Official Rules
NAKAD KICKBALL 2008 OFFICIAL RULES
NAKAD Official Rules of the Game are maintained and updated seasonally at www.NAKADkickball.com. NAKAD kickball would like to give recognition to Major League Baseball and www.MLB.com for guiding NAKAD in the development of these rules.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. NAKAD Kickball
A. League Overview
B. The Playing Field
C. Equipment
II. The Game
D. Set-up
E. Umpires
F. Regulation Games
G. Playoffs
H. Positioning and Fielding
I. Scoring
J. Forfeits
K. Base Coaches
L. Interference and Dead Balls
M. Injuries and Substitutions
III. Putting the Ball in Play
N. Kicking
O. Running
P. Pitching
Q. Balls
R. Strikes
S. Outs
T. Foul and Fair Balls
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THE GAME OF KICKBALL
I. NAKAD KICKBALL
A. LEAGUE OVERVIEW
2. Kickball is a game between two teams of eleven (11) to twenty (24) players each, which will be similar to baseball but played with your leg instead of a bat.
3. All participants must respect and obey all rules and regulations pertaining to the field used for play during all NAKAD games. Alcohol is prohibited on the field unless expressly permitted by field regulations. Participants breaking field rules must be ejected from the game and will be considered by the division’s board of directors for further disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the division.
4. All participants must meet the following requirements: must be 21 years of age or older by the date of the first game, must be adequately and currently health insured against any injury that may arise from kickball play, must be properly registered with NAKAD including but not limited to full completion of the registration process.
5. Each division may have a maximum of eight (8) teams per every two (2) fields available, with a typical maxed out division at sixteen (16) teams. Each team must consist of a minimum of twelve (12). Teams are encouraged to hold rosters of at least 15 members. Additional players may be placed on teams by NAKAD or the division to level team numbers below 12.
6. A player may only sign up for one team per division, but may sign up for multiple divisions per season.
7. Any team that uses a non-registered person, an improperly registered person, or a person not registered in the same division, and season, will forfeit that game. This team will also lose the right to play in any division or world tournament (including regional and final rounds);
8. These rules are set in place to ensure a fun environment for all participants. Sportsmanship will be held in the highest regard. If necessary, NAKAD will address any inconsistencies, discrepancies, and mis-understandings in accordance with these rules. NAKAD reserves the right to change these rules without notice.
9. Please remember that this is kickball, but it isn’t “just kickball.” Whether your idea of fun is to just come out and kick the ball around or winning it all, don’t forget that not everyone plays the same as you.
B. THE PLAYING FIELD
1. The kickball diamond is the same as a softball diamond, with equal sides of 60 feet.
2. The distance from home plate to second base and from first base to third base is ~84.85 feet.
3. The pitching strip is in the center of the diamond, ~42.43 feet from home plate, and directly aligned with the 1st-3rd base diagonal.
4. The pitching circle extends 10 feet from the center of the pitching strip.
5. The batter’s box is a rectangle with the front of the box aligned with the front edge of home plate extending seven (7) feet from the outer edges of home plate and extending twelve (12) feet back to create a one hundred and eighty (180) square foot box.
6. A triangle area from the front edge of the batters box extending to the foul line on either side of home plate shall be marked.
7. The strike zone extends to 1.5 feet on either side of home plate, and 1 foot high. Strike zones will be marked and the side of the ball needs to be within the inner lines of the batters box for a strike.
8. Upon notification to the head referee of any improper field set up, the field layout shall be corrected before the beginning of the next play. Protest based on field set up will not be considered.
C. EQUIPMENT
1. Bases will be rubber recreational bases that will be provided by NAKAD.
2. The official kickball is a Yellow NAKAD Kickball. No other ball is approved for use in NAKAD kickball games.
3. While participating in NAKAD kickball, players must properly wear and fully display the official NAKAD athletic clothing designated for their use.
4. Athletic shoes are required, cleats are allowed but metal cleats or spikes are not.
5. Players may wear protective equipment providing it does not offer the wearer an unfair performance advantage. Any equipment deemed by the Head Referee as a performance enhancement must be removed or the player will be removed from play. Gloves may be worn..
II. The Game
D. SET-UP
1. At the beginning of the game, captains will exchange kicking orders and show their kicking order with names or jersey numbers (if available) to the head umpire. The head umpire will record the names or numbers and insure the kicking order is adhered to.
2. Each team shall have one Captain and one Co-Captain who are jointly responsible for the team. Only the Captain and Co-Captain may dispute calls with the Head Umpire. A team Captain may raise protest with the Umpire for blatant rule infraction, but will accept the Head Umpire’s final ruling. The division will consider protest beyond the Head Umpire at its discretion.
3. Exchange of Kicking Order:
a. the team Captains or assigned team members will exchange their team’s written scorebook kicking orders prior to the start of the game;
b. any eligible player that shows up to a game after that game has begun must be added to the end of the written scorebook kicking order;
c. refusal to provide the written scorebook kicking order when requested by the opposing team or any referee will result in a forfeit of that game;
d. a claim of improper kicking order must be made to the Head Umpire who will make the final determination. Such a claim must contain two parts:
1) that the written scorebook kicking order was exchanged.
2) that the claim is made on the field no later than 15 minutes after completion of the game.
4. Teams must field at least six (6) players and no more than eleven (11). Teams must field a minimum of one (1) players of each gender and cannot exceed (7) of either. If fielding 11 players, one player must play the position of catcher. At any time during the game teams may only field one pitcher and one catcher.
5. In the event that a team has less than 4 players of each gender, it will be handled as follows:
a. A team can choose to find replacements, but the opposing team has the right to refuse. OR
b. The team must take an out for every player missing and play the field minus the missing players. Examples:
1) If the team has 3 women, they must play with 10 in the field but must take one out somewhere in their lineup.
2) If the team has 2 women, they must play with 9 in the field and take two outs within their lineup.
3) If the team has only one woman, they must play with 8 in the field, and take three outs within their lineup.
6. During playoffs teams my only receive one (1) substitution of each gender from another team if they are short players.
E. UMPIRES
1. Games will be officiated by one (1) Head Umpire who governs all game play and issues all final rulings, and has final authority on equipment issues.
2. Two (2) umpire participants will be present at each game (when available): a First Base Umpire and a Third Base Umpire.
3. Umpires have jurisdiction over play and may: call a time out, call off a game due to darkness, rain or other cause at the umpire's discretion and must cancel the game if lightning is seen.
penalize a player, including game ejection, for any reason. This includes but is not limited to un-sportsmanlike conduct, fighting, delay of game and excessive verbal abuse. Ejected participants must leave the field area and may not return to the game. Additional punishment up to and including suspension from the league may result from multiple offenses.
4. Umpires will be designated and furnished for games as provided for by the division.
5. The Head Umpire will ensure that the team captains exchange their lineups with the official scorekeeper designated for that game to ensure kicking orders are followed.
6. TheUmpire may make rulings on any points not specifically covered in the rules (at the time of occurrence), but the ruling shall not be deemed as a precedent for future rulings. Each such ruling will be reviewed after the game to assess the correct course of action in the future.
F. REGULATION GAMES
1. The objective of each team is to win by scoring more runs than the opponent.
2. Regular season games shall last six (6) full innings or fifty (50) minutes which ever comes first.
3. A three (3) full inning game shall constitute a full game in the event that the game has been called due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. A game that doesn’t reach three (3) full innings of play shall be rescheduled.
4. The score of the game at the end of the last full inning shall determine the winner unless the game hasn’t completed the three (3) inning minimum.
5. Any game may be ended at the discretion of:
a. The losing team, if losing by 13 or more runs at any point in the game. This rule applies to both regular season and playoff games;
b. The head ref or NAKAD leadership.
G. PLAYOFFS
1. Playoff games last six (6) full innings or fifty (50) minutes which ever comes first. In the event of a tie score after six (6) innings, a seventh (7th) inning will be played. If still tied at the end of the seventh (7th) inning, the game shall be played accordingly:
a. In the eighth (8th) inning, both teams will start with a runner on first;
b. If still tied after eight (8) innings and time is under sixty (60) minutes the ninth (9th) inning shall start with both teams having a runner on first and second;
c. If still tied after nine (9) innings and time is under sixty (60) minutes the tenth (10th) inning shall start with both teams having a runner on first and second, and both teams will field only ten (10) fielders, with at least four (4) players of each gender represented;
d. If still tied after ten (10) innings and time is under sixty (60) minutes the eleventh (11th) inning shall start with both teams having a runner on first and second, and both teams will field only nine (9) fielders, with at least four (4) players of each gender represented;
e. If at any point the game ends because of time in a playoff game and the game is at a tie, the tie-breaker will be determined by a kick-off. Each team will select three (3) players, with those three (3) consisting with at least one (1) woman and one (1) man. The teams’ pitcher will pitch to their own players. Each kicker will be granted two pitches (if the first pitch is swung at, the kicker forfeits their right to the second pitch). The head umpire will be positioned in the outfield to measure where each kick lands (the ball is spotted where it lands not where it stops rolling). The team with the farthest kick in fair territory wins the game.
H. POSITIONING & FIELDING
1. In defensive positioning; teams must have at least six (6) players (at least one of each gender) and maximum of eleven (11) players. When fielding eleven (11) players, one (1) player and no more than one (1), must be the catcher.
2. A team failing to field the eleven (11) total players by game time can get players from existing teams, however, the opposing team has the right to refuse.
3. If the missing players show at any time they must take the place of the substitutions and the
substitutions may no longer play.
4. No player may field forward the pitcher other than the catcher until the ball is kicked, and no player may advance forward the 1st-3rd base diagonal until the ball is kicked. Failure to abide by this rule results in a ball.
5. The catcher must field directly behind the kicker and may not cross home plate nor be positioned forward of the kicker before the ball is kicked. Failure to abide by this rule results in a ball.
6. The catcher may not run to the right of a kicker after the ball is kicked; this will interfere with the base path. Failure to abide by this rule while making a play at the ball results in a ball;
I. SCORING
1. One run shall be scored each time a runner legally advances to and touches first, second, third and home base before the third out.
2. A run is not scored if the runner advances to home base during a play in which the third out is made:
a. before the kicker touches first base;
b. by any runner being forced out; or
c. by a preceding runner who is declared out because he failed to touch one of the bases;
J. FORFEITS
1. A game may be forfeited to the opposing team when a team:
a. Fails to show completely;
b. Refuses to continue play during a game.
c. After warning by the umpire, willfully and persistently violates any rules of the game;
2. A forfeit will be given to a team if they fail to have 6 players, with one of each gender represented, within the first 10 minutes of a game.
3. Forfeits will be scored 3-0.
K. BASE COACHES
1. The team currently kicking has the option for one (1) member to coach first base and one (1) member to coach third base.
2. Base coaches must remain in the sideline area and may not enter the playing field.
3. Base coaches may not physically assist runners while the ball is in play.
L. INTERFERENCE AND DEAD BALLS
1. Interference is when any non-fielder, runner on base, or non-permanent object touches or is touched by a ball in play, in fair territory. Upon interference, the ball is dead, play automatically ends and runners proceed to the base to which they were headed. If the interference is intentional by the runner on base to secure a dead ball, that runner is out.
2. A dead ball occurs when any permanent object touches a ball in foul territory (i.e.; trees or fences) or if the ball goes outside the designated area set up prior to the game. Upon a dead ball, play automatically ends and runners may advance to the base they are heading to.
3. During any play where a ball is popped or deflates significantly, the play should be redone with a new ball.
M. INJURIES AND SUBSTITUTIONS
1. In cases of injury or illness, a time-out may be requested for participant removal and replacement with a substitute of the same gender. If the participant later returns to play, the participant must be inserted in the same fielding and written scorebook kicking order position previously held. If the player skips their turn at bat but then returns to play the team will incur an out during their next at bat.
2. If a player is ejected, injured, or becomes ill and cannot continue, the written scorebook kicking order will continue in the same formation, less the removed player.
3. Injured players who do not kick shall not play in the game.
4. Any player removed from the game for injury or illness must be noted on both teams’ written scorebook kicking orders and mentioned to the Head Referee.
5. The pitcher and the catcher positions may only be replaced once per inning unless injury forces another substitution.
6. Only runners who are injured while traveling to a base, and who successfully make it to a base, may be substituted. All runner substitutions must be of the same gender and with the last runner marked as an out. There are no other allowable runner substitutions.
III. Putting the Ball in Play
N. KICKING
1. Each player of the offensive team shall bat in the order that their name appears in their team’s batting order. All team players present must kick in the written scorebook order, but do not have to field. The first infraction of this Rule by a team will result in an out for the next kicker in the written scorebook order. A second infraction by a team will result in a forfeit of that game. The kicking lineup does not require a specific gender order.
2. The first kicker in each inning after the first inning shall be the player whose name follows that of the last player who completed their time at bat in the preceding inning.
3. All kicks must be made by foot or leg. The ball must be kicked below the knee.
4. All kicks must occur 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. The kicker must be within the kicking box and have at least a portion of the plant foot within the kicking box during the kick. The kicker may not make contact with the ball before it crosses the front edge of home plate.
5. Bunting is not allowed in NAKAD Social Leagues. A failure of the ball to pass the 1st-3rd base diagonal will be a foul.
O. RUNNING
1. Runners must stay within the baseline.
2. Fielders must stay out of the baseline, unless making an active play for the ball. Fielders trying to make an out may have their foot on base, but must lean 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.
3. Neither leading off base, nor stealing a base is allowed. A runner may advance once the ball is kicked.
4. Hitting a runner’s neck or head with the ball is not allowed, except when the runner is sliding or ducking. Any runner hit in the neck or head is safe, and advances to the base they were running toward. If the runner intentionally uses the head or neck to block the ball the runner is out.
5. Tag-ups are required when the ball is touched or caught. If a ball is deflected, then caught, the runner may advance to the next base on the first touch. If a kicked ball is caught, runners are forced to tag their originating base before running to the next base. If the runner has not moved off of base before the ball is touched or caught, the runner may run forward without a forced tag up.
6. All ties will go to the runner. Runners may overrun first base but no other base.
7. There are no restrictions on base runners when a ball is over thrown into foul territory unless:
a. if a non-playing member on the sideline touches the ball, the play will be considered dead and the runner will be awarded the base they are running to.
b. if an over thrown ball into foul territory comes in contact with any inanimate object: such as but not limited to, a cooler, chair, bag, or fence the play will be considered dead and the runner must stay at the base they are heading to.
8. Turning to the left after running through 1st base is permitted as long as the runner doesn’t cross over the foul line.
9. The bases cannot be moved. If a player slides into a base and takes the base with them, they may be tagged out as this constitutes over-running the base.
P. PITCHING
1. The pitcher must start the act of pitching within the pitching mound. The pitcher must stay behind the pitching strip until the ball is kicked. No part of the pitcher’s front foot may be in front of or across the front edge of the pitching strip. Failure to abide by this rule results in a ball.
2.Balls must be pitched by hand. Over-hand or side arm pitching are not allowed except for competitive divisions.
3. Once the pitcher has the ball in control and on the mound, the play ends.
4. Teams may substitute pitchers once an inning. The substitute pitcher must complete the remainder of that inning.
Q. BALLS
1. A count of four (4) balls advances the kicker to first base.
2. A ball is:
a. a pitch outside of the strike zone, defined by the inner lines of the batter’s box, where a kick is not attempted.
b. a ball that bounces above a foot off the ground (measured from the bottom of the ball) while it travels through the strike zone.
c. any fielder advancing forward the 1st-3rd base diagonal before the ball is kicked.
d. any time the catcher advances past the kicker before the ball is kicked:
e. if the catcher is positioned in front of the kicker and the pitcher pitches the ball it is a
ball no matter the outcome;
f. if the catcher advances to the right of the kicker after the ball is kicked, interfering with
the base path.
g. a pitch that doesn’t bounce at least once before crossing home plate.
R. STRIKES
1. A count of three (3) strikes is an out.
2. A strike is:
a. a pitch within the strike zone that is not kicked;
b. a bouncing pitch that remains under a foot (measured from the bottom of the ball) as it passes through the strike zone and remains under a foot after it passes through the strike zone;
c. an attempted kick missed by the kicker inside or outside of the strike zone.
S. OUTS
1. A count of three (3) outs by a team completes the team's half of the inning.
2. An out is:
a. a count of three (3) strikes or four (4) fouls;
b. any kicked ball (fair or foul) that is caught;
c. a ball throw to a player on a base to which a runner is forced to run, before the runner arrives at the base.
d. a runner touched by the ball or who touches the ball at ANY time while not on base while the ball is in play. The uniform is an extension of the player and will carry the same ruling;
e. a ball tag of a runner on base, in which the runner does not tag their originating base when a ball is caught.
f. a runner off of his/her base when the ball is kicked.
g. a runner physically assisted by a base coach during play.
h. any kicker that does not kick in the proper kicking line up.
i.Running past another runner.
T. FOUL AND FAIR BALLS
1. A count of four (4) fouls is an out,
2. A foul is a kicked ball:
a. landing in foul territory;
b. landing in bounds, but traveling out of bounds on its own at any time before reaching first or third base;
c. where the batter’s plant foot is outside of the kicking box, if the ball is popped up and caught it still results in an out
d. touched more than once in or outside the batters box, but still behind or on home plate;
e. whose direction is altered by contact with any object other than the ground in foul territory, and called as such, is a dead ball;
f. made on or above the knee;
g. stopped by the kicker in the kicking box.
h. landing in foul territory immediately after traveling through the triangle created by the outer edge of the batters box, extending to the foul line.
i. that doesn’t reach the 1st-3rd diagonal line.
3. A fair is a kicked ball:
a. a ball kicked that lands and remains in fair territory;
b. a ball kicked that lands in fair territory then travels into foul territory beyond the 1st-3rd baseline.
c. landing in fair territory immediately after traveling through the triangle created by the outer edge of the batters box, extending to the foul line.
4. Any ball touched by a player or Umpire in fair territory is automatically in play. A participant jumping from fair territory is in fair territory while in the air. Conversely, the opposite is true. A participant jumping from foul territory is in foul territory while in the air.
5. All fair and foul balls are in play and can be caught for outs.