COED KICKBALL - BIG BALL (opposing pitch) 

updated 03/28/22

Copyright March 2022

EFFECTIVE SPRING 2022 SEASONS

-NO ALCOHOL ON THE FIELDS OR IN THE DUGOUT.  PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE CITY RULES REGARDING THE SPECIFIC FIELD YOU ARE PLAYING ON!

-Pets are not permitted at the field.  Park policies do not allow pets inside the park fences and in some situations, in the park at all.

All games are 50 minutes in length or 9 innings. No new inning will start after 50 minutes have expired. Once the 50 minutes have expired, the current inning will be finished (unless the home team is up to kick and winning).

1. EQUIPMENT

1. All games will be played with a 10” rubber kickball (league provided)
2. Cleats are allowed. However, NO METAL SPIKES ARE ALLOWED.
3. Shirts, shorts/pants, and closed toe shoes/cleats must be worn at all times while playing.
4. Any equipment brought into question should be brought to the attention of the umpire, they will make final decisions with regard to equipment.

2. PLAYER CONDUCT

1. Only the captain is allowed to dispute calls with the umpire. Any excessive arguing or abuse of the umpires/staff can result in the ejection of a player.
2. Players ejected from any game may be required to serve a one or more game suspension pending league review. Fighting, wrestling, or pushing will not be tolerated and mah result in longer suspensions.
3. Players and fans are encouraged to root for their own team, but rooting against teams or use of disparaging language is discouraged and could result in penalties of players or dismissal of fans. Any fans of teams may be asked to leave by Club Sport staff. Refusal to leave could result in forfeiture of games.
4. PROFANITY: Profanity and/or hateful/derogatory remarks will not be tolerated and may be grounds for players being called out or ejected at the discretion of Orlando Club Sport staff (this can include playing music that is offensive).

3. ROSTER/LINEUPS/ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

1. All players must be 18 or older and signed onto a roster/waiver for that sport, league, night, and location.
2. Only players that are on the signed roster/waiver are allowed to participate in playoffs. Teams may add players to their roster up until their last regular season game.

1. Players may not appear on more than 2 official rosters per league unless approved by the Club Sport office.
2. Playing with ineligible players in playoffs may result in a forfeit. This call is made by Club Sport staff.

3. Once a player has signed their team’s roster, they CANNOT be replaced or removed.
4. Teams that made team payments are covered up to 14 players and any player after that number is $10 per player.
5. Individual teams have a roster cap of 14 and can only add players with League Office approval if all spots are filled.
6. Play consists of 10 (6m/4f).
7. A team may play a legal game with 8 players from their roster (with a minimum of 2 females). If a team has less than 10 players, they can pick up players from another team. ANY PICKUP PLAYER must be a signed player on another team’s roster for that league. No outside subs allowed.
8. Teams may NOT pick up players to go over 10 or have substitutes.
9. Teams may NOT pick up more than 2 non-roster players for a game.
10. Kicking lineups must be presented to the umpire before each game. Once the lineup cards have been submitted to the umpire, they become official. You may add players to the bottom of the lineup only (Gender Ratio requirements are always in effect). If a woman shows up late, they may go into the automatic out spot (if applicable). Captains must notify umpire of any changes to lineup cards.
11. When a female must double up in the kicking order, her 2nd kick cannot occur until all other females have kicked. This order must stay consistent through the entire game or until an additional female arrives.

1. Men CANNOT kick twice in the lineup to achieve a 3-2 ratio if a team plays with more women than men.

1. 7 men        4 women
2. 8 men        5 women (1 out of 4 kicking twice if needed)
3. 9 men        6 women (2 out of 4 kicking twice if needed)
4. 10 men        6 women (2 out of 4 kicking twice if needed)
5. 11 men        7 women (3 out of 4 kicking twice if needed)
6. 12 men        8 women (4 out of 4 kicking twice if needed)
7. *6 men 2 women (both kicking twice)  *If playing with the minimum # of people

2. A female can only be used a maximum of two times in the lineup to achieve the correct ratio.

12. Teams may not play with more than 6 male players in the field at one time.
13. Teams may kick more than 10 players.
14. There is  no required gender specific kicking order as long as you follow the overall ratio.  When kicking 4 women you may kick up to 7 men , when kicking 5 women you may kick up to 8 men, when kicking 6 women you may kick up to 10 men.  You may always kick more women than these ratios, but not more men.   To prevent an out, two men may share one (1) kicking spot and would alternate kicks each time up to stay within the appropriate kicking ratio (women may also share kicking spots). Kicking ratios still have to be upheld.
15. Teams may not add an additional female spot in the order because a male has arrived late.
16. All players in the field must be listed in the kicking order.  There are no “designated fielders” allowed.
17. If a player is injured during a game, the captain must notify the umpire to remove the injured player from the lineup card with no additional penalty (unless the injured player is a female and her removal drops the kicking from the required ratio - the spot then becomes an automatic out).  An injured player that has been removed from the lineup card cannot return to the game.
18. Players have the right to ask for a roster check of the opposing team after the start of the game, but before the end of the game.  These requests must be made with the umpire/coordinator during game play, and if it is found that the opposing team is playing with an “illegal player” (i.e not not on that team's roster or not signed in) then the staff reserves the right to remove the player and/or forfeit the game.  Club Sport staff decisions are final and roster checks may not be made once the game is final.
    

4. GAME PLAY

1. Game time is forfeit time. Coordinators, along with umpires, call game time.

1. If a team forfeits a game, their opponent will be awarded a 7-0 win.
2. If a team forfeits twice within the season, they may not be allowed to play in playoffs.
3. If you know in advance that your team is going to forfeit a game, we encourage you to call our office or email us so we can inform your opponents.

2. All games are 50 minutes in length or 9 innings. No new inning will start after 50 minutes have expired. Once the 50 minutes have expired, the inning will be finished (unless the home team is up to kick and winning).
3. COURTESY TIME: Teams are expected to be at the field and ready to play at their scheduled game time. However, to avoid forfeits, teams will have 10 minutes past the designated start time to field a legal team (this must be requested by the captain). If a team has the MINIMUM legal number of players at game time, the game will start at its designated time, and late players may be added to the end of the lineup.
4. Games are considered “official” once 30 minutes have expired or 5 innings have been completed (4.5 innings if the home team is winning). The final score will revert back to the last full inning played, unless the home team is kicking and winning at the same time.

1. If a game is called due to any circumstances (weather, lights, etc.), and less than 30 minutes or 5 innings (4.5 innings if the home team is winning) have expired, the game will be restarted from the beginning at a future time.

5. Games during the season can end in a tie.
6. There will be a 7 run limit per inning (7th run counts as 3rd out) in the first 4 innings.

1. Exception: unlimited runs may be scored if one of the innings 1-4 is declared the final inning of the game
2. Exception: If a team is losing by more than 20 runs in the 4th inning that team is permitted to score as many runs as needed to make the game continue. (Example: If the Home team is down 28-0 in the bottom of the 4th, they can score up to 9 runs in the 4th inning so the game can continue).

7. Unlimited runs may be scored in innings 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.  
8. MERCY RULE: If a team is up by 20 runs after 4 completed innings or 15 runs after 5 innings.
   

5. OFFENSE

1. KICKING

1. Any player that is not in the original line up turned in before the game may be entered into the lineup as a substitute.

2. The “strike-zone” extends to 1 foot on either side of home plate, and 1 foot high.

1.  If a kicker receives 3 strikes in one plate appearance, the kicker is out.

3. To be considered a called strike, a ball pitched must either roll smoothly through the strike zone or bounce no less than twice before reaching the strike zone.
4. Strikes and foul balls are considered separately in OCS kickball.  Unlike baseball or softball, a foul ball is not considered a strike.

2. All kicks must be made by foot and must occur at or behind home plate.  If the kick is made beyond home plate, it will be called a foul ball.
3. Bunting is allowed but double hits will be called a foul and the ball must be kicked  beyond home plate.  Any ball that stops or is picked up on home plate will be called a fair ball.
4. If a male is walked, and female follows him in the kicking order, the female has the choice to take a walk or kick.  If the female chooses to walk, the male will advance to second base.
5. No lead-offs or stealing, runners can leave the base once the ball is kicked by the kicker.  If a runner is leading off, the ball is dead and the runner is declared out.  If a runner leaves early (after the pitch is made but before it reaches the plate), the play must be appealed by the defense.
6. Players are considered out by one of the following means: (1) striking out, (2) a fly ball caught by the defense, (3) a throw out at one of the lead bases if a force out, (4) the runner being tagged by the ball, (5) a foul out, or (6) a runner being struck thrown ball below that head while attempting to advance or return to a base.
7. Since catching a fly ball in kickball is no sure thing, there is no infield fly rule.  However, there is a no “cheese” rule.  If the umpire thinks a fielder intentionally misses or does not to try to catch a fly ball in an effort to make a double play, or any other more advantageous play, both runners will be called safe.
8. Base runner to defensive player contact will be closely watched by the ump.  Any excessive contact or collision will result in and “out” and/or ejection.  This includes contact with the catcher.
9. While running to first base if there is a possible play at first (e.g. ball is still in the infield) the runner must touch the orange bag/safety bag (outside bag) or will be called out by the umpire (defense must touch only the white bag).  Once the runner has touched the orange bag the entire bag is considered ONE bag for both offense and defense and can be used for the runner to stand on or tag up on, as well as the defense to tag the bag on runners returning to first base.
10. Substitute Players/ Kicking Order

1. Any player that is not in the original line up turned in before the game may be used as a substitute.
2. To enter the game, the substitute must enter the kicking order in place of a player from the original line-up.  
3. The substitute must play a half-inning in the field before they are eligible to kick.
4. The player removed from the game may re-enter the game, but only for the person who had removed them from the game in the first place, and in the same spot in the order.
5. The kicking order may not be adjusted once the game has started, except by the umpire if found to be in improper ratio.
6. Once a successful appeal has been made, it can be corrected for the remainder of the game. Teams can only appeal again if an infraction is made again.
7. Any late arriving players must be added to the bottom of the lineup in the order of their arrival.
8. If a team turns in a line-up with 6 males and 4 female spots and a male arrives after the line-up is turned in they must be used as a substitute, not as an extra player.
9. Teams may not add an additional female spot in the order because a male has arrived late.

11. WALK RULE

1. If a male is walked and a female follows him in the batting order the female has the choice to take a walk or bat. Umps will enforce this rule upon request; however, they will not be responsible for notifying the batter in each walk situation. This rule will apply at any point during the game. FOR EACH INSTANCE THIS OCCURS, ONLY ONE RUN MAY SCORE. [Example: If the bases are loaded (at the time a male is at-bat) and a male is walked, if a female follows him in the order, then that female MUST bat.]

12. BUNT RULE

1. A kicked ball must clear the bunt line of 5 paces in front of home plate to be in play. Balls that come to rest inside this area are considered foul. All balls that come to rest inside this area are considered dead and all runners must return to their original bases. (13.1.1 Restriction Line: When a female is up to kick, all defensive players must be behind the restriction line ((even with the pitcher’s 10 foot circle cones)), until the ball is kicked. If a defensive player breaks the restriction line before the ball is kicked, the kicker will be entitled to first base.)

1. Any moving ball that is played in this “bunt area” by a defensive fielder will be considered a live ball, and are to be played as such.
2. Ball must lease the kicking box to be played by any fielder

13. BASE RUNNING

1. Base runners must stay within the base paths or they will be called out.
2. Base runners going to first base must run to the outside (safety/orange) base, or they will be called out.

1. Base runners may safely run through first base only.

1. Base runners that run through first base should turn back (toward foul territory) and head directly back to first base at the end of a play. If a base runner makes an attempt to advance to second base and is tagged with the ball by the defense prior to reaching a base, the runner is out.

3. Courtesy Runners

1. Players requesting a courtesy runner must do so before their kick (unless injured during at bat)
2. A player needing a courtesy will not be allowed to advance past first base.
3. Umpires and/or Club Sport staff can overrule courtesy runners to ensure fair play.
4. Courtesy runner will be the last out of that gender, or furthest in the lineup of that gender if no out.
5. There are no fielding position requirements in order to use a courtesy runner.
6. Once you have established a courtesy runner, you must use one for the rest of game.

6. DEFENSE

1. There are no position requirements of any players (i.e. there does not need to be 2 females in the outfield and 2 in the infield)
2. PITCHING

1. All pitches must be thrown with an underhand or sidearm motion.

1. Any motion that causes the wrist to roll over so that the palm of the hand is facing toward the ground when the ball is released is considered overhand.
2. An overhand pitch will be considered a ball and cannot be kicked.

2. The pitcher must be in contact with the pitching strip when the ball is released.

1. The pitcher may step on either side of behind the pitching rubber as long as contact is still made at the time of release.

3. The strike zone is 1 foot wide on either side of home plate, and 1 foot high.  

1. To be considered a called strike, a ball pitched must either roll smoothly through the strike zone or bounce no less than twice before reaching the strike zone.

4. If a kicker gets 3 strikes in one plate appearance, the kicker is out.
5. Strikes and foul balls are considered separately in OCS kickball.  Unlike baseball or softball, a foul ball is not considered a strike.
6. If at any time the pitch comes in contact with someone in the field of play before it reaches home plate, the ball will be declared dead and the batter will be awarded first base.
7. A pitching change can be made at any time.

1. If a pitching change comes in the middle of an at bat, the new pitcher takes over with the count that was on the kicker before the change.

8. A kicker must be in the “kicker’s box” in order to receive a pitch.

1. If a kicker is outside of the kicker’s box at the time of release, the ball is dead and is considered “no pitch”
2. If the kicker is out of the kicker’s box two or more times within the same at bat, those pitches will be considered foul balls.

1. Exception: If the umpire deems the pitcher is “quick pitching” and not giving the kicker time to get into the kicker’s box, the pitched ball is dead and is considered no pitch.

9. The pitcher must start pitching motion from inside of the pitching mound cones.

3. CATCHING

1. Catcher may not interfere with a kicker’s attempt to contact the ball.
2. Catcher must stay in or behind the kicker’s box, behind the kicker until the ball is kicked or the ball has left the kicker’s box.

1. If a catcher interferes with a kicker’s attempt to contact the ball, catcher’s interference will be called and the kicker will be awarded first base or the result of the play.
2. If the catcher is in the kicker’s box at the time of contact, catcher encroachment will be called (pitch is considered a ball)

3. If the umpire deems the catcher is purposely interfering with kickers the umpire may eject the catcher from the game.

4. FIELDING

1. Teams must play a minimum of 8 or a maximum of 10 players in the field; 4 or more of the fielders have to be female when playing with the maximum.  When playing with the minimum 2 females are required.  Teams can never have more than 6 males on the field.
2. Restriction Line: When a female is kicking all defensive players must be behind the restriction line (even with the pitcher’s 10 foot circle cones), until the ball is kicked. If a defensive player breaks the restriction line before the ball is kicked, the kicker will be entitled to first base.

1. There is NO Restriction line for when a male is kicking.

3. Defensive fielders must stay out of the base paths and off of the bases when they are not actively making a play on a ball.  The base paths include the areas that are reasonably necessary for base runners to “round” the bases.

1. If a base runner within the base paths is hindered by a defensive fielder who is not actively making a play on the ball, the umpire will call defensive interference.  Play should continue, but the base runner will be awarded any extra base(s) that the umpire deems justified due to the interference.  If a fielder obstructs the base path, the runner may leave the base path/stop running to avoid contact and still be deemed safe.
2. If a base runner advances beyond the base(s) the umpire would have awarded and is put out, the runner is out.

4. Pegging occurs when a base runner is hit below the neck with a ball thrown or kicked by the defense while they are off a base.
5. If a defensive fielder throws or kicks the ball and it strikes a base runner's neck or head, the base runner is safe and automatically advances to the base they were advancing to.  The ball is dead and no other runner(s) can advance.

1. The only exception to this rule is if a defensive fielder hits a base runner in the neck or head when the base runner ducks to make contact with head/neck.  In this instance, the runner is out.  

6.  If an overthrow hits a bench player, spectator and/or their gear (chair, cooler, etc), the umpire will declare the ball dead and the base runner(s) will each be awarded one additional base. If the base runner is more than halfway to the base they are going to they are awarded that base and one more.  If the base runner is less than halfway to the base they are heading to, they are only awarded that base.
7. If the defense attempts a play on a base runner after an overthrow, the base runner(s) can advance at their own discretion without limitation.
8. If a defensive player intentionally throws or kicks the ball out of play, a dead ball will not be called and the base runner(s) can advance at their own discretion without limitation.
9. A play ends when the following situations occur:

1. All base runners are no longer actively attempting to advance and the defense is not attempting to make a play on a base runner.
2. The pitcher must be with the ball within a 10 foot circle of the pitching strip and the umpire must declare the ball dead.  
3. The umpire calls “time” or declares the play dead.

10. Any base runner judged by an umpire to be more than halfway to the next base at the time the pitcher gains control of the ball in the pitching strip area will be awarded the next base.  
11. Any base runner judged by an umpire to be less than halfway to the next base at the time the pitcher gains control of the ball in the pitching strip area will have to return to the previous base.  
12. Prior to an umpire declaring the ball dead, if a pitcher that has control of the ball in the pitching strip area decides to make a play on a base runner then the play is live and the base runner(s) can advance at their own discretion.
13. A defensive player cannot intentionally not make a catch in an attempt to gain an advantage.  Intentionally not making a catch includes but is not limited to:

1. dropping the ball
2. knocking the ball down
3. letting the ball drop

14. Any decision as to whether the non-catch was intentional lies solely on the discretion of the umpire.  The result of this will be an automatic “dead ball”, the kicker is safe on first and any forced runners will advance to the next base.
15. A base runner can tag up once initial contact with the ball is made by the defensive fielder.  In instances where a ball is bobbled before being caught, the base runner can advance at their own discretion provided they tag up properly.
16. There are two first bases; one outside (safety) base for the base runner, and one inside base for the defense.  The defense may only use the inside base when making outs.  If a defensive fielder attempts to make a play on the outside (safety) base, the base runner will be declared safe by the umpire.
17. The offensive player must run through the safety base at all times. If this does not occur, the ball will be called dead and the base runner will be out.

5. OUTS

1. Each team gets three offensive outs during their half of each inning.
2. An out will be called by the umpire when any of the following happen:

1. A kicker receives 3 strikes in one plate appearance (see rule 7.1.3).
2. A kicker gets 3 fouls in one plate appearance (see rule 9.5).
3. A defensive fielder catches a kicked ball in flight (fair or foul).
4. A defensive fielder tags a base that a base runner is forced to run to before the base runner gets there.
5. A base runner is the first object hit by a fair ball while not on base, whether trying to advance on a fair ball outside of the kicking box, tagging up on a fair ball that is touched or caught by a defensive fielder, or tagging up on a live ball foul that is caught.
6. A base runner is the first object hit by a fair ball while on base, if the runner is forced to advance to the next base but does not do so.

1. If a base runner is NOT forced to advance and is on the base and is the first object hit by a fair, batted ball, the runner will NOT be out.  The play will be dead and the batter will receive first base.  Runners will advance only if forced.

3. A base runner leaves a base before the ball is kicked.
4. When the base runner going from home to first does not run to the outside (safety) base.
5. A base runner goes outside of the base line. When running to any base in regular or reverse order the runner CANNOT run more than three feet from the base path to avoid being touched by the ball in the hand(s) of a fielder.
6. A base runner deliberately runs into a defensive fielder while the fielder is going for a ball in the base path.
7. Any non-defensive fielder yelling “I got it” or doing something similar in an effort to confuse a fielder.
8. When a player is on a base and their spot in the lineup come up.
9. When a female who is batting twice in the lineup, is on base the same time she is supposed to bat, the batter will be declared out and the next batter in the order will come up to bat.

6. FAIR/FOUL

1. A ball pitched is kicked at or above knee level (including the knee).
2. If a defensive fielder catches any foul ball in the air, the kicker will be out.

1. Any legally kicked ball caught in foul territory is a live ball foul.  Players may tag up and try to advance once live ball fouls are caught.

3. Any illegally kicked ball (eg: at/above knee, kicker in front of home plate) is a foul.  If caught, the kicker is out.  If not caught, the kick is ruled a foul ball.  Base runners cannot advance on dead ball fouls.  
   

7. PLAYOFFS

1. Playoffs are a single elimination tournament based on regular season standings.
2. Playoff seedings will be based on the following criteria: 1) winning percentage, 2) head to head record, 3) run differential, 4) coin flip.
3. If a team plays an 8th game during the season due to an odd number of teams this game will count in the standings.
4. There will be extra innings during tournament games where play ends in a tie.  Extra innings will start with a runner on second base (base runner is the player who was AT BAT when the last out was made).  

1. The batter will start with a 3 ball, 2 strike, 2 foul count (1-pitch format). This extra-inning format will continue for all extra innings until a winning team is established.

5. Once 30 minutes or 5 innings (4.5 innings if the home team is winning) have expired, it will be considered a complete game and the final score will revert back to the last full inning played, unless the home team is kicking and winning at the same time.  In playoffs, if a game is called due to any circumstances (weather, darkness, etc) and less than 30 minutes have expired, the game will be restarted from the point of which the game was called.

1. The current batting lineup will be followed; however approved changes can be made. Any playoff eligible players will be allowed to play in the rescheduled game.
2. Orlando Club Sport reserves the right to overrule this policy at its own discretion.

6. All players, including added players, must sign their team’s roster/waiver before their team's last regular season game in order to be eligible to play in the tournament.  If a player is not signed on the roster by then, they are not eligible for  the tournament.  Playing with ineligible players may result in a forfeit. This call will be made by Club Sport staff. It is the responsibility of the team captains to make sure all players on their lineup card are eligible players for all games.

8. MISCELLANEOUS

1. No jewelry can be worn during the games (for safety of all players)
2. No metal spikes are allowed
3. All teams are responsible for their own trash
4. Club Sport reserves the right to adjust/or insert rules due to game day time restrictions to ensure fair play.
5. Most importantly, HAVE FUN!