Kickball Rules

General Information

  1. The WAKA Rules will be used with Tulane University modifications.
  2. Participants are subject to all of the policies and procedures in the Intramural Handbook.
  3. Games will consist of 2 teams, 10 players per team.
    1. Mixed-rec teams must have no more than 7 male-identifying players on the field and in the lineup at any times.
    2. Games may start with 7 players; for mixed-Rec no more than 5 of the 7 may be men.

Equipment

  1. All participants should wear proper recreational attire.  This includes t-shirts, gym shorts, wind or sweat pants, and athletic closed-toe shoes.
  2. Jewelry shall not be worn.
  3. Sunglasses and/or hat are permitted.
  4. Rubber cleats not exceeding ½ inch may be worn.  Metal cleats are prohibited.
  5. The final determination regarding legal equipment will be made by the Intramural Supervisor present at the game.

Time Regulations

  1. A game will consist of 7 innings or 50 minutes, whichever comes first.
  2. The first team name listed on the schedule will be the home team; the second team name listed on the schedule will be the visiting team. Visiting team bats first.
  3. If the score is tied at the end of 7 innings there will be a maximum of 2 extra innings, if time has not expired. If the score is still tied after the extra innings during regular-season play, the game ends in a tie. Playoff games will not end in a tie; extra innings will be played until a team wins.
  4. A new inning will not be started after 45 minutes have elapsed from the start of the game.
  5. A started inning will be finished even if time has expired.
  6. The intramural sports office will determine the result of any game interrupted by inclement weather.

Field

  1. Bases are 60 ft apart.
  2. Pitching mound is 40 ft from home plate.
  3. Strike zone is 1 ft on either side of home plate, inclusive of home plate, and 1 ft high.

Scoring

  1. 10 Run Rule: A team may only score 10 runs an inning.  Once 10 runs are scored the inning is over and the offensive team will take the field regardless of the number of outs.
  2. Mercy Rule: A 15 run mercy rule will be in effect at the end of the third complete inning, and a 10 run mercy rule will be in effect after the fourth complete inning.
  3. The trailing team may elect to waive the Mercy Rule in Playoffs only.

Pitching/Catching

  1. No bounced pitches - a pitch that bounces higher than 1ft (from the bottom of the ball to the ground) results in a ball.
  2. The pitcher must stay on the pitching strip until the ball is kicked.  Failure to do so results in a ball (or the result of the play, if the kicking team elects).
  3. The pitcher shall not “quick pitch” a kicker or unduly delay delivery after the kicker is ready.
  4. No player may advance forward of the 1st base to 3rd base diagonal until the ball is kicked.  A violation results in a ball (or the result of the play, if the kicking team elects).
  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. A violation results in a ball.
  6. Balls must be pitched by hand.

Kicking

  1. All kicks must be made by the leg or foot below the knee.
  2. All kicks must be made behind or at home plate. A kick in front of home plate results in a foul ball.
  3. The kicker may step on home plate.
  4. Bunting is NOT allowed. Kickers must make a bona fide attempt to kick the ball.
    1. A kicker who intentionally bunts, taps, or redirects the ball (as determined by the umpire) is out and no runners may advance.
    2. A kicker who makes a bona fide attempt to kick the ball (as determined by the umpire) but mis-hits it or only makes weak contact will not be called out under this rule.

Running/Fielding

  1. Runners must stay within the baseline.
  2. Fielders must stay outside the baseline.
  3. Fielders trying to make an out must have one foot on the base and must lean out of the baseline.
  4. Runners hindered by any fielders within the baseline, not making an active play for the ball, shall be safe for the base they are trying for.
  5. Neither leading off nor stealing a base is allowed.  Runner may leave the base only once the ball is kicked.
    1. A runner that is off their base prior to the ball being kicked is out.
  6. Sliding is not allowed.  Any runner sliding into the base is out.
  7. Dodging the ball is allowed; a runner’s feet may leave the ground to avoid being hit by the ball.
  8. Head shots are illegal (If a player ducks and this clearly is the reason for the player being hit above the shoulders, the player is out and the throw is considered legal). Head shots result in the runner getting the base they were trying for. A fielder deemed to be intentionally aiming for a runner's head shall be ejected.
  9. Tag-ups:  After a ball is touched or caught a runner may tag the originating base before advance to the next base.  If the runner has not moved from the base before the ball being touched or caught the runner may advance to the next base without a tag-up.
  10. All ties go to the runner. Runners may overrun first base.
  11. Running past another runner is not allowed.  Any runner passed by another runner is out.

Balls/Strikes/Fouls

  1. All at-bats will begin with a count of one ball and one strike (1-1)
  2. A count of four balls advances the runner to first base.
  3. A ball is:
    1. A pitch outside the strike zone not attempted to be kicked.
    2. A pitch that bounces more than 1ft off of the ground.
    3. A pitcher that steps forward of the pitching rubber before that ball is kicked.
    4. A catcher that steps forward of the kicker or step forward of home plate.
    5. A fielder that steps forward of the first base and third base diagonal before the ball is kicked.
  4. Three strikes is an out.
  5. A strike is:
    1. A pitched ball in the strike zone that is not kicked.
    2. An attempted kick missed by the kicker inside or outside of the strike zone.
    3. A kicked ball that is ruled foul. (A kicker with two strikes is provided one courtesy foul, i.e. they may foul off one pitch with a two-strike count, but will be called out on a subsequent foul)
  6. A foul ball is:
    1. Any kick landing out of bounds.
    2. Any kick initially landing inbounds, but traveling out of bounds untouched by a fielder prior to crossing first or third base.
    3. A ball kicked in front of home plate.
    4. A kicked ball that is kicked or touched more than once in foul territory or stopped by the kicker in foul territory.
    5. A kick made above the knee.
    6. A kicked ball touched in flight by a fielder in foul territory that is not caught.

Outs

  1. Three outs complete the teams’ inning.
  2. An out is:
    1. Three strikes for a kicker.
    2. A runner who is touched by the ball, when not on a base, while the ball is in play.
    3. A kicked ball, fair or foul, that is caught before hitting the ground.
    4. A fielder, in possession of the ball, touching the base to which a runner is forced to run.
    5. A ball tag at the base to which the runner is not forced to run.
    6. A runner off their base prior to the ball being kicked.

Dead Balls/Ground Rules:

  1. Diboll Garage
    1. A ball that immediately rebounds from the walls, columns, etc. of Diboll back to the field of play is a live ball.
    2. A ball that does not immediately rebound to the field of play (i.e. rolling along the covered sidewalk, bouncing in an office entryway, etc.) is a dead ball. (Ground rule double)
    3. A ball that enters into the parking areas or stairwells of Diboll is a dead ball. (Ground rule double)
  2. Residence Halls
    1. A ball that crosses the sidewalk to the grassy area, balconies, gate, etc. is a home run.
  3. Sidewalks & Janet Yulman Way
    1. A ball that leaves the turf area and enters/crosses the sidewalks along the first- or third-base lines (alongside Janet Yulman Way) is immediately ruled a dead ball.
      1. If caused by a fair ball unplayed by the fielding team, the result is a ground rule double.
      2. If caused by a mis-play or overthrow by the fielding team, all runners are awarded two bases from their last-reached base at the moment of the throw.
      3. A foul ball in flight CANNOT be caught on or beyond the sidewalks to record an out.
  4. Spectators & Substitutes
    1. A ball that strikes a substitute, spectator, or other nonplayer is immediately ruled a dead ball.
      1. Runners are placed at the umpire's discretion.
      2. If such contact is judged an intentional attempt to influence play (i.e.deflecting the ball away from a fielder, preventing a dead ball on an over/missed throw, etc.), the offender will be ejected, and the runners placed in a manner disfavorable to the offending team (Out(s) may also be ruled).
    2. Substitutes & spectators must yield/make way for any fielder attempting to make a play on the ball.
      1. If a spectator or substitute fails to do so, or otherwise hinders the play, a dead ball will be declared. Runners will be placed at the umpire's discretion. The batter may also be called out, if the ball would have been caught if not for the interference.
      2. If such is judged an intentional attempt to influence play,  the offender will be ejected, and the runners placed in a manner disfavorable to the offending team (Out(s) may also be ruled).
  5. Burst/Deflated Ball
    1. If the ball bursts or becomes deflated during play, it is immediately ruled a dead ball. A no-pitch is ruled, and any runners must return to their original bases.