Rules

KOCC RULES

Equipment

  • NO metal cleats are allowed.
  • NO steel-toed boots.
  • Anyone playing in sandals or bare feet does so at his/her OWN RISK.

Strike Zone

  • The strike zone will extend ONE FOOT on each EDGE of home plate and BELOW the knees of the kicker.

Base Coaches

  • Two (2) members of the offensive (kicking) team may coach 1st and 3rd base.
  • The base coaches will assist in retrieving foul balls and may switch with other team members to maintain his/her spot in the kicking order.
  • Other than the two base coaches and the kicker on deck, there should NOT be anyone else on the field of play. If there is, the umpire has the authority to call an automatic OUT on that team.
  • The base coaches must do the following: Not touch a runner during a play, stay on the foul side of the base line, attempt to get out of the way of any throw or kick, attempt to get out of the way of a fielder attempting to make a play on a foul ball. The penalty for all infractions is that the nearest runner is out and the play is dead.

Regulation Games

  • Regulation games will last or 7 innings or the last inning will start 20 minutes before the next scheduled game will start, whichever comes first. (12:30 game ends at 1:25, 1:45 game ends at 2:40, 3:00 game ends at 3:55, 4:15 game ends at 5:10) If the AWAY team is losing and time expires, they still have the chance to kick and complete the inning.
  • The responsibility for watching time falls on both the umpire and the captains. At 5 minutes until the curfew for the game, consider that your last inning warning whether it is said out loud or not.
  • A team failing to field at least seven (7) players within 10 minutes of the scheduled start time for their game will forfeit.
  • Each team should have a minimum of nine (9) players to a maximum of 25 players on its roster.
  • All games will start on time. If a team does not have enough people to play, then the game is forfeited.
  • A team must have at least three (3) men and three (3) women (nine (9) people total) to start a game without penalty. The team has until they field in the first inning, or until the lineup turns over (whichever comes first) to have the required amount of players.
  • The team may play the game if they have a minimum of seven (7) people (at least one (1) man and one (1) woman). If they have fewer than three (3) members of each sex, then they have to play without that number of fielders.
  • If a team plays with less than the required amount of people, then the team is penalized one (1) point in the standings.
  • COMPLETE ROSTERS must be turned in no later than the end of regulation play on the 1st Sunday of league play. After this time, teams may NOT add any more players to the roster. Any team playing NON-REGISTERED players will forfeit that game.

Team Captains

  • ONLY a team captain or coach can protest an umpire’s call for rule infraction, but WILL ACCEPT the umpire’s final ruling. If not, the protestor will be given ONE warning and then thrown out.
  • ONLY a team captain or coach can request a time out. Each team is allowed two 2-minute time outs per game, not including injury time-outs. (Penalty for going over 2 minutes: automatic out against kicking team OR automatic walk (according to kicking order) against fielding team.)
  • If an injury occurs and the affected team now has less than 7 players, it is up to the team captains and the umpire to decide if play continues.
  • Each team may have up to three (3) captains/coaches. The captains and coaches will meet with the umpires before the game during the coin toss. Those who meet with the umpires are the only ones who are allowed to argue an umpire’s call.

Pitching

  • The CATCHER may not go in front of the kicker until the ball is kicked and may not cross the baseline before the ball is kicked. Penalty: AUTOMATIC WALK.
  • NO player may advance past the 1st and 3rd base diagonal until the ball is KICKED. (Penalty: automatic BALL.) If situation persists, penalty becomes AUTOMATIC WALK. Moderated by first and third base umpires.
  • The pitcher must pitch underhand. Sidearm and overhand deliveries are not allowed. As a guideline: pitchers release the ball under their elbow and hip. (Penalty: automatic ball is called.)
  • The ball must bounce at least two (2) times before reaching the front of home plate.
  • The mound is defined as an eight (8) foot radius from the rubber. To end a play, the pitcher must control the ball within the circle.
  • Before the ball is kicked, the pitcher may not leave the circle. (Penalty: AUTOMATIC BALL) Subsequent infractions: penalty becomes AUTOMATIC WALK.
  • All automatic balls may be kicked. If they are kicked, the ball will be played as a normal kick and the kicking team’s captains have the choice to accept the result of the play, or accept the penalty as it was called.
  • The pitcher must have a part of their foot in contact with, behind, or equal to the rubber when they release the ball. (Penalty: AUTOMATIC BALL) Subsequent infractions: penalty becomes AUTOMATIC WALK.
  • All warnings are team warnings. If more than one infraction occurs, then all other infractions will be automatic walks.
  • If a runner makes a committed athletic move towards the next base before the ball is controlled by the pitcher, then if no play is made on that runner, the runner may advance to the next base at their own risk. If the runner does not make the committed athletic move before the pitcher controls the ball within the circle, then the runner must return to the original base. If the pitcher or another fielder makes a play on the runner, then the ball is live and all runners may advance at their own risk.

Kicking

  • ALL kicks must be made from the knee down.
  • ALL kicks must occur at or behind home plate. Only the follow-through (kicking foot) may cross the plane of home plate. The entire plant foot must remain on or behind the plate.
  • The kicker is responsible for making an effort to get out of the way of pitches they are not kicking. If they do not attempt to move out of the way and the ball hits them, the ball is live and may be played.
  • Bunting is allowed providing that that the ball travels AT LEAST one (1) foot forward. A ball failing to do so will be treated as a foul ball.
  • If a ball pops when it is kicked, then there will be no play and there will be a re-kick with a new ball.
  • Kicked balls that have not passed either first or third base will be ruled fair or foul by where the ball was first touched or where the ball stops. If any part of the ball is touching the foul line, the ball is FAIR. When the ball crosses either first or third base, if the ball is on the ground and rolls past the base fair, then it is a fair ball. If the ball rolls past the base in foul territory, then the ball is foul. If the ball is in the air, it is ruled on where the ball first landed. The first and third base umpires have the call if the ball is past the base. The home plate umpire has the call if the ball is before the base.

Running

  • Runners must stay within the base line.
  • Unless making a play, fielders must stay out of the way. Runners impeded by any fielder within the base line will be safe at the base to which they were running. It is the umpire’s responsibility to make the call on any contact or incidents between runner and fielder.
  • The fielder has the right to the baseline ONLY if they are making a play on the kicked ball. At that point, it is the runner’s responsibility to avoid the fielder. ONLY in this circumstance will the runner be called for interference.
  • NO leading off or stealing bases. (Penalty: Automatic OUT)
  • After a kicked ball is caught, runners must TAG the original base before running to the next base. If the runner has not moved off base before the ball is caught, they may run to the next base without tagging. If the runner has passed a base, the runner must RE-TAG the base before returning to their original base.
  • Runners may overrun 1st base. If they make an athletic move towards second base while in fair territory, the runner is live and may be tagged out if they are off the base.
  • There is NO overthrow rule. A runner can take as many bases as they wish as long as the overthrow stays in the field of play (i.e. not in the crowd, stuck in the street, caught in trees, etc.) Otherwise, they may only take one base.
  • If a runner advances in front of another runner, the one who overruns will be called out.
  • If a kicked ball is bobbled then caught, then the runner is able to run as soon as the ball is touched by the fielder.
  • Any runner (not standing on a base) that comes into contact with a kicked ball in fair territory is immediately out. All runners on base at the time are awarded the base to which they were traveling. Play is dead.
  • If the runner hit by the kick purposely hits the ball out of play or in some other way interferes with the ability of the defense, that person is out and the play is redone. Unless it is the third out, in which case, the inning ends.
  • Once a kicked ball contacts a runner, any runners that were forced in front of the runner contacted with the ball are no longer forced.
    • Any other runners on base at the time are allowed to advance no more than one base at their own risk.
    • The kicking runner is allowed to make an attempt to reach first base and no further. The defense may also make an attempt to get any runner out.
    • Once all runners have reached the maximum of one base safely or the pitcher has the ball on the mound, time is called and the play is over.
    • Once all runners have reached the maximum of one base safely or the pitcher has the ball on the mound, time is called and the play is over.
  • If a runner collides with a fielder while rounding a base and the fielder has no reasonable expectation of a play on that base, then interference will be called and the runner is awarded the next base.

Strikes

  • Three (3) strikes results in an OUT.
  • A strike occurs when:
    • A pitch within the strike zone is not kicked.
    • A pitch is missed by the kicker.
    • The kicker’s plant foot moves past the front edge of home plate.
    • A kicker is ruled across the plate while kicking.
    • A kicker kicks the ball above his or her knee.
    • A kick is ruled foul.
    • A kicker double-kicks the ball while they are in the kicking box.
    • A bunt does not go one (1) foot from the plate.

Balls

  • Four (4) balls result in a walk and advance the kicker to 1st base.
  • A ball occurs when:
    • A pitch is rolled outside the strike zone.
    • The ball bounces above the knees when it crosses the plate.
    • The ball does not bounce at least two (2) times.
    • Any fielder advances on home plate before the ball is kicked, or the catcher crosses home plate before the kicker, leaves their box, or interferes with the kicker, or the pitcher releases the ball above their hip or elbow, or the first time a pitcher leaves the pitching circle, or the first time a fielder steps in front of the first-to-third line before the ball is kicked.

Fouls

  • Three (3) fouls result in an OUT.
  • A foul occurs when:
    • A kick lands out of bounds
    • A ball kicked lands in bounds but rolls foul and is touched by a fielder or stops BEFORE it reaches 1st or 3rd base.
  • If a foul ball is CAUGHT, the kicker is OUT, but the runners may tag up and advance at their own discretion.
  • If a kicker double-touches the ball, it is an automatic foul ball and no play can be made on it.
  • If a foul ball is bobbled and NOT CAUGHT, it is counted as a STRIKE.
  • If a field player touches the ball while the ball is in bounds and knocks it out of bounds, it is a FAIR BALL.
  • If a kicked ball touches a runner while the runner is standing on first or third base and the runner does not make an overt attempt to touch the ball, then the ball is ruled FAIR. If such a runner attempts to contact the ball, the runner will be called out for interference and the play will be ruled dead.

Outs

  • Three (3) outs complete a half-inning and teams switch from kicking to fielding (and vice versa).
  • An out occurs when:
    • Three (3) strikes are called. Also, if the third strike is a foul.
    • A runner is touched with the ball at ANY time while not on base
    • A ball is caught in fair or foul territory
    • A ball is tagged on base to which a runner is forced to run
    • A runner is off his/her base when ball is kicked into fair territory (“leading off”).
    • If a kicker is ruled over the plate, and the kicked ball is caught, then the kicker is out and runners are allowed to advance with the same rules as a foul ball.
    • If a runner intentionally knocks the ball out of a fielder’s hands, then the person who knocked the ball away is immediately called out and given a warning, the play is reset with one more out and without the runner that was called out.
    • A red-hot will be called if the ball touches any part of the runner’s clothing even if the ball does not touch the runner’s body.
    • If a runner has long hair and the ball touches the hair, but NOT THE HEAD, then a red-hot will be called. (Example: hitting someone’s pony tail)
    • If the red-hot comes in contact with the runner’s head or face, then it will be ruled a head-hot and the play is dead. All forced runners will get the next base. All non-forced runners will have to return to the last base they achieved.
    • If a runner is hit in the head with a red-hot while sliding, the runner is considered out.
    • If a thrown ball deflects off of a fielder and hits a runner in the head, then it will be called a head-hot and head-hot rules apply.

Designated Runner/Player Position

  • Any injured player (not taken out of the game) may kick and have a designated runner ONLY if he/she can make it to 1st base safely.
    • In cases of illness or injury, the captain may replace that runner with the last person of the same sex to be out.
  • Any player out due to injury or illness may not come back into the game.
  • Captains make the kicking rotation at the beginning of the game and must maintain it as soon as each player has kicked ONCE (rotation has cycled through.)
  • Only one pitching change per inning is allowed, barring injury.
  • If a player is ejected or taken out for injury or illness, the kicking rotation will stay the same, less the removed player.

Additional Information

  • Whenever there is an infraction by the fielding team or an interference call, then the umpire who makes the call must raise their hand, but allow the play to continue. After the play, the umpires will get together and the call will be made.
  • Anyone who is in the kicking lineup must field at least one inning. Anyone who fields must kick at least once unless the lineup does not turn over during the course of a regulation game. Penalty: Forfeit.
  • ALL scorekeepers must turn in score sheets to Aloysius (Hangovers) so that he may record accurate league standings.
  • PAY ATTENTION to the umpire’s list provided by head umpires, Jeff (Maulers) and Wheels (Warriors). Any team which does NOT provide referees/umpire for their assigned games will be deducted ONE (1) point in the league standings.
  • THE UMPIRE’S DECISION IS FINAL.
  • J.R. Rule: Players can only play for one team.
  • Home plate umpire is “crew chief.” They have final say on all disputed calls. For a disputed call, the umpire must defer to the closest umpire to the call. For calls at second base, the umpires must confer and whatever call is in the majority is the call.
  • All calls are final by the next pitch. When the next pitch starts, nothing can change.
  • The umpires will defer to baseball rules for any calls that are not expressly covered in these rules.
  • The top four teams in each league will reach the playoffs. If there is a tie, then the first tiebreaker is head-to-head record. If the teams tied in the regular season or if there is more than one team tied, then second tiebreaker is run differential average during the season. The method for the third tie-breaker will be decided with the Commissioner and the Captains of the tied teams.