Rules of the Game – Kickball520 – Kickball for grown-ups

🆕 Effective starting June 2022: AKA Concussion Protocols – Click to download 🆕

PLAYER EXPECTATIONS / SPORTSMANSHIP
1. First and foremost, don’t be a jerk. This is supposed to be fun and if you’re making things unpleasant for others you’re doing it wrong.
  1. NO POLITICAL ARGUMENTS: See Rule 1-1.
  2. NO POLITICAL ATTIRE
  3. ABUSE OF PLAYERS / OFFICIALS: See Rule 1-1.
  4. BEING OVERLY COMPETITIVE: See Rule 1-1.
  5. 🆕 BEING A POOPYPANTS: See Rule 1-1.
2. Poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated. Examples of poor sportsmanship include (but are not limited to):
  1. Running up the score.
  2. If you are up by 7 points after the teams kick in the first inning you take 1 out at the top of the next innings and so on as long as you’re still wining by 7. If you have a 14 run lead you take two outs at the top of the inning. This is not the league for you if you’re here to destroy teams by 7-14 points and not take it down a notch. Let’s keep it fun for all! *Option 2 is instead of the the other team taking an out the losing team can use 4 outs instead of 3.
  3. Taking extra bases when ahead in a blowout.
  4. Non-captains excessively arguing calls.
  5. Threatening, insinuating, committing, or provoking violence.
  6. Intentionally trying to goad other players into arguments.
  7. 🆕 Complaining incessantly.
  8. Just, you know, being that guy. Don’t be that guy.
3. In the event that a referee, in his/her sole discretion, observes poor sportsmanship, the following procedure will be followed:
  1. First offense: a verbal warning to the captain.
  2. Second offense: ejection of the offending player from the park. If fielding, the player will be allowed to be replaced with a same-gender player.
    1. In the event that an ejected player refuses to leave the park, that will constitute a third offense.
  3. Third offense: forfeit of the game by the offending team. The commissioner may, in his sole discretion, apply additional punishments as he sees appropriate.
  4. Ejected players and/or teams are not entitled to a refund for any reason.
4. Any minors caught touching the keg or alcohol will be ejected from the complex immediately and the proper authorities will be contacted. Any adults aiding minors in the consumption of alcohol will be permanently banned from the league without a refund. All participants are required to have state or federal photo identification on-hand while at the field.
5. If you wish to smoke, you MUST follow any and all city/state ordinances. PLEASE be considerate of others who do not enjoy the smell of smoke.
6. Dogs, if allowed by the City, are allowed at the field provided that:
  1. They do not pee on the field of play.
  2. They do not poop anywhere in the complex – if so, the owner or guardian is responsible for any messes made.
  3. They are not aggressive towards / scared of drunk idiots or children.
EQUIPMENT
1. BALL: If you want to use a non-AKA ball, it must be approved by the referee and opposing team captain.
2. FIELD: If the field needs to be adjusted, the referee must approve first. When possible, please make corrections between innings only so both teams play under the same circumstances.
3. FOOTWEAR: Baseball or soccer cleats are allowed provided they have rubber or molded plastic soles. No metal spikes or shoes with detachable cleats are allowed. No toe cleats are permitted.
4. BOTTLES: Glass bottles are not permitted anywhere in the sports complex.
5. OTHER APPAREL: No equipment which aids in catching (grippy gloves, etc) are allowed to be used unless the opposing captain agrees.
TEAMS
1. A full team consists of up to 11 field players, at least 4 males and at least 4 females.
  1. A team otherwise meeting the 8-player minimum can play ‘short’ one player of each gender.
    1. The team will be penalized with an automatic ‘out’ at the top of their batting order for the missing player.
    2. Should their player arrive late, that player is not allowed to play until the top of the next inning of play.
  2. In lieu of the penalty scenario described above, a team may have up to one registered guest player per gender This player MUST be registered as a full season participant before they play.
    1. Guest players are not allowed during playoffs for any reason whatsoever.
    2. During playoffs you can play short with a 6 men 2 girl minimum and you take 2 outs at the bottom of the kicking order
    3. Guest players are ONLY allowed insofar as to make a team ‘legal’ – for example, a team with three males is not eligible to add a male guest player.
    4. Guest player eligibility is solely determined by the Commissioner and Head Referee based on sportsmanship and fair play. The Commissioner and Head Referee can allow or disallow guest players for any reason to promote the values of the game.
2. A minimum of 8 players are needed to start and continue a game.
3. All participating players are required to be in the kicking lineup. The order of the kicking line-up cannot be altered once the game has started.
4. Substitutes of the same gender will be allowed in the case of an injury and can be reviewed by both team captains and the Referee.
5. If you are playing short one female you have to play down one male. 6 men 3 women, 9 total.
1. No new registrants after week 4.
2. Teams must provide two base refs each week they are scheduled to and base refs must pay attention!! If 2 players aren’t present and you don’t find someone to cover your team forfeits their game of the night.
GAMES
1. Games are 7 innings or a time limit of 60 – 70 minutes depending if you start on time.
1. Teams should always hustle before and between innings, as a time limit is in effect.
2. The ‘points’ standings will be scored as follows:
  A ‘win’ will earn 2 points.
  A ‘tie/draw’ will earn 1 point.
  A ‘loss’ earns 0 points.
  A ‘forfeit’ earns a 2-point deduction.
PROTESTS – In the event of a protest, consult the Referee of that game. Protests will be accepted and considered in the following matters only:
1. Misinterpretation of a playing rule.
2. Failure of a Referee to apply the correct rule or penalty for a given violation.
3. Player eligibility.
  1. Player eligibility protests must be filed with the referee in charge during the inning in which the questioned player first played. At that point, the referee will ask the player for identification.
  2. If the player cannot/will not provide identification OR is not on the league-supplied roster, the player is ejected from the game and the team captain is given a warning.
  3. The player’s ejection counts as an ‘out’, to be applied as soon as possible.
  4. Intentionally playing un-rostered players will result in permanent ejection from the league with no refund.
4. Notification of intent to protest must be made to the Referee, & opposing team, at the time of the incident, before the next pitch.
5. In the event that the League becomes aware of illegal players after the fact, the Commissioner and/or Head Referee may, at their sole discretion, declare a forfeit.
CHALLENGE RULE
– IN THE EVENT THE HEAD REF AND BASE REFS CAN’T MAKE A CLEAR CALL each team has one challenge per game!! One challenge per team per game! UP TO THE REF TO ACCEPT.
NEW RULE: During a ball or a strike if the ball gets passed the catcher runners on base can try stealing one base. The catcher must stop, control, handle the ball. If the catcher kicks the ball in an attempt to stop the ball this allows a stolen base attempt as well. This is to deter the catchers who follow way too close to the kicker. Calm down friends, this is a fun league! No back up backstop allowed…..
Overthrow rule: If you’re making a play by throwing it to your teammate at a base kickers can advance one base. If you are aiming at a runner not at a base and miss runners can advance as many as they can get. Throw to your teammates, trust them!
You cannot use the ground to assist a catch. Not a fair catch.
KICKING:
1. The kicker’s plant foot must be within the ‘kicking box’ upon contact with the ball.
  1. The ‘kicking box’ is defined as a rectangle spanning from the top of the home plate to the cones approximately 5 feet behind it.
2. Bunting is allowed. A bunt is defined as a kick that does not cross the 1st-3rd diagonal in fair territory.
3. The imaginary line between 1st and 3rd base CANNOT be crossed by defense until kicker MAKES CONTACT WITH THE BALL.
1. Four foul kicks will result in an out. A foul ball is:
  1. A ball that touches the ground or a player (including Referee) in foul territory.
  2. A ball that hits the kicking player above the hip – unless you’re out of the kicking box.
  3. If a foul ball is caught kickers and runners can tag up and advance.
  4. A ball that is stopped or touched more than once by the kicker (ie: double kick).
  5. A kicked ball that enters fair territory and THEN goes into foul territory (without being touched) before crossing the invisible 1st – 3rd base diagonal.
  6. If the kicker kicks the ball outside the kicking box.
  7. Any ball that makes contact with a player or referee in foul territory regardless of if it then goes fair.
BALLS AND STRIKES:
1. A ball is a pitch outside of the strike zone where no kick is attempted; a pitch where the ball does not bounce twice before reaching the plate; or a pitch in which the ball is higher than one foot as it enters the kicking box, a pitch that is pitched over hand or side hand
  1. 🆕 A home plate umpire may assess a ‘ball’ without the ball being thrown if, in their sole discretion, the pitcher or fielding teams is wasting time.
    1. 🆕 The home plate umpire should (but is not required to) provide one verbal warning prior to assessing this penalty.
  2. Four balls will result in the batter automatically taking first base.
  3. 4 balls in a row batter advances two bases automatically
2. A strike is a pitched ball that crosses the strike zone that isn’t kicked.
  1. 🆕 A home plate umpire may assess a ‘strike’ without the ball being thrown, if, in their sole discretion, the kicking team is wasting time.
    1. 🆕 The home plate umpire should (but is not required to) provide one verbal warning prior to assessing this penalty.
  1. Three strikes is an out.
  2. A missed attempt to kick the ball will be a strike.
BASERUNNING:
1. Leading off and stealing are not allowed. A player who is off their base when the ball is touched during a live play will be considered OUT.
2. 🆕 Any significant collision or head contact should activate a concussion protocol check.
  1. 🆕 Once the play is safely over, the umpire is to call a time-out to assess whether the full concussion protocol needs to be activated.
3. When running to first base, a player is required to use the safety base if they have no intention of attempting a run to second. Turning INWARD towards the field when running through 1st base is considered an attempt toward second base. Turning OUTWARD towards the bench is not. If you are in foul territory and turn walking inward towards the field with no intention of running to second that is a safe play.
4. If the catcher missed a BALL or a STRIKE players can steal ONE base
5. If a foul ball is caught kickers and runners can tag up and advance bases
6. If there is a play at a certain base both offensive and defensive players have equal opportunity at the base
7. Base running paths always need to remain clear; runner is entitled to base path.
8. If the ball is no where near your base and runners are running by stay clear of them.. if a play can be made at your base keep your foot on a corner while avoiding the running path.

Tiebreakers

Procedures To Break Ties

If, at the end of the regular season, two or more teams in the same League finish with identical Point Totals, the following steps will be taken until a winner is determined:

Two-Way Tie:

If the tied teams played each other during the season, the team with the better head-to-head record (Wins first, Run Differential Second) receives the higher rank.
If the tied teams did not play each other, or if the result of criteria #1 is inconclusive, the team with more overall wins during the regular season receives the higher rank.
If the tied teams have the same number of overall wins, the team with fewer total runs allowed during the regular season receives the higher rank.
- If total runs allowed is a tie, eliminate the runs allowed by each team in their FIRST game of the season, and compare again. If still tied, compare after eliminating the runs allowed in their first and second games, and so on.
If the teams are still tied, representatives from the teams or proxies from the League’s volunteer leadership shall shoot Rock-Paper-Scissors (best 2 out of 3) to determine the final result.

Three-Way Tie (or more):

If the tied teams all played one another during the regular season, the team with the best head-to-head Win Percentage in games played between the tied teams receives the higher rank.
If any of the tied teams did not play each of the others, or if the result of criteria #1 is inconclusive, the team with the most overall wins during the regular season receives the higher rank.
If the tied teams have the same number of overall wins, the team with fewest total runs allowed during the regular season receives the higher rank.
- If total runs allowed is a tie, eliminate the runs allowed by each team in their FIRST game of the season, and compare again. If still tied, compare after eliminating the runs allowed in their first and second games, and so on.
If the teams are still tied, representatives from the teams or proxies from the League’s volunteer leadership shall shoot Rock-Paper-Scissors (best 2 out of 3) to determine the final result.

Note: If two or more teams remain tied after one or more teams are eliminated from the tie during any step, the tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the section applicable for the remaining number of tied teams.

Release Agreement

I am aware that kickball involves many risks, dangers and hazards. The risks, dangers and hazards, including but not limited to: loss of balance; difficulty or inability to control one’s speed and direction; collision with other players and/or pedestrians; failing to play safely or within the limitations of one’s own abilities, negligence of other participants; and negligence on the part of the League (Kickball520) and it’s organizers and officials, including the failure on the part of the organizers to safeguard or protect me from the risks, dangers, and hazards of kickball.

I am aware of the risks, dangers, and hazards associated with kickball and I freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers, and hazards and the possibility of personal injury, death, property damage, or loss resulting therefrom.

In consideration of the League agreeing to my participation in Kickball520 and permitting my use of their services, equipment and other facilities, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is acknowledged, I hereby agree as follows:

TO WAIVE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS that I have or may in the future have against the League and to release the League from any and all liability for any loss, damage, expense or injury, including death, that I may suffer or that my next of kin may suffer, as a result of my participation in kickball due to any cause whatsoever, INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, BREACH OF CONTRACT, OR BREACH OF ANY STATUTORY OR OTHER DUTY OF CARE, INCLUDING ANY DUTY OF CARE OWED UNDER THE OCCUPIERS LIABILITY ACT, ON THE PART OF THE LEAGUE, AND FURTHER INCLUDING THE FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE LEAGUE TO SAFEGUARD OR PROTECT ME FROM THE RISKS, DANGERS AND HAZARDS OF PARTICIPATING IN KICKBALL;
TO HOLD HARMLESS AND INDEMNIFY THE LEAGUE for any and all liability for any property damage, loss or personal injury to any third party resulting from my participation in kickball;
This Release Agreement shall be effective and binding upon my heirs, next of kin, executors, administrators, assigns and representatives, in the event of my death or incapacity;
This Release Agreement and any rights, duties and obligations as between the parties to this Release Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted solely in accordance with the laws of Arizona and no other jurisdiction; and
Any litigation involving the parties to this Release Agreement shall be brought solely within the state of Arizona, where the league activities take place and shall be within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of that state.
In entering into this Release Agreement I am not relying on any oral or written representations or statements made by the Releasees with respect to the safety of participating in “SPORT”, other than what is set forth in this Release Agreement.
I CONFIRM THAT I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT PRIOR TO SIGNING UP, AND I AM AWARE THAT BY SIGNING THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT I AM WAIVING CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS WHICH I OR MY HEIRS, NEXT OF KIN, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, ASSIGNS AND REPRESENTATIVES MAY HAVE AGAINST THE LEAGUE.