Current Season Schedule & Standings
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Team Rules:
PLAYER PARTICIPATION:
Each OCSSC team participant must sign their team waiver/roster. Players may only play on the team for which they have signed and may not play/sign another team roster. This means you must only play in either social OR extreme social leagues. You may not play in both leagues. Player(s) that break this rule will cause BOTH of their teams to forfeit all games in which they participated. (Forfeit fine will be assessed).
TEAM SIZE:
10 players on the field, (at least 4 women). There is no maximum number of women on the field at one time but no more then 6 men are allowed. The minimum number of players in the field/your starting line up is 8 (6 men/2 women). If only 2 women are present at game time, each woman must kick twice in the first 10 kickers. If a player is late, they will kick at the bottom of the kicking order. If the team has less than the minimum required number of players, the game is considered a forfeit (see forfeit extension).
ROSTER:
There are no maximum number of players allowed on your roster. Players will not be allowed to participate without signing the OCSSC waiver/roster. The only way to add a new player to your roster after the final tee shirt order date is by first dropping another player. Teams must DROP a player(s) before they add a player(s) up to the 3rd week of the season. The additional player must obtain the tee shirt from the dropped player in order to play. Rosters are frozen after last game of the 3rd week. Additional roster sheets will be available for adding players that were not at the first game.
PLAYER RESTRICTIONS:
All OCSSC participants must be at least 21 years old before the season starts. Players that have participated in Division 1 sports must be 5 years removed from Division 1 participation if they wish to play in a similar OCSSC sport (ie. if you played D1 baseball/softball in college you must wait 5 years to play OCSSC softball). Teams will forfeit all games if either of these rules are broken. OCSSC will have the right to request ID from any player throughout the regular and/or play-off season. Any player in the x-social league who is determined a social player by the OCSSC will have their league fee refunded. If more than one player fits in the category, the OCSSC has the option to forfeit all future x-social games this team will play. (No refund will be given to the team).
SPORTSMANSHIP:
OCSSC is an organization that expects all participants to behave in a sportsmanlike manner. This means to act as, “One who shows that he or she has qualities of fairness, courtesy, and grace in winning and in losing.” While you are participating in any OCSSC sport or social event, sportsmanlike conduct is expected. Unsportsmanlike behavior may result in that player/team being suspended/removed from participating in all OCSSC sports.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE PENALTY:
OCSSC players who act in an unsportsmanlike manner that warrants ejection from the game will be listed in a OCSSC database for that season. TWO offenses recorded by a player will result in suspension from the league and removal from ALL OCSSC sports for one year. Teams that conduct themselves in this manner will cause the team coach and the OCSSC owner to have a meeting before their next scheduled game. They must agree that this unsportsmanlike conduct will not persist. If it does, the OCSSC has the right to remove them for the rest of the regular season and ban that team for one year.
GAME EQUIPMENT:
OCSSC will provide all necessary equipment for kickball. Only kickballs provided by OCSSC will be used during the game. Teams may bring personal kickballs for practice between games. Note: time between games is limited and may not allow for practice time.
GAME UNIFORMS:
OCSSC tee shirts are your team’s uniforms. All players must wear their current OCSSC tee shirt to participate and any player not wearing his/her shirt will be will be sidelined for that game. If this sidelined players will cause the team to forfeit, he will be allowed to play in the game and must sign a roster sheet. If players are caught swapping shirts, both players will be sidelined that game. Missing or swapped shirt players' names will be taken and if they are not on your roster, a loss/forfeit fine will be assessed for that game.
UNIFORM ALTERATIONS:
OCSSC tee shirts must stay in the original color ordered. Illegal changes include: tie-dyeing, dying to make the shirts another color, bleaching, etc. No logo, patch, website address, company name, phone number, etc can be added to a OCSSC tee shirt. Additions that are allowed: American flag patch or print, player’s name/number must be minimal in size and may not be offensive in nature or cover the OCSSC or Sponsor logo. Teams that break this rule will be forced to purchase new OCSSC shirts @ $15 per shirt and teams will forfeit all games until the balance is paid on the purchase of new shirts.
UMPIRING KICKBALL:
OCSSC kickball is self-refereed. Each team will be responsible for having a knowledgeable referee at each game. The HOME Team will provide the umpire (home plate). The home plate umpire will set up behind the catcher to call balls/strikes, keep track of the number of outs, make safe/outs calls on runners and enforce all rules. You will ref the game that follows or precedes your game, depending on your game time. All EVEN time games (6:15 pm & 8:15 pm) will referee the game after the completion of yours, on the same field. All ODD time games (7:15 pm & 9:15 pm) will come one hour early and ref the game at the field where you will play. The umpire rule may change depending on # of time slots).
"NO UMPIRE" FINES:
Teams will be fined $75 for not providing an umpire when scheduled. "No umpire" fine checks will be made out to OCSSC, Inc. The fines will purchase sports equipment, court supplies, etc.
FORFEITS:
Teams without the minimum number of players at the start of the game or after the completion of the first game (see kickball forfeit extension rule below) will be charged a $50 fine. This fine will go towards your opponent’s bar tab for the next week. Teams that receive a forfeit fine must use it the following week or lose it. A $50 voucher will be at the bar under the team name and number and we ask that teams tip the bartender from this tab. If a 24-hour forfeit notice is given to the OCSSC, your team will not be assessed a forfeit fine. Forfeiting teams (either 24 hour notice or game time forfeits) MUST still provide a referee for their scheduled game time.
KICKBALL FORFEIT EXTENSION TIME:
If the home team does not have the minimum number of players (8) which must be comprised of at least 2 women to start the game, then the visiting team will become the home team and take the field. If the original home team does not have the minimum number of players at the bottom of the 1st inning, then a forfeit fine will be assessed (see rule below).
FORFEIT & "NO UMPIRE" FINES:
All fines must be paid before your next scheduled game by either cash or check. If payment is not received by the end of this next scheduled game, your team will be assessed a loss for this game. Teams will not be allowed to play any proceeding games until the fine is paid in full. Teams that have any ("no ref" or forfeit) fines from the last regular season game will not be allowed back into the OCSSC for any sport until these fines are paid in full.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY:
In case of inclement weather, the OCSSC uses three ways to communicate cancellations: a flash banner on the home page, an email to sport participants, and a rain-out phone # 410-790-8288. If a cancellation message is not made through one of these means, then all games are on.
The OCSSC will have the option of shortening the regular season and/or the play-off schedule (and the # of teams that make the play-offs) if inclement weather dictates such action. Make-up games may be scheduled on days other than the regularly scheduled days of the week. Neither refunds nor pro-rated refunds will be given if the season is shortened due to inclement weather or by actions taken by the Baltimore City Dept. of Recreation and Parks.
BEVERAGES AT FIELDS:
Beverages are allowed at outdoor venues only, provided they are not in glass containers. Teams will lose drinking privileges if glass containers are found. You are also responsible for removing all trash before leaving your fields. OCSSC and it's members have the responsibility to leave all Recs and Parks venues in clean trash-free condition.
POINTS AWARDED:
Win – 2 points...Tie – 1 point....Loss – 0 points. Regular season games will not go into extra innings
Kickball Game Rules:
START OF THE GAME:
The home team will be listed first on the schedule. They will take the field first and use the 1st base side of the field. The umpires will call both teams’ coaches to home plate and go over all ground rules. The home team will have the official scorebook; both teams are responsible for keeping the score and having their scorebook in proper order. ALL changes to your scorebook must be given to the opposing team.
GAME TIME:
All games will have a 55-minute time limit or a maximum of 9 innings which ever comes first. All play will stop 55 minutes from the time the games begin. A horn will sound for each game to start and sound when the 55 minutes have passed. The score will revert to the last full inning played if the time expires in the middle of an inning. If a rainout occurs while a game is in progress, 3 innings must be completed for the game to be counted. (If the home team is ahead after the completion of the top of the 3rd inning, this constitutes a complete game).
LINE-UP:
There is no maximum number of players allowed in your starting line-up. Kicking order will have no more then 2 men kicking in a row (2 men to 1 woman-batting ratio at all times). If a team does not have enough women to accommodate this, then the women will bat twice (or more if needed) in order to obtain the 2 to 1 ratio. Teams must designate which women will bat twice on their score sheet. Only those women will be allowed to bat twice or the batting out of order rule will be enforced. Starting players may move freely from one field position to another at anytime during the game, but the kicking order must stay the same.
KICKING OUT OF ORDER:
If the error is discovered while the incorrect player is kicking, then the correct player will assume the ball/strike count of the incorrect player. If the incorrect player reaches base safely and the error is discovered, the correct player will be called out. All runners will return to their original base and the incorrect player will return to the bench. The opposing team must make the umpire aware of "kicking out of order" before a pitch is thrown to the next player. If it is not, then the incorrect player will stay on base.
THE FIELD:
The kickball diamond is a square with equal sides of 60 feet played on a grass field. The pitching mound is in the center of the diamond, 42 feet from home plate, and directly aligned with the first base/third base diagonal. A 6’ circle will be drawn around the pitchers mound. A 12 foot line will be drawn in front of home plate that the ball will have to pass to be considered “fair”.
PITCHING / CATCHING:
No bouncing balls. A pitch that is higher than one foot at the plate will result in a called ball. The pitcher (and all infielders) must stay behind the pitching mound until the ball is kicked. Failure to abide by this rule will result is ALL runners being called safe. The catcher must field behind the kicker and may not cross home plate before the ball is kicked. Failure to abide by this rule results in ALL runners being called safe.
THE STRIKE ZONE:
The strike zone extends to 1 foot on either side of home plate, and 1 foot high.
KICKING:
Players must only use their foot to make all kicks. Players must use a full kicking motion when striking the ball with their foot. Kicks must occur at or behind home plate. Bunting is NOT allowed by any players. The ball must travel past the 12” line or a strike will be called. Players who kick a called “ball” by the umpire will do so at their own risk.
DEAD BALL (KICKING):
The umpire will automatically call a “dead ball" if the ball is kicked by a player who has traveled beyond home plate. If a “dead ball” is caught in the air by the defense, it will be ruled an out. If the “dead ball” was kicked on the ground, then a strike will be called. See “the count “.
DEAD BALL (FIELDING):
The circle around the pitcher’s mound will be considered “dead ball territory”, providing the pitcher is in this circle. The umpire will automatically call a “dead ball “when the ball reaches the pitcher inside the circle and all play will stop. All runners that are LESS than 1⁄2 way between bases will return to their previous base when a dead ball is called. All runners who are MORE than 1⁄2 way between bases will proceed to the next base.
DEAD BALL (DEFLECTED BALL):
If a thrown ball is deflected off of a runner, then after the deflection all base runners may only advance one base.
GENDER RULE:
Any walks to a male with a female in the line up behind him will result in a one base award if there are runners on base. If the bases are empty then he will proceed to 2nd base. The women must kick unless there are 2 outs, and then she will have the option to walk to kick.
THE COUNT:
Players will have a one-ball/one strike count on them when they come up to kick. The player is out after a third strike, including a foul ball that is hit after two strikes. Note: If a fly ball is caught in playable foul territory after the third strike, the ball remains live.
A STRIKE IS:
-a pitch within the strike zone either not kicked, or missed by the kicker;
-a kick occurring in front of home plate.
-a kicked ball not passing the 12’ line.
-a foul ball ( see below)
A FOUL BALL IS:
-a kick landing out of bounds
-a kick landing in bounds, but traveling out of bounds on its own before reaching first or third base.
A BALL IS:
-a pitch outside of the strike zone
-an illegal bouncy -any fielder or pitcher advancing on home plate before the ball is kicked
-any catcher crossing home plate before the kicker or failing to field behind the kicker
AN OUT IS:
-a count of three (3) strikes
-a runner touched by the ball at ANY time while not on base
-a runner who interferes with a kicked or thrown ball; No runners can advance on an interference call unless force to do so
-any kicked ball (fair or foul) that is caught
-a ball tag on a base to which a runner is forced to run.
-a runner off of his/her base when the ball is kicked.
RUNNERS:
Runners must stay within the base line and fielders must stay out of the base line. Fielders trying to make an out on the base may have their foot on base, but must lean out of the baseline to avoid contact with the runner. Runners hindered by any fielder within the base line shall be safe at the base to which they were running. Hitting a runner with the ball above shoulder level is not allowed. Any runner hit above the shoulders is safe and advances one (1) base. If the runner intentionally uses their head to block the ball, they will be called out.
Runners advancing to first base must tag the runner's bag, while the first baseman must use the fielder's bag. Runners may overrun first base ONLY. One base advance is given on an overthrow. Neither leading off base, nor stealing a base is allowed. A runner off of his/her base when the ball is kicked will be called out. After a kicked ball is caught, runners must tag their originating base before running to the next base. If the runner has not moved before the ball is caught, the runner may simply run forward without a tag up. All ties will go to the runner.
SLIDING:
There is no sliding allowed in OCSSC kickball. Any player that initiates a slide will be called out. If the slide is unsportsmanlike in nature, the runner will be suspended. You must give yourself up or get out of the way. Players must avoid contact at all cost. A defender/fielder standing on the base or in the base path does not mean that the runner can run into them. (see defensive obstruction) The only exception to this rule is if a slide is necessary in order to avoid injury or a collision.
DEFENSIVE OBSTRUCTION:
Obstruction is the act of a defensive team member that hinders or that impedes the progress of a runner who is legally running bases, unless the fielder is in possession of the ball, in the act of fielding a kicked ball or about to receive a thrown ball.
1. The defensive player must be in the process of catching the ball and not merely positioning, waiting for a throw to arrive. In defining “about to receive a thrown ball”, the ball must be between the advancing runner and the defensive player about to make the catch and play. If the ball is outside this area and a collision occurs, obstruction is ruled. The act may be intentional or unintentional. Whenever obstruction occurs, whether a play is being made on a runner or not, the umpire will declare obstruction and signal a delayed dead ball.
2. The umpire will eject the base runner for illegal contact unless it is unsportsmanlike in nature, and rule on the “defensive obstruction”. The ejected runner will be replaced by the last player out of the proceeding inning, who will become the new base runner (injured runner rule).
BALL IN PLAY:
Once the pitcher has the ball in control and is located inside the mound circle, the play ends. If base runners are less then 1⁄2 way between bases, they must return to their original base. If a runner intentionally touches or stops the ball, the play ends. Any ball touched by an in-bounds fielder is automatically in play.
OUTFIELDER RESTRICTION:
Outfielders must play 10 yards past the infield at all times. If the outfielder is closer then 10 yards, catches the ball/makes a play on a runner, that runner will be safe.
SCORING LIMITS:
After the 9th run has crossed the plate, the inning will stop. Exception: The bottom of the last inning.
EJECTIONS/SUSPENSIONS:
A ejection is a removal from the current game. Suspension is the removal from current game and the following game.
1. Any player wearing metal spikes will be ejected from the game. If that player is caught wearing spikes a second time, they will be removed from the league; no warnings.
2. The umpire/OCSSC staff will have the right to sit any player(s) for an inning if necessary for any unsportsmanlike conduct. If that player(s) continues their unsportsmanlike conduct, the umpire/OCSSC staff will eject them from the game.
3. You must give yourself up, or get out of the way. No exceptions, IMMEDIATE ejection if players do not follow this rule. A defender standing on the base does not dictate they should be run into. The offensive player must give themselves up in the situation! If the contact was considered an unsportsmanlike collision, that player will be ejected.
4. If a slide is deemed unsportsmanlike, then the player will be suspended from the game.
5. Any defensive player initiating a FAKE TAG (initiating a tag w/o the ball to stop or force a runner to slide) will result in an ejection of that player. The runner will be awarded 2 bases.
6. A player ejected for ANY reason will be suspended for the next game. If that player is caught playing in that game, the team will forfeit, (the forfeit fine will be assessed). Any player(s) or team(s) that is involved in a fight will be ejected from all OCSSC sports for life. Any teams that are involved in a fight will forfeit all remaining games that season.
