Official Rules

NAKAD KICKBALL 2011 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. Objectives of the Game

A. NAKAD Kickball

B. The Playing Field

C. Equipment

D. Teams

 

II. Starting and Ending the Game

E. Set-up

F. Regulation Games

G. Playoff Games

H. Forfeits

I. Umpires

J. Base Coaches

K. Interference and Dead Balls

L. Injuries and Substitutions

M. Positioning and Fielding

N. Scoring

 

III. Putting the Ball in Play

O. Kicking

P. Running

Q. Pitching

R. Balls

S. Strikes

T. Outs

U. Fouls and Fairs

 

 

IV. Competitive and Tournament Amendment

Q. Playoffs

R. Player Eligibility

S. Teams

W.

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THE GAME OF KICKBALL

 

I. NAKAD KICKBALL

 

A. League Overview

 

1. National Athletic Kickball Adult Division is a social adult kickball organization. Seasons will be eight (8) full weeks and with an addition week(s) for playoffs. Each team will play sixteen (16) games per season. Playoffs will be single elimination, unless notified by NAKAD.

 

2. Kickball is a game between two teams of eleven (11) or more players each, which will be similar to baseball but played with your leg instead of a bat. It will be played on a field in accordance with these rules, under jurisdiction of one or more umpires.

 

2. 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.

 

3. 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.

 

6. 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.

 

7. 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 six (6) feet from the outer edges of home plate and extending ten (10) feet back.

 

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.

 

9. Out of Play Boundary- a 15 ft boundary on each 1st and 3rd baseline will be marked.

 

a. All runners advance 1 base on any ball traveling outside the boundary that is not touched by an offensive player first. i.e. (When the ball is thrown and hits any part of a runner and heads out of bounds.)

 

b. All runner can advance at their own risk on balls that are overthrown and do not travel past the boundary.

 

c. All balls caught outside the boundary are considered out of play.

 

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.

 

D. TEAMS

 

1. 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.

 

2. A player may only sign up for one team per division, but may sign up for multiple divisions per season.

 

3. 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);

 

 

II. The Game

 

E. SETUP

 

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. 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.

 

3. Teams must field at least six (6) players and no more than eleven (11). If fielding 8 and up to 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

 

4. 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 at the bottom of their lineup.

 

2) If the team has 2 women, they must play with 9 in the field and take two outs at the bottom of their lineup.

 

3) If the team has only one woman, they must play with 8 in the field, and take three outs at the bottom of their lineup.

 

5. 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.

 

 

6. 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. As soon as each team has 6 or more players and is within the first ten minutes of the scheduled game time the Referee will start the game.

 

F. REGULATION GAMES

 

1. The objective of each team is to win by scoring more runs than the opponent.

 

2. Regulation 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 if possible.

 

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 12 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 but less than fifty (50) minutes, a seventh (7th) inning will be played accordingly:

 

a. In the seventh (7th) inning, both teams will start with a runner on second; This runner will be the last out of the previous inning.

 

b. If still tied after seven (7) innings and time is under sixty (60) minutes the eighth (8th) inning and each additional inning shall start with both teams having a runner on second and third.

 

c. Games will continue in this manner until the winner is decided.

 

2. During playoffs, teams may not receive any substitutions

 

H. 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. Forfeits will be scored 3-0.

 

 

I. 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. Umpire 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.

 

J. 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.

 

K. 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:

a. 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.

 

3. During any play where a ball is popped or deflates significantly, the play should be redone with a new ball.

 

L. 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.

 

M. 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;

 

N. 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;

 

 

III. Putting the Ball in Play

 

O. 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 legally 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.

 

 

P. RUNNING

 

1. Runners must stay within the base line.

 

2. Fielders must stay out of the base line, unless making an active play for the ball. Fielders trying to make an out on base may have their foot on base, but must lean out of the baseline. Runners hindered by any fielder within the base line, 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 when the ball hits the runner. If the runner intentionally uses the head or neck to block the ball, and is so called by the Referee, 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.

 

a. if a non-playing member of the fielding team on the sideline touches the ball, it will be considered aiding the fielders, the play will be considered dead and the runner will be awarded the base they are running to (ex: if the runner takes one step off first heading to second and a non-playing member of the fielding team touches the ball, the runner is safely awarded second);

 

b. if a non-playing member of the kicking team on the sideline touches the ball, it will be considered aiding the runner, the play will be considered dead and the runner must return to the last base tagged (ex: if the runner is one step away from second but has yet made contact with the base and a non-playing member of the kicking team touches the ball the runner must return to first);

 

c. 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. If a runner leaves base early and is called out and that result is a third out of the inning, that will complete the at bat of the kicker as well. Teams must skip that batter and start with the next kicker in the line-up.

 

 

Q. 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.

 

R. 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.

 

 

S. 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.

 

T. 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.

 

 

U. 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 Referee in fair territory is automatically in play. Conversely, the opposite is true. A participant jumping from fair territory is in fair territory while in the air. A participant jumping from foul territory is in foul territory while in the air.

 

5. All fair and foul balls are in play.

 

 

IV. Tournament Amendment

 

A. Team and Player Eligibility

 

1. All players must be 21 years of age by the start date of the event.

 

2. All players must have health insurance and agree to NAKAD Liability Waiver prior to the start of the event to be able to be on the roster.

 

3. Players may only be registered for one team during each event.

 

4. Teams must be registered and fees must be paid no later than 2 weeks prior to each event.

 

5. Any team using players who have not signed the liability waiver will forfeit all games in which that player was used. Waivers will be available at the time of check-in. If you wish to bring them to the field, they can also be emailed to you.

 

B. Game Management

 

1. Pool Play Games

a. Pool play games will last 6 innings or 50 minutes.

b. A minimum of 3 complete innings will constitute a full game.

c. Play pool games can result in a tie.

d. Home and Away will be decided by rock/paper/scissors.

e. Games will be ended if after the third inning, the score differential is 12 or more.

 

2. Tournament Games

a. Tournaments games will last 6 innings or 50 minutes.

b. A minimum of 3 complete innings will constitute a full game.

c. The higher seeded team will have the choice of home or away.

d. If the game ends in a tie, extra innings will be played as follows:

1. The 7th inning will be started with a continuation of the start of game line up. The last out from the 6th inning will be placed at 2nd base. The defense will field 8 total players, 4 of both genders.

2. If the 7th inning ends in a tie, the 8th inning and each additional inning will be started with the last 2 outs from the previous inning on second and third. The defense will field 8 total players, 4 of both genders.

3. Games will go on until there is a winner.

e. Games will be ended if after the third inning, the score differential is 12 or more.

 

3. Emergency Situations

 

a.Games will be postponed in the event that lightning or rain forces delays. Games that have gone 3 full innings will be considered a full game.

 

 

C. Pool Play and Tournament Seedings

 

1. Pool Play

a. Pool play will be determined on a blind draw system.

 

b. The first team will retain the first spot in the first pool. The second team will retain the first spot in the second pool and so on and so forth until each pool has one team. The next team drawn will be slotted as the second team in the first pool and so on, until all the teams have been placed.

 

2. Tournament

a. Tournament seeding will be based on the winning percentage during pool play.

1. Formula calculated as follows: ((Wins*1)-(Ties*.5)-(Forfeits*-.5))/Games Played

 

b. The tie-breakers for the seeding will be decided in the following order:

1. Best head-to-head result.

2. Lowest average runs allowed (Runs Allowed/Games Played)

3. Highest average run differential ((Runs Scored-Runs Allowed)/Games Played))

4. Highest average runs scored (Runs Scored/Games Played)

 

D. Rosters

 

1. Teams must have rosters in the day prior to start of tournament. After that, the rosters cannot be amended.

a. Players showing up late cannot be added to the roster once the game has started.

 

2. Teams must have at least 4 women on the field at all times. There is no requirement for men.

 

3. Teams can field no more than 11 players on the field at one time. Teams can only switch the pitcher and catcher position once per inning unless an injury occurs.

 

4. Official rosters must be exchanged between teams prior to each game.

 

5. The kicking line-up cannot change once the game is started unless an injury occurs.

 

a. The injured player will be skipped and will remain out of the line-up and the field for the remainder of the game.

 

6. Use of any player not on the roster prior to the start of the event will result in a forfeit of all games in that event.

 

E. Injuries or Illness

 

1. If an injury occurs while in the field, the fielding team may replace the injured player with a player of the same sex.

 

2. If an injury occurs while running the bases and that player makes it to the base safely, the batting team may replace the injured player with the last out of the same sex.

 

3. In case of injury where the player cannot continue, the player will be skipped in the line up for the remainder of that game.

  1. If injury reduces the roster below the minimum requirement for participants, the team will forfeit the game.

 

4. If a player cannot kick they cannot participate for the rest of that game.

 

F. Gameplay

 

  1. Pitching

a. There is no restriction on the style of pitching.

 

b. Pitches can be one bounce or two, determined by NAKAD prior to the tournament.

 

c. Pitches cannot be kicked, they must be thrown.

 

 

2. Bunting

a. There is no restriction on bunting during tournament play.