Nashville Sport Leagues Kickball Rules

NUMBER OF PLAYERS
Games will be played with ten players on the field (6 male/4 female).

 

NUMBER OF PLAYERS TO START & FINISH A GAME
Teams are required to have one female present to avoid a forfeit. Teams must have a minimum of seven players on the field by the scheduled game time to start and finish the game to avoid a forfeit (max 6 males). Teams will take an out for each missing player. 

 

GRACE PERIOD
Game time is forfeit time. A team that is awarded a forfeit will receive 15 runs.

 

RUN RULE
In order to provide teams with the maximum amount of playing time, run rules will go into effect after the 4th inning is complete.
- 15 runs after 4 innings
- 10 runs after 5 innings 

HOME TEAM
The HOME team is always the team on the right of the schedule listings. The home team will take the field first and bat last. 

 

EQUIPMENT
ALL games will be played with a yellow Mikasa Official Kickball (8.5-inch ball). Nashville Sports Leagues will -provide a game ball. Teams are responsible for providing a warm-up/back up ball at all games. 
- Metal cleats are not allowed
- No knotted head gear

 

GAME LENGTH
Game length is 7 innings or 1 hour. A game will be considered regulation after 4 innings are complete. No inning will start at or after 55 minutes. 

 

TIE BREAKER 
When a game is tied at the end of regulation a new inning is started and a runner (last batted out) is placed on second base. At least one full inning is played for a tiebreaker, allowing each team the same chance to score. The inning will start with 0 outs for each team and resume where the kicking/batting order left off from the previous inning. If the score remains tied, we will play another full inning however, the Runner will be placed on 3rd base and the offense will begin with 1 out. The same process is used in each inning after until a victor emerges.

BATTING ORDER
Men and women must alternate in the batting order. The batting order must be filled out prior to the start of every game. Each team is required to complete and turn in the official line-up card before play. If you start the game short a player that player must be listed in the line by name. The short position in the line up is an out and is required to be taken when that position arrives for an at bat.

 

BASE COACHES
Members of the batting team must coach first and third base. The base coaches are responsible for retrieving foul balls and may switch with other team members to remain in the proper batting order. 

 

PITCHING
The ball must bounce a minimum of two times or roll prior to entering the batter area (front part of home plate). 

 

CATCHERS BOX
The catcher's box is defined as the area behind home plate and the area in between the extended foul lines, behind home plate. 

 

CATCHER
The catcher must remain behind the batter-runner until contact is made. The catcher must remain inside the catcher's box until contact is made. 

 

STRIKE ZONE
The strike zone extends to 1 foot on either side of home plate, to the inside of the kickball, and 1 foot high to the bottom of the kickball the last time the ball bounces prior to crossing the home plate area.

 

STRIKES
Three strikes per out. A strike is a kickball pitched within the strike zone that is not kicked by the kicker, or, an attempted kick missed by the kicker; inside or outside of the strike zone. 

 

BALLS
Four balls will advance the kicker. You may not walk a male to get to a female. If this happens, the male will advance to second base. If there are 2 outs the female has the option of kicking or advancing to first base. With 0 or 1 out the Female will take her turn at the plate. 

 

INFIELDER
A defensive player positioned within the infield at the time the pitcher begins his wind up. 

 

OUTFIELDER
A defensive player positioned in the outfield (grass) at the time the pitcher begins his wind up. 

 

DEFENSIVE POSITIONS
When playing with 10 players, a team must have a minimum of 4 outfielders. Additionally, when a team is playing with 9 players they must have a minimum of 3 outfielders. There must be a minimum of two females in the outfield at all times. Players positioned in the outfield may enter the infield to play a live ball once the batter-runner has made contact with the ball. 

 

OUTFIELD LINE
When a female batter is at bat all outfielders must be positioned behind the white line located 150 from home plate. If a female batter makes contact with the ball and an outfielder is within the 150 line the batter-runner will advance one extra base when the ball is declared dead. 

 

DIAGONAL BASE LINE
The diagonal base attack line is defined as the line stretching diagonally from first to third base. Female Batter - No player may cross the Attack Line prior to a female batter making contact with the ball. Male Batter - Players may cross the attack line once the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. 

 

BUNTING
There is no minimum requirement of the height the ball must travel prior to a defensive player making a play on the ball and the batter when a player attempts to bunt and the ball is popped up. The runner has an opportunity to be put out with liability. 

 

DELAY OF GAME
If you choose to switch a player from the outfield to catcher position the batter/runner will be awarded a ball for every switch. 

 

KICKING
The ball must be kicked with the Foot or Leg at or below the knee. The ball must be kicked at or behind home plate. A strike will be charged if the ball is kicked in front of home plate and the batter/runner was not put out. The strike will not be called until the umpire declares the ball dead. 

 

FAIR BATTED BALL
A fair batted ball making contact with an offensive player is still a live ball. The batter-runner or base runner will be called out and all runners will proceed at at their own risk. 

 

THE BATTER-RUNNER IS OUT
When a coach intentionally interferes with a kicked or thrown ball, or interferes with the defensive team's opportunity to make a play on another runner. A kicked or thrown ball that unintentionally hits a base coach is not considered interference. 

EFFECT: The ball is dead. The runner closest to home is out. Runners not out must return to the last base legally touched at the time of the interference. 

 

RUNNING
Runner must stay within the base line. Fielders must stay out of the base line. If a fielder is making an attempt on a BATTED ball, they have the right to the baseline. They may NOT be in the baseline attempting to catch a THROWN ball. Fielders in the way of any runner in the baseline will cause the runner to be safe at the base they are running to (umpire's discretion). 

 

SAFETY BAG
The safety bag is the double bag positioned at first base. The orange portion of the bag is referred to as the safety bag. All batter/runners must attempt to make contact with the safety bag if any play is being made at first base. If a batter/runner does not make an attempt at the orange safety bag he/she will be declared out. The batter/runner is allowed access to the white portion of the safety bag when the defensive payer has been drawn to make a play on the orange portion of the safety bag. 

 

RUNNER
Leading off is not permitted. A runner off the base when the ball is kicked is out (appeal only). No hitting above the shoulders. If the runner is hit above the shoulders they will be safe and advance one additional base at the end of the play. If the runner intentionally uses their head to block the ball (umpires judgement) the runner is out. The runner must tag up to advance on fly ball outs (once a fielder makes contact with the ball the runners may advance with normal liability to be put out). Runners may overrun first base. One base is allowed on an overthrow. 

 

INFIELD FLY RULE
With less than two outs and runners on first and second or first, second and third a ball kicked in the air, that ends in fair territory, and the defender (infielder) is able to make a reasonable play on the ball an "Infield Fly Rule" call will be made. The batter will be deemed out, regardless of the ball being caught or not, and runners may advance at their own risk.

 

FOULS
On the 2nd foul ball after the 2nd strike, the batter will be ruled OUT. 

A foul ball is a kicked ball landing in foul territory or kicked ball that lands in fair territory and bounces out prior to reaching first or third base, a ball kicked above the knees, or a kicked ball contacting the batter/runner while in foul territory. 

 

OUTS
Three outs by a team will complete the team's half of the inning. An out is: Three strikes or 2nd foul ball after the 2nd strike. A kicked ball caught by a defender before touching the ground. Runner touched by the ball at any time while not on base. A ball tag on a base in which a runner is forced to run. A runner off the base when the ball is kicked.

 

YELLOW CARD
Any time a player receives a yellow card he/she is required to sit for a min of 3 minutes. Any two yellow cards within a game will result in receiving a Red Card.

 

RED CARD
Any time a player receives a red card that player will be removed from the remainder of the game and minimum one additional game. The team with the Red Card will also be required to play a man down for the remainder of the game.