Kickball Rules
Current A.S.A. Softball Rules will govern kickball with the following emphases and modifications:
POINTS OF INTEREST:
- Kickballs will be provided by the Office of Campus Recreation on site.
- A team consists of eight players. A minimum of six is needed to start and continue a game.
- Games are 7 innings or 55 minutes. Kickball is played on a regulation softball field.
- Everyone bats each inning. When the last batter of an inning puts the ball in play, the inning will end either when the batter has been put out, or when the defense is in possession of the ball while touching home plate. No tag is necessary at home plate.
- The batter is out in situations similar to softball (forceouts, popouts, etc.). In addition, a runner is out when he/she is hit by a thrown ball below the waist.
- The ball is put in play when the pitcher (a player on the defensive team) rolls the ball toward home plate and the batter attempts to kick the ball. The batter must wait for the ball to be within three feet of home plate before kicking the ball. If the batter does not like the pitch, he/she should not attempt to kick it, and another pitch will be thrown. There are no strikeouts or walks. A batter gets only one attempt at kicking the ball. A missed attempt or foul ball is an out.
- A runner who leaves the base before the pitch reaches home plate or is hit, is out and the ball is dead. Leading off and stealing bases between pitches is not allowed.
- In order to prevent injury and protect the defensive player attempting to make a play on a base runner, the base runner must be called out, if he/she remains on his/her feet, and deliberately, with great force crashes into a defensive player holding the ball, waiting to apply a tag. If the act is determined to be flagrant, the offender shall also be ejected.
- A designated batter or extra batter is allowed. If an extra batter is used in co-rec, two extra batters must be used, with one being of each gender. Any eight players may play defense (In Co-Rec, no more than (4) players and no less than (3) players of one gender may play defense at one time).
- Bunting will not be permitted and is a dead ball and an automatic out.
GENERAL:
- Shoes must be worn by all players. No metal, hard plastic, or polyurethane spikes or shoes with detachable cleats are allowed.
- Forfeit time has been established as game time; teams should report to the Intramural Staff Assistant a minimum of 15 minutes before the scheduled starting time of the game to fill out the score sheet and disclaimer, and for the coin flip. Teams must report to the Intramural Staff Assistant prior to going to their diamonds.
- The manager or team representative must list the batting order prior to the start of the game. Score sheets are available from the Intramural Staff Assistant at the fields.
- A current UNL photo I.D. card must be presented to the umpire before each game.
- A coin flip will determine the choice of home and visiting teams. Be ready to bat/kick in proper order. Teams should hustle in and out between innings as there is a time limit in effect (except semifinal and final games).
- Games that are rained out will most likely not be made up.
- First and last names must be legibly printed on the scorecard (no nicknames please).
- Teams must furnish a scorekeeper. In the event of a protest, consult the Intramural Staff Assistant. Protests that will be accepted and considered concern matters of the following types:
- misinterpretation of a playing rule
- failure of an umpire to apply the correct rule to a given situation
- failure to impose the correct penalty for a given violation.
The notifications of intent to protest must be made to the umpire(s) or Staff Assistant immediately before the next pitch (legal or illegal). Player eligibility may be protested in writing until 3:00 p.m. on the day following the game being protested.
- A game will consist of 7 innings, however, no new inning may begin after 55 minutes has elapsed from the time the game began, unless the score is tied. In the event of rain, darkness or 10 run rule, 5 innings (4 1/2 if the home team is ahead) will constitute a game (or at least 45 minutes have been played).
- Injured Runner: If an accident to a batter-runner or baserunner prevents him/her from proceeding in the game, a substitute runner of the same sex will be permitted. If no substitutes are available, the player of the same sex who made the last out will run.
- No infield practice is allowed after the first inning.
- Any player can play any position defensively.
