Rules to play Kickball
1. The playing field
The field shall be established on any safe terrain suitable for play in accordance with the following provisions
which equal the dimensions of a softball field see Diagram 2:
a. the kickball diamond is a square with equal sides of 60 feet or about 20 paces with a base at each corner;
b. the distance from home plate to second base and from first base to third base is 84 feet 10 1 4 inches or about
28 paces. The distance between any base and home plate shall be measured from the back corner of each;
c. the pitching strip is in the center of the diamond, 42 feet 5 1 8 inches or about 14 paces from home plate, and
directly aligned with the 1st3rd base diagonal;
d. the pitching mound extends 12 feet from the center of the pitching strip see Rule 8.02;
e. the sidelines are lines 10 feet on the outside of and parallel to the foul lines, the area between the foul lines and
the sidelines is the sideline area see Rule 1.07;
f. when available, cones are placed: at the outside corner of first, second, and third base, and not touching the
base; on the foul lines 30 feet or about 10 paces behind first and third base; and on the sidelines 10 from home
plate;
g. the kicking box is a rectangle with the front of the box aligned with the front of home plate and the back of the
box aligned with the sideline cones behind home plate. Lines extending forward from the sideline cones
perpendicular to the front of home plate make up the sides of the kicking box. The area directly forward the
kicking box is fair territory see Diagram 2B. The kicker is not required to start in the kicking box, however the
kick must occur within the kicking box.
h. the foul lines are fair territory.The strike zone is a threedimensional irregular pentagon based on the shape of home plate and is one 1
foot in height. The front of the zone aligns with the front of home plate. The sides of the zone extend one 1 foot
to either side of the plate. The back edges of the zone are one 1 foot from the back sides of the plate see
Diagram 4. The strike zone may not be marked by cones or other raised objects.
2. Equipment
While participating, players must properly wear the official athletic clothing designated for their use.Athletic shoes are required. Metal cleats are not allowed.
Players may wear protective equipment providing it does not offer the wearer an unfair performance
advantage. Any equipment deemed by the Head Referee see Rule 3.01 as a performance enhancement must
be removed or the player will be removed from play.
The official kickball is the red WAKA Logo Kickball, measuring 10 inches in diameter when properly inflated
to a pressure of 1.5 pounds per square inch.
All player attire is an extension of the player.
3. Referees
Games must be officiated by at least one authorized official, the Head Referee. When available, at least two
officials referee each game: a Head Referee, and a First Base Referee. The Head Referee governs all game play
and issues all final rulings, and has final authority on equipment issues. Other Referees may assist these officials
when available.Prior to each game, the Head Referee must conduct a meeting with the Captains of each team, to address
any ground rules in effect, to ensure the exchange of team lineups see Rule 4.01, and to identify the designated
Captains who will be authorized to discuss calls with the Referees during the game see Rule 5.03.
Referees have jurisdiction over play and may:
a. call a time out;
b. call off a game due to darkness, rain or other cause at the Referees discretion;
c. penalize a player, including game ejection, for any reason. This includes but is not limited to unsportsman like
conduct, fighting, delay of game and excessive verbal abuse. Ejected participants must leave the field area and
may not return to the game.
Referees have jurisdiction over play and must:
a. cancel the game if lightning is seen, or delay it until safe to continue;
b keep a record of the final game score.
Referees 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.
4. Player eligibility
All participating players must appear on written lineups, reflecting that games kicking order, to be exchanged
between the captains of each team before play begins.
A claim of improper kicking order must be made to the Head Referee who will make the final determination.
Such a claim must contain two parts: 1 that the written kicking order was exchanged in accordance with 5.05a; 2
that the claim is made on the field no sooner than the first pitch thrown to the accused wrong kicker, and no later
than the first pitch thrown to the subsequent kicker. The burden of proof rests with the accused team.
5. Teams
Each game shall have two 2 participating teams: the Away team, which kicks first each inning, and the
Home team, which kicks last each inning.
While fielding, each team must field at least eight 8 and no more than eleven 11 players, which must
include one pitcher and one catcher at any time during the game.
For a given game, each team shall have one Captain and one CoCaptain collectively the Captains who
are jointly responsible for the team. The Captains may discuss calls with the Head Referee, but must accept the
Head Referees final ruling. Other players besides the Captains that dispute calls with the Referees are subject to
ejection from the game .
6. Base coaches
Two members of the team at kick may coach first and third base, switching as needed with other team
members to remain in the proper written kicking order.
Base coaches may not physically assist runners while the ball is in play.
Base coaches may not physically assist runners while the ball is in play.
7. Regulation games
Regulation games last five 5 innings.
a. In the event of a tie score at the end of the game, the game shall be marked as a tie.
b. If the Home team see Rule 5.01 already leads the game when the bottom of the final inning is reached, that team wins the game instantly and the game is over.
c. If the Home team see Rule 5.01 takes the lead during the bottom of the final inning, that team wins instantly and the game is over.
A game that is called off by the Referee see Rules 3.03, 3.04 after three 3 full innings of play shall be considered a regulation game. The game score at the end of the last full inning shall determine the winner.
Regulation games called off that end in a tie shall be marked as a tie.
A game that is called off by the Referee for any reason before three 3 full innings of play shall not be considered a regulation game and a new game may be rescheduled.
a. In the event of a tie score at the end of the game, the game shall be marked as a tie.
b. If the Home team see Rule 5.01 already leads the game when the bottom of the final inning is reached, that team wins the game instantly and the game is over.
c. If the Home team see Rule 5.01 takes the lead during the bottom of the final inning, that team wins instantly and the game is over.
A game that is called off by the Referee see Rules 3.03, 3.04 after three 3 full innings of play shall be considered a regulation game. The game score at the end of the last full inning shall determine the winner.
Regulation games called off that end in a tie shall be marked as a tie.
A game that is called off by the Referee for any reason before three 3 full innings of play shall not be considered a regulation game and a new game may be rescheduled.
8. Pitching catching and fielding
Balls must be pitched by hand. There are no restrictions on pitching style.
Proper Field Position must be maintained by all fielders while a pitch is in progress, and until the pitched ball reaches the kicker. Failure to be properly positioned will result in a Position Warning to the team that caused the infraction. The teams second and each subsequent Position infraction by that team that game will result in the kicker being awarded first base regardless of the outcome of the kick. Proper Field Position is a. for Fielders: All fielders besides the catcher must remain in fair territory behind the 1st3rd base diagonal. b. for Pitchers: The pitcher must start the act of pitching with at least one foot within the pitching mound. The pitcher must have at least one foot on or directly behind the pitching strip . No part of the pitchers front foot may be in front of or across the front edge of the pitching strip. c. for Catchers: The catcher must be positioned within or directly behind the kicking box and behind the horizontal plane of the kicker, parallel to the front edge of home plate. The catcher may not make contact with the kicker, nor position so closely to the kicker as to restrict the kicking motion. The kicker may not trigger a position violation through maneuvers judged by the Ref to be deliberately tricky or unsportsmanlike.
Proper Field Position must be maintained by all fielders while a pitch is in progress, and until the pitched ball reaches the kicker. Failure to be properly positioned will result in a Position Warning to the team that caused the infraction. The teams second and each subsequent Position infraction by that team that game will result in the kicker being awarded first base regardless of the outcome of the kick. Proper Field Position is a. for Fielders: All fielders besides the catcher must remain in fair territory behind the 1st3rd base diagonal. b. for Pitchers: The pitcher must start the act of pitching with at least one foot within the pitching mound. The pitcher must have at least one foot on or directly behind the pitching strip . No part of the pitchers front foot may be in front of or across the front edge of the pitching strip. c. for Catchers: The catcher must be positioned within or directly behind the kicking box and behind the horizontal plane of the kicker, parallel to the front edge of home plate. The catcher may not make contact with the kicker, nor position so closely to the kicker as to restrict the kicking motion. The kicker may not trigger a position violation through maneuvers judged by the Ref to be deliberately tricky or unsportsmanlike.
9. Kicking
All kicks must be made by foot or leg, below the knee . Any ball touched by the foot or leg
below the knee is a kick.All kicks must occur:
a. 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.
b. within the kicking box see Rule 1.01g. The kicker must have at least a portion of the plant foot within the kicking box during the kick see Rule 13.02g. The kicker may line up outside of the kicking box.
a. 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.
b. within the kicking box see Rule 1.01g. The kicker must have at least a portion of the plant foot within the kicking box during the kick see Rule 13.02g. The kicker may line up outside of the kicking box.
10. Running and scoring
Runners must stay within the baseline. Any runner outside the baseline is out.
a. Runners may choose their path from one base to the next, and may follow a natural running arc.
b. Runners are free to change course to avoid interference with a fielder making a play.
c. When attempting to avoid a ball tag, runners may move no more than 4 feet out of their established path. Obstruction. Fielders must stay out of the baseline. 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 baseline, not making an active play for the ball, shall be safe at the base to which they were running. Runners may choose to advance beyond this base while the ball is still in play.
Neither leading off base, nor stealing a base is allowed. A runner may advance once the ball is kicked. A runner off base when the ball is kicked is out.
10.04 Hitting a runners neck or head with the ball is not allowed, except when the runner is sliding. Any runner hit in the neck or head shall be considered safe at 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.
a. Runners may choose their path from one base to the next, and may follow a natural running arc.
b. Runners are free to change course to avoid interference with a fielder making a play.
c. When attempting to avoid a ball tag, runners may move no more than 4 feet out of their established path. Obstruction. Fielders must stay out of the baseline. 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 baseline, not making an active play for the ball, shall be safe at the base to which they were running. Runners may choose to advance beyond this base while the ball is still in play.
Neither leading off base, nor stealing a base is allowed. A runner may advance once the ball is kicked. A runner off base when the ball is kicked is out.
10.04 Hitting a runners neck or head with the ball is not allowed, except when the runner is sliding. Any runner hit in the neck or head shall be considered safe at 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.