Metro Sports League Rules
Kickball
This set of rules is established to govern Kickball games in the MSL.
Updated September 28th, 2026
Conduct
In the spirit of sportsmanship, regardless of the outcome, embrace kindness, have fun, and stay positive. Remember, we are a social league, and nobody wants to take a trip to the emergency room. Keep a relaxed attitude, engage positively with other players, and respect one another.
Metro Sports League has zero tolerance for aggression and fighting in our league. If a player or team is involved in an altercation, Metro Sports League reserves the right to remove any player or team from the league with no refunds.
Metro Sports League reserves the right to end any game early if the safety of any player, ref, or MSL worker is called into question.
Be mindful that no alcohol is permitted on the fields, as it violates state park regulations. Violators risk immediate expulsion to maintain a positive relationship with the facilities and ensure continued permission to use them.
Players suspected of having alcohol on the field may face permanent bans, affecting both individuals and their teams without refunds. Anyone bringing alcohol, weapons, or controlled substances to the field faces immediate removal.
These regulations are in place to safeguard players, enhance enjoyment, and foster camaraderie while respecting league partners and establishments.
Games will be strictly on schedule and will start on time. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled game time to ensure you have enough time to change and be on the field before your scheduled start time.
Team Size and Player Eligibility
To participate in Metro Sports League, players must be at least 18 years old and sign a waiver. Teams with 11 players constitute a full roster, with no maximum limit of players on a team. MSL may add individual players to teams if they do not have the 11 player minimum before the start of the season.
All players must be registered. An unregistered player on a team who participates will result in the forfeit of that game for that team. Subsequent violations will result in no longer being able to participate in the league, with no refunds.
All teams must register their players prior to the start of the first match of the season. Teams will not be able to add additional players after the start of week 2 of the season.
All players present for their match must participate in fielding as well as kicking. If a player is suspected of not participating in both offense and defense, the team must forfeit the match.
A fielding team may play between a maximum of 11 players and a minimum of 8. All teams must field 3 girls at all times. Any team lacking the minimum requirements for players, or girls, will forfeit their match.
Any team fielding less than 11 players are not required to play a catcher on the field.
Teams with fewer than 8 players or 3 girls will be required to forfeit their match and receive a loss.
Forfeits
Due to a tight field schedule, games will start on time. Teams repeatedly causing games to be delayed will receive a point deduction against their final standings.
The minimum number of players required to start a match will be 8. Teams lacking the required minimum of players, or girls, may be granted a 5 minute grace period for the start of the game. Failure to have a fieldable team at the end of the grace period will result in a forfeit.
Equipment
New Rochelle Parks mandates that no player wear metal cleats. Molden/plastic or artificial turf cleats can be worn. Players found playing with metal cleats will be asked to leave until they wear approved footwear.
If a player does not have shoes they can change into, they will be removed from the lineup with no penalty for the team.
If a player is able to change but is about to kick, they can be skipped in the lineup with no penalty given to the team.
MSL will provide all necessary field equipment, including balls, bases, and cones.
At the referee's discretion, players may be asked to remove any such loose items and will not be permitted to reenter the game until this requirement is satisfied.
Game Length and Clock
Games consist of 7 innings, or 50-minutes, whichever comes first. Regular season ties may persist. Only full innings completed prior to the game timer running out will be counted.
During the post-season: If tied after 7 innings or 50 minutes of game time, teams will start each half-inning of extra innings with an automatic runner on second base. Games will continue until the score is no longer tied at the end of the inning.
Captains
Each team must have one or two team captains. Only team captains can interact with the referee should a dispute arise. The captain is responsible for team registration, handling any disputes on the field, relaying communications from the league to their team, and submitting their kicking order each week.
Players CANNOT approach the referee for any disputed calls on the field. Only team captains can approach the referee on the field during a match.
Referees/Sports Officials
Referees must be treated with respect on the field. Referee's decisions are final. Protests, disagreements, or complaints can be brought to MSL representatives at any time. Any disrespectful or aggressive behavior towards the referee or any player will result in removal from the facility. Please treat our referees and each other with respect.
Referees will be assigned to home plate, and when possible, first base. The home base referee will be considered head referee in any game with multiple referees.
Scoring
Games are permitted to end in ties. Points on the leaderboard are awarded based on the following:
Win = 3 Points
Tie = 1 Point
Loss = 0 Points
Forfeit = -3 Points
Season ending tie breakers will be decided by:
1. Team with lower Runs Against
2. Team with highest Runs Scored
Teams losing by 10 or more runs after the 4th inning may choose to invoke the mercy rule.
Teams losing by 13 or more runs after the 4th inning will have the mercy rule automatically invoked and the game ended.
Any game ending in a mercy, but with game time remaining, may continue to play for fun until time has expired. Additional runs scored will not count towards standings and referees may not continue to be available.
Start of Play
Captains will face off in a best of 1 game of rock, paper, scissors (shoot!). The winner will choose to be home or away.
Gameplay
1. Kicking & At-Bat Rules
The Count: Any combination of three (3) strikes or three (3) fouls is an out. Strikes and fouls are counted together.
The Strike Zone: A pitch must bounce at least two (2) times before, or on, home plate. It must cross no more than 12” to the left, right, or above the plate. Any gender can pitch.
Walks: Four (4) balls result in a walk. Intentional walks are strictly prohibited and result in an automatic Home Run. A warning will be given to a pitcher if suspected of intentionally walking. If the pitcher continues to intentionally walk a kicker, the kicker has an opportunity to take a base, or continue kicking until out.
Legal Kicks: Any kicks deemed intentional by the head umpire will be ruled a live play if the ball bounces off their shin or leg and stays in-field. The kicker’s plant foot must be entirely within the kicking box or on home plate.
Foul Balls: A kick is a foul if:
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It lands out of bounds, or travels out of bounds on its own before passing 1st or 3rd base.
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The plant foot is entirely in front of the home plate. This will result in a foul.
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The ball is contacted twice on or behind home plate.
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The kicked ball hits an outside object (cannot be caught for an out).
Bunting: Bunting is allowed.
2. Pitching Rules
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Style & Momentum: Pitches must be delivered by hand, with no restriction on release style. Pitchers can take a running start of up to 5 feet but must release the ball with their plant foot no more than one foot from the pitching strip.
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Stopping Play: Play is active until the pitcher has the ball in their possession, under control, within the pitchers box, and no longer engaging in the play.
3. Baserunning Rules
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The Baseline & Contact: Kickball is non-contact. Runners have the right of way, and fielders must stay out of the baseline unless fielding a ball or making a tag. Runners cannot deviate more than 5 feet from the baseline to avoid a tag, or they are out.
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Stealing & Leading: Neither is permitted. Runners can only leave the base after the ball is kicked.
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Tagging Up: Runners can tag up and advance on caught fly balls (fair or foul) at their own risk. They must touch their originating base on or after the moment the ball is first touched by a fielder.
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Overrunning First Base: Runners may overrun first base safely, provided they turn right (running along the foul line). If they turn left they become live and can be tagged out.
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Safety Base: The only instance where a kicker may run to the inside base is to avoid a collision with another player. Otherwise, kickers will run to the safety base, with fielders using the inside base to get a kicker out.
4. Defensive Fielding Rules
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Catching Position: The catcher must start behind the kicker (within or directly behind the kicking box) and cannot cross home plate or restrict the kicker's motion before the kick. If a catcher comes in contact with a kicker, the kicker automatically gets 1st base.
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Infield Positioning: All infielders must remain behind the encroachment line (an imaginary line between 1st and 3rd base) until the ball is kicked. Violation results in encroachment.
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Overthrows: If a ball is thrown out of play or into foul territory, runners are allowed to advance at their own risk. Runners are not automatically advanced. If the defense makes another play on a runner, all runners can continue advancing freely.
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If a referee calls out encroachment against the defending team during a pitch, the kicking team can choose between the result of the play or a ball towards the count.
5. How Outs are Recorded
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3 strikes or 3 fouls.
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Kicking out of order.
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Any kicked ball that is caught in the air.
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Any active runner hit by a live ball.
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Headshot Exception: If the ball hits the runner in the head or neck (and they are not sliding), the runner is safe and awarded the base they were approaching.
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Force outs.
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Interference.
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Receiving physical assistance from a teammate or base coach while running.
6. Dead Ball Stoppages
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Referees will call an immediate dead ball for interference, severe injuries, outside interference (animals, children, stray balls), popped kickballs, or safety hazards. Action ceases instantly, and the referee will dictate where runners are placed.
Mid-Game Substitutions
Kicking: Pinch runners are only allowed if a baserunner is ill or injured. The pinch runner must be the last kicker, of the same gender, that recorded an out.
Outfield: Substitutions for outfield positions can only take place prior to the start of the inning. Mid-inning substitutions are not allowed except during illness or injury and any substitution must be the same gender as the player replacing them.
Yellow/Red Cards
Yellow cards are issued for unsportsmanlike conduct, aggressive dissent, delaying restarts, and/or persistent fouling. The referee also has full discretion to issue yellow cards for inappropriate behavior that is deemed offensive to themselves or other players. When a yellow card is given to a player, that player will automatically receive an out on their next kick and will not be able to kick that turn.
Red cards indicate ejection for serious fouls, violent conduct, denial of run-scoring opportunities by causing a danger to yourself or another player, repeatedly hitting players in the head with the ball, offensive language, or a second yellow card. A player receiving a red card will be removed from the match and the team given an out for each time that player would have been up to kick.
Postseason Play/Playoffs
Playoff games are not guaranteed for every season. In the event of a tie after full time in a playoff match, then one additional inning will be played. If tied after 7 innings or 50 minutes of game time, teams will start each half-inning of extra innings with an automatic runner on second base. Games will continue until the score is no longer tied at the end of the inning.
No guests are allowed in the league. If a team is caught during the playoffs with an unregistered player, that team will automatically be disqualified from the playoffs.
Mercy rules are in effect for playoff games.
If tied after 7 innings or 50 minutes of game time, teams will start each half-inning of extra innings with an automatic runner on second base. Games will continue until the score is no longer tied at the end of the inning.
The playoff schedule will be based on a team’s rank in the standings for the regular season.
Weather
Games are played rain or shine (except during thunder and lightning). MSL will notify captains about severe weather conditions that might endanger play or travel. If ongoing games must halt due to weather, the league director will decide on restart or rescheduling.
If a game has to be cancelled during play, the game will either be called as-is if it is after the start of the 4th inning, or replayed from the beginning at a 0-0 score if the 4th inning hasn’t started.
Rescheduled games will be communicated via email to all captains, with potential shifts to other weekdays or double-headers for makeups based on field availability.