Stetson IM Kickball Rules (1/09)
IM Softball rules will govern play, except where modified below.
1. A team will consist of 8 players (4 men, 4 women) on defense and an unlimited number of extra kickers. Men and women alternate in the kicking order and two men can never kick consecutively. Minimum number to prevent a forfeit is 5 and a team can never have more men that women in the kicking order or on defense (i.e. there must be at least 3 women in the game at all times)
2. Games will be played on the Hollis softball fields with a regular playground ball. Home team will be determined by coin toss, matching, etc.
3. Games will consist of 5 innings with a 35 minute time limit (no new inning start after 35 minutes from scheduled starting time). If the game is tied after 5 innings, but under the time limit, game continues until the 35 minutes. If tied after 35 minutes, in the playoffs only, each team will get an additional turn at kick. In the extra innings, each team will kick eight players or until 3 outs until one team leads after a complete inning.
Mercy Rule: If a team scores 8 runs in an inning (except the 5th inning) the half inning ends.
4. Rule enforcement: A supervisor will be on duty to mediate disputes and "interpret rules" but not to make calls. The teams will make all the umpiring calls. The defensive team will make all out/safe, interference/obstruction calls, and leaving base early calls. The offensive team will make all fair/foul, illegal pitch, and improper defensive alignment (fielders inside baselines before kick) calls. Honesty and good negotiation skills are a must.
5. Outs: In addition to standard softball outs, a player is called out if hit below the neck with the ball while off base. (If the runner ducks to avoid the ball and is accidentally hit in the head they will be called out) If a runner is hit with a kicked ball anywhere (even on base) in fair territory they will be called out.
Note: Sportsmanship and common courtesy is expected of all players and must be exercised especially when attempting to strike a player with the ball.
6. The kicker will be allowed a maximum of two pitches. The ball must be rolled at moderate speed in the proximity of home plate and the kicker must attempt to kick each legal pitch. If the first kick is a foul ball a second pitch will be made.
7. If a kicked ball does not go past the pitchers rubber or a line from there perpendicular to each foul line before being touched by a fielder (other than pitcher or catcher) it will be a foul. Defensive players may not be closer to home plate than the base lines until the ball is kicked.