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GENERAL RULES
Play consists on 10 players per side. The breakdown is 6 men and 4 women in the field at one time. Teams may play a legal game with 8
players (6 men/2 women). Teams may not play with more than 6 men at one time and no less than 2 women to be considered a legal
game. (THERE ARE NO POSITION REQUIREMENTS of any players, i.e. there need not be 2 females in outfield and 2 in the infield). Teams
may play with more than 4 women, there are no female minimum requirements!
Games will be played in the outfield of a regulation size adult softball diamond. There will be two kickball fields per one softball field. All
bases, including home plate will be in the grass. If space is available, the finals will be played on the softball diamonds.
The pitcher and fielders must stay behind the pitchers mound until the ball is kicked. If required, there will be a line drawn from first base to
third base to indicate the line that players must stand behind. The catcher and kicker are not allowed to cross home plate until the ball is
contacted. The kicker may not kick the ball beyond home plate. If the kicker does contact the ball in front of home plate it will be considered a
foul.
All games are five innings or 45 minutes (warm up time included). There will be a 10 minute time limit warning. If the game is in the top of
the inning at the time limit, then that inning will be the last inning. If the game is in the bottom of the inning at the 10 minute limit, then the
NEXT inning will be the last complete inning. The ump will enforce this rule and will make the call at the top of the final inning. Note: Due to
differing circumstances in each and every game, some games will finish short of the time limit, while others might run slightly over the time
limit. Please respect your ump’s call in this matter. He/she must keep all games on time in fairness to all teams in the tournament.
EQUIPMENT
All games will be played with a 10" rubber kickball and on a regulation size softball field (60' bases).
Players may wear shorts and are allowed to wear cleats. However, NO METAL SPIKES ARE ALLOWED.
Any equipment in question should be brought to the attention of the umpire. The umpire will make all final decisions with regard to
equipment discrepancies
CO-ED RULES & TEAM SIZE
Teams may bat more than ten players; however, these teams must bat the same ratio (3 to 2) of fielding men and women. If only 2 women
are present at game time, each woman must bat twice in the first 10 batters. If a team has less than the minimum required number of
players it is up to the opponent and/or umpire as to what is allowable. In situations where additional players wish to bat, the line up must
come as close to a 3 to 2 ratio as possible, even if some women need to bat twice in the rotation. ***Men CANNOT bat twice in the lineup to
achieve a 3-2 ratio if a team plays with more women than men. Prior to game time, ask your ump for a score sheet, line ups must be given to
the ump for every game.
SAMPLE BATTING LINEUPS
8 Players = 6 men 2 women (both batting twice)
9 Players = 6 men 3 women (1 batting twice)
10 Players = 6 men 4 women (at least one girl bats twice if less than 4 women present)
11 Players = 7 men 4 women ((at least one girl bats twice if less than 4 women present)
12 Players = 8 men 5 women (1 out of 4 batting twice if needed)
15 Players = 9 men 6 women (2 out of 4 batting twice if needed)
18 Players = 11 men 7 women (3 out of 4 batting twice if needed)
20 Players = 12 men 8 women (4 out of 4 batting twice if needed)
OFFENSE
All players in the field must be listed in the batting order. There are no designated hitters allowed. Any attempt at doing so must be brought
to the attention of the umpire prior to game time and can only be deemed allowable by the opposing captain. There are no guy-girl batting
order rules other than the 3 to 2 ratios.
The “strike zone” extends to 1 foot on either side of home plate, and 1 foot high. A batter is only allowed one 'strike.' If a batter does not make
an attempt on the second 'strike', then he/she will be called out. All kicks must be made by foot and must occur at or behind home plate. A
batter with two 'strikes' is allowed one foul ball. The batter will be out on the second foul ball with two strikes.
Bunting IS allowed.
If a male is walked, and a female follows him in the batting order, the female has the choice to take a walk or bat.
(Exception: If the bases are loaded (at the time the female comes up to bat) that female must bat. You cannot 'walk-in' a run.
Umps will enforce this rule upon request; however, they will not be responsible for notifying the batter in each walk situation.
No leadoffs or stealing, runners can leave the base once the ball is kicked by the batter. If a runner leaves early, the ball is dead and the
runner is declared out. If this is the 3rd out of the inning the batter will be first up in the next inning.
Players are considered out by one of the following means: (1) Striking out, (2) A fly ball caught by the defense, (3) A throw out at one of the
lead bases, (4) The runner being tagged by the ball, (5) Infield fly rule (6) A foul out, or (7) A runner being struck by a thrown ball below the
head while attempting to advance or return to a base.
DEFENSE
The defensive team pitches to the offensive team, teams do NOT pitch to themselves.
Pitches must be rolled towards home plate. Pitches may not be bounced, only rolled towards the kicker. Pitches that bounce more than one
foot above the ground will be considered an illegal pitch, and thus deemed a ball.
Base runner to defensive player contact will be closely watched by the ump. Any excessive contact or collision will result in an “out” and/or
ejection. This includes contact with the catcher. Sliding is allowed. Any sliding into a base to break up a double play, or any intentional (in the
eyes of the umpire) interference with the defensive player, the runner and the batter will be called out.
Hitting a runner with a thrown ball above shoulder level is not allowed. Any runner hit above the shoulders is considered safe and will be
awarded an additional base. Players may be hit (or tagged) anywhere below the shoulders with a thrown ball (or held ball) and will be
considered out. If the runner intentionally uses their head to block the ball, in the eyes of the official, will be deemed out. As soon as a
runner is hit (or tagged) with the ball, it is a dead ball and any other base runners must stop at the base they were approaching. This
prevents offensive players from hitting the ball out of play while the runners advance.
All outfielders must remain behind the “outfield line” when a female is up to bat. If the “line” is not clearly marked it us up to the
umpire’s discretion if an outfielder is too close to the infield. There cannot be more than 7 players on the infield at any one time. Teams may
have just 3 outfielders in the outfield. Once contact has been made the outfielders may cross the line. If an outfielder crosses the line before
contact has been made the female may be awarded first base.
A foul kick above the batter's head may be caught for an out.
All thrown balls are deemed out of play when:
• The ball is thrown over the fence
• The ball is thrown beyond the fence
• The ball is thrown beyond the imaginary line extending from the end of the backstop (if there is no fence).
• This imaginary line applies to overthrows and caught fly foul balls.
• If the ball is overthrown and hits the fence behind the 1st or 3rd base lines, this is NOT considered out of play and the runner may
advance, BUT at his/her own risk.
On overthrows out of play, the runner is granted the base he/she is approaching (at the point of the throw) plus one more. Note: in cases
where a base runner runs past first base, he/she must make a clearly aggressive turn towards second base to be granted 2nd and 3rd in
overthrow situations.
On an infield fly (any ball kicked within the infield with significant arc and deemed an “easy catch”) with less than 2 outs and runners on 1st
and 2nd or 1st, 2nd and 3rd, the batter is automatically out and runners can advance, BUT at their own risk.
MERCY RULES
Game mercy rule: 10 runs after 4 complete innings.
There will be a 7 run limit per inning through innings 1-4. (Exception: unlimited runs may be scored if one of the innings 1-4 is declared the
final inning of the game.) Unlimited runs may be scored in inning 5 always, unless the game is ended by the 10run mercy rule.
EXTRA INNINGS
If the game is tied after 5 innings OR after the time limit, then the top of the next inning will start with a runner on second base and no outs.
The home team will also start the bottom of the inning with a runner on second base. This will continue until the game is over.
FORFEITS
Teams will have until 10 minutes past the designated start time to field a legal team. Shorthanded teams may play a legal game with a
minimum of 8 players, with at least 2 of them being females. Teams fielding less than 8 players or without at least 2 women will receive a
forfeit. Exception: Teams may play a “legal game” with less than 8 players or less than 2 females with the opposing teams consent. Teams
who agree to play under these conditions will loose the option of receiving a forfeit win. Teams may pick up players during the regular
season in order to field a legal team. Substitutes will not be allowed during playoffs.
UMPS
An umpire will be provided by SoCo Sports to supervise the game. It will be the umpire’s responsibility to coordinate and run the games,
which include the following tasks:
• Starting games on time.
• Calling outs, making final calls on any disputed balls or strikes.
• Settling all disputes or disputed calls.
It is understood that umps will assist in the tracking of the score (i.e. Announcing it between innings) and assist in any discrepancies with
regards to the coed line-up ratios. However, it is the responsibility of both teams to maintain their respective line-ups and scores each
inning.
POOL PLAY
All teams will be grouped into pools of 4. Each team will play all other teams in their respective pool once. There are no ties in pool play.
Each winning team will receive one point for every run that they scored above their opponent, this is called the Point Difference (PD). For
example, if Team A beats Team B 8-6, then Team A will be awarded 2 points and Team B will get 0 points. Teams will be ranked after pool
play is complete and the top teams will advance to the single elimination playoff bracket.
PLAYOFFS
All teams will be ranked by win/loss record, then by points. If two teams have the same record and points, then the team that won during
pool play will be ranked higher (head to head play). Teams will be placed in their respective brackets based on rank. For example, the 1st
place seed will play the last place seed, etc. There will be no time limit on championship game(s). However, if any playoff game enters
extra innings, each team will start each extra inning with a runner on second base, just like in pool play.
Cash prizes, trophies, and other awards will be presented immediately after the championship game(s).
Captains may be asked to sign a receipt for a cash prize.
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