Basic Kickball Rules
Object
A kickball game is played by two teams each who try to score more runs than their opponent by rounding the bases and crossing home plate as many times as possible.
Playing Area
The kickball field is laid out similar to a baseball diamond with 4 bases, a pitching rubber, an infield and an outfield in the shape of a diamond.
Equipment
All you need to play is a kickball and 4 bases.
Positions
Players line up in the following positions:
Starting Play
The first team kicks while the home team starts out in the field. The first kicker steps up to the plate to kick.
Pitching
The ball must roll on the ground when crossing over the plate.
The pitcher has to stay behind the pitching rubber until the ball is kicked. Failure to do this results in a "ball."
Kicking
The ball must be kicked with the foot or leg.
All kicks must be made behind home plate. It's okay to step on home plate while kicking.
No bunting is allowed (contacting the ball without fully extending the leg). A bunt is called an out.
Strikes
If a kicker gets 3 strikes, they are out.
A strike is:
If a ball is caught in the air
If a player gets hit with a ball running to a base
3 fouls in a row
Force out
If you do not tag up
Tagging up: In baseball, softball or kickball: to tag up is for a baserunner to retouch or remain on their starting base (the time-of-pitch/kick base) until (after) the ball either lands in fair territory or is first touched by a fielder. By rule, baserunners must tag up when a fly ball is caught in flight by a fielder.
Balls
A kicker gets a free trip to first base after 3 balls.
A ball is called when:
A foul is a kick that:
Object
A kickball game is played by two teams each who try to score more runs than their opponent by rounding the bases and crossing home plate as many times as possible.
Playing Area
The kickball field is laid out similar to a baseball diamond with 4 bases, a pitching rubber, an infield and an outfield in the shape of a diamond.
Equipment
All you need to play is a kickball and 4 bases.
Positions
Players line up in the following positions:
- Pitcher – on the pitching rubber
- Catcher – behind home plate
- 1st Baseman – a few feet away from 1st base
- 2nd Baseman – a few feet away from 2nd base toward 1st
- 3rd Baseman – a few feet away from 3rd base
- Shortstop – between 2nd and 3rd base
- Leftfielder – outfield behind 2nd and 3rd base
- Centerfielder – outfield behind 2nd base
- Rightfielder – outfield behind 1st and 2nd base
Starting Play
The first team kicks while the home team starts out in the field. The first kicker steps up to the plate to kick.
Pitching
The ball must roll on the ground when crossing over the plate.
The pitcher has to stay behind the pitching rubber until the ball is kicked. Failure to do this results in a "ball."
Kicking
The ball must be kicked with the foot or leg.
All kicks must be made behind home plate. It's okay to step on home plate while kicking.
No bunting is allowed (contacting the ball without fully extending the leg). A bunt is called an out.
Strikes
If a kicker gets 3 strikes, they are out.
A strike is:
- a pitch inside the strike zone that isn't kicked.
- an attempted kick that's missed. It doesn't matter whether it was inside or outside the strike zone.
- a foul ball.
If a ball is caught in the air
If a player gets hit with a ball running to a base
3 fouls in a row
Force out
If you do not tag up
Tagging up: In baseball, softball or kickball: to tag up is for a baserunner to retouch or remain on their starting base (the time-of-pitch/kick base) until (after) the ball either lands in fair territory or is first touched by a fielder. By rule, baserunners must tag up when a fly ball is caught in flight by a fielder.
Balls
A kicker gets a free trip to first base after 3 balls.
A ball is called when:
- a pitch is outside the strike zone, and the kicker doesn't try to kick it.
- a pitch bounces across home plate.
- any fielder, including the pitcher, advances toward home plate before the ball is kicked.
A foul is a kick that:
- lands in foul territory.
- goes out of bounds before passing 1st or 3rd base that isn't touched by any player.
- A foul counts as a strike.
- If a player gets 3 fouls, he's out.
- If a player has 2 strikes and then kicks a foul ball, she's out.