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Fairfax Athletics Co-ed Kickball Rules

Any rule or situation not explained here will default to Major League Baseball rules. These calls will be made at the discretion of the head referee. Their call is final and cannot be disputed.

REMEMBER, THIS IS A SOCIAL SPORTS LEAGUE
The only players allowed to communicate with the referees are the captain and co-captain. Any abuse (verbal or otherwise) of the referees or other players will constitute an immediate ejection from the game. Repeated offenders will be banned from the league. No exceptions.

PLAYER WAIVER & RELEASE FORM
Every player must compete the Online Player Waiver & Release Form prior to the first scheduled game of the season. Any team that has not submitted all of their player waivers by that time will have its scheduled games declared a “forfeit” until all waiver forms are received. If a player fails to submit their online player waiver & release waiver form, all liability and legal issues will be the responsibility of the team captain. Fairfax Athletics will not be responsible for players that do not submit an online player waiver & release form.

Players may be listed only on one team’s roster per season throughout the league. For a player to be considered “playoff eligible” (eligible to participate in the playoffs), he/she must be listed on a team’s roster and must have played in a minimum of two regular season games for that particular team.

THE PLAYING FIELD
Field of play will equal the dimensions of a standard softball field (i.e., with the bases being about 60 feet or 20 paces apart).

EQUIPMENT
FXA will provide field equipment. This will consist of a 10-inch playground ball, bases and cones.

OFFICIALS
Games will be officiated by 1 (one) referee who will be scheduled and provided by Fairfax Athletics. The home plate referee issues all final rulings. Only a team captain or co-captain may dispute a call with the referee. The referee has jurisdiction over the play and may penalize a player, including game ejection, for un-sportsman like conduct. Ejected players may not return to the game and if necessary may be asked to leave the premises.

PARTICIPANTS
All players must be 21 years of age or older. Players may only play on a team on which they are registered. Exception: You may function as a substitue player for another team if they are short a man or woman. This is ONLY valid during the regular season.

FXA reserves the right to suspend any player at any time for unsportsmanlike conduct, violation of any rules, for failure to pay appropriate dues or for being disruptive, without any refund what so ever. Any team wishing to suspend any member for just reasons must do so on their own and provide FXA a written reason as to why. Again, no refunds. At the discretion of FXA, any member suspended may not in the future be allowed to participate in any further FXA events.

TEAMS
Each team must consist of a minimum of fourteen (14) players and no more than 20 players. A team may not play more than 10 players at a time in the field. Each team is required to have at least 4 women in the field in each inning.

Every player present is required to be in the kicking line up. Every player present is required to play at least one (1) inning in the field. If a team does not have the required minimum number of female players in the fielding lineup, then the team must forfeit.

If a team cannot field at least 6 players (Minimum of 2 Females), they automatically forfeit.

Each team shall have one Captain and one Co-Captain who are charged with:

Making sure that only players registered on their team are participating on their behalf in a game.
Insuring that their players kick in the same order through out the game (if necessary, teams can exchange kicking lineups prior to the game).
Disputing a call on the field and remaining cool at all times.
Making sure everyone on their team understands the rules.
Turning in the game results to the appropriate person.
Staying in contact with FXA and attending all required league meetings.
Communicating any changes in regards to scheduling or rules with his/her team.
Ensuring that everyone on his team is eligible to play.
Contacting the other team and the league in the event of a forfeit by 2:00 pm.
Providing the referees as they are scheduled.

Any team that forfeits three or more games will be removed from the remaining schedule and not be allowed to participate in any playoff situations. No refunds will be given and a team dropped by the league may, at FXA’s discretion, not be allowed to rejoin the next season.

Players on a team must wear same colored t-shirts during all games, chosen before the season begins. Teams are encouraged to be creative with names and t-shirts.

REGULATION GAME
Games will be 5 or 6 innings, depending on the season and sunset times. Games that have gone past the 6th inning and are tied in score will be scored as a Tie Game. There are no Extra Innings in the Regular Season.

The game will be called in the event of uncooperative weather. The rules for game cancellation are defined by the parks in which we play. FXA will attempt to reschedule any canceled games. If a game is called due to weather and less then 3 complete innings have been played, the game is canceled and will be rescheduled (and replayed starting at 0-0, top of the 1st). If more than 3 full innings have been played, the final score will be the score at the end of the last complete full inning.

SPORTSMANSHIP
Players should have no intentional or unwelcome physical contact with opposing players. Doing so will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct and it will be at the discretion of the referee to issue warnings or eject offending players. A player must make the referee aware if he or she feels any contact was unwarranted.

Trash talking is permitted as long as it is not cruel, racially motivated, hateful, or a personal attack on another player. The trash talking should only be good natured and shall not be allowed to get out of hand. Threats of physical violence are in no way allowed. The team captain shall ensure that their players behave themselves.

Due to Virginia regulations, consumption of alcohol on the fields is strictly prohibited. If a person is seen consuming alcohol on the field, that person’s team immediately forfeits that day’s game and may, at the discretion of FXA be removed from the league.

PITCHING/CATCHING
The pitcher must plant their foot on the pitching strip as they wind-up to pitch. No running up to the strip to launch a pitch. Pitches must be underhanded. Any side-arm or over-hand pitches will be considered a ball at the discreation of the head umpire. Any portion of the ball must cross over the plate to be considered a strike. The ball may not be more than 6 inches off the ground as it crosses the plate (bouncy). This is at the discretion of the umpire.

The pitcher must stay behind the pitching strip until the ball is kicked. Failure to do so results in a ball. All infielders must stay behind the imaginary line stretching from designated cones lined on the field until the ball is kicked. The cones will be approximately 10 feet from homeplate. Failure to do so results in a ball.

The catcher must start behind the kicker until the ball is kicked. The catcher shall not interfere with the kicker in any way. Failure to abide by this rule results in a ball.

KICKING
All kicks must be made by the foot. Any lower leg contact while attempting to kick the ball will be considered a kick regardless of where it strikes the leg or foot.

All kicks must occur at or behind home plate. Both feet must be on or behind home plate at the time the ball is kicked. If one or more feet are in front of home plate at the time the ball is kicked, it is a foul and the kick is called back (if such a kick is caught on the fly, it is an out). A kick must remain within bounds until it crosses past first or third base.

Bunting is not allowed. A bunt is defined as a kick that does not travel past the 20 foot line/markers and remain in fair territory. Any kick that does not travel past the 20 foot line/markers will result in a foul.

Kicking order. Maximum 2 male then 1 female. If required, females will kick multiple times throughout the kicking order. Men do not take an additional turn throughout the kicking order.

RUNNING
Runners must stay within the base line. Fielders must stay out of the base line unless they are attempting to tag a runner out or catch the ball. Fielders trying to make an out on base may have their foot on base, but must lean out of the base line. First base will have two bases side by side (similiar to softball), one for the fielder and one for the runner which should eliminate colisions and injurys. Runners unfairly hindered by any fielder within the base line shall be safe at the base to which they were running.

Neither leading off base, nor stealing a base is allowed. A runner may only move off his/her base after the ball has been kicked and you can’t pass the runner in front of you. These are outs.

Hitting a runner with the ball above shoulder level is not allowed. Any runner hit above the shoulders (neck or head) is safe and advances one base. Exceptions: If the runner intentionally uses his head to block the ball. The runner is out. If the runner is ducking, diving or sliding (i.e. attempts to dodge the ball) and is hit in the head or neck because of this, he/she is out.

If a kicked ball is caught on the fly, runners must tag their originating base (on or after the moment the ball is first touched by a fielder) before running to the next base. There is no infield fly rule.

Only one base on an overthrow is allowed to the runner. If there is an overthrow at second base, then this rule does not apply because the ball is still in play. The one base is not automatic and the runner must take the risk of being made out. The one base is only available before the play ends.

STRIKES
The ball must travel over homeplate and bounce below 6 inches. As long as any part of the ball passes through the strike zone, the ball is a strike. A kick occurring in front of home plate is a foul (if such a kick is caught on the fly, it is an out).

BALLS
A ball is defined as:

a pitch outside the strike zone
the catcher playing next to or in front of the kicker before the ball is kicked
any player crossing the “line” from the defense that runs from the designated cones on the field
Three (3) balls will get you to first base

FOULS
A foul is defined as:

a kick landing out of bounds. The foul is determined by where the ball lands not how it travels to get there. Remember that if such a kick is caught on the fly it is an out
a kick landing inbounds, but traveling out of bounds on its own before reaching first or third base. (Any ball touched by an in-bounds fielder is automatically in play)
a ball that is tipped while being kicked but continues to travel behind the kicker; but if such a kick is caught on the fly it is an out
a kicker touching (or kicking) the ball twice while on or behind home plate (i.e., in foul territory); but if such a kick is caught on the fly it is an out
Any foul that hits a tree or other outside object is a dead ball and not illegible to be caught for an out. The ball remains a foul.
Three fouls is an out

OUTS
An out is defined as:

a count of three strikes
a count of three fouls
a runner touched by the ball at anytime while not on base (unless a head shot)
any kicked ball (fair or foul) that is caught before it hits the ground
a ball tag on a base to which a runner is forced to run
kicking out of order
a runner leading off the base or stealing
a count of three outs completes the team’s half of the inning

BALL IN PLAY
Once the pitcher has the ball in control and is within 5 feet of the pitching strip, the play ends. If the runner has passed a base and is moving, they may continue to the next base but are not guaranteed that base.