the Pitcher's Strip once the ball is kicked (i.e. a running start). The 1st violation of this rule will result in a warning. Further violations will result in the kicker being offered 1st base, all base runners being allowed to advance to the next base, and a warning being issued to the offending defensive player. Multiple violations of this rule may result in a player being ejected from the game.
  • The Catcher’s Zone: The catcher must remain within arm’s length of the backstop until the ball is kicked. The first violation of this rule will result in a warning. Further violations will result in the kicker being offered 1st base, all base runners being allowed to advance to the next base, and a warning being issued to the offending defensive player. Multiple violations of this rule may result in a player being ejected from the game.

BALLS AND WALKS

  • There are FOUR (4) balls in Kickball, however when you approach the plate, you start with one ball already (it’s weird, I know).
  • Walks may be awarded by the coordinator if pitches are consistently and excessively bouncy.  SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS ON THE STRIKE ZONE.
  • There are no intentional walks in kickball.
  • Pitchers who repeatedly throw unkickable pitches may be removed from pitching at the request of the coordinator/umpire. Excessively slow pitching is not allowed (umpires discretion).
  • A pitcher must pitch from the mound and not pass the designated line at the front of the mound. Pitches must bounce twice, or roll to the designated strike zone in order to be fair.
  • Pitches may not be higher than 12 inches above the ground.
    ‍

STRIKES AND FOUL BALLS

  • If a game is played on one of the official softball fields, there are two white lines roughly 6 inches from each side of the plate – this is the STRIKE ZONE A strike is any ball that doesn’t bounce higher than the 1 foot and is pitched between the lines and over the plate.
  • If a game is played on one of the all-grass fields, two flat cones will be placed 6 inches foot from each side of the plate – this is the STRIKE ZONE. A strike is any ball that doesn’t bounce higher than 1 foot and is pitched between the cones and over the plate.
  • A strike is any pitch that is attempted at and missed by the kicker. A foul ball also counts as a strike (3 fouls is an out).

A FOUL BALL IS:

  • Any ball that is kicked out of play.
  • Any ball that lands inside the 1st/3rd baseline, but crosses outside the line before passing over any portion of the actual 1st or 3rd base.
  • Any ball that is kicked by the kicker in front of home plate.
  • Any bunt that doesn't pass the buntline.
  • If a “double kicked” ball should hit the kicker while he/she is in fair territory, the kicker is OUT, play is stopped, and any runners must return to their base(s) of origin.

AN OUT IS:

  • Any 3rd strike or 3rd foul is an out.
  • Any ball, fair or foul, that is caught on the fly (within the field of play) before touching the ground is an out.
  • On any caught fly ball, if a base runner fails to “tag up” or return to his/her base of origin before the defense can touch said base of origin, the runner is out.
  • If the defense, while in full possession of the ball, tags a base to which a runner is forced to run before the runner gets to said base, the runner is out.
  • Any runner who interferes with a fielder trying to make a play on a ball is out. This includes unsportsmanlike conduct, yelling, heckling, or anything else a player might do to try to intentionally distract a fielder and may be grounds for ejection from the game.
  • Leading off of the base and/or stealing of bases is illegal. Players caught leading off of the base or attempting to steal a base will be called out.
  • Any runner struck by a ball, intentionally or unintentionally, while that runner is not safely on a base results in an out. However, the ball must hit them between the knee and shoulders. If it does not, the player is safe. The exception to this rule is if a runner is in a motion that makes a hit above the shoulders or below the knee unnatural. Example - If a player ducks into a thrown ball or their feet are above their knee during a stride. 

PEG-OUTS:

Yes, this is that same glorious playground game that allowed you to throw the ball at your friends in order to get them out! However, keep the following guidelines in mind when doing so:
  • Sportsmanship ALWAYS comes first. Throwing the ball at your opponents with the full force of your existence when a simple tap or tag would have sufficed will not be tolerated and may be grounds for immediate ejection from the game.
  • Runners must be hit ABOVE the knees and BELOW the neck.
  • Any article of clothing, item hanging from a player, or a player's hair (assuming it doesn't hit their head) hit by the ball will be ruled out.
  • Intentional Head Shots:  Intentional headshots will result in immediate ejection, if not, worse.
  • Accidental Head Shots:  If a player is accidentally struck in the head by a thrown ball, the runner will be considered SAFE.  This will result in a dead ball situation, and all runners will be allowed to advance to the bases that they were attempting to achieve at the point of the foul.
  • If the runner intentionally uses his/her head/knee to block the ball or is struck in the head/knee as a result of ducking, diving, sliding, jumping, etc, the runner is OUT.  This will be left to the discretion of the coordinator/umpire on duty.
  • Any overly reckless, aggressive, or dangerous conduct may result in the player being ejected from the game.
  • If the ball hits the ground before hitting the player, it doesn’t count.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Blocking the Plate: a runner has the right to an unobstructed path to a base. If you’re playing defense do not stand on the base or you will risk injury for yourself and the runner. Please stand in front of the base to catch the ball and make on play, not ON the base.
  • Foul Balls: If you attempt to catch a foul ball and miss, it remains foul. If a player bunts a ball that's close to becoming 'fair' and the catcher prevents it from crossing the buntline or taps it out of bounds, the ball stays in play.
  • Tagging Up:  While on a base, players must wait until the kicker kicks the ball. If the ball is airborne, the base runner is only allowed to move after the defending team makes contact in an attempt to catch it. Leaving prematurely could result in being called out. This rule is in place to uphold fair play.
  • Forced Outs vs. Not Forced Outs: ​​A forced out happens when a baserunner is required to leave their current base because the kicker is heading to that base. To achieve a forced out, the defending team must tag the base with the ball before the baserunner gets there, resulting in the baserunner being called out. If it's not a 'forced out,' the defense must also tag the players.
  • Respecting the Umpire's Calls: Judgment calls made by the umpires shall not be contested.Their decisions are based on their best judgment, and to maintain fairness in the game, their calls are final.
  • Infield Fly Rule: The infield fly rule treats certain fly balls as though caught, before the ball is caught, even if the infielder fails to catch it or drops it on purpose. The umpire's declaration of an infield fly means that the batter is out (and all force plays are removed) regardless of whether the ball is caught. The rule exists solely to prevent the defense from executing a double play or triple play by deliberately failing to catch a ball that an infielder could catch with ordinary effort.
  • Any excessive delays on the part of the offense or defense and the umpire may award the kicker a base or the kicker a strike.
  • Where applicable, kickball rules will mirror those of softball.