KICKBALL RULES

Payment-
Credit card payments are made on our encrypted, secure website. Individual payments and corporate sponsors are welcome. Payments cover permitting, equipment, officiating, management, credit card fees, and general insurance costs.  75% of team payments must be paid online to be put on the schedule.  All remaining payments are due prior to each team's 1st game.  The team fee will cover up to twenty (20) participants.  Additional participants pay $10 each.  Cash and check will be accepted prior to each team's 1st game.  Free agents must register and pay prior to being assigned to a team.

TMSSC Operation/Refund Policy-
TMSSC leagues are viable with a minimum of 4 teams per league. Pre-season cancellation fees are 30% of total fees due and cancellation MUST be requested IN WRITING via fax, email, or USPS mail at least three (3) business days prior to the start of the league. Business days are considered to be Monday through Friday. No phone call cancellations are allowed. There are no refunds for any league already started or ready to start within three (3) business days. If a league does not become viable, full refunds will be given if team does not want, or cannot, be placed in another TMSSC league. 
League times and locations are as listed. However, TMSSC reserves the right to change specific league locations and operating times as necessary due to any required scheduling changes either on a weekly or seasonal basis. TMSSC also reserves the right to shorten any league due to multiple weather cancellations or unforeseen circumstances without any refund or credits provided. 

Verbal registrations will not be accepted and will not be considered as confirmation for holding a team or individual spot without receipt of full payment. For sponsored teams, any fees paid by an individual for a team may be refunded upon an equal payment provided by a third party to TMSSC with reference to league/location. 

All TMSSC leagues and social events have a minimum age requirement of 21 years old.  All TMSSC participants must be in good health to participate.  TMSSC reserves the right to refuse any individual or team without explanation. Upon registration, TMSSC league rules and regulations are to be followed by any and all team members and individuals. All participants of each TMSSC league or event must sign a waiver of liability to participate. Failure or refusal to waive liability will result in non-participation for that individual and will void any refund. 

Printed rules and league regulations are available upon request. Failure to abide by TMSSC rules and regulations will result in forfeiture of league/event participation and void any refunds.  

Eligibility/Uniform-
Every player must preregister online and accept the league waiver prior to participation. Registration must be repeated for subsequent seasons.  New players may register/join at any time during the regular season, after which registration will be closed and late additions will be ineligible. Every player must wear a TMSSC-issued uniform in order to participate.  Each player will receive his/her first uniform free of charge.  Additional uniforms are $10 each. Every player must provide a photo ID before each playoff game (only the opponent's captain or TMSSC staff member may waive this requirement).  Players are only eligible for one team per season/league.

Protest-
Captains may submit valid protests including: 
- during a game, protest must be made to a game official before the next live ball situation 
- protest must involve a misapplication or misinterpretation of a playing rule 
- if the official finds the protest valid, they will overturn the call 
- In most cases, games protested will not be replayed 
- protests for player eligibility or scores must be submitted in writing by 5pm the day after the game 

Legal Game/Forfeit-
Games will start on time regardless of player turnout.  A forfeit cannot be declared until 10 minutes from the game clock have expired. Each team must have at least 6 teammates (including one woman) on the field or in the dugout prior to the 10-minute forfeit window.  Shorthanded teams may pick up 1, 2, 3, or 4 players from other teams in order to have 10 players total. Opposing captains may waive the forfeit rule at their discretion.  Forfeits will result in 1 point being deducted from the offending team's standings.  Two forfeits by any team during a single season may result in expulsion from the league with no registration fees refunded to the team or its players. 

Game Stoppage/Rainline-
Call the Rainline (800.497.1852 ext. 2) every week for weather updates and cancelation information. In cases of inclement weather, other harmful conditions, darkness, or serious injuries, 4 innings (or 3 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead) will constitute a complete game. 

Games which are postponed due to weather/injury before 4 full innings will resume, or be replayed entirely, on a later date.  Games which are postponed due to weather/injury after 4 full innings may revert back to the score of the previous inning (4th or after), if the postponement adversely affected one team.

Standings/Ties-
Standings are based on a point system: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss, and -1 point for a loss-by-forfeit. Playoff seeding is based on regular season standings. Head-to-head record is used as the 1^st tiebreaker.  Season-run-differential is used as the 2^nd tiebreaker.  Regular season games that are tied at the end of 7 innings or after the final inning in a time-limited game will remain tied.  Playoff games that are tied at the end of 7 innings or after the final inning in a time-limited game will proceed into extra innings.  In extra innings, each half inning will begin with a runner (last batter from the previous inning) on 2nd base.  If a team is ahead after one extra inning, that team is declared the winner.  If the teams are still tied, the extra-inning format is repeated.

Alcohol Policy-
Alcohol may be consumed in plastic cups in the dugouts or the stands.  Alcohol is not allowed on the field (including 1st and 3rd base coaches).  All participants should consume alcohol responsibly.  Dangerous play by a visibly intoxicated player may result in an ejection, without warning.  A forfeit can be declared if multiple members of a team are visibly intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.  Please visit our local bar sponsors to socialize with the team after the games. Ask a staff member about our bar sponsors for league discounts and drink specials.

Sportsmanship –
Only the manager or team captain may argue a rule interpretation. Arguing illegal pitches and strikes or any other judgment call will result in a team warning, followed by an ejection for subsequent offenses. Players can be ejected for excessive arguing, verbal abuse of players or umpires, fighting, spitting, foul language, or dangerous play. Any player being ejected must vacate the park immediately or risk a team forfeit. Ejected players are subject to a suspension by TMSSC staff, depending on the severity of the ejection. Dogs and their owners must comply with leash laws at every event.

Fighting (Assault and Battery)-
Any coach, participant or spectator who, in the judgment of Miami Sports & Social Club Staff, engages in an attempt to fight immediately before, during or after an TMSSC contest is suspended from further participation in TMSSC activities. 

If ejected from any TMSSC league, no refund will be issued. The minimum suspension for fighting is 365 days. Based on information from the individual's behavior, reinstatement meeting, game Officials, Program policies, and precedent cases, a decision is generally rendered within 48 hours. Written notice and/or a phone call regarding the decision rendered is made to the individual at the address or phone number provided. Behavior classified as fighting includes, but is not limited to: 

·         striking or attempting to strike an individual

·         engaging an individual in a combative manner

·         throwing a punch at an individual

·         spitting at an individual

·         kicking or attempting to kick an individual

·         brandishing a foreign object or weapon with intent to harm, injure, or intimidate an individual

·         retaliating against an aggressive act 

Ejections will be made for verbal and abusive language to other players, teams, officials and TMSSC Staff. If ejected, player(s) will be subject to a TMSSC fine of $25 and no less than a 1 game suspension.

CHAPTER 2004-276-
Section 1. Section 784.081, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 
784.081 Assault or battery on sports officials or employees; reclassification of offenses- 
If such offense is committed upon the sports official when he or she is actively participating as a sports official in an athletic contest or immediately following such athletic contest, and when the person committing the offense knows or has reason to know the identity or position or employment of the victim, the offense for which the person is charged shall be reclassified as follows: 
(1) In the case of aggravated battery, from a felony of the second degree to a felony of the first degree. 
(2) In the case of aggravated assault, from a felony of the third degree to a felony of the second degree. 
(3) In the case of battery, from a misdemeanor of the first degree to a felony of the third degree. 
(4) In the case of assault, from a misdemeanor of the second degree to a misdemeanor of the first degree. 

Game Length-
Games will last 7 innings or 55 minutes, whichever comes first (time and weather permitting).  All innings in progress after 55 minutes will be completed.  4 innings is a legal game.  Teams may tie in the regular season. There is a 10 run limit per team, per inning.  A mercy rule applies for a lead of 20 or more runs after 4 innings, in which case the team with the lead may continue with the game or take the win.

Equipment-
TMSSC will supply game balls to teams.  If teams wish to use their own balls, both captains must agree, and those balls must be available to both teams. All players must wear shoes.  Sandals, flip flops, and boots are not permitted. Metal cleats/spikes are not permitted. 

Player Minimums/Maximums–
A minimum of 6 players (including 1 female) is needed to start and finish a game (all 6 must bat and play in the field).  If a team is missing players, that team may pick up other league members to fill the top 10 spots in the order (regular season only), but no extra batters.  A maximum of 10 players may play in the field.  A maximum of 6 men may play in the field.  A maximum of 10 women may play in the field.

Batting/Kicking Order-
Both managers will review line-ups with the umpire before the game begins. Teams may bat as few as 6 and as many as 20 players. The extra kickers (#11-20) may be added at any time during the game, so long as those extra kickers do not play for another team in the league. Injured male kickers may leave the game with no penalty (their turn at bat will be skipped). Each team must bat at least 4 women in the top 10 spots in the order (an automatic out applies for all absent women). Batting out of order must be appealed by the defense before a pitch to the next batter.

Pitching/Kicking-
The pitcher and all fielders must stay behind the pitching strip line until the ball is kicked.  The ball must be pitched from the pitching strip (14 paces from home plate).  The pitcher has to stay behind the pitching strip until the ball is kicked.  There are no walks.  Each “ball” is simply a re-pitch.  The pitcher must roll a pitch to the kicker using an underhand or sidearm motion.  The strike zone is the area over home plate, from the ground to 1 foot in height.  A pitched ball that exceeds 1 foot over home plate is an illegal pitch (determined by umpire). An illegal pitch will never result in a strike.  However, if a kicker chooses to kick an illegal pitch, it could result in a foul ball.  If the ball stops in front of the plate, that pitch is a ball.  Delay of game tactics by the pitcher will result in the kicker(s) being awarded first base. The kicker must kick at or behind home plate (violation results in a foul ball). Men CANNOT bunt; women can bunt.  If a man bunts (umpire’s discretion), play is dead, and the kicker is out.  

Running/Fielding-
The catcher cannot cross home plate and enter fair territory until after the ball is kicked.  All fielders must stay out of the baseline.  Fielders may have their foot on the base but must lean out of the baseline.  Runners may not lead or steal.  Once the pitcher possesses the ball near the mound or the umpire calls time, play is dead, and runners may not advance.  Fielders may not hit a runner above the shoulder. If hit in the head, play is dead, the runner is safe, and all runners are awarded one base from the time the ball left the fielders hand.  Runners are awarded one base on an over-throw (if ball is out of play).  Runs do not count on plays where a force-out constitutes the third out.

Outs-
A runner touched by a ball any time while not on base.
Any kicked ball that is caught before touching the ground (fair or foul).
Any combination of THREE strikes and/or foul balls.
A fielder possesses the ball on the base to which a runner is forced to run.
A runner is off their base when the ball is kicked (play is dead).
A man bunts the ball (play is dead).