To be able to enjoy and appreciate the game better, it’s helpful to understand the kickball rules and regulations. Invented more than a century ago, kickball also known as kick baseball has become popular among children as well as adults. It follows similar rules and principles to baseball but involves kicking a large bouncy ball instead of using a bat to hit a small ball. In Japan, it’s referred to as QuickBase, in Canada its known as Soccer Baseball or California Kickball, while the South Koreans call it Balyagu (foot Baseball). To help popularize, as well as create a standard mode of play, the World Adult Kickball Association (WAKA), the governing body is always upgrading the rules and regulations.

So if you need to take a look at the rules of kickball, read on. If you want to improve your game, check these resources, and if you need to gear up appropriately to help perform better on the kickball field with your friends, definitely check that out.

Now, let’s move on to the rules. Currently, the kickball rules are as follows:

 

Objectives

The goal of kickball is for one team to outclass the other within the set parameters. It entails kicking and running after a large rubber ball while trying to score as many runs as possible. One team aims at achieving maximum runs without being caught out, tagged or penalized, while the other tries to stop them in their tracks by tagging them or reaching specified zones known as bases before them. The winner is determined by the number of runs achieved after both teams have reached three overs and the allowed number of innings is 6.

 

The Field

If you have ever played baseball, then you are familiar with the diamond field. There is the Home base where the batter hits the ball to start the game. You also have the First base that is fifteen yards away from the Home base and is on the right side of the Home base. There is also the Second base, which is on the left side of the First base, and the diagonal distance between the two bases is 15 yards. To the left of the Home base is the third base. Any region outside the Home base, first base, Second base, and Third base is referred to as the Foul Territory. WAKA recommends a distance of 20 feet between the diamonds shaped bases. More about the kickball field dimensions, positions and diagrams can be found here.

 

The Players

According to Kickball rules, each team needs to field between 8 and 11players. These include one catcher, one pitcher, three outfielders, three base players, and a shortstop. The role of the pitcher is to roll the ball towards the other team’s kicker while the catcher tries to kick the ball towards the other players to tag a running player before he/she reaches the bases. Each kicking session is known as an inning, and there are 6 innings in every game. A team will continue to kick the ball until it receives three outs. At any given time, each team must have a pitcher and a catcher

 

The Equipment

To play kick baseball, you need a rubber ball that resembles that used in soccer or football and four bases. The WAKA recommends an inflatable ball that has a diameter of between 8 and 16 inches in diameter. However, the official WAKA ball is red in color, measures 10 inches in diameter, and the suggested pressure is 1.5 Psi. The bases can be Frisbees, rocks, shirts, sticks or anything else that can demarcate the zone. You should check out this detailed look at the best selection of kickball equipment and gear.

 

The Positions

Similar to baseball, Kickball is played by two opposing teams. Each side will play a defensive and offensive role at different times. You need to take your positions before the game begins and try to stick to it to avoid being ruled out. The defensive positions are held by a catcher, pitcher, three outfielders, and three base players. When you are on the offensive, your catcher will kick the ball after it’s rolled by the other side’s pitcher. He/she coordinates with the other players standing about 9 meters/ 10 yards from the Home plate. Your role as a catcher is to tag a running player and you can do this by either throwing the ball at them or using the ball to touch them.

 

The Roles

– The pitcher: He/she stands about 9 meters/ 10 yards from the Home plate and rolls the ball towards the kicker from the opposing side across home plate.
– The catcher: He/she aims at tagging players out and passing the ball to their team’s pitcher.
– The Base Players: They cover the bases hoping to catch the ball and tagging a runner out.
– The outfielders: They catch the ball when it has been kicked outside the bases and then pass it back to the base players.
– The shortstop: Aims at stopping the ball from reaching the outfield, passing it back to the base players, and also tagging runners out.

 

Scoring

In order to score, your team needs to touch all the four bases in sequence and finally ending up at the home base. The secret to scoring is ensuring the ball is kicked a good distance. A good kick will see you reaching the second or even third base before halting play. Nonetheless, you should aim at keeping the ball within the field of play. You will be ruled out of play if the opposing side tags you before you reach the bases. Your team should aim at scoring a higher number of runs than the opposing side. And just like in baseball, your team will continue kicking until they accumulate three outs.

 

Stopping the Opponent

There are four ways of stopping your opponents:
– Strike Out: a player who fails to kick a ball into play in three consecutive pitches/tries is struck out.
– Fly Out: A player is ruled out when the ball is caught by the defensive player while still in the air before it reaches the ground.
– Tag Out: A runner will be out if hit by a ball thrown by a defensive player before he/ she reaches the base.
– A Force Out: An offensive player is ruled out when the defensive player arrives at the base before the offensive runner and can’t return back to the previous base because it’s already occupied by another teammate.

 

Final Word

The above are basically all the main rules of kickball. Nonetheless, it’s not strange to come across some variations. For instance, some people will choose to play with fewer or more players, choose different innings, no striking out, or using the normal soccer ball instead of the one specifically designed for kick baseball. By following this set of kickball rules, WAKA helps standardize the game and also helps the players appreciate the game better.

Now that you are properly introduced to the rules and regulations of kickball, we suggest that you check out how to improve your game, and how special kickball gear can positively influence your performance on the field.