INTRAMURAL KICKBALL RULES Updated: Spring 2016 CURRENT UC DAVIS INTRAMURAL SOFTBALL RULES SHALL GOVERN ALL RULES NOT COVERED BY THIS SUPPLEMENT. RULE 1: DEFINITIONS 1.1 Appeal Play. A play in which an umpire cannot make a decision until requested by a player. The appeal must be made before the next pitch or before the defensive team has left the field. Examples of appeal plays may include: (1) missing a base; (2) leaving a base on a caught fly ball before the ball is first touch; (3) batting out of order; and (4) attempting to advance to second base after making the turn at first base. 1.2 Base Path. A base path is an imaginary line 3 feet on either side of a line between the bases. 1.3 Kicking Line. The imaginary vertical plane that extends indefinitely in which the kicker must be standing behind prior to kicking the ball. The plane is marked by the front of home plate. The must be kicked at or behind home plate. Pitched balls must cross home plate before they can be kicked.1 st offense will result in a verbal warning. All following offenses will result in the kicker being called out. 1.4 Catch. A catch is a legally caught ball, which occurs when the fielder catches a tossed, pitched, kicked, or thrown ball with his hands. If the ball is merely held in the fielder s arm(s) or prevented from dropping to the ground by some part of the fielder s body, equipment or clothing, the catch is not completed until the ball is in the grasp of the fielder s hand(s). 1.5 Peg. You may throw the ball and contact the base runner to get them out, also known as a PEG. To legally get a player out by pegging, you must hit them on the shoulders or below. Any unnecessary throws at a runner, as determined detrimental to the spirit of the game by the umpire, will result in a warning and possibly an ejection. Play is still live after all pegs, legal and illegal. On a missed peg, play continues until the pitcher secures the ball and the umpire calls the play dead or when the ball goes out of play. 1.6 Fair Ball. A fair ball is a kicked ball that: a. Settles or is touched on or over fair territory between home and first base or between home and third base. b. Bounds past first or third base on or over fair territory. c. Is on or over foul territory, touches the person, attached equipment, or clothing of a player or an umpire who is in fair territory. d. Touches first, second, or third base. e. First touches fair territory then goes out of bounds after clearing first or third base. 1.7 Foul Ball. A foul ball is a kicked ball that: a. Settles or is touched on or over foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base. 1
b. While on or over foul territory, touches the person, attached equipment, or clothing of a player or an umpire who is in foul territory, or any object foreign to the natural ground. c. First falls or is first touched on or over foul territory beyond first or third base. 1.8 Illegally Kicked Ball. An illegally kicked ball occurs when: a. A player steps on or beyond the kicking line before the ball is kicked. 1.9 Defensive Kick. Balls that travel to the outfield may be legally kicked back into the infield by the outfielders. If a ball hits a base runner in the air, or off the ground from a defensive kick, the player is not out and the play is live. Balls that are stopped or caught in the infield cannot legally be kicked to a base for a put out or peg. If an infielder does kick the ball then base runners are given one extra base. 1.10 Infield Fly. THERE IS NO INFIELD FLY RULE 1.11 Interference. The act of an offensive player, which impedes, hinders, or confuses a defensive player attempting to make a play. Offensive players must attempt to avoid contacting a defensive player. 1.12 Legal Touch. A legal touch occurs when a base runner or kicker-runner that is not touching a base is legally touched by the ball. It is sufficient for the runner to be touched by throwing, or getting pegged by the ball. 1.13 Obstruction. Obstruction is the act of: a. A defensive player or team member who hinders or prevents a kicker from kicking a pitched ball. b. A fielder, (1) not in possession of the ball, (2) not in the act of fielding a batted ball, or (3) not about to receive a thrown ball who impedes the progress of a base runner or a kicker-runner who is legally running bases. 1.14 Overthrow. An overthrow occurs when a thrown ball from a fielder goes beyond the boundary lines of the playing field (dead ball territory) or becomes a DEAD BALL. See Rule 7.6 1.15 Defensive Pitcher Zone This zone will be marked by a dotted line extending from both sides of the pitching mound to first and third bases. All defensive players must be behind this line prior to the pitch and kick. The defensive pitcher must be inside this zone to either the left or right of the offensive pitcher prior to the pitch and prior to the kick. The defensive pitcher must be given ample time to return to zone after play is ruled dead. EFFECT: ALL RUNNERS WILL ADVANCE 1 BASE. 1.16 Stopping Play. The fielding pitcher in the center of the infield must secure the ball in order for the umpire to rule the play dead. Play stops when the ball is controlled, all base-running has stopped, and the umpire declares TIME. The umpire will also rule play dead when: a. The ball goes out of play b. Offensive interference c. If the offensive pitcher contacts the ball off a kicked ball, the kicker is out and play is ruled dead. RULE 2: FIELD & EQUIPMENT 2.1 The field dimensions are as follows Base Paths: 65 feet Pitching Mound: 50 feet 2
Bunting ARC: 27 feet CoRec ARC: 80 feet Run Commit Line: 15 feet from third base on third base line 2.2 Balls. The IM Sports Program will provide game kickballs. 2.3 Shoes. Closed-toed shoes must be worn. Plastic and Rubber cleats are allowed. No sandals or flip-flops allowed. The use of metal cleats and playing bare foot is prohibited. 2.4 Casts. Plaster casts or splints made of hard substances may not be worn. Metal braces may be worn if covered by soft material and taped. RULE 3: PLAYERS & SUBSTITUTES 3.1 Men s or Women s Teams. A men s and women s kickball team shall consist of eight (8) players. A team may start or continue a game with less than 8 players, but no less than six (6). A team that starts a game with less than 8 players may add late arriving players to the end of their line-up until the 8 th batting position is filled. All other players must be added to the line-up as substitutes. Each team must provide their own pitcher. 3.2 CoRec Teams: A CoRec kickball team shall consist of eight (8) players. A team may start or continue a game with less than 8 players, but no less than six (6). Kicking lineups will be separated by male/female with kickers alternating between male and female. The number of one gender may not exceed the other by more than one on the field. At least one female and one male must be in the infield (defensive pitcher included) and outfield at all times. All outfielders must stay behind the 80 CoRec Arc until the ball is kicked. 3.3 Captains. Team captains are responsible for ensuring that each player on his/her team complies with intramural eligibility rules (see IM Eligibility Rules and Sign-Up Procedures). EFFECT: FORFEITURE OF GAME. 3.4 Positions. Teams can only use three (3) outfielders and three (3) infielders, in addition to the defensive pitcher. The infielders are restricted to playing inside the base path (cannot back up into outfield territory). There are no restrictions where the outfielders can position themselves (Exception: Refer 3.2 CoRec Teams). On offense, teams will provide their own pitcher. 3.5 Team Roster. Each player s full name and student ID number or CRU card number must be written on the team roster. Additions to the roster can be made any time before 5 PM the day of play on IM Track Online or in the Intramural Office. Participants may not add onto the roster at the field. 3.6 Participation Restrictions. No player may participate on more than one team in any league (see IM Eligibility Rules and Sign-Up Procedures). Therefore, a player may participate on only one men s and one CoRec team or one women s and one CoRec team. EFFECT: GAME IS FORFEITED AND VIOLATOR WILL BE SUSPENDED UNTIL THEY HAVE MET WITH THE IM SPORTS COORDINATOR. ********************************** 3.7 Pitchers. All teams on defense must provide a fielding pitcher. 3.8 Substitutes. There will be no substitutes. Anyone player who must leave the field, including injuries, will be ruled an out when their place in the kicking lineup is reached. 3.9 Shorthanded Rule. Failure to complete the game with the original number of players in the lineup, results in an out each time the missing player s turn comes 3
up in the batting order. If the number of players on the team falls below six (6) the game will be declared a default. RULE 4: THE GAME 4.1 Home & Visiting Team. Home and visiting team shall be decided by IM Track and shall be printed on the game sheet. For the playoffs the team with the better seeding will be designated as the home team. 4.2 Regulation Game. A kickball game shall consist of seven (7) innings or 45 minutes, which ever comes first. 4.3 Balls & Strikes. There are no balls and strikes. An at-bat will consist of a maximum of three pitches. If the kicker does not put the ball into play on the third pitch, they are out. 4.4 Abbreviated Games. A game called by the umpire due to inclement weather or darkness shall be regulation if four or more complete innings have been played, or if the home team is winning after three and a half innings. 4.5 Time Limit. No new inning will begin after the time limit has expired. The inning in progress may be completed if necessary. 4.6 Ties. Games ending in ties will use the UC Davis IM Kickball rule to determine a winner. Using the rule, extra innings are played using the following modifications. a. During the first extra inning: The team at bat places a runner on 1 st base to begin the ½ inning. The runner on first shall be the person who made the last out of the previous inning. The team at bat will begin the ½ inning with 0 outs against them. b. During the second extra inning: The team at bat places a runner on 2 nd base to begin the ½ inning. The runner on second shall be the person who made the last out of the previous inning. The team at bat will begin the ½ inning with 1 out against them. c. During the third and subsequent extra inning(s): The team at bat places a runner on 3 rd base to begin the ½ inning. The runner on third shall be the person who made the last out of the previous inning. The team at bat will begin the ½ inning with 2 outs against them. 4.7 Forfeits. A forfeit constitutes (1) non-appearance, (2) less than 6 players on the field at game time, (3) late appearance, and (4) use of an ineligible player. A forfeit will result in a $20.00 fine being assessed. The $20.00 fine will be billed to your student account. A second forfeit automatically eliminates a team from further competition and a second fine of $20.00 will be assessed. Team captains will be held responsible for payment of the fine. 4.8 Protests. All discrepancies regarding rule interpretations must be settled on the field immediately (before the next pitch). 4.9 Appeal Plays. All appeals must be made before the next pitch or before the defensive team has left the field. RULE 5: PITCHING REGULATIONS 5.1 Pitching the Ball a. The offensive team team at-kick or at-bat-will supply the pitcher b. The pitcher will roll the ball to the kicker from the pitcher s plate. 4
c. An at-bat will consist of a maximum of 3 pitches. If the kicker does not put the ball into play on the third pitch, they are out. d. The pitcher shall not intentionally interfere with a kicked ball (make contact with a kicked ball) RESULT: The ball is dead, the kicker is out, and all runners are returned to the bases occupied before the pitch NOTE: If the offensive pitcher contacts the ball (kicked or thrown, while the ball is in play) in any way (unintentionally) the ball is dead, all runners are returned to the bases occupied before the pitch and the kicker who kicked the ball is called out. 5.2 Player Outs: A kicker (or runner) is out if: a. He/she fails to hit the ball fairly in 3 pitches. (Foul balls, missed pitches, and pitches not kicked at all count as one of the 3 pitches) b. The offense s pitcher contacts a kicked or thrown ball. c. A kicked ball is caught in fair or foul territory on the fly. d. A ground ball is fielded to a base for a force-out. e. Defense tags the runner not in contact with a base. f. Defense throws the ball and contacts the runner BELOW THE SHOULDERS who is not in the contact of the base Thrown balls that contacts the ground and then the runner, will be declared an out. EXCEPTION: If a player is not in a regular standing/running position and is hit in the head with the ball, the runner will be out. g. A kicked ball that contacts a base-runner or their clothing. h. A runner leads off or attempts to steal. Runners must remain in contact with the base until the ball is contacted by the kicker. RESULT: The ball is dead, the runner is out, and the pitch is retaken. i. Bunted ball does not cross the Bunting Arc. RESULT: The ball is dead, the kicker is out, and all runners are returned to the base last occupied before the pitch. 5.3 Stopping Play: Play stops when the ball is controlled in the infield by the defensive pitcher, all base-running has stopped, and the umpire declares TIME. 5.4 Injured Runner: If an injury to a runner prevents him/her from proceeding in the game, a substitute runner will be permitted. The player who made the last out on offense shall be the new runner. 5.5 Crashing into the Defender: If a runner remains on his/her feet, and deliberately, with great force crashes into a defensive player holding the ball, they will be out. If the act is determined to be flagrant, the offender will also be ejected. 5.6 Ejections: a. Any official, supervisor, or IM Staff member has the authority to eject, from the game and/or the field a player or players, coach, or spectator at any time if in his/her judgment he/she deems such action is necessary in order to maintain a sportsmanlike atmosphere. b. A player who is ejected will be suspended for the duration of the tournament. 5.8 Official Score: 5
The official score will be kept by the teams and checked every half inning by the umpire. In the event of a discrepancy, the score kept on the score sheet will be considered the official score. RULE 6: BATTING REGULATIONS 6.1 Batting Order. All players on the roster may bat, even if they are not playing in the field. Players that are not playing in the field may kick anywhere in the order. During any half inning, starters may be substituted for. 6.2 Batting Out of Order. If a player is assumed to have batted out of order, the defensive team has the option to appeal before the next pitch is made. EFFECT: IF THE KICKER REACHED THE BASE, THE PLAYER THAT SHOULD HAVE LEGALLY BATTED IS DECLARED OUT, AND THE IMPROPER KICKER S ADVANCE IS NULLIFIED. THE NEXT KICKER WILL BE THE KICKER THAT FOLLOWED THE PLAYER CALLED OUT FOR FAILING TO BAT. IF THE SITUATION GOES UNDETECTED AND A PITCH IS THROWN, THEN THE APPEAL IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE AND THE RUNNERS REMAIN WHERE THEY ARE. IF THE SITUATION IS DETECTED WHILE BATTING, THE CORRECT KICKER TAKES HIS/HER PLACE AND LEGALLY ASSUMES ANY BALLS AND STRIKES. 6.3 Bunting/Bunting ARC. Bunting is legal. Bunted balls must cross the Bunting Arc before it is touched by a defensive player. Any kicked ball that does not go passed that ARC will result in an OUT for the kicker. RULE 7: BASERUNNING 7.1 Base runners must touch bases in legal order. a. When a base runner or kicker-runner must return to base(s) while the ball is in play, he/she must touch the bases in reverse order. b. When a base runner dislodges a base from its proper position, neither he/she nor the succeeding runner(s) in the same series of plays are compelled to follow a base unreasonably out of position. EFFECT: THE BALL IS IN PLAY, AND THE BASE RUNNERS MAY ADVANCE WITH LIABILITY TO BE PUT OUT. c. Two base runners may not occupy the same base simultaneously. EFFECT: THE RUNNER WHO FIRST LEGALLY OCCUPIED THE BASE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO IT UNLESS FORCED TO ADVANCE. THE OTHER BASE RUNNER MAY BE PUT OUT BY BEING TOUCHED WITH THE BALL. d. Failure of PRECEDING runner to touch a base or legally tag up on a caught fly ball and who is declared out, does not affect the status of a SUCCEEDING base runner who touches bases in proper order; however if the failure to touch a base in regular order or to legally tag up on a caught fly ball is the third out of the inning. NO SUCCEEDING runner may score a run. e. No runner may return to a missed base or one he had left too soon after a following runner has scored. f. No runner may return to touch a missed base or one he had left too soon once he enters his team dugout or bench area. 6
7.2 Stealing. Stealing is illegal. Runners shall not leave the base until the ball is kicked. 7.3 Sliding. Sliding is illegal. Runners who slide at any time will be declared out. 7.4 Runner Interference. The base runner cannot interfere with a defensive player attempting to make a play. If there is going to be a close play and there could be a collision, the base runner must avoid the collision by running outside the base path. EFFECT: BASE RUNNER SHALL BE CALLED OUT. Note: When a base runner intentionally interferes with a throw or thrown ball, that runner is out. If the umpire decides a runner s interference is an obvious attempt to prevent a double play, the immediate succeeding runner is out. If the guilty player has already scored or is already out when he/she interferes, the runner closest to home is declared out. 7.5 Obstruction of Base Runner. A fielder, while not in possession of the ball, cannot impede the progress of a base runner (i.e.: blocking the base path). EFFECT IF THE OBSTRUCTED RUNNER IS THE RUNNER BEING PLAYED ON, ALL RUNNERS SHALL BE AWARDED THE BASE THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IF THE OBSTRUCTION HAD NOT OCCURRED. 7.6 Overthrows. Each base runner shall be awarded two bases (the attempted base plus 1) when a ball is thrown or kicked out of play. The award shall be governed by the position of the runners when the ball left the fielder s hand. 7.7 Catch and Carry. If a fielder catches the ball and momentum carries him/her into dead ball territory, each runner shall be awarded one base from the last legally obtained base. The award shall be governed by the position of the runners when the fielder entered dead ball territory, each runner shall be awarded two bases from the last base touched at the time the fielder entered dead ball territory. 7.8 Run Commit Line: Once a runner rounds third base and crosses the Commit line, they must continue their way to home plate. The runner may be tagged or pegged out while going to home plate. 7