Kickball RuleZ | KONQER Sports

How to Play Kickball – Basic Rules

The most important rule: have fun. Kickball is meant to be social and enjoyable.

Kickball is played between two teams using a large red ball on a diamond-shaped field. The goal is to score more runs than the opposing team by kicking the ball and running the bases.

Basic Game Overview

9 fielders per team :
1. Catcher
2. Pitcher
3. 1st Base
4. 2nd Base
5. Short Stop
6. 3rd Base
7. Left Field
8. Center Field
9. Right Field
3 to 7 innings (depending on type of play)
- Pool Play 3 innings or 25 mins.
- Playoffs 7 innings or 45 mins.
- Championship Game 7 innings or 90 mins.
2 base coaches
“Bouncies” are allowed, but the ball must bounce at least twice before home plate
Strike zone extends 1 foot around and above home plate
Players may throw the ball to get a runner out (no headshots)
Runners may advance one base on an overthrow
Forced outs apply
No ghost runners
Teams may have up to 15 players on their roster
- Each team must submit the kicking order to the head referee before the start of the game.
- Each player should be assigned a number for easy identification.
- A team may play with a minimum of 8 players (pitcher and catcher are required).

When teams are ready, one team fields while the other kicks. The pitcher rolls the ball to the kicker, who then kicks and runs the bases. Fielders try to get runners out by catching the ball, tagging a base before the runner arrives, or tagging the runner with the ball (not in the head).

A run is scored when a player safely reaches all bases and returns to home plate. Each team continues kicking until three players are out. Teams then switch sides. After final inning, the team with the most runs wins. In the event of a tie, the home team is given 1 point and the win.

Home / Away is determined at the beginning of the game with a coin toss. Head = home / Tails = away.

Kickball at a Glance: Pool Play / Playoffs

Kickball is played like baseball with 9 fielders, up to 7 innings, and two base coaches. “Bouncies” are permitted, but no headshots are allowed. Players may take one base on an overthrow. Forced outs apply, and ghost runners are not allowed. All players must show respect and good sportsmanship. Fighting is strictly prohibited.

Pool Play: 3 innings or 25 mins. Team leading wins. In event of a tie, the home team is awarded 1 point and the automatic win.
Playoffs: 7 innings or 45 mins. Team leading wins. In event of a tie, the home team is awarded 1 point and the automatic win.
Championship Game: 7 innings or 90 mins. Team leading wins. In event of a tie, the home team is awarded 1 point and the automatic win.

1. The Playing Field

1.01 Field Setup

The field should be safe and approximately the size of a softball diamond:
The kickball diamond is a 60-foot square (about 20 paces) with a base at each corner.
The distance from home plate to second base, and from first to third base, is 84 feet 10¼ inches (about 28 paces).
The pitching strip is at the diamond’s center, 42 feet 5⅛ inches (about 14 paces) from home plate and aligned with the 1st–3rd base diagonal.
The pitching mound extends 12 feet from the center of the pitching strip.
Sidelines are 10 feet outside and parallel to the foul lines. The area between them is the sideline area.
Cones (if available) are placed at:
The outside corner of each base (not touching the base)
30 feet (about 10 paces) behind first and third base along the foul lines
10 feet from home plate along the sidelines
The kicking box is a rectangle with the front aligned with the front of home plate and the back aligned with the cones behind home plate. Kicks must occur within this box, though the kicker may start outside it.
Foul lines are considered fair territory.

1.02 Strike Zone

The strike zone forms a three-dimensional pentagon, one (1) foot high, matching the shape of home plate:
- Extends one (1) foot beyond each side of home plate
- Extends one (1) foot behind the back edges of the plate
The front aligns with the front of home plate
No cones or raised markers may outline the zone.

1.03 Field Conduct

All players must obey the rules of the field and treat the area respectfully.
1.04 Fair and Foul Territory
Players or referees standing partly in fair territory are considered in fair territory.
A live runner outside the kicking box is still considered fair.
A player jumping from fair territory remains in fair territory while airborne.
Players in foul territory do not extend it by reaching into fair territory.

1.05 Improper Field Setup

If the field is set up incorrectly, notify the Head Referee before the next play. No protests on field setup will be accepted after play begins.

1.06 Optional Extra Base

An optional “Extra Base” may be placed next to First Base:
Used only for runners coming from home plate.
Fielders must tag the fair territory base (First Base) for an out.
Runners safe at the Extra Base remain safe.
Once safe, runners must use First Base for all subsequent plays.
Standing on or touching the Extra Base at the start of the next play results in an out.
The Extra Base may only be used at First Base.
Runners may use First Base to avoid a collision; in that case, fielders may tag the Extra Base.
Runners may use First Base if advancing to second or if no fielder is present.

1.07 Sideline Area

Before the kick, only the kicker, referees, and designated base coaches may be in the sideline area. After the kick, fielders and runners may enter this area.
First infraction: warning.
Second and later infractions: next kicker in the order is automatically out.

2. Equipment

2.01 Players must wear official athletic attire. Numbered tops recommended.

2.02 Athletic shoes are required; metal cleats are prohibited.

2.03 Protective gear is allowed if it doesn’t create an unfair advantage. The Head Referee may require removal of any such equipment.

2.04 The official ball is a red kickball, 10 inches in diameter, inflated to 1.5 psi.

2.05 All attire counts as part of the player’s body.

3. Referees

3.01 At least one authorized official (Head Referee) is required per game. Ideally, two referees—Head Referee and First Base Referee—officiate. The Head Referee has final authority.

3.02 Before the game, the Head Referee meets with both team Captains to discuss ground rules, exchange lineups, and identify official Captains.

3.03 Referees may:

Call timeouts or suspend play due to darkness, weather, or other issues
Penalize or eject players for unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting, excessive arguing, or delay of game
Require ejected players to leave the field area

3.04 Referees must:

Stop play immediately for lightning and resume only when safe
Record the final score

3.05 Referees may rule on situations not covered by the rules; such rulings do not set precedent.

4. Player Eligibility

4.01 All players must appear on written lineups showing the kicking order, exchanged between team Captains before play.

4.02 Claims of improper kicking order must meet two conditions:

Lineups were properly exchanged; and
The claim is made after the first pitch to the incorrect kicker but before the next kicker’s first pitch.
If confirmed, the improper kicker is out and the play is nullified. Players removed for injury, illness, or ejection do not count as improper order.

5. Teams

5.01 Each game has two teams: Away (kicks first) and Home (kicks last).

5.02 Teams field 8–15 players, including one pitcher and one catcher.

5.03 Each team designates a Captain and Co-Captain to communicate with referees. Only Captains may dispute calls; other players who argue may be ejected.

5.04 If a given team cannot field 6 players during a game, that game will be forfeited.

6. Base Coaches

6.01 Two team members may serve as base coaches at first and third base.

6.02 Base coaches may not physically assist runners while the ball is in play.

6.03 Base coaches DO NOT have to be a player, but must be identified to the head referee as a "BASE COACH" prior to the start of the game.

6.04 Base coaches may not dispute calls, or harass or distract opposing players.

7. Regulation Games

7.01 Games last up to 7 innings or up to 90 minutes (note specifics for pool play, play-offs and championship game).

A tied game at time limit ends with the home team awarded 1 point and declared the winner.
If the Home team leads after the top of the final inning, the game ends immediately.
If the Home team takes the lead during the bottom of the final inning, the game ends immediately.

7.02 Games stopped after expired time or max innings are official:

Pool Play 3 innings or 25 mins.
Playoffs 7 innings or 45 mins.
Championship Game 7 innings or 90 mins.

7.03 Games stopped before time expires are not official and may be rescheduled.

7.04 The team with the lead at the end of the max inning or expired time (whichever comes first), is declared the winner. In case of tie, the home team is awarded 1 point and is declared the winner.

7.05 Each team has the right to forfeit a game by notifying the head referee. Once a forfeit is accepted by the head referee it is final.

7.06 Each team must have a minimum of 6 players to avoid forfeiting the game.

8. Pitching, Catching, and Fielding

8.01 All pitches must be rolled by hand.

8.02 Players must maintain proper field positions during each pitch:

Fielders: stay in fair territory behind the 1st–3rd base diagonal.
Pitcher:
Start with at least one foot in the pitching mound.
Have one foot on or behind the pitching strip when releasing the ball.
No part of the front foot may cross the pitching strip’s front edge.
Catcher:
Must be within or behind the kicking box and behind the kicker.
Cannot contact or crowd the kicker.
Position violations: first offense is a warning; later offenses award the kicker first base.

9. Kicking

9.01 Kicks must be made with the foot or leg below hip level.

9.02 Kicks must occur:

At or behind home plate (the plant foot may not cross the front edge).
Within the kicking box (part of the plant foot must be inside it). The kicker may start outside the box.

10. Running and Scoring

10.01 Runners must stay within the baseline. Leaving it results in an out.

10.02 Fielders may enter the baseline only when making a play; otherwise, they must stay clear. If they obstruct a runner, the runner is safe at the base they were heading to.

10.03 No leading off or stealing. Runners may leave the base only after the ball is kicked.

10.04 Throwing at a runner’s head or neck is not allowed (except during a slide). Runners hit in the head are safe unless they deliberately use their head to block.

10.05 Runners must tag up on caught balls before advancing.

10.06 Ties go to the runner. Runners may overrun first base safely unless attempting to advance to second.

10.07 On an overthrow into foul territory, runners may advance one base beyond the base they were heading to.

10.08 Passing another runner results in an out.

10.09 A run counts when the runner reaches home plate before the third out, except on a force out or if the kicker is put out before first base.

10.10 If a base is displaced, the correct original spot serves as the safe zone.

10.11 Each team has 1 opportunity per game to used the "MATSON" rule.

When the "MATSON" is declared, that kicker may earn his team, double the runs kicked in, as a result of a "home run".
A home run is declared when the kicker's kicked ball, is kicked out of the park. A team may only use this once during a game.
If a kicker fails at this attempt, there is no penalty, however the "MATSON" option for the declaring team will be lost for that game.

11. Strikes

11.01 Three strikes = one out.

11.02 A strike occurs when:

The ball enters the strike zone and is not kicked; or
The kicker kicks and misses.

11.03 A foul ball will count as a strike, if the kicker has 2 or less strikes on them.

12. Balls

12.01 Four balls = walk to first base (except four-pitch walks).

12.02 A four-pitch walk (four balls, no strikes or fouls) grants the kicker two bases.

12.03 A ball is:

Outside the strike zone without a kick attempt
Not bounced twice before reaching the plate
Higher than one foot in the kicking box or at the plate.

13. Fairs and Fouls

13.01 Three fouls = out.

13.02 A foul ball includes:

Kicks first touching foul ground or fielders fully in foul territory
Kicks landing fair but rolling foul before 1st or 3rd base
Balls touched multiple times in the box
Kicks made above hip level
Kicks made outside the box
Balls hitting permanent objects before touching ground in fair territory
Any ball stopping before crossing the 1st–3rd diagonal without being touched by a defender

13.03 A fair ball includes:

Balls landing and staying fair
Balls landing fair then going foul beyond 1st or 3rd base
Balls first touching a fielder or referee in fair territory
Balls touching a runner in fair territory
Balls touched by a defender before the 1st–3rd diagonal

14. Outs

14.01 Three outs end a team’s half-inning.

14.02 A player is out for:

Three strikes or fouls
Any caught kicked ball
A force out
Being hit by the ball while off base
Interfering with the ball or play
Failing to tag up
Leaving the base early
Receiving physical assistance
Batting out of order
Passing another runner
Running outside the baseline
Missing a base
Failing to use the Extra Base when required
Sideline rule violations after a warning

15. Ball In Play

15.01 When the pitcher controls the ball on the mound, play stops.

Runners already moving may advance one base.
Runners not moving must return to their base.

15.02 Interference occurs when:

A non-player or object touches the ball in play (play stops; runners advance to next base).
A runner intentionally touches the ball or hinders a fielder (runner out; others return).
A kicker intentionally touches a pitch or kicked ball to affect play (kicker out; runners return).

15.03 If the ball pops or deflates during a play, that play is replayed.

16. Injury and Substitution

16.01 Players injured or ill may be replaced and may not return for the remainder of the game. The substituted player will resume their original spot in the order.

16.02 Players removed for injury, illness, or ejection are simply skipped in the lineup (no automatic outs).

16.03 Injured players who cannot kick may not participate.

16.04 All injuries and substitutions must be reported to the Head Referee.

16.05 Pitchers and catchers may each be replaced once per inning unless due to injury and remain in the game playing another position. Their kicking order will remain the same.

16.06 Only runners injured while running to a base may have substitutes. A runner may be replaced, but is removed from the game.

17. Other

17.01 These rules are designed to ensure fairness, safety, and fun. All players must act with good sportsmanship.

Discrepancies or unclear situations will be resolved by KONQER officials in the spirit of the game.
Rules are maintained at konqersports.com and may change without notice.
Games will be played "Rain or Shine" and may only be 'stopped' at the discretion of the head referee. In the event the game is 'stopped' the team leading will be declared the winner (during pool play only).