Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Adult Kickball Rules and Regulations

Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Adult Kickball Rules and Regulations The official rules of all leagues will be those of the WAKA Kickball, with supplemental Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Rules and Regulations being added. Any rule or regulation not covered will be left to the discretion of Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department. Basis of the Game Kickball is a simple game consisting of two teams, bases, and a big red ball. Played like baseball, the object is to score more runs than the opposing team. In short, games are played with 10 fielders, 7 innings, 2 base coaches, no head shots, one base on an overthrow, forced outs, and bunting is allowed so get a good catcher on your team. The following rules will govern all kickball games. For the enjoyment of all, proper respect and civility is required of all participants toward one another. Fighting is not allowed or tolerated. Rosters: A) Rosters are limited to 20 players. A roster must be e-mailed to Chris Carr (carrc@charlottesville.org) to ensure leagues are set up fairly. The email shall detail first/last names of members of the team. Teams will sign the physical roster/waiver sheet at their first game. The maximum number of team tee shirts given to each team shall be 15. B) Player must be 15 years of age prior to playing in his/her first game. Players between 15 and 17 must have parent s written permission. This must be turned in prior to participation. C) Players are permitted to play for one team per day of the week and cannot switch from one team to another that play on the same day unless the coach of his/her original team releases him/her. D) Players can be replaced up until the last two games of the regular season. No roster changes will be allowed after that point or during league playoffs. E) A line-up card shall be submitted to an umpire prior to the start of each game. F) During playoffs, each team s line-up card will be checked against their roster prior to the start of the game to ensure player eligibility. G) To add a player to your team, coaches must e-mail changes to Chris Carr or Darrius Turner at (carrc@charlottesville.org or turnerd@charlottesville.org); or come by the office and notify staff of roster change. Any new changes must be done prior to 4:00 p.m. on game day before he/she is eligible to participate. Forfeits: A) Teams can start or continue a game with 8 players (as each player gets there, he/she is added at the bottom of line-up card). Once the game begins and a player(s) has to leave the game for anything other than an injury, those vacant line-up spots will be outs per batting rotation (unless player is subbed out). B) Teams will have until 5 minutes after the scheduled game time to start the game. Teams unable to field 8 players at game time will be allowed to start play as the visiting team. Outs will be taken in the vacant kicking order spots up until the 8 th kicker (as each player

gets there, he/she is added at the bottom of line-up card). Once 3 outs have been made, the team taking the field must have 8 players on the field. Failure to field 8 players at this time will result in a forfeit. C) Coaches have one minute after preceding game has ended and coach has signed score card or after scheduled game time to be on the field to go over coin toss. D) In case of forfeit, the succeeding game will start at regular scheduled game time (game may start earlier if both coaches agree). UMPIRES: A) Games must be officiated by at least one authorized umpire. They will govern all game play and issues all final rulings, and has final authority on equipment issues. B) Prior to each game, the umpire must conduct a meeting with the captains of each team to do the coin flip, address any ground rules in effect, ensure the exchange of team lineups, and to explain what is to be expected on the field in regards to sportsmanship. C) Umpires have jurisdiction over play and may: a. Call a timeout b. Call off a game due to weather, darkness, or other cause at the umpire s discretion c. Penalize a player, including game ejection, for a qualified reason. This includes but is not limited to unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting, delay of game and excessive verbal abuse. Ejected participants must leave the game facility (parking lot included) and may not return to the game. D) Umpires have jurisdiction over play and must: a. Cancel the game is lightning is seen, or delay it until safe to continue b. Keep a record of the running and final game score SPECIAL RULES: A) Home team will be decided by a coin toss (Exception League Playoffs- The higher ranked team will be the home team). Coaches must turn in their line-up cards to the umpire during the coin toss. The fifty-five minute time limit starts at the coin toss. No new inning will begin after fifty-five minutes unless the game is tied. Exception: League Playoffs-No time limit. B) If a game is tied at the end of regulation play or the time limit has expired (complete 5 innings), the game will end. If game does not reach a complete 5 innings due to time limit or inclement weather, the game will be unofficial and a new game will be rescheduled. C) 15 run slaughter rule applies after 4 innings (3 ½ innings if home team is winning). D) 10 run slaughter rule applies after 5 innings (4 ½ innings if home team is winning). E) Extra player-men's & Women's -- 20 batters -- the extra players can be added at any time during the game. If using the E.P. any 10 of the 20 players can play defense at any given time without having to report to umpire (this is not a sub, the E.P. is already in the ball game). F) No Stealing G) No metal cleats allowed. Cleats must be rubber or plastic and cannot have exposed metal on the tips. H) Courtesy Runner

a. It can be anybody on the team, whether they are in the line-up or not. b. If the courtesy runner that is on a base as the courtesy runner and he/she come up to kick, it is an out. If this occurs, the runner will stay on base and the next batter will kick in the line-up. c. Teams are allowed one courtesy runner per inning, not 1 per gender. d. Males must serve as courtesy runners for males and females must serve as courtesy runners for females. BALLS: All balls will be provided by Charlottesville Parks and Recreation and will be available at the field when you show up to play. A ball cannot be changed during an inning unless it is kicked out of play or becomes unplayable. All balls that are kicked out of play need to be returned by the teams. LINE-UP RULES: A) All participating players must appear on written lineups, reflecting that game s kicking order, to be exchanged between the captains of each team before play begins. B) A team may start the game with a maximum of 10 players and a minimum of eight players on the field. A team may have a maximum of 20 players at a game. This shall consist of a minimum of 3 females for 8 & 9 person rosters and 4 females for 10+ person rosters. There are no restrictions for maximum female participants in the line-up. Failure to field a team with the minimum roster requirements will result in a forfeited game. Legal Line-Up Examples: 3 males/5 females in line-up 5 males/3 females in line-up 4 males/4 females in line-up 5 males/4 females in line-up 6 males/4 females in line-up Illegal Line-Up Examples: 6 males/2 females in line-up 7 males/2 females in line-up 7 males/3 females in line-up C) No more than 2 males can ever kick in succession. In the event that a team has more males and needs to kick more than 2 males in succession, an out will be taken prior to the third male coming up to kick. The out is taken in the vacant female spot(s) in the batting order. D) Defensive Alignment Requirement (if team has 10 players)--infield (defined as the dirt portion of the field within fair territory): 1 female/1 male; Outfield (defined as the grass portion of the field within fair territory); 1 females/1 male. E) Extra player-co-rec - 20 batters -- If using the E.P. in co-rec, all 20 must kick. The extra players can be added at any time during the game. If using the E.P. any 10 of the 20 players can play defense at any given time without having to report to umpire (this is not a sub, the E.P's. are already in the ball game). F) A claim of improper kicking order must be made to the umpire who will make the final determination. Such a claim must contain two parts: a. That the written kicking order was exchanged at the beginning of the game.

b. That the claim is made on the field no sooner than the first pitch thrown to the accused wrong kicker, and no later than the first pitch thrown to the subsequent kicker. c. The burden of proof rests with the accused team. Any resulting play is nullified by a finding of improper kicking order, with an out recorded of the wrong kicker. A player removed from the kicking order for ejection, injury, illness, or any reason does not constitute an improper kicking order. GAME PLAY REGULATION GAMES A) Regulation games last seven (7) innings a. If a game is tied at the end of regulation play or the time limit has expired (complete innings), the game will continue in a one-pitch format until a winner is declared. In one-pitch format, if the pitch is a called strike - the batter is out. If the pitch is a ball - the batter is issued a walk: If the pitch is fouled off - the batter is out. In addition, each team will start with a runner on second base to start each extra inning following the seven completed innings or the time-limit. b. If the Home team already leads the game when the bottom of the final inning is reached, that team wins the game instantly and the game is over. c. If the Home team takes the lead during the bottom of the final inning, that team wins instantly and the game is over. B) A game that is called off by the umpire after five (5) full innings of play shall be considered a regulation game. The game score at the end of the last full inning shall determine the winner. Regulation games called off that end in a tie shall be marked as a tie. C) A game that is called off by the umpire for any reason before five (5) full innings of play shall not be considered a regulation game and a new game may be rescheduled. PITCHING, CATCHING AND FIELDING A) Balls must be pitched by hand. Pitches much be straight. A curved pitch is illegal and will be called a ball. However, the ball speed after pitch should be a reasonable speed. B) Proper field position must be maintained by all fielders while a pitch is in progress, and until the pitched ball reaches the kicker. Failure to be properly positioned will result in a Position Warning to the team that caused the infraction. The team s second and each subsequent Position infraction by that team that game will result in the kicker being awarded first base regardless of the outcome of the kick. C) Proper Field Position is: a. Meant for Fielders: All fielders besides the catcher must remain in fair territory behind the 1 st -3 rd base diagonal i. Fielders playing 1 st and 3 rd base must begin each play behind the 30 foot bunt line b. For Pitchers: i. The pitcher must start the act of pitching with at least one foot within the pitching mound ii. The pitcher must have at least one foot on or directly behind the pitching strip when releasing the ball iii. No part of the pitcher s front foot may be in front of or across the front edge of the pitching strip c. For Catchers

i. The catcher must be positioned within or directly behind the kicking box and behind the horizontal plane of the kicker, parallel to the front edge of home plate. ii. The catcher may not make contact with the kicker, nor position so closely to the kicker as to restrict the kicking motion. iii. The kicker may not trigger a position violation through maneuvers judged by the umpire to be deliberately tricky or unsportsmanlike KICKING: A) All kicks must be made by foot or leg, below knee level. Any ball touched by the foot or leg below the knee level is a kick. B) All kicks must occur: a. At or behind home plate. The kicker may step on home plate to kick, however no part of the planted foot may be in front of or cross the front edge of the home plate. b. Within the kicking box. The kicker must have at least a portion of the plant foot within the kicking box during the kick. The kicker may line up outside of the kicking box. C) Bunts are legal as long as they reach the 30 foot bunt line (which will be marked on the foul lines). If a bunt does not reach the bunt line, play will result in a foul and batter must attempt another kick unless that was their last foul. RUNNING AND SCORING: A) Runners must stay within the baseline. Any runner outside the baseline is out. a. Runners may choose their path from one base to the next, and may follow a natural running arc b. Runners are free to change course to avoid interference with a fielder making a play c. When attempting to avoid a ball tag, runners may move no more than 4 feet out of their established path. d. Runners may not attempt to distract fielders. IE Saying I ve got it! as they run past a fielder attempting to catch the ball. The runner will be ruled out and the play ended. B) Obstruction-Fielders may be within the baseline when doing so is necessary to make an active play on the ball, but must otherwise shall stay out of the baseline. Runners hindered by any fielder within the baseline, not making an active play for the ball, shall be safe at the base to which they were running. Runners may choose to advance beyond this base while the ball is still in play. C) Neither leading off base, nor stealing a base is allowed. A runner may advance once the ball is kicked. A runner off base when the ball is kicked is out. D) Hitting a runner s neck or head with the ball is not allowed, except when the runner is sliding or ducks. Any runner hit in the neck or head shall be considered safe at the base they were running toward when the ball hits the runner. If the runner intentionally uses the head or neck to block the ball, and is so call be the umpire, the runner is out. E) A tag-up is a requirement to retouch or stay on a base until a kicked then caught ball is first touched by a fielder. After a tag-up a runner may advance. A runner failing to tag-up as required is out. F) All ties will go to the runner. Runners traveling from home plate may overrun first base, and may only be tagged out if actively attempting to advance to second base.

G) Base Running on Overthrows: a. An overthrow is a ball thrown, kicked, or deflected out of play while making a defensive play toward a player or base b. A runner may advance only one base beyond the base the runner is on or running toward when the ball travels out of play. c. One base on an overthrow is a restriction on the runner not an automatic right for the runner to advance; if any fielder attempts to make an out prior to returning the ball to the pitcher, runners may commence base running. H) Running past another runner is not allowed. The passing runner is out. I) A run scores when a runner touches home plate before the third out is made, EXCEPT that no run can score when the third out is made during a force play situation, or when the kicker is put out before touching first base. At the end of a game the team with the most runes wins. J) When a base is displaced during play, any runner is safe while in contact with the base s original and correct location. All displaced bases should be restored at the end of each play. STRIKES: A) A count of three (3) strikes is an out. B) A strike is: a. A pitch that is not kicked and is not called a ball that enters any part of the strike zone. i. The strike zone is 1 foot wide on either side of home plate and 6 inches above home plate. b. An attempted kick missed by the kicker inside or outside of the strike zone BALLS: A) A count of four (4) balls advances the kicker to first base, with the exception of fourpitch walks. B) A ball is: a. A pitch outside of the strike zone as judged by the Umpire where a kick is not attempted. b. A pitched ball that does not touch the ground at least twice or roll before reaching the kicking box. c. A pitched ball that exceeds 6 inches in height from the bottom of the ball as it enters the kicking box d. A pitched ball that exceeds 6 inches in height from the bottom of the ball at any time while passing through the kicking box, prior to reaching the kicker. e. A pitched ball that is higher than 6 inches at the plate C) If a male player walks and a female player is on deck, the female player does not get the option to take first base automatically. She must kick during her at-bat. FAIRS AND FOULS: A) A count of three (3) fouls is an out. Foul balls count as strikes, any combination of 3 strikes/fouls will result in an out. B) A foul ball is:

a. A kicked ball first touching the ground in foul territory. b. A kicked ball first touching a fielder or umpire wholly in foul territory, while the ball is over foul territory. c. A kicked ball landing in fair territory, but touching the ground in foul territory on its own at any time before crossing 1 st or 3 rd base. d. A kicked ball landing in fair territory, then entering foul territory before crossing 1 st or 3 rd base, and touching a fielder or umpire wholly in foul territory. e. A ball put into play with any part of the kicker s body at or above the kicker s hip level f. A kicked ball touched more than once or stopped in the kicking box by the kicker. g. A kicked ball first touching a permanent object, such as a batting cage or fence. h. A kicked ball first touching a fielder in front of the kicker s box prior to the ball crossing into fair territory. C) A fair ball is: a. A kicked ball landing and remaining in fair territory. b. A kicked ball landing in fair territory then traveling into foul territory at or beyond 1 st or 3 rd base. c. A kicked ball first touching a player or umpire in fair territory. d. A kicked ball landing in fair territory, then touched by a participant in fair territory before touching the ground in foul territory. e. A kicked ball that touches a runner before touching the ground in foul territory. f. A kicked ball that touches the kicker once outside the kicking box before touching the ground in foul territory. BALL IN PLAY A) Once the pitcher has the ball in control and retains possession on the mound, the play ends. Runners who are off base at the time and passed the mid-point line between bases may continue to the base. If they are not passed the midway point they must return to the previous base. B) Interference is: a. When any non-fielder or non-permanent object except an umpire or a runner, touches or is touched by a ball in play in fair territory. This interference causes the play to end, and runners shall proceed to the base to which they were headed. b. When any runner on or off base intentionally touches a ball, or hinders a fielder (Contact or verbal). The interference causes the play to end, the runner to be out, and any other runners shall return to the base from which they came, unless forced to advance. c. When any kicker intentionally touches a pitched ball by hand or arm before the pitch is called a Ball or Strike, or intentionally touches a kicked ball to render if foul. This interference causes the play to end, the kicker to be out, and any runners shall return to the base from which they came. C) During any play where a ball is popped or deflates significantly, that play shall be replayed with a properly inflated ball. INJURY AND SUBSTITUTIONS

A) In cases of injury or illness, a time-out may be requested for participant removal and replacement with a teammate as a substitute. If the participant later returns to play, the participant must be inserted in the same written kicking order position previously held. B) If a player is ejected, injured, becomes ill and cannot continue, or leaves the game for any reason, the written kicking order will continue in the same formation, less the removed player. A player removed from the kicking order for injury, illness, or any reason (excluding an ejection) does not constitute an improper kicking order and there is no automatic out when the removed player s spot in the order is reached. C) Injured players who do not kick shall not play in the game. D) Any player removed from the game for injury or illness must be noted on both team written kicking orders and mentioned to the umpire. E) The pitcher and the catcher positions may only be replaced once per inning each, unless injury forces another substitution. SCORE CARDS: The umpire will keep the official score. Check with the umpire after each 1/2 inning to make sure that the score is correct. The winning team is asked to sign and verify the final score. When filling out your line-up card, please use the player s first name initial and last name. POLICY ON POSTPONED GAMES: A) Decisions on postponed games will be made by 4:00 p.m. After 4:00 p.m., call the rain line at (434) 970-3593. Teams should call the rain line and/or check the website at www.charlottesville.org/parksandrec the following day to find out rescheduling information. B) Whenever in doubt, report to the park. C) Umpires reserve the right to cancel a game based on the weather and field conditions. D) Postponed games will be played on the first open date (depending on the night you play). E) Play shall be suspended during rain, lightning, and injuries. No game time will be lost.