Bartlett Recreation Center s Adult Kickball League RULES & BY-LAWS (Updated 3-27-2018) The spirit of these rules is to ensure a fun and enjoyable environment for participants and spectators. All games are to be played in a sportsmanlike manner. If necessary, the League Commissioner will address any inconsistencies, discrepancies and misunderstandings in accordance with the spirit of these rules. Any game situation or scenario not covered by the following document will defer to American Softball Association (ASA) rules. These rules are subject to change with short notice. 1) GAMEPLAY: a. Each team must register at least eleven (11) players on the roster with a maximum of twenty (20) players b. No player may be added to the roster after the fifth game. New players must fill out a waiver release form and be added to the roster prior to the fifth game. c. A regulation game lasts 57 minutes. There is no limit on the amount of innings played. The umpire will manage the official time. Games can and will end in a tie. (Exception: Tournament Games) d. A game that is called off by the umpire due to inclement weather or any other reason, after three (3) 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. If a regulation game that is called off after three (3) innings ends in a tie, it will be marked as such. i. A game that is called off by the umpire before three (3) full innings of play shall not be considered a regulation game and will be re-scheduled or resumed at the point the game was stopped, if possible. e. There will be an 8-run rule in effect per inning. When a team scores eight (8) runs in one (1) inning, even if the team has less than three (3) outs, they must stop kicking and switch places with the opposing team. i. Exception: If time has expired and the home team is down by more than 8 runs, that team can score as many runs as to tie the game. f. RUN RULES: Twenty (20) runs ahead after five (5) innings, and each remaining inning. g. Players may only play for one team per division h. Picking up players regular season only i. If you have to pick up non-rostered players, you may not pick up more nonroster players than you have roster players there. ii. You may pick up enough players (male or female) to give you a legal number of players. iii. The game will be played regardless of team members of the opponents. i. No nose rings, eyebrow rings, wrist-watches etc. (Umpire has discretion on jewelry) 2) TEAMS & LINEUPS: a. PLAYING WITH EIGHT (8) PLAYERS: i. If fielding the minimum of eight (8) players, each team must have at least three (3) men. If a team cannot field at least three men (with five (5) women) or at least four (4) women (with four (4) men), that team will forfeit the game. Teams will have a five (5) minute grace period (from scheduled game time) before a forfeit is declared. ii. If playing short, the two required positions are pitcher and catcher. b. PLAYING WITH NINE (9) PLAYERS:
i. If a team is fielding nine (9) players, they may play with an inequitable gender count in the outfield, meaning two (2) males and one (1) female, or vice-versa. ii. If playing short, the two required positions are pitcher and catcher. c. PLAYING WITH TEN (10) PLAYERS: i. No more than five (5) of any gendered players may play defense in the field at any time, when fielding a ten (10) player defense, which is the maximum allowed defense. ii. If fielding a maximum of ten (10) players (5 females/5 males), four (4) players must play in the outfield while the remaining six (6) will play in the infield (1 st base, 2 nd base, shortstop, 3 rd base, pitcher and catcher). d. Females and males must be equally represented in both the infield and outfield, or if there is imbalance within the makeup of those in attendance, all efforts must be made to achieve gender balance within the infield and outfield. (For example, if five (5) women and three (3) men are in attendance, at least one (1) male and three (3) females must be in either the outfield or infield.) e. The outfield is defined as the grassy area behind the infield. Outfielders must remain in the grass until the ball is kicked. f. LINEUP / KICKING ORDER: i. Each team must provide the opposing team with their official kicking order. The kicking order must have the name of the players recorded on it and it shall not change (jersey numbers may be included on the lineup card in addition to the name, but not as a stand-alone in lieu of names). Lineup cards are available and may be obtained from the field supervisor. If a player is not present to kick in their designated spot, an out will be recorded. ii. Late arriving players who are on the team s official roster may be inserted at any time without penalty; however, that player must be inserted at the bottom of the kicking order. The umpire and the opposing coach should be notified of the late arrival s addition to the bottom of the kicking order. iii. All players playing the field must be in the kicking order. Any players that are not playing the field can still be in the kicking order. All team players must kick in a consistent kicking order. If a player is scratched from the kicking order, they may not return to the game and be inserted in the order. iv. If a player is scratched due to injury, he, she or the team will not be penalized in the batting lineup as long as the team has a legal number of players. v. The order of kicking shall be alternating female and male players. vi. Two (2) lineups should be made up; a male lineup and female lineup. Genders alternate each kick. vii. EXAMPLE: 1. Male 1, Male2, Male 3, Male4, Male5, Male6, Male7, Male8 2. Female1, Female2, Female3, Female4, Female5 a. Female 1 does not kick twice until Female 5 has kicked. The gender order starts over once you complete that order. Male 1 does not kick again until Male 8 has kicked. 3) UNIFORMS/EQUIPMENT: a. Uniforms are or colored t-shirts are highly recommended for league play. b. Metal spikes are not allowed. c. The field set up is as follows: The pitcher must pitch the ball from behind the 45- foot arc line and directly in front of home plate. Distance between bases 60 ft. 4) BALL IN PLAY: a. Bunting is not allowed. A bunt is a ball that is intentionally tapped with the foot, slowly, within the infield. If in the judgment of the umpire a ball has been bunted, he shall declare Bunt! and the ball shall be declared dead and a strike will be
issued to the kicking player. If the courtesy foul has already been used then the player shall be called out. (updated 3-27-18) b. No defensive player may advance forward of the 45-foot arc line until the ball is kicked. Failure to abide by this rule results in a ball or the result of the play, whichever is more advantageous to the offended team. c. A kicked ball must cross the 45-foot arc line before it can be considered fair. A kicked ball may be fielded by the defense ahead of the line ( Safety Zone ), but any ball not leaving the safety zone is a foul ball. i. Any ball fielded or touched by the defense in the safety zone is considered live. ii. If no attempt to play a fly ball in the safety zone is made, the ball will be called foul, assuming it hits the ground short of the line. d. When the pitcher or another player has control of the ball near the pitching rubber, play is dead and time is called only when called by the umpire to officially kill the play. e. If a base runner is hit by a kicked ball and is not on base, the runner is out, unless the runner is in foul territory. If a base runner is hit by a kicked ball while on base, the runner is safe. The play is ruled a dead ball and all base-runners return to their base. The kicker will resume their at-bat with the count continuing at the point of the dead ball. f. The fielder can throw a ball against any base. If there is a force at that particular base, the runner will be called out. g. Players in the field are allowed to kick the ball (as opposed to throwing) towards another team player in the field. h. There is an infield fly rule. i. If a kickball is busted or completely deflated due to a kick, the runner will get the next base after the one that he or she has legally acquired at the time that the fielder shows the busted or completely deflated kickball. 5) PITCHING: a. The pitcher must pitch the ball from behind the 45-foot arc line and directly in front of home plate (must start with at least one foot in contact with the pitching rubber). b. The strike zone extends to two (2) feet on either side of home plate and six (6) inches high. The strike zone will be marked with hash marks both at the base line and on either side of home plate. (rule updated 8-29-17) c. No bouncing pitches are allowed. A pitch that is higher than six (6) inches at the plate, and called as such, results in a ball. d. Pitchers must use their best judgment on the speed of pitches. Remember that this is a recreational fun league. i. The umpire has discretion in ruling on pitches being too fast. e. If the ball falls short of the plate and does not cross over, the pitch will be called a ball. f. Pitchers may only be replaced once per inning. 6) KICKING: a. There is no bunting allowed. b. All kicks must be made with the foot or any part of the leg below the knee. c. All kicks can occur once the ball crosses the front plane of the plate. i. If the ball is kicked/contacted in front of the plate, it shall be called a strike or the result of the play, whichever is more advantageous to the offended team. 1. If a fly ball is caught, regular rules will apply and an out will be charged and runners can advance on a tag-up. d. A walk to a male kicker will result in a two (2) base award. The next kicker (a female) shall kick. With two outs, the female kicker has the option to walk or kick.
7) BASERUNNING: a. Runners must stay within the base line (3 in either side). Fielders must stay out of the baseline unless making a play. Fielders trying to make an out on base may have their foot on base, but must lean out of the baseline. b. Runners hindered by any fielder within the baseline shall be safe at the base in which they were running to. Time shall be called and bases awarded accordingly. c. The play ends when all runners have reached a base and a defensive player has control of the ball near the pitching rubber, and time is called by the umpire. d. Neither leading off nor stealing a base is allowed. A runner off of their base when the ball is kicked shall be called out. e. Sliding is allowed. f. If a base runner advances in front of another runner or touches the runner in front of them, they will be called out. g. Even if the ball touches the fielder and ricochets off the defender and hits the runner, if below the shoulders, the runner is out, unless they are on the base. h. Hitting a runner with the ball above the shoulder level is not allowed. Any runner hit above the shoulders as they are running to a base will be safe. If a player chooses to slide and is hit anywhere on the body (including above the shoulders), they will be out, if they have not reached the base. i. If a player intentionally throws at the head of another player they will be warned. If the incident occurs a second time by any member of the same team, that team will forfeit the game and the fielder will be ejected and suspended. ii. If the runner intentionally uses their head to block the ball, that runner is out. i. One extra base is awarded on an overthrow. A ball is considered an overthrow if it leaves the field of play or into the dugout on a throw to first or third base. If a ball is overthrown and stays in play, runners may advance due to the ball being live. If an overthrow hits a player who is inside/or outside of the dugout, who is not a fielder, the ball is dead and bases will be awarded accordingly. j. In the event that a Game Official is not present, plays that cannot be decided between the captains, will be decided by Paper, Rock, Scissors to determine the outcome of the play. 8) COURTESY RUNNERS: a. One (1) Courtesy Runner per gender per half inning must be entered before the first pitch to succeeding kicker. The runner must be a male for a male and a female for a female. Both must be in the kicking order. i. A courtesy runner becomes official when he/she touches the base. ii. In the event a courtesy runner is on base when their turn at kick comes up, he/she will be declared out on base, but may take his/her turn to kick. 9) STRIKES, BALLS, FOULS, and OUTS: a. The kicker comes to the plate with a 1-1 count. b. A count of three (3) strikes is an out. A strike constitutes: i. A pitch within the strike zone either not kicked, or missed by the kicker. ii. A kick that is declared a Bunt! by the Umpire. (see Rule 4-a) iii. A kick occurring in front of home plate (kicks occurring in front of home plate that are caught by the fielding team are called out). iv. There will be a courtesy foul on the third strike. v. A count of four (4) balls advances the kicker to 1 st base (or 2 nd base if male). A ball is: 1. A pitch outside the strike zone 2. A ball falling short of the plate and does not cross the plate.
3. A bouncing ball that is higher than six (6) inches as it crosses home plate. 4. Any fielder advancing forward of the safety zone line before the ball is kicked. 5. Any catcher advancing forward of home plate before the kicker kicks the ball. c. A foul is: i. Any kick landing in foul territory ii. Any kick that does not pass the safety zone line. iii. A kick landing fair but traveling foul on its own before reaching 1 st or 3 rd base (any ball touched by a fielder while it is fair is automatically in play, even if the ball is heading foul). d. A count of three (3) outs by a team completes the team s half inning. An out is: i. A count of three (3) strikes. ii. A runner touched by a ball at ANY time while not on base. iii. Any kicked ball that is caught. iv. A ball tag on a base to which a runner is forced to run. 1. The fielder must have control of the ball. 2. The fielder may throw the ball at the base in which there is a force. v. A runner off of the base when the ball is kicked. vi. If a base runner advances in front of another runner or touches the runner in front of them, they will be called out. 10) MISCELLANEOUS: a. City Ordinance 8-102: Consumption of alcohol in municipal parks and playgrounds is prohibited. (1) It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to consume and/or possess alcoholic beverages, beer or wine in municipal parks and playgrounds. b. No rolling coolers for your water and sports drinks. All coolers must be carried and not rolled. c. Drink your water and sports drinks from a non-see-through container. A top is preferable. d. All water and sports drinks must remain in the dugout during game play. e. No smoking on the field or in the dugout. f. Team names: Please use your best judgment in choosing a team name. In the case where the team name s appropriateness is called into question, a determination of validity will be made by the League Commissioner and the Bartlett Recreation Center. 11) FORFEITS a. If a team forfeits more than 3 times in the season or 2 times consecutively, they will be subject to forfeiture of their remaining games of the regular season and/or participation of the post-season tournament. b. No refunds or pro-rated amounts will be given due to violation of above rule. 12) APPEALS/PROTESTS a. A team that does not have a representative at the required coaches meeting relinquishes all rights to appeal/protest any rulings from the league office. b. If a team chooses to protest a game, said team must inform the umpire prior to the first pitch.** The game will be played through its entirety under protest. The league office will gather all possible information and make a decision the following day of protested game. i. **Exception: A protest may be made after the first pitch if a late arriving player has been added to the lineup and the opposing coach suspects that the
player is not on the roster. Play will continue under protest to its final outcome. Rosters / IDs will be checked for both teams following the game to determine the outcome of the protest. c. If a score or record is in question, an appeal must be made to the league office within 24 hours of the updated standings being posted. Standings are posted by 12pm every Thursday so appeals must be made before 12pm on Friday. 13) UNSPORSTMANLIKE CONDUCT: a. THERE WILL BE ZERO TOLERANCE for profanity, smack talk, fighting, baiting, "taking out" a player, confronting an umpire, intentionally throwing at a player or anything outside of these covered rules that league officials deem inappropriate. b. Player(s) ejected from a game will serve an automatic one (1) game suspension effective immediately. Players with multiple ejections will serve multiple game suspensions and/or banishment from the league. i. If a player is banished from the league, it will be for the remainder of the season. He/she, along with the team captain, must apply for reinstatement from the league commissioner prior to playing again in future leagues. 14) TOURNAMENT PLAY: a. In an effort to eliminate any question surrounding the eligibility of players during the Tournament, ALL TEAMS WILL HAVE THEIR ROSTERS / PHOTO ID s CHECKED PRIOR TO THE START OF THE TOURNAMENT GAME. b. Teams are required to check-in with the Field Supervisor fifteen-minutes prior to the start of their game to confirm their players eligibility to participate in the Tournament Game. Any players found to be ineligible will not be permitted to play in the game. If an ineligible player is found in the lineup, the team in violation will forfeit the game. i. The Official Roster will be used to determine the eligibility of players. The Official Roster is set after the fifth game (Rule 1-a and 1-b) ii. Any player whose name is not on the Official Roster will be declared ineligible to play. iii. Any player who is unable to produce a valid Photo ID prior to the start of the game to confirm their identity for comparison to the Official Roster will be declared ineligible to play. c. Extra Innings: In the event that a Tournament game requires extra innings to break a tie, a modified version of International Tiebreaker (ITB) rules will be adopted in order to avoid a lengthy conclusion. ITB will be instituted once the 57-minute clock expires and the Home team finishes their last bat with the score remaining tied. In their next at-bat, the Visitors will put their last out from the previous inning at 2 nd Base and will resume kicking where they left off in their order. The count will remain at 1-1 and there will be 0 outs. They will complete their half-inning until they reach their 8-run limit or record 3 outs. The Home Team will then follow with the same process: last out from the previous inning goes to 2 nd Base and they will resume kicking where they left off until they reach their 8-run limit or record 3 outs. This process will continue until a winner is declared.