KICKBALL FAQ

How much does it cost to join VOlO DC Kickball?

Registration dues vary by location and night. Most leagues range in cost from $45 – $69. This fee covers insurance, permit costs, referees, equipment, player t-shirts, parties, prizes, recruiting, and the tons of other Volo City events that we will be hosting throughout the year.

Is this a competitive league?

Volo  is a social sports company! While we do offer some competitive leagues (these are typically noted as competitive in their title) most of our leagues are social leagues. Dependent on league size we may offer A Division and B Division. A Division is slightly more competitive while B Division is slightly less competitive. Check each league for further details.

What’s a VOLO CITY DC Kickball night like?

flTons of fun! On game night you’ll want to arrive 10-15 minutes before your game to meet your teammates and get ready to play. Game play if 45 minutes or 6 innings, whichever comes first. After your game ends head to our sponsor bar for your flip cup game (this counts in your overall standings) drink specials and getting to know your fellow kickball players!

How big is a team?

The minimum number for a kickball team is 15 players, but you can make them as big as you like #MoreFriendsMoreFun!  If you do not reach team status fear not, we will merge you with other groups to hit the minimum.  Merged teams are generally larger to protect against forfeits. Want a larger or smaller team? You can register as a prepaid team to have as many or as few players on your roster.

Can I Bring A friend?

Absolutely! Friends and subs are always welcome during the regular season.  Our Motto is the more the merrier! Just make sure they are wearing a shirt color similar to your team 🙂  During playoffs unfortunately all players must be a registered memeber of your team. 

Are there gender requirements?

Yes! Each team can have a maximum of 6 males on the field. The minimum required players are 6 total players with at least two of those players being females.

I love kickball so much, how else can I play?

We love to hear that, and guess what? You are in luck!  We have a variety of different weekend tournaments and other fun events to get your softball fix.  Check out our Tournament’s page to see all the upcoming fun including our Volo City Kickball 2019 City Championships.

Kickball

BASIC RULES

11 v 11 including catcher

• Minimum 6 players, 2 females

• 6 males max. on the field

*Playoff seating is based on TOTAL POINTS from the season*

Game Play:

• 1 Bunt Per Inning (per team) any bunt after that will count as a foul ball

• NO leading off bases

• NO stealing or leading

• You CAN slide

• You CAN throw the ball at base runners but NO head shots

• ALL pitches MUST be thrown underhand and slow pitch (no spin or bounce)

• If excessive, the ref may ask you to switch your pitcher

• 3 fouls is considered an out – NO STRIKES OR BALLS

• You must keep the same batting order throughout the game

• No more than 3 males can bat in a row

• Females can bat multiple times within the batting order to have 3-1 ratio but MUST bat in order in regards to other females

• NO infield fly rule

• Tagging up happens AS SOON AS the ball is TOUCHED, not caught (per MLB)

Innings:

• 6 innings in a game

• UNLESS we reach 40 minute warning – both teams will be warned and the start of the next inning will be the final inning

• Mercy Rule – lessens the chance of having blowouts early in the games (boring for everyone)

• Max. 5 runs can be scored per inning (EXCEPT the last inning – no limit)

• Games CAN end in a tie during the regular season

• The losing team will ALWAYS bat first at the beginning of the LAST INNING (unlimited runs) – this limits blowouts by the winning team

*Teams without the minimum players will forfeit after 10 minutes from their designated start time

*Playoffs ONLY – At the beginning of each game, both teams MUST submit a written list of their batting order to the ref*

**All teams make the playoffs at the end of the season (unless you forfeit 2x)**

Rules in Detail:

THE PLAYING FIELD

Field of play will equal the dimensions of a standard softball field.

EQUIPMENT

Volo City will provide equipment. This will consist of a red 10-inch playground ball, bases and cones.

OFFICIALS

Games will be officiated by an official referee or Volo City trained kickball referee. All of our referees are trained to call a fair and fun game of kickball. They are the final word on all game call decisions.

Although the referees are there to call your games, please remember they are people too, just like you! So please treat them well, with respect and remember they are there to make sure you are having fun and playing a safe game of kickball. They ARE NOT your verbal punching bag after a bad day at the office.

Only a team captain or co-captain may dispute a call with the referee. The referee has jurisdiction over the play and may penalize a player, including game ejection, for unsportsmanlike conduct. Ejected players may not return to the game and if necessary may be asked to leave the premises; don’t be a punk.

PARTICIPANTS

Players may only play on a team on which they are registered. Exception: You may function as a substitute player for another team if they are short a man or woman. This is ONLY valid during the regular season.

Volo City reserves the right to suspend any player at any time for unsportsmanlike conduct, violation of any rules, for failure to pay appropriate dues or for being a general pain in the ass, without any refund whatsoever. Any team wishing to suspend any member for just reasons must do so on their own and provide Volo City a written reason as to why. Again, no refunds. At the discretion of Volo City, any member suspended may not in the future be allowed to participate in any further Volo City events.

REGULATION GAME

A full regulation game shall consist of 6 innings. If a team is more than 10 minutes late, it will result in a forfeit. The away team will get first at kick. Home/Away teams will be determined by one game of Rock-Paper-Scissors prior to the game.

The game will be called in the event of uncooperative weather. The rules for game cancellation are defined by the schools/parks in which we play. Volo City will attempt to reschedule any canceled games. If a game is called due to weather and less than 4 complete innings have been played, the game is canceled and will be rescheduled (and replayed starting at 0-0, top of the 1st). If more than 4 full innings have been played, the final score will be the score at the end of the last complete full inning.

Games CAN end in a tie (it happens) after the completion of 6 innings if the score is tied then the game is over and will be entered into the records as a 1-1 tie with flipcup deciding the next point. .

In rare circumstances, a game may run extraordinarily long and potentially infringe on the next games start time or on time limits of the field or facility. The ref and or host will warn both captains, prior to the start of the 5th inning, that the 5th inning will be the final inning, as opposed to the 6th.

In the playoffs if a game is tied following the completion of 6 innings, we will play extra innings.

SPORTSMANSHIP

Players should have no intentional or unwelcome physical contact with opposing players. Doing so will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct and it will be at the discretion of the referee to issue warnings or eject offending players. A player must make the referee aware if he or she feels any contact was unwarranted.

Trash talking is permitted as long as it is not cruel, racially motivated, hateful, or a personal attack on another player. The trash talking should only be good natured and shall not be allowed to get out of hand. Threats of physical violence are in no way allowed. The team captain shall ensure that their players behave themselves.

Due to DC regulations, consumption of alcohol on some fields is strictly prohibited. If a person is seen consuming alcohol on the field, that person’s team immediately forfeits that day’s game and may, at the discretion of Volo City, be removed from the league.

PITCHING/CATCHING

All pitches must be UNDERHANDED at a reasonable slow speed– no overhand or sidearm. When pitching, the ball must not be spun or bounced on purpose.

The ball should cross the plate within a foot on either side. The ball should not be more than 1 foot off the ground as it crosses the plate (bouncy). If the pitcher is having issues with this, they will be asked to be replaced.

The pitcher must stay behind the pitching strip or cone until the ball is kicked. Failure to do so results in a repitch. All infielders must stay behind the imaginary line stretching from first to third base until the ball is kicked. Failure to do so results in a repitch.

The catcher may field up to the plane of the home plate before the ball is kicked, however the catcher shall not interfere with the kicker in any way. Failure to abide by this rule results in a repitch.

KICKING

All kicks must be made by the foot (Duh!). All contact BELOW the knee is considered a kick. Anything hit at the knee or above is considered a foul.

All kicks must occur at or behind home plate. Both feet must be on or behind home plate at the time the ball is kicked. If one or more feet are in front of home plate at the time the ball is kicked, it is a strike and the kick is called back (if such a kick is caught on the fly, it is an out).

A bunt is defined as a kick that does not travel further than first or third base. A bunt is determined by the referee but will be defined as any kick that does not make it past or have the momentum to travel past the third base-first base line.

Any fair kicked ball that travels outside of a reasonable area of play will result in a ground rule double. This doesn’t pertain to the unlikely event of a home run kick; rather it pertains to fair balls that then bounce over a fence.

When playing indoors, all ceilings, walls, light fixtures, nets that are in the field of play will be played as a part of the field of play and all balls are live off these fixtures. If a ball hits any of the previously listed fixtures in foul territory prior to the ball entering the field of play the ball is dead and is ruled a foul ball. If a ball is fair but gets stuck in a bleacher, ceiling fixture etc, the ball is dead and ruled a ground rule double.

RUNNING

Runners must stay within the base line. Fielders must stay out of the base line unless they are attempting to tag a runner out or catch the ball. Fielders trying to make an out on base may have their foot on base, but must lean out of the base line. Runners unfairly hindered by any fielder within the base line shall be safe at the base to which they were running.

Neither leading off base, nor stealing a base is allowed. A runner may only move off his/her base after the ball has been kicked. And you can’t pass the runner in front of you. Nor can you pick up the runner in front of you and carry them. (Although that would be kinda cool). These are outs.

Hitting a runner with the ball above shoulder level is NOT allowed. Any runner hit above the shoulders is safe and advances one base.

Exceptions: If the runner intentionally uses his head to block the ball. The runner is out. If the runner is ducking, diving or sliding (i.e. attempts to dodge the ball) and is hit in the head because of this, he/she is out.

If a kicked ball is caught on the fly, runners must tag their originating base (on or after the moment the ball is first touched by a fielder) before running to the next base.

Only one base on an overthrow is allowed to the runner. The one base is not automatic and the runner must take the risk of being made out. The one base is only available before the play ends.

FOULS

A foul is:

• a kick landing out of bounds. The foul is determined by where the ball lands not how it travels to get there. Remember that if such a kick is caught on the fly it is an out
• a kick landing inbounds, but traveling out of bounds on its own before reaching first or third base. (Any ball touched by an in-bounds fielder is automatically in play)
• a ball that is tipped while being kicked but continues to travel behind the kicker; ; but if such a kick is caught on the fly it is an out
• a kicker touching (or kicking) the ball twice while on or behind home plate (i.e., in foul territory); but if such a kick is caught on the fly it is an out
• Any foul that hits a tree or other outside object is a dead ball and not illegible to be caught for an out. The ball remains a foul.
• Three fouls is an out

OUTS

An out is:

• a count of three fouls
• a runner touched by the ball at anytime while not on base (unless a head shot)
• any kicked ball (fair or foul) that is caught before it hits the ground
• a ball tag on a base to which a runner is forced to run
• kicking out of order
• a runner leading off the base or stealing
• a count of three outs completes the team’s half of the inning

BALL IN PLAY

Once the pitcher has the ball in control and is within 5 feet of the pitching strip, the play ends

Any rule or situation not expressly defined here will default to MLB rules. At the end of the day, these calls will be made by the head ref who is human, please remember this game is for fun and enjoy it.