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Kickball Rules

 

Sports Connection – General League Rules

Team Balances
A minimum of $100 is required with your TEAM registration form and the team’s full balance is due by your first game of the season.  Checks and credit cards are accepted at the field or you can pay your team’s balance online at our MySAM system.

Schedules and Standings
All schedules and standings are on our MySAM system (except Bowling, they are listed on our website, www.SportsConnectionNC.com).  The first week's schedule should be posted on our MySAM system no later than 5 days before the first game.  The remaining schedule for the season will be posted on our MySAM system after the first week of games are completed.

Game Times
All regular season games will start and end on time.  Some leagues will have a 5 minute warm-up/grace period time, but all games will end on time.

Rules
All captains and players are expected to read and understand the League Rules and policies for the league they are participating in.  Any questions or concerns regarding the rules or league policies should be brought to the attention of the league coordinator and/or the Sports Connection office by emailing us at office@SportsConnectionNC.com.  Additional rules and policies may be added or amended by the Sports Connection before or during the season.

Forfeits
If you know in advance your team is going to forfeit a game, we request you call our office in order to help us make arrangements to schedule a game for your opponent.   Excessive forfeits may result in elimination from end of season playoffs or removal from the league.

Playoffs
All eligible teams (teams that have not abused any rules or policies) will advance to either an end of season playoff or consolation game(s).  Playoffs are single elimination.  Only players that have signed a waiver and linked to the team roster by the 5th game will be eligible to play in the playoffs.

Seeding Tie Breakers

If one or more teams are tied in the standings at the end of the regular season, the following “tie breaker” rules will be followed to determine your playoff seeding.

  1. Excessive forfeits, ejections, suspensions, penalty cards, will be looked at first.

  2. The Head to Head match between the teams that are tied will be looked at second.

  3. The Point/Score Differential of all games each team played will be looked at third.

  4. The Total Points/Scores your team earned will be looked at fourth

  5. The Total Points/Scores your team allowed against you will be looked at fifth.

  6. We will flip and coin if all the above are still a tie!

League Prizes
The Sports Connection will award the winning team in each league the choice of: A Championship T-Shirt for each player or 15% off the team fee for the NEXT season.

Rosters & Waivers:
The Sports Connection requires a signed Liability Waiver and a valid Player's Card from each Participant before they will be allowed to Participate in any Sports Connection, LLC League or Other Activity.  The Participation Waiver can be filled out and submitted Online, By Mail or at your next League Game.

All player's names must be on the team roster form before they will be allowed to play.  It is the captain’s responsibility to make sure all player's names are on the team roster form before they play.  Players found playing in a game and not on the team’s roster, will cause the team to forfeit that game and all previous games he/she has played in.  If a team needs to "pick up" a player from the same division or a HIGHER division to field enough players to play, the Captain must 1st approve the pick up player with the Coordinator, who will then approve it with the other team's Captain. The league coordinator will be spot-checking the rosters during the season.  New players can be added to the roster at anytime during the season, but only players on the team roster BY the 5th game will be eligible to play in the playoffs.  No "pick up players" will be allowed for any playoff games.  There is no limit to the number of players you can have on your team roster, but there is a limit to the number of league prizes that will be awarded if your team wins the league.

Player Eligibility:
An eligible player is one who is on the team roster and has a signed waiver on file with the Sports Connection, a valid Player's Card and is not on any other roster for another team in the same league and one who follows the rules of the league.  Exception: If a team does not have a full roster for a specific game, guest players are allowed, but are required to pay a $10 guest fee if they do not already have a valid Player’s Card.  Guest players without a valid Player’s card will also need to submit a Sports Connection waiver.  The guest fee is good for 1 day or night only. A Team found to be using guest players without a valid Player's Card will be required to forfeit the game in question.

  Also, any player under the age of 18 MUST have a youth participant form signed by both the minor & guardian, along with a current waiver/liability form. No One under age 16 is allowed to play in ADULT leagues. All players will follow the rules of their league. 

Protest Procedures
A formal protest can be made at any time by letting the referee/umpire and the league coordinator aware of the situation.  After the protest is filed, the game will continue as scheduled.  If the protest is not filed until the conclusion of the game, the final score of that game will be official and will not change.   Player eligibility protests can be filed at any time.  The Sports Connection will review the protest and make a ruling before the next week’s game.

Sportsmanship
The primary focus of any of the sports sponsored by Sports Connection is fun. Please keep this in mind even when competition becomes intense. Any unacceptable behavior may result in suspension and/or ejection from a game or the league.  Fighting of any kind will result in immediate ejection from the game and premises and subject to suspension for the entire season and all Sports Connection leagues and events.

Divisional Play

For leagues offering multiple divisions: In the interest of maintaining fair divisions, if a team finishes the regular season first two seasons in a row, or makes the championship game two seasons in a row, Sports Connection reserves the right to move the team up one division for the following season.

Staff
The Sports Connection will provide a league coordinator for all leagues.  The league coordinator is available to help the league run smoothly and to answer any questions you may have.  Please feel free to ask for their assistance or email us at office@SportsConnectionNC.com.

Rain Out Information

For Rainout information go to www.SportsConnectionNC.com or check the voice mail message at 704-749-7530. We will attempt to make-up the first two rainouts when possible and credit teams for any games less than 7 that we're unable to make-up. Other factors sometimes affect our ability to make-up games, as our contracts vary week-to-week, teams have certain requests, double-headers, the overall length of the season, etc. We take many factors into consideration with rainouts, as they obviously prolong the season and then force teams already registered for the next season to wait.

 

Every team in our leagues plays at least 7 regular season games and at least 1 playoff game. Teams on average play 9-10 games/season. We took an average of 9 games/season to figure our pro-rated amount for credits.  Thus, for any rainouts not made up, you can divide your team fee by 9 and that is the amount you'll be credited. Teams must play in the NEXT season to receive that credit. At the conclusion of a season, we will review the number games not made up for each team, then issue the relevant credit to the captains whose teams are registered in the next season. As a reminder, we will post all rainout information on our website and rainout hotline (704-749-7530) within 2 hours of the first scheduled game time. Outside organizations such as Parks & Recreation make the initial decision to close parks based on field conditions. Their numbers are also posted on our rainout section. We will only cancel games for unsafe field conditions or thunder/lightning, not simply for the threat of weather. If games have begun and conditions change, the coordinators and staff will make the call following the same protocol as above.

 

 

Sports Connection – KICKBALL League Rules

 

Rule #1- No Whiners!

The first and foremost goal of Sports Connection Kickball is to HAVE FUN.  Your Sports Connection coordinators and umpires are there to provide you with a fair, safe, and fun environment. Enjoy yourself, make new friends, and kick that little ball into the middle of next week!  Remember, we are all just a bunch of grown-ups playing a kids game and are probably overcompensating for the fact that all of us at one time or another were picked last as a kid and it sucked.

 

Game Duration

1. All games are seven innings or forty-five minutes, whichever comes first.  This includes the optional warm-up/grace period time. 

2. The warm-up/grace period is 5 minutes and will be strictly enforced.  Teams unable to field the minimum roster requirements at 5 minutes after their game’s scheduled start time will forfeit.  Also, please remember that this is an optional grace period.  Teams with the ability to field a legal lineup will not be permitted to stall the game while stragglers come rolling in.

3. No games will go past the scheduled end time.  When the time ends, the final score will revert back to the end of the last completed inning.

4. No inning will begin with less than 10 minutes remaining.

5. If a game is tied at the end of 7 innings, extra innings may be played, time permitting.  If time expires while the score is tied, the game will end and be recorded as a tie.

Exception: Playoff games may continue until past the time limit and until a winner is determined.

 

Duties of a Team Captain

1. All teams are required to have at least 1 Captain.  Teams are also encouraged to have Alternate Captains to serve in cases in which the Team Captain cannot attend a game.

2. Ensure that all of his/her players have filled out the proper Sports Connection waivers before ever setting foot on the field.

3. Ensure that their team registration is paid in full and on time.

4. Team Captains are encouraged to bring a list of league rules to all games.

5. Ensure that all of his/her players fully understand all league rules.

6. Ensure that all of his/her players adhere to the defensive and offensive lineup requirements (listed below).

7. Ensure that only 1 captain disputes a call with the coordinator/umpire.  Players other than the team captain who engage in arguing calls, unsportsmanlike conduct, whining, and/or being a general nuisance are subject to immediate ejection from the game.

 

Offensive Lineup Requirements

1. Teams must kick their fully attended roster.  (Injured players/friends/family/fans are more than encouraged to come and watch.)

2. No “designated kickers”:  All kickers must take the field at some point in the game.

3. No more than 2 male players may kick in a row.  Teams with bloated rosters and multiple substitutions must list their players in a coherent kicking order.  This is the responsibility of the Team Captain.  Captains of teams that do not adhere to a proper lineup are subject to ejection from the game.

 

Base Running

1. Any runner struck by a ball, intentionally or unintentionally, while that runner is not safely on a base results in an out.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. If the runner is in foul territory while running to first base and a kicked ball accidentally strikes him/her, the ball will be considered a foul and will be assessed to the kicker’s strike/foul count.

2. Runners may safely overrun 1st base provided that they make no turn to the left or indicate at any time that they intend to run to 2nd base.

3. Runners hindered by a fielder NOT making a play on a ball shall be safe and will be awarded the base to which he/she was running.

4. Runners must make every effort to avoid contact with a fielder trying to make a play on the ball. 

5. Runners may run out of the baseline in this case (No. 4), but within reason (3 feet to either side of a direct line between bases).

6. Any runner who interferes with a fielder trying to make a play on a ball is out.  This includes unsportsmanlike conduct, yelling, heckling, or anything else a player might do to try to intentionally distract a fielder and may be grounds for ejection from the game.

7. Leading off of base and/or stealing of bases is illegal.  Players caught leading off of base or attempting to steal a base will be called out.

8. Tagging up on caught fly balls is legal provided that the runner tags his/her base of origin after the ball is caught.  Runners may advance at their own peril.

 

Kicking and Bunting

1. All kicks must be made by the foot (below the knee).

2. All kicks must be made behind home plate.  Any kick made in front of home plate will result in a dead ball situation and a foul will be assessed to the kicker’s strike/foul count.

3. “Double kicking” the ball in foul territory will result in the kicker being assessed a foul.

4. “Double kicking” the ball in fair territory will result in the kicker being called out.

5. Allowing an excessive number of reasonable pitches go by may result in a warning from the coordinator/umpire, a strike being assessed, or the kicker being called out.

6. Three strikes and you’re out.  Four fouls and you’re out. (See: Strikes and Foul Balls below)

BUNTING IS LEGAL

·        All bunts must be originally kicked from behind the plate.

·        All bunts must travel at least 1 foot forward and into fair territory.

DEFENDING THE BUNT

·        The Pitcher’s Strip: an imaginary line extending from 1st to 3rd base and crossing the pitcher’s rubber. No player (other than the catcher) may cross in front of the Pitcher’s Strip before the ball is struck by the kicker.  Violation of this rule will result in the kicker being offered first base, all base runners being allowed to advance to the next base, and a warning being issued to the offending defensive player.  Multiple violations of this rule may result in a player being ejected from the game.

·        The Catcher’s Zone: Extending an imaginary line behind the plate from both the 1st and 3rd baselines creates a wedge-shaped zone in between them.  This zone is known as the Catcher’s Zone. The catcher must stay within the Catcher’s Zone until after the ball is kicked. It is the catcher’s responsibility to remain behind and out of the way of the kicker until after the ball is kicked.

 

Defensive Lineup Requirements

1. A full kickball fielding lineup consists of 10 players, 4 at minimum, must be female.

2. The minimum number of defensive players with which a team can take the field is 8.

3. The minimum number of female players with which a team can take the field is 3.

4. If a team fields the minimum number of female players (3), they may field no more than 8 total defensive players.

5. All teams must field a catcher.

6. All defensive players, aside from the catcher, must start the play in their assigned positions.

7. All defensive players must kick at some point in the game.

 

Balls and Walks

1. There are no balls in Sports Connection Kickball.

2. Walks may be awarded by the coordinator if pitches are consistently and excessively bouncy and/or out of the strike zone.

3. There are no intentional walks in kickball.

4. If a pitcher is deemed to be attempting to intentionally walk a kicker of one sex in order to get to the following kicker of the opposite sex, both the original kicker and the following kicker will be offered a walk.  This is solely up to the discretion of the coordinator/umpire.

5. A walk may be awarded if any member of the defense passes the Pitcher’s Strip (See: Kicking and Bunting above) before the ball is kicked.

6. Pitchers who repeatedly throw un-kickable pitches may be removed from pitching at the request of the coordinator/umpire.

 

Strikes and Foul Balls

1. A strike is any pitch that is attempted at and missed by the kicker.

2. A foul also counts as a strike.

A foul ball is:

·        Any ball that is kicked out of play.

·        Any ball that lands to the left of the 3rd base line, to the right of the 1st base line or out of play.

·        Any ball that lands inside the 1st/3rd base line, but crosses outside the line before passing over any portion of the actual 1st or 3rd base.

·        Any ball that is kicked by the kicker in front of home plate.

·        Any ball that is “double kicked” by the kicker while that kicker is still in foul territory.

·        If a “double kicked” ball should hit the kicker while he/she is in fair territory, the kicker is OUT, play is stopped, and any runners must return to their base(s) of origin.

·        Any 3rd /missed strike and the kicker is out.

·        Any 4th foul and the kicker is out.

An Out is:

·        Any 3rd strike or 4th foul is an out.

·        Any ball, fair or foul, that is caught on the fly (within the field of play) before touching the ground is an out.

·        On any caught fly ball, if a base runner fails to “tag up” or return to his/her base of origin before the defense can touch said base of origin, the runner is out.

·        If the defense, while in full possession of the ball, tags a base to which a runner is forced to run before the runner gets to said base, the runner is out.

·        Any runner who interferes with a fielder trying to make a play on a ball is out.  This includes unsportsmanlike conduct, yelling, heckling, or anything else a player might do to try to intentionally distract a fielder and may be grounds for ejection from the game.

·        Players caught leading off of base or attempting to steal a base will be called out.

·        Any ball that strikes a runner, intentionally or unintentionally, while that runner is not safely on a base results in an out.

EXCEPTIONS: If the runner is in foul territory while running to first base and the ball accidentally strikes him/her, the ball will be considered a foul and will be assessed to the kicker’s strike/foul count.  Also, if the runner is hit by a ball upon overrunning first base, the runner is safe provided that he/she has made no effort to advance to second base.

 

“Peg-Outs”

Yes, this is that same glorious playground game that allowed you to throw the ball at your friends in order to get them out!  However, keep the following guidelines in mind when doing so:

1. Sportsmanship ALWAYS comes first. Throwing the ball at your opponents with the full force of your existence when a simple tap or tag would have sufficed will not be tolerated and may be grounds for immediate ejection from the game.

2. Intentional Head Shots:  Intentional head shots will result in immediate ejection, if not, worse.

3. Accidental Head Shots:  If a player is accidentally struck in the head by a thrown ball, the runner will be considered SAFE.  This will result in a dead ball situation, and all runners will be allowed to advance to the bases that they were attempting to achieve at the point of the foul.  However, if the runner intentionally uses his/her head to block the ball, or is struck in the head as a result of ducking, diving, sliding, etc, the runner is OUT.  This will be left to the discretion of the coordinator/umpire on duty.

4. Any overly reckless, aggressive, or dangerous conduct may result in the player being ejected from the game.

 

Mercy Rules

1. Teams may score a maximum of 10 runs in innings 1 through 6.  Teams may score an unlimited number of runs in the 7th and extra innings.

2. If a team trails by 20 or more runs at the end of the 3rd inning, 15 after the 4th, or 10 after the 5th or later, the game will be ended and the final score will be officially recorded.  If the time limit of the game has not yet been met, teams may elect to continue the game as a scrimmage, time permitting, but the additional play will not alter the final score of the game. 

 

The Sports Connection coordinator and umpire have the right to spot check rosters at any time.  Players must have a valid Sports Connection Player's Card and a signed waiver before stepping on the field of play.

 

Additional rules and policies may be added or amended by Sports Connection before or during the season.