IKF TOURNAMENT RULES ADDENDUM
Time Limits:
Pool Play Games:
All Pool Play Games will consist of five (5) innings or 50 minutes from scheduled start time, whichever comes first. No new inning will start with 5 minutes remaining in the game
Teams must play a minimum of three (3) full innings for a game to count as official. If the Home team is leading the Away Team when time runs out or the game is rained out and the Away Team has kicked at least three times the game is official.
Games can end in a tie.
Elimination Games:
All Elimination Games will consist of six (6) innings or 60 minutes from scheduled start time, whichever comes first. No new inning will start with 5 minutes remaining in the game
Teams must play a minimum of three (3) full innings for a game to count as official. If the Home Team is leading the Away team when time runs out or the game is rained out and the Away Team has kicked at least three times the game is official.
In the event of a tie after (6) innings or 60 minutes the game will go to KC Overtime (see below)
Mercy Rule:
In Pool and Elimination Games if a team is leading by 10 or more runs after the team that is losing has kicked a minimum of three times and at least as many times as the winning team the game is over. No team has the option to continue. There is a cap of a 12 run margin in the victory, ie if a team wins 19-4, the victory will revert to a 16-4 score so that no team can take advantage of a large margin of victory in one game.
Kansas City Overtime
- The last kicker that batted out will start on second base
- Only eight (8) players will play defense
- One of those players must play catcher
- Four (4) players must be male and four (4) player must be female
After two innings of KC Overtime if it is still a tie an accuracy kick will be used to decide the winner. Accuracy kick is one round with one player of each team kicking and one practice. Higher seed chooses to go first or last in accuracy kick.
Substitution Rules:
Each team is allowed two total substitutions. The substitute must be of the same gender as the player they substitute for.
Defensive substitutions are free and do not count toward the two subs when the player(s) come from the kicking lineup. A defensive substitution that comes from the bench counts toward the total subs.
Offensive substitutions must come from the bench and will count toward the total subs. If there are no subs left on the bench a player cannot be substituted out of the kicking lineup. If an injury occurs see injury substitutions.
Base Runner substitutions must first come from the bench and will count toward the total subs. If a sub comes from the lineup it must be the last out of the same gender. The subbed player is out of the game and if that players spot comes up again it is an out. If an injury occurs see injury substitutions.
Injury substitutions must first come from the bench and will count toward the total subs. If a player is injured in the kicking lineup must be substituted from the bench. If a player is hurt in the act of running and reaches base safely you may use a player from the kicking lineup if there are no subs left on the bench. The sub must be the last player out of the same gender. This counts toward the total subs.
Ejected players can only be substituted from the bench in the kicking lineup and count toward the two sub total. If there are no subs left an out is recorded in that players spot in the kicking lineup.
Tie Breakers (Pool Play) - Wins are two points, ties are one point, loses are zero points. First tiebreaker is total points. Second tie breaker is head to head if all teams have played each other. Third tie breaker is Runs Against. Forth tie breaker is Runs For. Last tie breaker is accuracy kick.
Referee Disputes - Only team captains may air a grievance with the referee. Once the referee says the decision is final, the discussion concludes and play shall continue in a sportsmanlike manor. Final decisions are made by the head ref at the field during the game. All decisions are final.
Kicking Order - Lineups must be written and exchanged before the game. There is a minimum of 8, at least 4 of each gender and no maximum amount of players. There is no stipulation of how the line is made (i.e. you don't have to kick in a specified way such as gender rotation)
Cleats & Safety - Metal cleats are prohibited as are any other sharp or unsafe objects or articles of clothing.
Gloves, Stickum, Unusual Performance Enhancing Equipment - are not allowed. Player is subject to objection and suspension per the Head Umpire and Tournament Organizers
Fielding:
Fielders - 10 fielders maximum, 8 minimum (4 male & 4 females minimum requirement)
Pitching:
- Mound Dimensions - 8 foot radius with the pitcher's plate in the center of the pitching mound
- Pitcher - The pitcher shall begin the act of pitching behind the pitcher's plate and finish within a foot of either side of the pitchers plate
- Illegal Pitch - A pitch that is not made by hand, a quick pitch (not allowing the kicker time to setup) or a pitcher that does not begin and end as stipulated above shall be considered a ball
Foul Ball - A fair fly ball will be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line when it is touched or hits the ground, whichever occurs first.
Dead Ball - A ball hitting an inanimate object or referee is not a dead ball unless the ball is hindered in some way such as by equipment, spectators or the other team etc. Dead balls are completely in the judgment of the referees.
Dead Play - Play is considered dead when the ball is in control by the pitcher anywhere on the pitching mound. If at that point play is still live, runners may continue to the base they are running to at their own risk. The runner will be returned to the previous base if they stop their forward motion at any time.
Strike Zone -Any part of the ball within the strike zone constitutes a strike. The strike zone is: One (1) foot to all sides of the edge of the plate and One (1) foot in height until the pitched ball reaches the kicker in the kicking box. The ball must bounce twice before home plate otherwise it is a ball unless the kicker attempts a kick.
Kicker's Count - 3 fouls is an out, 3 strikes is an out & 4 balls is a walk. Fouls & strikes are separate counts and do not combine.
Intentional Walks: May only be issued after a strike is thrown to a kicker. Further pitches do not need to be thrown thereafter to walk the kicker. 4 balls thrown without a strike results in 2 bases for the kicker. All forced runners will move as a result.
Offsides/Encroachment - is when any fielder crosses the 1st / 3rd base diagonal line or if the catcher passes the kicker before a pitched ball is kicked.
- Upon the first off-sides infraction of any kind by a team during the game, a warning shall be given to that team and a ball shall be awarded to the kickers count
- If the ball is kicked, the kicker shall have the option of taking the ball or result of the play
- Upon each subsequent off-sides infraction of any kind by the same team during the game, the kicker shall be awarded first base with all forced runners advancing
- If the ball is kicked, the kicker shall have the option of being awarded first base, with all forced runners advancing, or taking the outcome of the kick
Head Shots - Fielders may throw the ball at a runner to get an out, however if the ball hits the runner on the head or neck, the runner is safe and play is dead at that point with base runners advancing to the base they are headed to. Exception: If a runner is sliding into base, ducking to avoid getting hit, or intentionally uses their head to hit the ball they are out if hit in the neck or head.
Kicking/Running:
Kicking Order - All players must kick in the original kicking order which becomes final at the start of the game.
Kicking Location - The kick must occur while the entire planted foot is within the kicker's box, i.e. planted foot may not cross the front of the box or plate.
Legal Kick - Kicks may be made with any part of the leg below the waist; (knee kicks are allowed). Kicks above the waist are considered a foul and an out, if caught.
Double Kick - A ball touched more than once by the kicker is a (double kick). If a double kick occurs in fair territory the kicker is out. If a double kick occurs in foul territory it's a foul ball unless caught which results in an out.
Bunting - is allowed however the ball must completely cross the front of the kicking box to be considered fair.
Safety Base - is an additional base located next to first base on the runners' right in foul territory.
- Runners are required to use the safety base if there is a play at 1st base
- Runners are allowed to use first base if they are attempting to advance to second base or if the fielder is blocking the safety base
- After safely reaching first base a runner shall not use the safety base for any reason
- Fielders cannot make an out by using the safety base. They must use the actual 1st base in fair territory
Rounding 1st Base - Any runner that makes a deliberate or aggressive action towards 2nd base may be tagged out after safely passing 1st base.
Overthrows - Is when a ball thrown or kicked by a fielder travels into foul territory behind 1st, 3rd or home plate.
- During an overthrow runners may advance a maximum of one (1) base beyond the base they were running towards or standing on when the overthrow occurred
- A thrown ball that deflects off a runner is not an overthrow
- If the fielding team attempts to get an advancing runner out, the overthrow rule is voided and play continues. The referee has final discretion
Tagging Up - Runners must tag up for balls caught in fair or foul territory. If the ball is 1st touched in foul territory but not caught, it remains a foul ball and runners cannot advance. Runners may advance once the fielder makes initial contact with a caught ball.
Force Outs: 2 runners may not occupy the same base.
A run will not count if the 3rd out is the result of any force out (includes tag of a forced runner).
Baseline - The Baseline is 3 feet to either side in a straight line from the runner to the base they are attempting to reach and is only established when a ball tag attempt occurs.
Leading and stealing - are not allowed.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct:
Referees may warn a player that he/she is acting in an unsportsmanlike manner. After an initial warning a player may be removed for that game. The head tournament referee and/or tourney staff may remove that player for the rest of the tournament if it is recommended by the game head referee.
