Section A – Description and Purpose

Kickball is a simple, fun game consisting of two teams, bases and a big red ball. Played like baseball, the object is to score more runs than the opposing team. It is played with up to minimal of 8 to 12 fielders, 6 innings or 45 minutes, 2 base coaches, 1 umpire, no bouncies, no head shots, and a one base on an overthrow. Age groups are Kindergarten through 1st Grade = Rookie League, 2nd through 3rd Grade = Minor League, and 4th through 5th Grade = Major League. The West Georgia Kickball League places an emphasis on kickball as being a great introductory sport for kids to build social skills, develop teamwork and have an all-inclusive, active, playing role on the team. Kids will learn the basic fundamentals of kicking, throwing, and catching without much of the stress, difficulty, and danger associated in most other organized sports.

 

Section B – Minor and Major League Head Coaching Positions:

1. All Head Coaches are paid employees (and sometimes volunteers) of the West Georgia Kickball League and will be carefully hand selected by the league officials to coach and umpire each game. They will be referred to as Head Coach-Umpires.

 

Section C – The Playing Field and Rules

1. The strike zone extends from 1-2 feet on either side of home plate, and 1 foot high or less off the ground. 2. All participants must respect and obey all rules and regulations pertaining to the respective field used for play during the game. 3. Once the pitcher has the ball in control and on the mound, the play ends. 4. Designated runners, courtesy runners, and designated kickers are not permitted in kickball, unless an injury occurs.

 

Section D – Equipment

1. Athletic shoes/cleats are strongly recommended, along with bringing water. Metal cleats are not allowed. 2. 8.5-inch rubber playground ball, rubber bases and cones (if necessary) are used to make up the field.

 

Section E – Teams

1. Teams must field at least six (6) players and no more than twelve (12ish) players. Note: League officials will do their very best to implement creative strategies to make sure a game is not cancelled and that every child will get to play. 2. Teams must do their best to wear their team colors via color shirts, wristbands, and/or headbands and not match the opposing team. 3. Teams shall have at least 1 Head Coach who will be responsible for the team. 4. Head Coaches must ensure that: A. All team players present must kick and play in the field. B. All team players must kick in the written score-book order. 5. Only the Head Coach may dispute or discuss calls with the other Head Coach on the field. Note: League officials may step in to give advice and/or to settle any confusion, which may lead to overturning a call. 5. Each team may have up to three coaches/parents: A dug out coach, first base coach and third base coach. 6. The base coaches will assist in retrieving fouls balls.

 

Section F – Game Play

1. Regulation games are 45 minutes or six (6) full innings. A tie after a regulation game will be decided by the coaches playing the best 2 out of 3 Rock, Paper, Scissors to determine the winner. The winning coach’s team receives 1 run. Note: the league officials will not maintain a record of wins and losses of each team because our focus is on fun and trophies and tournaments are not part of the West Georgia Kickball League.

 

Section G – Pitching/Catching

1. Special Note for the West Georgia Kickball League: To ensure maximum success of the kickers, all Head Coach-Umpires will pitch to his/her team each inning. Immediately upon rolling the ball, the Head Coach will move out of the way to allow the defensive team to play the ball. The Head Coach can give instructions from the field to the runners on what to do. The team on defense is allowed to position a pitcher in the pitching area of the mound. No bouncies. A pitch that is higher than one foot at the plate, and called as such, results in a ball. 2. The catcher must field directly behind the kicker and may not impede the kicker's vision or cross home plate before the ball is kicked. Failure to abide by this rule results in a ball. 

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Section H – Kicking

1. All kicks must be made by foot and must occur at or behind home plate. 2. A kick in front of home plate is called a foul. 3. A running bunt will not be allowed! All kickers must clearly be attempting to kick with a full leg swing. The call of it being determined as a bunt or not will be at the discretion of the Head Coach-Umpires. The kicker will be asked to re-kick if it was called a bunt. Note: Exceptions will be made for this rule as players are learning the game.

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Section I – Running

1. Runners must stay within the base line. 2. Runners hindered by any fielder within the base line shall be safe at the base to which they were running. 3. Leading off of the base or stealing a base is not allowed. 4. Runners cannot be hit above the chest/shoulder line. Any runner hit above the shoulders/chest line is considered safe. 5. If the runner intentionally uses the head to block the ball, the runner is out. 6. When a pop fly ball is caught, runners must tag up, before running to the next base. 7. All ties will go to the runner. Runners may ONLY overrun first base. 8. All League Officials and Head Coach-Umpires are aware of the Infield fly Rule protection for base runners, BUT due to the age group playing, the Infield fly Rule will not automatically be in effect unless a Head Coach-Umpire sees the defensive team intentionally use this to their advantage.

An Infield Fly is a fair fly ball (not a line drive or bunt) that, in the judgment of the umpire, can be caught by an infielder, pitcher, or catcher with ordinary effort and when there are runners on first and second or first, second, and third and less than two outs. When the umpire calls "infield fly” the batter is out, regardless of whether the ball is subsequently caught or dropped. The ball is live, and runners already on base may advance (at their own risk) if the ball is not caught or tag up and advance if it is caught.

9. Runners may advance one base on an overthrow when the overthrown ball travels out of the field of play. This will result in the runner being awarded one additional base beyond the one originally running toward when the ball was thrown.

 

Section J – Fielders  

1. All fielders must stay out of the baseline – fielders may have their foot on the base. 2. Fielders trying to make an out on a base may have their foot on the base, but must lean out of the baseline. 3. Defensive players may also throw the ball at a baserunner to get them out. When a baserunner is struck with a ball thrown by a defensive player, the base runner is out even if the ball bounces before it hits the runner. 4. Players may not cross the RESTRAINING LINE (white line between 1st and 3rd base) until the ball is kicked. 5. Baserunners cannot advance forward until the ball is kicked.

 

Section K – Balls and Strikes: There are no walks in the west Georgia Kickball League because Head Coach-Umpires are pitching to their own teams and will make sure each child gets to kick the ball. Strikes or un-kicked balls will not be counted against a kicker, but foul balls will. Exceptions will be made for this rule as players are learning the game.

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Section L – Fouls

1. A count of three (3) fouls constitutes an out 2. A foul is: a. a kick landing out of bounds b. a kick landing in bounds, but traveling out of bounds on its own before being touched or reaching first or third base. (Any ball touched by an in-bounds fielder is automatically in play) c. a kick in front of home plate d. a pitched ball stopped by the kicker before kicking it. e. error made on an attempt to catch a foul ball, results in a foul.

 

Section M – Outs

A count of three (3) outs by a team completes the team’s half of the inning. 2. An out is: a. a count of three (3) fouls b. a runner touched by or touching the ball at any time while not on base c. any kicked ball (fair or foul) that is caught d. a ball tag on a base to which a runner is forced to run or fielder who catches a ball while covering a base before the forced baserunner arrives. e. a runner off of his/her base when the ball is kicked 3. All throw outs must be below the shoulder/chest line. Any intentional head shots allow the runner to be awarded an extra base, and the player throwing the ball will be warned. If the same player does it again, the player may be suspended for the remainder of that game.

 

Section N – Ball in Play

1. A play ends once the pitcher has complete control of the ball and is on the mound. 2. An out will be charged if a runner intentionally or unintentionally touches or stops the ball (while not on a base) before the play ends.

 

Section O – Designated Runner/Player Positions

1. In case of injury or illness, a time-out may be requested for participant removal and replacement with a substitute, preferably of the same sex. 2. If the participant returns to play, the participant must be inserted in the same kicking order position previously held. 3. If a player is ejected, injured or becomes ill and cannot continue, the lineup will continue in the same formation, less the removed player. 

 

Section P – Runs versus 3 outs in an inning

A team is allowed to score a maximum of 6 runs per inning or get 3 outs. The kicking team will switch sides when they have either scored the maximum number of 6 runs or have gotten 3 outs, whichever comes first.

 

Section Q – Game Schedule and Practices

Each team will have one scheduled practice and will play 7 games at the designated fields. Teams are allowed to practice offsite, but this will not be scheduled or coached by the West Georgia Kickball League staff.

 

Section R – Kickball Ability vs. Grade Level

Our goal is to ensure every child has the absolute best experience. Players will have the choice to register one age division older to obtain the maximum kickball experience. NO players will be allowed to move down one age division!

 

Section S – Inclement Weather/Make up days

The West Georgia Kickball League will do everything possible to adhere to the predetermined kickball schedule. Our goal is to provide one scheduled practice and play 7 games. One make-up date will be built into the schedule. Any practice or game missed outside of the predetermined schedule due to unforeseen circumstances such as inclement weather, etc. will not be made up due to the scheduling and contractual agreements made with the Parks & Recreation Department.

 

Section T – Refund Policy

Registration fees are 100% refundable if the kickball season is cancelled or the participant does not play in at least 1 game during the season due to unforeseen circumstances. Due to the nature of our special services, ALL SALES ARE FINAL AND NON-REFUNDABLE for any other reason. Please be sure that the participant wants to play kickball before you choose to register and pay the fee. Note: Parents/guardians can use their unused credit towards the next kickball season for his/her child.

 

Section U – Consequences for misconduct

League officials will issue a verbal warning for any spectator not abiding by the standards set forth by the SPORTSMANSHIP POLICY. The West Georgia Kickball League officials reserve the right to remove players, coaches, parents, or spectators from the games for acting in a manner that is not consistent with the intent of the West Georgia Kickball Leagues Sportsmanship Policy.