Kickball Rules

Intramural Sports General Information

The Intramural Sports Office is located in the atrium of the Student Recreation Center.
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Phone Numbers:
205-348-8055
205-348-3906
Rain Hotline: 205-348-2708

Email address:imsports@bama.ua.edu

Rule 1: General Eligibility

Section 1: Participants
Participation is limited to currently-enrolled, fee-paying U of A students, faculty members, and full-time staff.

Section 2: Signing In
In order to participate in an Intramural contest each player must present their validated Action Card. All players must sign-in at the sign-in table or with a supervisor at the game site prior to each game to be eligible to participate.

Rule 2: Team Composition

Section 1: Players
Players can compete on one men's or women's team, regardless of league classification, and play for one Co-Rec team as well.

Section 2: Number of Players
Men's, women's, fraternity, and sorority team line-ups may include up to 8 players. Co-Rec team line-ups may include up to 8 players with no more than 4 males and 4 females. In a Co-Rec game, the kicking order will alternate between male and female kickers. 8 players will play in the field.

Section 3: Minimum Number of Players
Teams in all leagues may begin and end a game with 6 or 7 players. In a Co-Rec game that starts with 7 players, a member of the majority gender must kick first in the line-up. For teams which begin with 6 or 7 players, any late arriving players may be added to the line-up or join the team in the field immediately (after properly signed in).

Section 4: Rosters
A team's roster is unlimited (unlimited number of substitutes). Limited free substitution is permitted in order to encourage maximum participation. Limited substitution is available to all players in the line-up. Once a substitute has entered the line-up, he/she must play for a full inning (team's offensive and defensive halves of a inning). This rule allows for re-entry of both the starter and any subsequent substitutes. In the event of an injury, a substitute may enter the game prior to the full inning period. Ejected players may not be replaced in the line-up or in the field. An out will be recorded when an ejected player’s turn occurs in the line-up.

Section 5: Extra Kicker (EK)
The use of the EH / EK (extra hitter / extra kicker) is not permitted in any league.

Rule 3: Equipment

Section 1: Player’s Equipment
All players must wear shoes; tennis shoes and soft-soled shoes are legal. Cleats that are rubber or rubber-type synthetic material that are non-chipping and do not form a cutting edge are legal. Sandals, flip flops, and boots are not permitted. No metal cleats or shoes with detachable cleats are allowed. Any player caught wearing metal cleats will be ejected from the game.

Section 2: Kickballs
Kickballs will be provided by the Intramural Sports staff at the game site. Helmets are available, if desired.

Section 3: Jewelry
Wrist and hand jewelry is NOT allowed to be worn by any participant during intramural kickball. This jewelry consists of any visible rings (including wedding bands), watches, bracelets, and any other such similar jewelry. Only medical alert bracelets are permitted. A player is subject to ejection for failure to remove any jewelry after first warning.

Rule 4: Field Dimensions

Section 1: The Field
The distance between bases shall be 50 feet. The pitching line shall be a dashed line which connects 1st and 3rd bases and shall be approximately 35 feet from home plate. Solid white lines shall indicate the foul lines. The kicking line shall be a straight line which connects points 5 feet down the 1st and 3rd base lines from home plate. The bunt line shall be a straight line which connects points 35 feet down the 1st and 3rd base lines from home plate.

Rule 5: Ground Rules

Section 1: Out of Play
There is no out-of-play area in IM kickball. Balls that are obstructed (behind an immovable object) shall be declared dead with bases awarded to runners based on ASA obstruction guidelines.

Section 2: Teams
Teams shall remain clear of the fields while games are in progress.

Rule 6: Game Time and Length

Section 1: Forfeits
Game time is forfeit time. A team needs at least 6 legal players to begin the game.

Section 2: Length of Game
Each game has a 40-minute or 6-inning limit. Any inning started before the end of the 40-minute time period will be completed. No inning shall begin after 40 minutes unless the game is tied.

Section 3: Maximum Number of Runs
There will be a limit of 8 runs per inning by each team.

Section 4: Insurmountable Lead
Due to the maximum of 8 runs per inning, if one team is ahead by 1 more run than the number of outs remaining for the opponent in a traditional six inning game (or the current inning if the 40-minute time limit has already been reached), the game will be called. For example, if the defending team leads by 7 runs, and the first 2 kickers get out in the final inning, the game will be called as only 6 outs / 6 possible runs remain for the kicking team.

Section 5: Mercy Rule
After four complete innings (or 3½ if the home team leads), if a team is ahead by 17 or more runs, the game will be called. After five complete innings (or 4½ if the home team leads), if a team is ahead by 9 or more runs, the game will be called.

Rule 7: Pitchers

Section 1: Pitcher
Teams will pitch to their own kickers. A member of the defensive team will position themselves no closer than 3 feet from the pitcher to act as a fielder.

Section 2: Pitcher Responsibilities
Pitchers (of the kicking team) will not be responsible for playing defense. When the pitcher is struck by a kicked ball before it passes a member of the defensive team, the kicker will be called out and runners must return to the base occupied at the time of the at bat. In all other situations, the pitcher must move clearly out of the way of a defender making a play or the potential path of a throw. If, in the umpire's opinion, the pitcher interferes with any part of a defense's play, the umpire may call out a runner or the kicker as appropriate. The ruling will follow guidelines similar to "interference" and "obstruction" in the ASA softball manual.

Section 3: Legal Pitcher and Pitching Changes
The pitcher must be a member of the offensive team, but does not have to be one of the kickers in the line-up. All-time pitchers are permitted (must be signed-in as a team member). If the pitcher is a kicker in the line-up, when it is the pitcher's turn in the line-up, another player will be required to enter the game to pitch. Only 2 pitching changes are permitted in any half-inning. Examples include:

The first pitcher may pitch to the first 3 batters. Another pitcher enters to pitch to the next 2 batters. Finally, the original pitcher returns to pitch to the final 3 hitters.
The first pitcher pitches to batters 1 thru 4. Another pitcher enters to pitch to numbers 5 thru 7. A third pitcher rolls to the number 8 hitter in the order.

Rule 8: Pitching

Section 1: Legal Delivery
In the act of delivering the ball to the kicker, the pitcher shall stand with at least one foot in contact with the pitcher’s line until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. A legal delivery shall be a ball that is delivered underhand and a slow to moderate speed. Bouncies are permitted.

Section 2: Number of Pitches
Each kicker will receive a maximum of 3 pitches. If a kicker allows three pitches to pass and has not kicked the ball, he/she will be out.

Section 3: Time Between Pitches
The pitcher has 10 seconds between pitches. If he/she exceeds this time, the kicker will lose the right to a pitch (from 3 down to 2, down to 1, then out).

Section 4: Warm-up Pitches
The pitcher may receive a maximum of 3 warm-up pitches prior to the first inning. Warm-up pitches are prohibited at all other times.

Rule 9: Kicking

Section 1: Line Up
All players in the line-up will kick in each inning. Therefore, up to 8 outs may be recorded during a team's at-bat. The kicking order may change each inning. The offensive team (pitcher or kicker) is responsible for notifying the defensive team when the last kicker is preparing to kick.

Section 2: Last Kicker
When the last kicker of an inning kicks, play reverts to regular "2-out softball play". Therefore, the inning will end when ANY out is recorded (when the kicker is put out or any base runner is put out). The inning will also end when the defense is in possession of the ball while touching home plate. No tag is necessary at home plate during the last kicker's at-bat. No runs will score when a force out is recorded during the last kicker's at-bat.

Section 3: Kicking the Ball
The kicker must contact the ball behind the kicking line, which is approximately 3 feet in front of home plate. If, in the umpire's opinion, a kicker contacts the ball beyond the three-foot kicking line, he/she will be called out and all runners must return to their original base.

Section 4: Foul Balls
Any foul ball is an out (whether on the first, second, or third pitch).

Section 5: Walks
There are no walks in kickball.

Section 6: Bunt Line
A kicked ball must clear the 30-foot bunt line in front of home plate to be in play. Balls that come to rest inside this area or that are fielded (touched by a defensive player with any part of the body above the waist) in this area are considered foul and an out will be recorded for the kicker. All balls fielded in this area are considered dead when touched by a fielder and all runners must return to their original bases. Fly balls caught in this area are also dead; runners do not have a chance to tag up.

Rule 10: Running

Section 1: Leaving the Base
No stealing is allowed. Base runners may leave the base when the pitch is kicked. If a runner is off base before the pitch reaches the plate, the runner is called out and a "no pitch" is declared.

Section 2: Base Path
The base path for a runner is the direct line between the player and the base to which he is advancing at the time a play is being made on that specific base runner and the three feet to either side of that direct path. Note: this path may be different from the straight line connecting two bases. For example, a player who has run past 1st base a distance of about 10 feet decides to run for second. His/her base path for any tag plays is the direct line from where he/she made his turn towards 2nd base (10 feet down the line from 1st) and 2nd base. This is different from the direct line from 1st to 2nd base. For plays between home plate and 1st base, the runner shall run in the 3-foot lane of the foul side of the foul line. A player who runs outside his bath path (including the 3-foot lanes on either side) in an attempt to avoid a tag shall be declared out.

Section 3: Responsibilities of Base Runner
Base runners are responsible for avoiding all collisions with fielders anytime a fielder is making a play on the ball (fielding, throwing, and catching). If the base runner does not avoid the collision, play will be ruled dead, the base runner is called out, the batter is awarded first (unless involved in the collision), and all runners return to their original base unless forced to the next base.

Section 4: Defensive Player’s Responsibilities
A defensive player cannot stand in the base path or obstruct the path of a base runner unless he/she is making a play on the ball. A fielder has absolute right to any position on the field to field a ball and all runners must avoid a fielder in these cases. In the event the defense obstructs a runner, the umpire shall award the runner and each other runner affected by the obstruction the bases they would have, in the umpire's opinion, reached had there been no obstruction. It is also obstruction when a fielder without the ball fakes a tag. In this case, bases are awarded as a normal obstruction and the fielder will be ejected from the game.
Section 5: Runner Hit by Kicked Ball
Any runner in fair territory and not in contact with a base that is struck by a fair kicked ball is out except when:

The ball has passed an infielder and in the judgment of the umpire, no other fielder had a chance to make an out.
When a runner is hit with a fair batted ball over foul territory and no other fielder had a chance to make an out.
When a runner is touched with a fair batted ball after it is touched by any fielder, including the pitcher.

In the event of one of these 3 exceptions, all runners must return to their previously occupied base and the kicker-runner is awarded first base. If the award of first to the kicker-runner causes another runner to be forced, that runner will advance to the next base.

Section 6: Double Play
In case of a possible double play, the base runner must slide into the base or get out of the way of the thrown ball. Base runners who fail to get out of the way may be charged with interference resulting in both the base runner and the batter-runner being called out on the play.

Section 7: Offensive Flagrant Contact
When a defensive player has the ball and is waiting for the runner, and the runner remains on his feet and deliberately, with great force, crashes into the defensive player, the runner is declared out. The ball will be declared dead and all runners must return to the last base they legally occupied. If the act is to be judged flagrant by the umpire, the offending player will be declared out and ejected from the game and the runner closest to home will also be called out.

Section 8: Overthrows and Out-of-Play
There is no out-of-play area. Overthrows must be retrieved by the defensive team unless obstructed by immovable objects (over a fence, etc). In the event of an obstructed ball, regular softball out-of-play rules will apply:

On an initial overthrow by an infielder that lands in an obstructed area, the award is 2 bases from the time of the throw; i.e., batter gets second base, any base runners are awarded 2 bases from where they were at the time of the throw.
On an overthrow by the outfielder that lands in an obstructed area, the award is 2 bases from the time the fielder releases the ball, not when it goes out of play; i.e., if a man is one step away from second when the outfielder released the ball, the runner is awarded second and third.

When a fielder carries the ball over an out-of-play line, the play becomes dead and the base runners are awarded one base (if unintentional) or two bases (if intentional) from the time the fielder carried the ball out of play.

Section 9: Base Awards
All base awards are based on the position of the lead runner. For example, if two players are between 1st and 2nd at the time of an overthrow which lands out of play, the first runner will be awarded 2nd and 3rd (two bases) and the second runner will receive 2nd base only.

Section 10: Courtesy Runners
There are no courtesy runners in kickball.

Rule 11: Fielding

Section 1: Defensive Positioning
Defensive positioning is restricted by the following:

No more than 6 players (including a "fielding pitcher" and catcher) may position themselves within the infield area prior to a pitch being kicked. In a game with 8 fielders, 2 must begin each play in the outfield area.
Each team must provide a catcher. The catcher must field from behind the kicker. The catcher must remain at least 3 feet behind the kicker and may not cross home plate until the ball is kicked.
If a team provides a "fielding pitcher", the "fielding pitcher" may align themselves on either side of the offense's pitcher no closer than 3 feet from the pitching rubber. The "fielding pitcher" may not take a position in front of pitcher's rubber (closer to the plate) until a ball is kicked.
Only one other infielder, other than the "fielding pitcher", may position themselves inside the diamond (inside the 1st/2nd/3rd base diagonals) until the ball is kicked.

Section 2: Co-Rec Positioning
In Co-Rec play, a maximum of 3 males and 3 females may play in the infield. This maximum includes the pitcher and catcher. The remaining players will play the outfield.

Section 3: Outs
The kicker is out in situations similar to softball (forceouts, flyouts, etc). In addition, a runner is out when he/she is hit by a thrown ball below the shoulders. Any runner hit above the shoulders is safe. In this case, the play continues but the runner who was hit above the shoulders is NOT liable to be put out until after he/she touches the next base. However, if the runner intentionally uses the head to block the ball or ducks, the runner will be called out (the ball is immediately dead and runners must return to the base they last touched).

Section 4: Runner Hit in Head
In the event a fielder intentionally throws a ball towards and contacts a runner's head, the play will be immediately dead and the fielder will be ejected. The runner will be awarded home and all runners in advance of the runner hit by the ball will also score.

Section 5: Infield Fly
There will be no Infield Fly Rule in kickball.

Section 6: Infield Practice
Infield practice is not permitted prior to any inning.

Rule 12: Appeal Plays

Section 1: Definition of Appeal Play
An appeal play is one in which an umpire cannot make a decision until requested by a member of the defensive team. Appeals must be made prior to the next legal or illegal pitch or before the defensive team has left the field.

Section 2: Process of Appeal Play
Once the ball has been returned to the infield and time has been called, any infielder (including the pitcher or catcher), with or without possession of the ball, may make a verbal appeal on a runner missing a base, a runner leaving a base too soon, or the batter batting out of order. The plate umpire should acknowledge the appeal, and the administering umpire should then make a decision on the play. Base runners cannot leave their base during this period, as the ball remains dead until the next pitch.

Rule 13: Other Rules

Section 1: Coin Toss
There will be a coin-toss prior to each game to determine the home team.

Section 2: Blood Rule
A player who is bleeding or has blood on his/her uniform cannot participate until the bleeding is stopped or the uniform is changed. If the player accomplishes this task within a reasonable time (to be determined by the umpire), the player may remain in the game. If the situation is not handled in a reasonable amount of time, the player must leave the game and be replaced. The player is then subject to the re-entry rule. If no substitutes are available, play will continue without the player. The player, then, may re-enter the game when he/she is deemed legal for participation.

Rule 14: Inclement Weather
In the event of inclement weather, teams should call the IM RainLine at 348-2708 for information regarding the status of their game. If games are cancelled for any period of a night’s regularly scheduled activities the games will be cancelled for the entire evening.

NOTE: Teams playing in multiple sports tournaments simultaneously and participants playing on two teams in the same sport (Co-Rec and men’s/women’s) should alert the Intramural Sports Office when schedule conflicts arise.

Rule 15: Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship is an important part of intramural sports. Any player who uses foul language, violently protests a call, or curses an official or supervisor, will be removed from the game and will automatically be suspended from his/her team's next game. In addition, he/she will have to meet with the Director of Intramural Sports during office hours (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) before he/she is eligible to participate again. Any player who touches an official or supervisor will be placed on suspension from all Intramural activities for a minimum period of one calendar year from the time of the incident.