Kickball

Fields

• The League rents fields from the city to provide our leagues. Please respect the fields so we can continue using them.
• Please be courteous to homeowners and the community. Be respectful when it comes to noise levels and garbage.
  • If approached by someone regarding any issue be polite and report any issue to The League.
• If there are any issues with one of the neighbours, please be courteous and polite, and report any issues to The League office.
• The League and the city do not allow alcohol or any controlled substance on any fields. No smoking on the fields.
• Players are responsible for all property damage.

Rosters & Default

• A full team is 10 players (a catcher, a pitcher, 4 infielders, 3 outfielders and a rover). Teams may play with 7 players without defaulting the game.
  • A team can also play with 2 females without defaulting, but they must take an automatic out where the third female would kick.
• Teams are also encouraged to have subs if needed.
• Teams can add to their roster at any point. Player info for every additional member must be sent to The League prior to them being allowed to play.
• If a team does not have 7 players or 2 females by the scheduled start time, they may wait 10 minutes if the opposing team agrees. If after ten minutes, the roster is not full they will default the game and a score of 10-0 will be recorded.
• If a team defaults one game then they will be required to pay a default fee by e transfer before their next game. If this is not paid then all games will be updated as a default loss and the team will not be scheduled anymore games.
• If a team misses two games then another default fee will need to be paid in order to have any future games scheduled. A meeting with the league will occur to determine if this league is the right fit for your team. If a second default fee is not paid then the players on the roster will not be allowed to play in any future sports.
• If a team misses more than two games then this is not the right league for your team. You need a drop in league and the players on the roster will not be allowed to play in any future sports.
• If both captains agree, the minimum requirement rule can be waived and the game will count towards the standings. This must be decided upon before the start of the game and teams cannot change their minds once the game has started.

Game Times

• Please arrive at the field 15 minutes prior to the start time indicated on the schedule. This will allow time for teams to warm up and have the game start and end on time.
• Games are 7 innings or 1.5 hours long. Games must start and end on time, as there are other scheduled games on the same field.
• Captains are responsible to ensure that games start and end on time.
• There will be no games on long weekends for Sunday Leagues (unless necessary). Games will be made up with double headers.

 
Pre-Game

• A coin toss will determine which team takes the field first.
• Captains should discuss any obstruction in the field prior to the game and determine what course of action will be played if the obstruction interferes with the play.
• Team captains will bring a score sheet to all games.
• Teams must track the kicker results each inning for their own team and runs scored by the other team. Captains should confirm with each other at the end of each inning what the score is.
• A team can score a maximum of 7 runs per inning except the final inning there is no maximum.
• In the bottom of the 7th inning, once the kicking team scores a run to take the lead the game is over. If the team kicking last has the lead after the top of the 7th inning, the score is final at the end of the top of the inning. If there is time, you may play the bottom of the 7th inning, but the score does not change.
• A tie is a tie. Due to time constraints extra innings are not to be played, except for playoff games.

Pitching

• Balls must be pitched by hand. There are no restrictions on pitching style.
• Once the pitcher has the ball in control and retains possession on the mound, the play ends. Runners who are off base at this time and in forward motion may advance only one base. Runners who are off base at this time and not in forward motion must return to the base from which they were running.
• 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 team's 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:

• Fielders
  •  All fielders besides the catcher must remain in fair territory behind the 1st-3rd base diagonal.
• 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 when releasing the ball.
• 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.

Kicking

• A maximum of three males may kick in a row at any time in the kicking order. This includes going from the top of the order to the bottom. A team cannot finish the order with two males and then start at the beginning with three males. If a team is short females, they will take an automatic out where the female should be in the kicking order.

      For example:  M-M-F-M-M-M-F-M-M-F

• Teams can have more than 10 players on the kicking order as long as there are enough females in the rotation to not have three males kicking consecutively more than once.
• 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:
  • 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.
  • Within the kicking box, the kicker must have at least a portion of the plant foot within the kicking box during the kick. The kicker may line up outside of the kicking box.

Running and Scoring

• Runners must stay within the baseline. Any runner outside the baseline is out.
• Runners may choose their path from one base to the next, and may follow a natural running arc.
• Runners are free to change course to avoid interference with a fielder making a play.
• 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.
• Hitting a runner’s neck or head with the ball is not allowed. 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, the runner is out.
• A tag-up is a requirement to retouch or stay on a base until a kicked then caught ball is first touched by a fielder. After a tag-up a runner may advance. A runner failing to tag-up as required is out.
• All ties will go to the runner. Runners traveling from home plate may overrun first base, and may only be tagged out if actively attempting to advance to second base.
• Running past another runner is not allowed. The passing runner is out
• A run scores when a runner touches home plate before the third out is made, EXCEPT that no run can score when the third out is made during a force play situation, or when the kicker is put out before touching first base. At the end of a game the team with the most runs wins.
• When a base is displaced during play, any runner is safe while in contact with the base's original and correct location. All displaced bases should be restored at the end of each play.

Base Running on Overthrows

• An overthrow is a ball thrown, kicked, or deflected into foul territory while making a defensive play toward a player or base.
• A runner may advance only one base beyond the base the runner is on or running toward when the ball travels into foul territory.
• If any fielder attempts to make an out prior to returning the ball to the pitcher, runners may commence base running.

Strikes & Balls

• A count of three strikes is an out.
  •  A strike is a pitch that is not kicked and is not called a ball, that enters any part of the strike zone. Or an attempted kick missed by the kicker inside or outside of the strike zone.
• Foul balls never count as strikes.
• A count of four balls advances the kicker to first base.
  • A ball is a pitch outside of the strike zone where a kick is not attempted.
  • A pitched ball that does not touch the ground at least twice or roll before reaching the kicking box.
  • A pitched ball that exceeds one foot in height from the bottom of the ball as it enters the kicking box. A pitched ball that is higher than one foot at the plate.
  • A pitched ball that exceeds one foot in height from the bottom of the ball at any time while passing through the kicking box, prior to reaching the kicker.

 
Fairs & Fouls

• A count of four (4) fouls is an out. Foul balls never count as strikes.
  • A foul ball is a kicked ball first touching the ground in foul territory.
  • A kicked ball landing in fair territory, but touching the ground in foul territory on its own at any time before crossing the 1st-3rd base diagonal.
  • A kicked ball landing in fair territory, then entering foul territory before crossing the 1st-3rd base diagonal, and touching a fielder wholly in foul territory.
  •  A kick made on or above the knee.
  • A kicked ball touched more than once or stopped in the kicking box by the kicker.
  • A kicked ball first kicked outside of the kicking box.
  •  A kicked ball first touching a permanent object, such as a batting cage or fence.
  •  
• A fair ball is:
  • A kicked ball landing and remaining in fair territory.
  • A kicked ball landing in fair territory then traveling into foul territory beyond the 1st-3rd base diagonal.
  • A kicked ball first touching a player in fair territory.
  • A kicked ball landing in fair territory, then touched by a participant in fair territory before touching the ground in foul territory.
  • A kicked ball that touches a runner before touching the ground in foul territory.
  • A kicked ball that touches the kicker once outside the kicking box before touching the ground in foul territory.

Outs

• A count of three outs by a team completes the team's half of the inning.
  • An out is a count of three strikes or four fouls.
  • Any kicked ball (fair or foul) that is caught by a fielder. Any part of the ball may incidentally touch the ground during the act of catching and still be ruled an out if the fielder first displays full control of the ball and maintains control after touching the ground.
  •  A “Force Out”, being the tag by any part of a fielder’s body of a base to which a runner is forced to run, before the runner arrives at the base, while the fielder has control of the ball. The ball may be touching the ground if the fielder displays full control of the ball while simultaneously tagging the base.
  • A runner touched by the ball or who touches the ball at any time while not on base while the ball is in play.
  • A kicker or runner that interferes with the ball.
  • A tag of a base by any part of a fielder’s body, while the fielder has control of the ball, before the runner originating at that base can tag-up as required due to a caught ball.
  • A runner off base when the ball is kicked.
  • A runner physically assisted by a team member during play.
  • Any kicker that does not kick in the proper kicking line up.
  • A runner that passes another runner.
  • A runner who misses a base.
  • A runner who fails to properly tag up on a caught ball.
  • A runner touched by the ball while on a base they are forced to vacate by the kicker becoming a runner.

Officiating

• All leagues are self officiated. This means players are responsible for making their own calls.
• This is an adult rec league and we rely on our players being honest. When you are guilty of an infraction don’t assume no one saw you. Captains should speak up and call their own players fouls if they see them.
• If a team continues to not call themselves report this to The League.
• Not calling your own infractions will also negatively affect your team’s sportsmanship rating and standings.
• Captains are responsible to ensure that games start and end on time. Team captains should assign someone to be in charge of keeping time and they should let everyone know when there is five minutes remaining in each half.
• If a game starts late, it does not run late. Games are scheduled back to back, so games must end on time.

Any reckless, aggressive, threatening or unsportsmanlike behaviour will result in being ejected from the game or league. Team captains should report any issues with the opposition

Umpiring

• All games are self officiated. The kicking team must provide the home plate umpire and may provide 1st and 3rd umpires if they choose. These players must know the rules and be prepared to make quick calls.
• If the two captains disagree with a wrong call and they agree to change the decision or to replay they may do so. Only the captains can make this decision. There is to be no arguing between players.

Playoffs

• All teams get two playoff games, but only the top four teams are eligible to win The League championship.
• If a playoff game is tied after 7 innings teams will play extra innings. Once one team is winning at the end of full inning the game is over.

Alcohol Consumption

• The League and the city do not allow open alcohol at any public venue.
• Any player or team found to be under the influence of alcohol, or other controlled substance, will be automatically ejected from The League without refund.
• All fines will be the responsibility of the teams. Teams will lose every scheduled game and will not be scheduled any other games until all fines are paid.

Weather

• Because the season is short and field availability is limited, rescheduling games is very difficult.
• When deciding to use a field/diamond during or after inclement weather:
  • Do not use the field/diamond if there is standing water (e.g. puddles) on the field.
  • Do not use the field/diamond if water squishes under one’s feet when walking on the turf.
• If it is raining prior to your game, teams are to show up at the field regardless and wait 15 minutes for the rain to stop. If the rain does not stop and it is raining too hard to play, the two captains are to agree on a day to reschedule.
• If it has been raining for a prolonged period of time the fields will not be open.
• If the fields are closed, out of respect you should contact the opposing teams captain (if they are not present).
• If it begins to rain after you started the game and you can play though it, you should do so. It is up to the captains to decide if the game cannot continue.
• After half time the game will not be rescheduled and the leading team after half will be declared the winner.
• If you do not contact the other team to let them know you are not going to make it and they show up, then it will count as a default to your team. If the fields are open games should take place and will not be made up.

Rescheduling

• The League will not reschedule games for any other reason than weather.  Should you cancel your game you will lose by default.
• We will make up rained out games, but it is the captain’s responsibility to discuss with the opponent when a suitable day/time to make up will be. We do have fields availability on many days and games can be made up on any of these days, as long as both captains must agree.
• Once a date and time have been agreed upon The League should be notified and then we will schedule your game on an available field.
• All games must be made up prior to the final regular season game. If they are not made up before the final game then the score will not count towards the standings.
• If the final regular season games are rained out then the games can be rescheduled but the playoff schedule will be made without it.

Sportsmanship

This is a rec league and we expect all players and teams to have a fun first attitude. To help enforce this style of play we ask all teams to report the sportsmanship rating of the opposing team after every game.

2 – Good, fun spirited team, respected their opposition and made the game enjoyable.
1 – Was not unsportsmanlike, but didn’t go out of their way to make the game enjoyable.
0 – Was not a fun team to play. They made the game less enjoyable and did not respect the opposition.

If a team gets two 0 ratings in one season the league will decide whether the team is fit for this league and may remove them from the schedule.
Any complaints about the opposing team should brought to the attention of The League and be done in a respectful and polite way at the after of the game.

Scores

• Captains are responsible for sending scores and sportsmanship rating following games within 24 hours.
• Captains should confirm scores between each inning.
• Teams are to track both teams scores.
• Not reporting scores will impact your sportsmanship rating and standing in The League.
• If scores are not reported they will not count towards the standings.
• Scores are to be emailed to scores@saskatoonrecleague.com

Refunds
Registration fees are fully refundable, minus a $20 processing fee, up to 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the season. After this, the league assumes you have committed and all fees are non-refundable. We require this time frame in order to create teams and to complete scheduling.