Umpires, on the field, should limit conversation with players as to not interfere with the game. Keep out of the coaching box and do not prevent the coach from his or her duties. Be active and alert on the field. Be courteous, always, to teams and other umpires; avoid visiting in team dugouts and thoughtless familiarity with officers or players of contesting teams. When you enter a ball park your sole duty is to umpire a ball game as the representative of The DKBC. Do not allow criticism to keep you from studying out bad situations that may lead to protested games. Carry your rule book. It is better to consult the rules and hold up the game ten minutes to decide a knotty problem than to have a game thrown out on protest and replayed. Keep the game moving. A kickball game is often helped by energetic and earnest work of the umpires. You are the only official representative of the DKBC on the ball field. It is often a trying position which requires the exercise of much patience and good judgment, but do not forget that the first essential in working out of a bad situation is to keep your own temper and self control. You no doubt are going to make mistakes, but never attempt to "even up" after having made one. Make all decisions as you see them and forget which is the home or visiting club. Keep your eye everlastingly on the ball while it is in play. It is more vital to know just where a fly ball fell, or a thrown ball finished up, than whether or not a runner missed a base. Do not call the plays too quickly, or turn away too fast when a fielder is throwing to complete a double play. Watch out for dropped balls after you have called a man out. Do not come running with your arm up or down, denoting "out" or "safe." Wait until the play is completed before making any arm motion. Each umpire team should work out a simple set of signals, so the proper umpire can always right a manifestly wrong decision when convinced he or she has made an error. If sure you got the play correctly, do not be stampeded by players' appeals to "ask the other man or woman." If not sure, ask one of your associates. Do not carry this to extremes, be alert and get your own plays. But remember! The first requisite is to get decisions correctly. If in doubt don't hesitate to consult your associate. Umpire dignity is important but never as important as "being right." A most important rule for umpires is always "BE IN POSITION TO SEE EVERY PLAY." Even though your decision may be 100% right, players still question it if they feel you were not in a spot to see the play clearly and definitely. Be courteous, impartial and firm, and so compel respect from all. Finally, the DKBC is based on a principle of light hearted competition. It will not serve as a venue for authoritarian rule mongering by the umpires. Make your presence as transparent as possible, and strive to not let the game be changed by a controversial call. Be "light handed" with the application of the rules, and provided numerous, clear warnings in accordance and addition to these rules.
ADJUDGED is a judgment decision by the umpire.
An APPEAL is the act of a fielder or captain in claiming violation of the rules by the offensive team.
A BASE is one of four points which must be touched by a runner in order to score a run.
A BASE COACH is a team member in uniform who is stationed in the coach's box at first or third base to direct the kicker and the runners.
A KICKER is an offensive player who takes his or her position behind home plate in order to kick a pitched ball.
KICKER RUNNER is a term that identifies the offensive player who has just finished his or her time at kick until he or she is put out or until the play on which he or she became a runner ends.
A BUNT is a kicked ball not swung at, but intentionally met with the foot and tapped slowly within the infield.
A CALLED GAME is one in which, for any reason, the umpire in chief terminates play.
A CATCH is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in his or her hand of a ball in flight and firmly holding it. It is not a catch, however, if simultaneously or immediately following his or her contact with the ball, he or she collides with a player, or with a wall, or if he or she falls down, and as a result of such collision or falling, drops the ball. If the fielder has made the catch and drops the ball while in the act of making a throw following the catch, the ball shall be adjudged to have been caught. In establishing the validity of the catch, the fielder shall hold the ball long enough to prove that he or she has complete control of the ball and that his or her release of the ball is voluntary and intentional. A catch is legal if the ball is finally held by any fielder, even though juggled before it touches the ground. Runners may leave their bases the instant the first fielder touches the ball. A fielder may reach over a fence, railing, rope or other line of demarcation to make a catch. He or she may jump on top of a railing, or canvas that may be in foul ground. No interference should be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or into a stand to catch a ball. He or she does so at his or her own risk. If a fielder, attempting a catch at the edge of the dugout, is "held up" and kept from an apparent fall by a player or players of either team and the catch is made, it shall be allowed.
The CATCHER is the fielder who takes his or her position back of the home base.
A COACH is a base coach.
A DEAD BALL is a ball out of play because of a legally created temporary suspension of play.
The DEFENSE (or DEFENSIVE) is the team, or any player of the team, in the field.
A DISQUALIFIED player is a player that is not allowed to participate in the game for a period of time indicated by rule or rule of an umpire. A disqualified player may remain with his or her team in the dugout, and may interact with the players. A disqualified player may not coach a base, nor replace a player that must be substituted due to injury or any other reason. A player disqualified for 1 inning may not participate until the next full inning. A player disqualified 1 full inning while fielding may not kick during the next half inning. A player disqualified 1 full inning while kicking may not field during the next half inning. A team whose player was disqualified may not field another player in his or her place. That team must field 1 person short, though the disqualified player’s position may be manned by one of the allowed players. EXAMPLE: the pitcher of Team A is disqualified for the remainder of the half-inning. Team A may now only field 9 players. One of those 9 must take the pitcher's position, leaving only 8 remaining fielders to share the responsibilities of the rest of the field. A player that is disqualified at kick is ruled out. A player disqualified while his or her team is at kick shall be skipped over in the kicking order, until they are qualified.
A DOUBLE HEADER is two regularly scheduled or rescheduled games, played in immediate succession.
A DOUBLE PLAY is a play by the defense in which two offensive players are put out as a result of continuous action, providing there is no error between putouts.
An EJECTED player must leave the game immediately and may not return for the duration of the game. An ejected player may not interact with his or her team mates for the duration of the game. An ejected player is immediately disqualified for the remaining games of the season, and must appeal the disqualification to the Commissioner. The Commissioner may immediately qualify the player, or leave the disqualification in effect for as long as he or she deems fit.
A FAIR BALL is a kicked ball that settles on fair ground between home and first base, or between home and third base, or that is on or over fair territory when bounding to the outfield past first or third base, or that touches first, second or third base, or that first falls on fair territory on or beyond first base or third base, or that, while on or over fair territory touches the person of an umpire or player, or that, while over fair territory, passes out of the playing field in flight. A fair fly shall be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the fielder is on fair or foul territory at the time he touches the ball. If a fly ball lands in the infield between home and first base, or home and third base, and then bounces to foul territory without touching a player or umpire and before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball; or if the ball settles on foul territory or is touched by a player on foul territory, it is a foul ball. If a fly ball lands on or beyond first or third base and then bounces to foul territory, it is a fair hit.
FAIR TERRITORY is that part of the playing field within, and including the first base and third base lines, from home base to the bottom of the playing field fence and perpendicularly upwards. All foul lines are in fair territory.
A FIELDER is any defensive player.
FIELDER'S CHOICE is the act of a fielder who handles a fair grounder and, instead of throwing to first base to put out the batter runner, throws to another base in an attempt to put out a preceding runner. The term is also used by scorers
A FLY BALL is a kicked ball that goes high in the air in flight.
A FORCE PLAY is a play in which a runner legally loses his or her right to occupy a base by reason of the kicker becoming a runner. Confusion regarding this play is removed by remembering that frequently the "force" situation is removed during the play. Example: Man/woman on first, one out, ball hit sharply to first baseman/woman that touches the bag and batter runner is out. The force is removed at that moment and runner advancing to second must be tagged. If there had been a runner on third or second, and either of these runners scored before the tag out at second, the run counts. Had the first baseman/woman thrown to second and the ball then had been returned to first, the play at second was a force out, making two outs, and the return throw to first ahead of the runner would have made three outs. In that case, no run would score. Example: Not a force out. One out. Runner on first and third. Batter flies out. Two out. Runner on third tags up and scores. Runner on first tries to retouch before throw from fielder reaches first baseman/woman, but does not get back in time and is out. Three outs. If, in umpire's judgment, the runner from third touched home before the ball was held at first base, the run counts.
A FORFEITED GAME is a game declared ended by the umpire in chief in favor of the offended team by the score of 5 to 0, for violation of the rules.
A FOUL BALL is a kicked ball that settles on foul territory between home and first base, or between home and third base, or that bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory, or that first falls on foul territory beyond first or third base, or that, while on or over foul territory, touches the person of an umpire or player, or any object foreign to the natural ground. A foul fly shall be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line and not as to whether the infielder is on foul or fair territory at the time he touches the ball. A batted ball not touched by a fielder, which hits the pitcher's rubber and rebounds into foul territory, between home and first, or between home and third base is a foul ball.
FOUL TERRITORY is that part of the playing field outside the first and third base lines extended to the fence and perpendicularly upwards.
A GOOD PITCH is any pitch that is placed less than 3 feet to the left or right of home plate, and bounces no more than 6 inches off the ground. Good Pitches are the judgment of the umpire in chief.
A GROUND BALL is a kicked ball that rolls or bounces close to the ground.
A GROUND RULE DOUBLE occurs if a fair, kicked ball bounces or is deflected into the stands; or if it goes over a field fence inside the first or third base foul lines. In such a case, play is dead, and the kicker advances to second base. Any runners that are forced to advance may do so without penalty.
The HOME TEAM shall be designated by mutual agreement, and kicks at the bottom of the innings.
ILLEGAL (or ILLEGALLY) is contrary to these rules.
An ILLEGAL PITCH is a pitch delivered to the batter when the pitcher has his or her pivot foot is closer to home plate than the line extending from first base, through the pitcher's plate, to third base.
An INFIELDER is a fielder who occupies a position in the infield.
An INFIELD FLY is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort.
IN FLIGHT describes a kicked, thrown, or pitched ball which has not yet touched the ground or some object other than a fielder.
IN JEOPARDY is a term indicating that the ball is in play and an offensive player may be put out.
An INNING is that portion of a game within which the teams alternate on offense and defense and in which there are three putouts for each team. Each team's time at kick is a half inning.
INTERFERENCE
THE COALITION is a group of teams who play each other in a pre arranged schedule under these rules for The Denver Boot.
THE COMMISSIONER is the principle executive for the coalition. He or she shall enforce the official rules, resolve any disputes involving the rules, and determine any protested games. The commissioner may disqualify or eject any player, coach, captain or umpire for violation of these rules, at his or her discretion. The commissioner has the final say on all rule disagreements. The commissioner is the sole person who can re-qualify an ejected player.
LEGAL (or LEGALLY) is in accordance with these rules.
A LIVE BALL is a ball which is in play.
A LINE DRIVE is a kicked ball that goes sharp and direct from the kick to a fielder without touching the ground.
THE CAPTAIN is a person appointed/designated by the team to be responsible for the team's actions on the field, and to represent the team in communications with the umpire and the opposing team.
OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner. If a fielder is about to receive a thrown ball and if the ball is in flight directly toward and near enough to the fielder so he or she must occupy his or her position to receive the ball he or she may be considered "in the act of fielding a ball." It is entirely up to the judgment of the umpire as to whether a fielder is in the act of fielding a ball. After a fielder has made an attempt to field a ball and missed, he or she can no longer be in the "act of fielding" the ball. For example: an infielder dives at a ground ball and the ball passes him and he continues to lie on the ground and delays the progress of the runner, he very likely has obstructed the runner.
OFFENSE is the team, or any player of the team, at kick.
An OUT is one of the three required retirements of an offensive team during its time at bat.
An OUTFIELDER is a fielder who occupies a position in the outfield, which is the area of the playing field most distant from home base.
OVERSLIDE (or OVERSLIDING) is the act of an offensive player when his or her slide to a base, other than when advancing from home to first base, is with such momentum that he or she loses contact with the base.
A PENALTY is the application of these rules following an illegal act.
The PERSON of a player or an umpire is any part of his or her body, including clothing and equipment.
A PITCH is a ball delivered by hand to the kicker by the pitcher. All other deliveries of the ball by one player to another are thrown balls.
A PITCHER is the fielder designated to deliver the pitch to the kicker.
The pitcher's PIVOT FOOT is that foot which is in contact with the ground as he or she delivers the pitch.
"PLAY" is the umpire's order to start the game or to resume action following any dead ball.
A QUALIFIED player is any player that is not disqualified.
A RETOUCH is the act of a runner in returning to a base as legally required.
A RUN (or SCORE) is the score made by an offensive player who advances from batter to runner and touches first, second, third and home bases in that order.
A RUN DOWN is the act of the defense in an attempt to put out a runner between bases.
A RUNNER is an offensive player who is advancing toward, or touching, or returning to any base.
"SAFE" is a declaration by the umpire that a runner is entitled to the base for which he or she was trying.
A SUSPENDED GAME is a called game which is to be completed at a later date.
A TAG is the action of a fielder in touching a base with his or her body while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove; or touching a runner with the ball while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand; or of a runner touching a ball in play whether it is thrown at the runner by a fielder or otherwise.
A THROW is the act of propelling the ball with the hand and arm to a given objective and is to be distinguished, always, from the pitch.
"TIME" is the announcement by an umpire of a legal interruption of play, during which the ball is dead.
TOUCH. To touch a player or umpire is to touch any part of his or her body, including clothing and equipment.
A TRIPLE PLAY is a play by the defense in which three offensive players are put out as a result of continuous action, providing there is no error between putouts.
A WILD PITCH is any pitch that is placed more than 3 feet to the left or right of home plate, and bounces more than 6 inches off the ground. Wild Pitches are the judgment of the umpire in chief.