Kickball365 – The Circuit - REFEREE CHEAT SHEET
Thank you for agreeing to become a Circuit ref! If you’re coming to us from a closely related sport like
softball or baseball, well, you’re in luck – most of those rules apply here. This cheat sheet’s intended to
go over the major differences. Consider it our “Top Ten List.”  For the nitty-gritty details, you should,
of course, consult the Official Rulebook of the Circuit.
Scenario Baseball/Softball Rule
1. Foul balls Ball that rolls foul may “roll
in the infield back” into fair territory
before 1st or 3rd base.
2. Strikes and Fouls aren’t strikes; hitters
fouls get courtesy fouls; etc.
3. Strike Width – between batter’s
zone boxes
Height – between shoulder
and knee
4. Legal Batter must hit ball within
batter/kicker batter’s box.
5. Legal Restrictions based on
pitches windup, maximum or
minimum height of ball
6. Legal Restrictions based on
fielding infield, outfield cone, etc.
7. Legal Behind batter, and right
catching behind home plate. Catcher
is stationary during pitch.
8. Tagging a Must tag with ball or glove,
runner and must maintain
possession of ball during tag.
9. Loose Runner dislodging base need
bases only maintain contact with
dislodged base.
10. Time out Any player requesting
“time” during an
appropriate end to a play.
Kickball Rule See Rule
“Once foul, always foul.” Once the ball crosses entirely outside 9.12,
of the infield foul lines, it’s foul(!), and it can’t come back fair. 9.13,
10.2,
One exception. A ball can be kicked through the space directly 10.3,
ahead of the kicking box and the infield baselines and be fair. 10.4
Check the diagram for examples.
Strikes and fouls are separate. Fouls don’t become strikes. 3 9.3.1,
strikes = out. 3 fouls = out. 9.4.1
Width – 1’ to each side of, and including home plate 9.3.2,
Height – 1’, from the bottom of the ball, on the bounce that 10.5
gets the pitch to or through the strike zone
Kickers will often get a running start. They just have to kick: 9.8.,
(1) Within the kicking box (between and forward of the two 10.9,
rear cones, and at or behind the plate) 10.10
(2) With no part of the plant (non-kicking) foot ahead of the
plate. The kicking foot can be ahead of the plate.
A double-kick is a foul (and can be caught for an out).
Contacting the ball above the waist is a foul (and can be
caught for an out).
Picking up the ball (as a kicker) is an out.
Pitchers in Circuit kickball take very powerful run-ups and wind- 9.2, 10.8
ups to their pitches. However, pitches must:
(1) Be released within 1’ to each side of the pitching strip.
(2) Be delivered by hand (can be overhand or sidearm, and
likely will be at this level).
(3) Bounce twice before hitting (or crossing the plane of) the
plate. A second bounce *on/level with the plate* is a ball.
Also, pitchers can’t follow through ahead of the pitching strip.
See encroachment, below.
All non-catcher fielders (this includes the pitcher!) must stay 9.7.3
behind the imaginary line between 1st and 3rd until the kicker
kicks. *Think offsides in soccer or football!* This is an
encroachment penalty = result of play or ball.
Catcher is the most active defender in Circuit kickball; catchers 9.6.2,
move very quickly during a pitch. But: 10.3
10.9
A catcher must always be behind the plane of the kicker and
in between the two cones that make up the kicking box. This
is encroachment: result of play or ball.
A catcher can’t block or interfere with the kicker’s approach:
First offense: warning, second offense: kicker gets first base.
Pegging allowed: May throw/kick/deflect the ball and hit the 9.1.4,
runner, except above the shoulders. (Note: no “headshot 9.1.5,
immunity” for ducking/diving/sliding runners.) 9.1.6
Need not maintain possession during tag play. If the ball hits a
runner on the tag and pops loose, the out is still good.
Runner must stay on the “dot” marking the base’s original 9.9.6
location. If touched while not on the dot, the runner is out.
Only a pitcher, in control of the ball, not making a play on 9.9.11
anyone else, and back in the pitcher’s circle (6’ circle from
center of pitching strip) freezes time.