The Field

 

All fields will consist of a baseball diamond with a couple twists. The bases will be 51 feet from each other with a pitchers line diagonally between 1st and 3rd base. There will be two bases at 1st and home plate to provide runners with an outside run through base (outside base). This is to avoid collisions at these bases. Runners must touch the outside base at home to record a run. The run through base on first is provided for close plays at first, it is acceptable to forgo this base as a runner and touch the inside base to continue on to 2nd. The first base fielder must not reach across the run through base, and must allow space for the runner to round first on the inside base when there is not play at the base. The runner must use the run through base when there is a play at first. In addition, there is a bunt line. The bunt line is a drawn box between home plate and the pitchers mound. Should a ball be fielded before exiting this box, or contacted before exiting this box, it will be a foul ball and the at bat will continue. The kicking zone will consist of 2 disc cones roughly 1 foot on each side of home plate. 

 

 

Liberty Park ONLY: 

 

If a ball is kicked to the concrete in the outfield it is dead as soon as it gets there (even if it bounces off a tree or rolls all the way out there). If a field player DELIBERATELY hits the ball onto the concrete, or deliberately runs onto the concrete as determined by the official, it will result in an automatic home run. A ball that reaches the concrete on the fly in fair territory will be considered a home run. If it bounces onto the concrete, it will be considered a ground rule double and runners will advance per officials determination. A ball can not be caught on or past the concrete in fair or foul territory, it will be a dead ball foul.  ***Running across concrete with cleats is dangerous and we do not want you getting hurt.***

For light poles in the field of play, if they interfere with the fielding of the kick (either by contact with the ball or obstructing the fielders path to the ball) the resulting play will be a ground rule double. Runner positions will be determined by the official.

 

Game Format

 

All games will last 50 minutes as timed by the head onsite Beehive SSC referee (55 min when light allows).  Referees will give warnings as time runs, and will provide the time remaining whenever asked. At the end of the 50 min time, the full inning will be played out so that each team will kick an equal number of times over the course of the entire game. (Note: As in baseball, if the team batting at the bottom of the inning is leading, the last turn of kicking will not be necessary). If no winner emerges, the game will end in a tie during the regular season. In the playoffs, if a game ends in a tie after time has expired, full innings will be played to determine a winner. The team which ends a full inning with a lead will win the game.
 

Slaughter Rule

 

The Slaughter Rule will be applied if a team goes up by 15 runs after two completed innings. If this occurs, the team trailing by 15 will receive an extra out the next time they kick. For every run in addition to 15, the trailing team will receive an additional out (ex: if a team is up 18 runs, the trailing team will get 6 outs their next time at bat, so 3 extra outs). This Slaughter Rule does not apply during playoff games. 

 

Your Team

 

• All players must be 18 years of age or older.
• Teams are allowed to have a maximum of 10 players on the field, with a minimum of 4 females on the field at any given time. One player must play catcher and one player must pitch. Beyond that, positions are up to you.
• In the event a team has less than 10 players, 2 must be female. If a team does not have at least 7 players 10 minutes into the game they forfeit (ex. 5 guys, 2 girls minimum).
• During regular season - The home team is determined by a rock, paper, scissors battle (best of one) between the two team captains. 
• During Playoffs - The home team will be listed second on the schedule and will kick second.
• The field lineup can change as frequently as a team desires.

 

Game Play

 

Pitching/Catching

The strike zone for all games will be roughly 1 foot left and right of the home plate. This will be indicated by 2 saucer cones placed on either side of home plate.  

 

To be considered a "Strike" the ball must...

• Travel between the two cones (middle of the ball, middle of the cone and in)
• Remain below the knee while traveling through the kicking zone
• Bounce twice before reaching the front of home plate or be rolling

 

To be considered a "Ball" the ball must...

• Bounce at or above the knee while traveling through the kicking zone
• Bounce fewer than two times before reaching the front of home plate
• Travel outside of the cones

 

To be considered a "Foul" the ball must...

• Be kicked and roll or bounce into foul territory before reaching first or third base, and be contacted in foul territory or pass first or third in foul territory. (Ex. If a ball starts fair and rolls foul before first or third it will be foul. If a ball starts foul and rolls fair before first or third, it will be fair.)
• Be kicked in the air and land in foul territory past first or third base
• Be kicked and fail to leave the bunt box before being contacted
• Be kicked and make contact with another part of the kickers body within the kicking zone (If double contact on the kicking leg in one motion occurs, that kick will be considered legal. Any other double contact within the kicking zone will be a dead ball foul.)

 

**A ball that is ON the first or third base line is considered fair, however a ball that is ON the bunt box line is considered foul.**

 

If a pitch goes over a cone, it will be the referees discretion as to whether it was inside or outside of the direct center of the cone. The referee will have final say on what is kickable. If a pitcher continues to pitch un-kickable balls they may be changed by their team at any time.

 

The pitcher is the only field player who may advance past the pitching line before the ball is kicked. The pitcher may advance to but not enter the bunt box before the ball is kicked. Once the ball is kicked, any player may enter any area of the field including the bunt box. If a player, other than the pitcher, advances past the pitching line before the ball is kicked, a warning to that team will be issued. If this persists, a walk will be issued to the kicker. 

The catcher must retrieve the balls and return them to the pitcher after each pitch that is not kicked. The catcher must stand behind home plate and within or behind the kicking zone (this means they can have one foot even with the first or third base line, but can not be further outside of that). The catcher can not interfere with the kick. On a play at home, the catcher will go to the inside plate in order to record an out (this out will always be a force).
 

To end a live ball play,  the ball must be returned to ANY FIELD PLAYER within the pitching mound and held. If the player makes a play after, the play will still be live. (Ex. The ball is thrown to a player on the pitchers mound, and then that players throws the ball to third base.) Once the referee calls the play dead, it is dead. 

 

Pitching

 

• Switch Pitching will be in effect (guys pitch to guys and gals pitch to gals) for all divisions. Exception: A gal can pitch to anyone.
• Pitching must be underhanded (below the elbow) and kickable (reasonable speed, bouncing below the knees).

 

Ball and Strike Count 

 

The pitch count goes as such: 2 strikes and you are out, 3 balls and you draw a walk. The first foul with no previous strikes, will result in a strike. The second strike however requires 2 fouls. A strike for the second strike results in an out regardless of the cause of the first strike.

To put that in simpler terms:

• 1 strike then 2 fouls is an out
• 3 fouls is an out
• 1 foul then 1 strike is an out

 

The referee will help remind any new kickers if they are having problems knowing where they are at in the count. It can be a bit tricky at first. 

 

If the ball is caught in foul territory, even if the foul would have resulted in the third strike, the play remains live. If a strikeout is called because the kicked ball fails to exit the bunt box, the ball is dead. After any live ball play, once the ball returns to the pitchers mound the play is dead.

 

Kicking

 

• No two males may kick in a row. Females may kick consecutively (while still in order relative to other females to accommodate this rule). The kicking lineup may not change once the game has started, unless an injury occurs.
• A ball that does not pass through the front two cones (ie, a ball) may still be kicked
• If a ball is kicked before it reaches the cones, the kickers entire plant foot may not be further than the front of home plate. If this occurs, it will result in a dead ball rekick.
• Designated runners: If a player is injured, either on the play or cannot run but can kick, a designated runner may be selected for them. The DR must be of the same gender as the kicker and must start their run outside of the kickers box and even with the third base line.

 

Running the Bases

 

• Runners must run along the baseline without obstruction by field players. If a runner is obstructed, they will be safe at the base to which they are running and the field player will receive a warning. If a field player is making a play on the ball in the baseline, the runner must avoid the fielding player. If a runner obstructs the fielding player, the runner will be out.
• A runner is out when they are tagged in any fashion by the ball in play. Tagging a runner above the shoulders will result in that player being safe. If a runner ducks down such that their head is below the standing height of their shoulders, the player will be out. A tag above the shoulders from a deflected ball thrown by a field player, will result in the runner being safe. A tag above the shoulders from the kick will result in an out. 
• No sliding or diving is tolerated. The runner who slides will be called out if the slide is deemed intentional. If a slide is deemed overly aggressive (spikes up, into a player with intent) that player will be out or potentially suspended for the game based on the referees discretion.
• No runner will be allowed to steal or lead off from a base before the ball is contacted by the current kicker. If this occurs, the referee will preemptively call the play dead and a warning to the team will be issued. If this persists, the runner will be called out.
• A runner may not knock a ball loose from a player with any kind of physical contact.
• Tagging up is allowed once the ball has been touched by the person attempting to catch it.
• Once a fielder regains control of the ball in the pitching mound, if the runner is not farther than halfway to the next base they must return to the previous base. If the runner is past half way, they may continue to the next base. This is to be determined by the referee.
• The commit line is the point at which the bunt box connects to the third base line. If a runner crosses this line, they must continue home and the play will be a force out. 

 

Force Outs

 

Force outs occur when a player has a foot on the base of a runner forced to advance. If a force out occurs for the third out of the inning, no runs scored on the play will count. Additionally, there will be mandatory force outs at home. At home, runners must run through the outside base. This is to prevent collision and injury.  If the defense catches the ball on the defensive (inside) home plate before the runner reaches home, it will be a force out unless the runner has not reached the commit line and retreats back to third base.  

 

Overthrow Rules

 

• If a ball is overthrown, but remains in the field of play, runners may continue to run freely.
• If a ball is overthrown out of the field of play, runners are only allowed a maximum of 1 base. This is to be determined by the position of the runner when the ball exits play.

 

Infield Fly Rule (All divisions)

 

The infield fly rule is only possible when there is a force at third (bases loaded or runners on 1st and 2nd) and fewer than two outs. In this situation, if there is a pop up on the infield that the referee determines to be catchable, the kicker is automatically out and the runners may not advance. 

 

Other rules 
 

• We are required by law to inform you, that No Alcohol is permitted on park lands by the State of Utah. Keep our streets honest!!
• Team Captains are responsible for controlling the behavior of their teams
• The umpire has final ruling
• No metal cleats are allowed. Closed toed shoes only.
• We have a NO TOLERANCE policy for rude or unsportsmanlike behavior from any one participating in a Beehive sport.
• We are all here to have fun so keep it social!

 

FREE AGENT LEAGUE ONLY:

• A standard game consists of two-25 minute halves (50-minute totals). There will be a halftime game each week for teams to participate in.
• Teams will pitch to their own players. Because we are there to have fun and meet new people, teams will pitch to their own team to ensure balls are put into play.
• After week one, each week will have a theme. The team that dresses up the most for theme week gets an extra out in their first kicking inning.
• Every other week, we will switch how we run the bases. On odd weeks we will run the traditional way of counterclockwise. On even weeks we will run the bases clockwise.
• Teams will be given a sheet so they can designate 1 or 2 people each week to bring a snack or drink for the team.