club sport KICKBALL LEAGUE RULES

Revised 01/08 -- New rules are listed in RED.

NO ALCOHOL ON THE FIELDS OR IN THE DUGOUT. PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE CITY RULES REGARDING THE SPECIFIC FIELD YOU ARE PLAYING ON!!

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.

LINEUPS

-Kicking Lineups must be presented to the umpire before each game. NEW RULE: 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 being made. 

-5 men and 5 women is the standard line up. No two males may bat consecutively.  If two men bat consecutively an automatic out is recorded in between the two male kickers.

-A team must have at least 5 players (with a minimum of one female) to start a game. NOTE: 5 players must be from your own roster. 

-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 kicking order. If the player kicks 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.

-PICKUP PLAYERS. Pickup players are NOT allowed in the tournament. Any pickup players must be signed on a TBCS roster for a team that plays on the same night. Pickups must be brought to the attention of the umpire BEFORE the game or a forfeit may be issued. Teams may pickup up to one player at no penalty in order to field a minimum team number. Any pickups in addition to this or any over the minimum team number  will result in a 2 run penalty per player. If more players from your team show up to allow subs, the free pickup player must be removed or the 2 run penalty taken.

-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 is a 7-0 win.

GAME PLAY

-Time Limit is 55 minutes. The inning in progress at the end of 55 minutes will be the last inning and completed. The ump will enforce this rule and will keep teams informed of time remaining.  NOTE: due to differing circumstances in each and every game, some games will finish short on an hour in length, while others might run over the hour mark. Please respect your ump's call in this matter, as they must keep all games on time in fairness to teams playing later hours and due to facility permit restrictions.  Regular season games may end in a tie.  In the case of rain or other event, the league has the right to call a game as official depending on the length played.

-Pitch to your own team. Pitcher must pitch from within the pitching circle. They must not interfere with the fielding team. If interference is called, the umpire can call the runner out.

-One pitch per kicker. A missed kick, foul ball or a catch on the fly is an out.

-A line may be drawn which the kicker must be behind when contacting the ball. If the kick is made in front of this line, the kicker is out.

-THERE IS NO BUNTING IN KICKBALL! A legitimate effort must be made to kick the ball. Any kick that is intentionally bunted will be counted as an out. This will be a judgment call by the umpire on whether a legitimate effort was made. A kick that is mis-hit will not be called a bunt. This is the sole discretion of the umpire.  Questioning of this judgment can lead to ejection or additional bases being awarded. Calling "BUNT" can lead to a runner being called safe or player ejections!!!  This is the referee's call to make and will be left to his or her discretion.

-No leadoffs. Runners cannot tag up until a fly ball is caught. No stealing bases. Charging defensive players is not allowed and may result in an out and/or ejection. Offensive players CANNOT initiate contact with defensive players.

-There is a 10 run inning rule. When a team brings in the 10th run, it is counted and is also the 4th out. If a team is behind with 10 minutes or less remaining in the game, then the 10 run rule does not apply. (This DOES NOT apply during playoffs, see below).

-Each team gets 4 outs per inning. 

-Outs can be made by throwing to the baseman or by hitting the runner with the ball. Runners may only be hit from the shoulders down. Throws to hit the runner must be made 2 HANDED and come from below the shoulders (like a basketball chest pass or 2 handed underhand throw). No overhead throws, even 2 handed, are allowed. Any blatantly hard or dangerous throw, regardless of how it is thrown, can result in the ejection of the player. A throw that is over handed or one handed intended for a fielder that contacts the runner is NOT an out. The umpires discretion will be used in whether or not a throw is legal. If a player ducks into a throw that was aimed below the shoulders, the runner is out.

-There can be a max of 10 fielders and there cannot be more than 5 men in the field. There can be no more than 6 infielders (including the catcher), and no one may be positioned between the pitcher and home plate.  "The pitcher" is determined by an imaginary line drawn from first to third. All infielders must stay behind this line until the ball is KICKED.

-Outfielders must stay in the outfield grass until the ball is kicked (at Gadsden SB fields), regardless of who is up to kick. If this rule is violated, the ball remains alive until the umpire calls time out. The umpire will then decide which is more advantageous to the kicking team, the kicked ball or an automatic pass to first base.

-Sliding is allowed.

-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 try to catch a fly ball in an effort to make a double play, both runners are safe.

-The play is not dead until the ump calls time or the ball is in the possession of the pitcher.

PLAYER CONDUCT

-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.

-EJECTIONS:  Players ejected from any league may be required to serve a one game suspension pending league review. 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.

-Any player or fan is encouraged to rout for their own team but routing 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.

PLAYOFFS

-TOURNAMENT is single elimination with seeding based on regular season standings. All teams make the tournament.

-TOURNAMENT SEEDINGS will be based on the following criteria (based on won-lost percentage where applicable): 1) winning percentage, 2) head-to-head play, 3) best record vs. common opponents,  4) best combined ranking among league teams in runs scored and runs allowed,  5) coin flip.

-Sometimes a team may play more then the 7 regular season games due to an odd number of teams.  If the team plays an 8th game the scores and win/loss for the 8th game will not count toward playoff standings for that team (just the team with 7 games).

-TOURNAMENT time: There will be extra innings during tournament 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). CHAMPIONSHIP GAME has no set number of innings, but the TOURNAMENT RUN RULE will apply.

-TOURNAMENT Run Rule. There is a 10 run rule after 7 innings. (Playoffs ONLY!)

-All players, including added players, must sign the roster waiver BEFORE the final game of the season 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 in the tournament may result in a forfeit. This call will be made by TBCS staff. Pickup players are NOT allowed in the tournament.

ROSTER MANAGEMENT

-Club Sport has the right to add to your team until you reach the advertised minimum number of players. If you wish to have less you may pay the TEAM price or buy extra roster spots at the membership rate. You may have more than the roster minimum, you just need to advise the TBCS office prior to league payment to reserve spots.

-If you need to add players to your roster during the season you may do so at a prorated rate, contact the TBCS office for details.  You may also replace injured or no-show players, contact the TBCS office for details.

-TBCS is not responsible for any refunds at any time during the season. If a party cannot continue the season, it is the responsibility of that party to replace themselves on the roster if they so choose. Also they must notify the TBCS office of the change.

- If your team is making a team payment, after the first week members may only add to the team for no charge by contacting the Club Sport office prior to game day. Any additions made at the field to rosters with team payments will be $10 a player, regardless of membership status.

MISCELLANEOUS

-No jewelry can be worn during the games, for the safety of all players.

-Cleats: No metal spikes are allowed. Wearing Metal cleats is an ejectable offense.

-ALL TEAMS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN TRASH!!!

-TBCS reserves the right to adjust and/or insert rules due to game day time restrictions or to ensure fair play.

-Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!!