Subscribe*****PLEASE NOTE THESE ARE THE 2008 RULES, THE 2009 VERSION WILL BE POSTED SOON*****
Playing Field, Equiptment, Officials
Rule #0. NO WHINING!!
The first and foremost rule of the game is to have fun. If you are hoping to recapture your athletic glories from the past, this is not the league for you. Remember, it’s a game for 5th graders (albeit 5th graders who like to go drinking after the game). General rules follow baseball, with a little bit of dodgeball thrown in. Absolutely no whining will be tolerated during the course of a game. The only players allowed to communicate with the referees are the captain and co-captain. Any abuse (verbal or otherwise) of the referees or other players will constitute an immediate ejection from the game. Repeated offenders will be banned from the league.
1. The Playing Field
1.1. Field of play will equal the dimensions of a standard softball field (i.e., with the bases being about 60 feet or 20 paces apart). Chicago Kickball will provide fields.
2. Equipment
2.1. Athletic shoes are required, no barefoot kicking. Metal cleats are not allowed.
2.2. The official kickball is the red playground ball. Chicago Kickball will provide the official, regulation ball.
3. Officials
3.1. Teams will be assigned games to officiate either before their own game or after. Each captain is also expected to police their own team and ensure that no cry babies, whiners, cheats or any elements determined to be creepy or scummy are allowed to ruin our good time.
3.2. Games will be officiated by two (2) refs who will be scheduled and provided by all teams (a team missing a scheduled ref game will lose 1 point in the league standings for their team). The home plate referee issues all final rulings.
3.3. Each team will provide a minimum of 2 players who must attend the scheduled Pre-Season Referee Clinic.
3.4. The referee has the right to immediately change any call that they may have been made. A vocal call takes precedence over a hand sign.
3.5. Only a team captain or co-captain may dispute a call with the referee.
3.6. The referee has jurisdiction over the play and may:
a) call a time out;
b) penalize a player, including game ejection, for un-sportsman like conduct. Ejected players may not return to the game and if necessary may be asked to leave the premises; don’t be a punk.
a) not get falling down drunk during play.
Participants, Teams
4. Participants
4.1. All players must be 21 years of age or older.
4.2. All players must be members in good standing with Chicago Kickball. This is code for “you have given Chicago Kickball money which we will then squander on beer.”
4.3. Players may only be on one team at a time.
4.4. Chicago Kickball reserves the right to suspend any player at any time for unsportsmanlike conduct, violation of any rules, for failure to pay appropriate dues or for being a general pain in the ass, without any refund whatsoever. Any team wishing to suspend any member for just reasons must do so on their own and provide Chicago Kickball a written reason as to why. Again, no refunds. At the discretion of Chicago Kickball, any member suspended may not in the future be allowed to participate in any further Chicago Kickball events.
5. Teams
5.1. Each team must consist of a minimum of (11) players and no more than 25 players. A team may not play more than 11 players at a time in the field.
Each team is required to have at least 4 women in the field in each inning. The number of male players cannot exceed the number of women by more than two.
5.2. Every player present is required to be in the kicking lineup.
5.3. Every player present is required to play at least one (1) inning in the field.
5.4. If a team does not have the required minimum number of female players in the fielding lineup, then the team must forfeit.
5.5. If a team cannot field at least 8 players, they automatically forfeit.
5.6. Each team shall have one Captain who will be charged with the following:
5.6.1. Making sure that only players registered on their team are participating on their behalf in a game.
5.6.2. Insuring that their players kick in the same order through out the game (if necessary, teams can exchange kicking lineups prior to the game).
5.6.3. Disputing a call on the field and remaining cool at all times.
5.6.4. Making sure everyone on their team understands the rules.
5.6.5. Turning in the game results to the appropriate person.
5.6.6. Staying in contact with Chicago Kickball and attending all required league meetings.
5.6.7. Communicating any changes in regards to scheduling or rules with his/her team.
5.6.8. Ensuring that everyone on his team is eligible to play.
5.6.9. Contacting the other team and the league in the event of a forfeit by 2:00 pm.
5.6.10. Providing the referees as they are scheduled.
5.7. Any team that forfeits three or more games will be removed from the remaining schedule and not be allowed to participate in any playoff situations. No refunds will be given and a team dropped by the league may, at Chicago Kickball’s discretion, not be allowed to rejoin the next season.
5.8. Chicago Kickball will provide team t-shirts to all teams. Players must wear their official t-shirt during all games. Teams are encouraged to be creative with names and t-shirts, without removing or obscuring the Chicago Kickball logo or the logo of the sponsor bar.
5.8.1. Teams sporting a themed costume worn by all players are encouraged.
5.9. Teams may provide first and third base coaches.
Regulation Game & Sportsmanship
6. Regulation Game
6.1. A regulation game shall consist of 5 innings. If a team is more than 10 minutes late, then they must forfeit.
6.1.5. An inning cannot start with eight minutes of game time left.
6.2. The away team will get first at kick. Home team shall be determined by the schedule.
6.3. If a team is down by 10 or more runs, they can elect to call Mercy and end the game. It is the losing team’s option to use the mercy rule if they wish at which point they will be ridiculed terribly by everyone.
6.4. All games will not exceed 5 innings; ties are allowed.
6.5. The game will be called in the event of uncooperative weather. The rules for
game cancellation are defined by the parks in which we play. ChicagoKickball will attempt to reschedule any canceled games.
6.6. If a game is called due to weather and less then 3 complete innings have been played, the game is canceled and will be rescheduled (and replayed starting at 0-0, top of the 1st). If more than 3 full innings have been played, the final score will be the score at the end of the last complete full inning.
7. Sportsmanship
7.1. Players should have no intentional or unwelcome physical contact with opposing players. Doing so will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct and it will be at the discretion of the referee to issue warnings or eject offending players. A player must make the referee aware if he or she feels any contact was unwarranted.
7.2. Trash talking is permitted as long as it is not cruel, racially motivated, hateful, or a personal attack on another player. The trash talking should only be good natured and shall not be allowed to get out of hand. Threats of physical violence are in no way allowed. The team captain shall ensure that their players behave themselves.
7.3. Due to Chicago city regulations, consumption of alcohol on the fields is strictly prohibited. If a team is caught by park or police officials, they could face immediate ejection from the league.
Pitching, Catching, Kicking, Running
8. Pitching & Catching
8.1. There is no restriction on how to pitch as long as it is done underhanded. The ball must cross the plate within a foot on either side. The ball may not be more than 1 foot off the ground as it crosses the plate (bouncy). The ball MUST bounce twice before reaching home plate. The second bounce must be before it reaches home plate. A second bounce landing on home plate will be called a ball.
8.2. The pitcher must stay behind the pitching strip until the ball is kicked. Failure to do so results in a ball.
8.3. All infielders must stay behind the imaginary line stretching from first to third base until the ball is kicked. Failure to do so results in a ball.
8.4. The catcher must field behind the kicker and may not cross home plate before the ball is kicked. The catcher shall not interfere with the kicker in any way. Failure to abide by this rule results in a ball.
9. Kicking
9.1. All kicks must be made by the foot. Any lower leg contact while
attempting to kick the ball will be considered a kick regardless of where it strikes the leg or foot.
9.2. All kicks must occur at or behind home plate. Both feet must be on or behind home plate at the time the ball is kicked. If one or more feet are in front of home plate at the time the ball is kicked, it is a foul and the kick is called back (if such a kick is caught on the fly, it is an out).
9.3. Bunting is allowed. A bunt is defined as a kick that does not travel further than first or third base. A bunt must remain within bounds until it crosses past first or third base. Men who bunt may be mocked. Mercilessly.
9.4. Any fair kicked ball that travels outside of a reasonable area of play will result in a ground rule double. This doesn’t pertain to the unlikely event of a home run kick; rather it pertains to fair balls that then bounce over a fence.
10. Running
10.1. Runners must stay within the base line. Fielders must stay out of the baseline unless they are attempting to tag a runner out or catch the ball. Fielders trying to make an out on base may have their foot on base, but must lean out of the base line. Runners unfairly hindered by any fielder within the base line shall be safe at the base to which they were running.
10.2. Neither leading off base, nor stealing a base is allowed. A runner may only move off his/her base after the ball has been kicked. And you can’t pass the runner in front of you, nor can you pick up the runner in front of you and carry them. These are outs.
10.3. Hitting a runner with the ball above shoulder level is not allowed. Any runner hit above the shoulders is safe and advances to the nearest base. Exceptions:
10.3.1. If the runner intentionally uses his head to block the ball. The runner is out.
10.3.2. If the runner is ducking, diving or sliding (i.e. attempts to dodge the ball) and is hit in the head because of this, he/she is out.
10.4. If a kicked ball is caught on the fly, runners must tag their originating base (on or after the moment the ball is first touched by a fielder) before running to the next base.
10.5. All ties will go to the runner.
10.6. Runner may overrun first base.
10.7. Only one base on an overthrow is allowed to the runner. The one base is not automatic and the runner must take the risk of being made out. If the passed ball goes beyond the bench then the play is considered dead and the current base runners may advance to the next base.
10.8. There will be no designated runners unless a player is hurt while running the bases. If a player is to hurt to run then they are considered to hurt to kick.
Strikes, Balls, Fouls, Outs
11. Strikes
11.1. The strike zone is one (1) foot on either side of the plate and is one foot high. As long as any part of the ball passes through the strike zone bouncing no less than two times, the ball is a strike.
11.2. A count of three strikes constitutes an out.
11.3. Anyone striking out must endure the torment of all those present; the tormenting may or may not be good natured but should be at least funny.
11.4. A bouncy is a ball that bounces excessively high (roughly, the entire ball is 1 foot or more off the ground) on the way to the plate. A bouncy is a ball.
12. Balls
12.1. A ball is:
12.1.1. A pitch outside the strike zone.
12.1.2. Called if the catcher playing next to or in front of the kicker before the ball is kicked.
12.1.3. Called if any player crossing the “line” that runs from first to third and cross the pitching mound.
12.1.4. Four (4) balls will get you to first base; but if you are trying to draw a walk you may be subject to trash talking as the point of kickball is to KICK THE BALL!
13. Fouls
13.1. Four fouls is an out.
13.2. A foul is:
13.2.1. A kick landing out of bounds. The foul is determined by where the ball lands not how it travels to get there. Remember that if such a kick is caught on the fly it is an out.
13.2.2. A kick landing inbounds, but traveling out of bounds on its own before reaching first or third base. (Any ball touched by an in-bounds fielder is automatically in play).
13.2.3. A ball that is tipped while being kicked but continues to travel behind the kicker; ; but if such a kick is caught on the fly it is an out.
13.2.4. A kicker touching (or kicking) the ball twice while on or behind home plate (i.e., in foul territory); but if such a kick is caught on the fly it is an out.
13.3. Remember any caught foul is an out. Any foul that hits a tree or other outside object is a dead ball and not illegible to be caught for an out. The ball remains a foul.
14. Outs
14.1. A count of three outs completes the team’s half of the inning.
14.2. An out is:
14.2.1. A count of three strikes;
14.2.2. A count of four fouls;
14.2.3. A runner touched by the ball at anytime while not on base (unless a headshot);
14.2.4. Any kicked ball (fair or foul) that is caught before it hits the ground;
14.2.5. A ball tag on a base to which a runner is forced to run;
14.2.6. Kicking out of order;
14.2.7. A runner being touched by a base coach.
14.2.8. A runner leading off the base.
14.2.9. A runner stealing.
14.2.10. A runner passing another runner.
14.2.11. A base runner getting hit by a kicked ball while running the bases.
15. Ball in Play
15.1. Once any fielder has the ball in control and is on the mound, the play ends.
15.2. If a runner intentionally touches or stops the ball, the play ends.
16. Chost Runners
16.1. Ghost runners are not allowed. Remember ghost runners?
17. Scoring
17.1. A run is scored when a player legally touches home plate.
17.2. A run cannot score when the third out is a result of a force out.
17.3. Scoring is not limited to the game.
18. Ranking System
The ranking system in ChicagoKickball is simple; wins and losses equal points. A win gets a team 3 points and a tie gets a team 1 point. Tie breakers:
1- Best head to head percentage
–In case of a tie of best head to head then division record is factored in. In case of a tie on that then it’s most runs scored, in case of a tie then it’s least run scored, in case of a tie then a member of the board who is not a member of either team will take a coin, assign one team heads, another team tails and the board member will then flip the coin.
