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No app to install, no password. Your captain sends a link, you tap your name, done. Tap a topic to open it.
The whole game, per the OutLoud rulebook on file. Rule numbers cite it; the search box at the bottom answers anything else.
The game in one minute
Kicking: how to actually get on base
Running the bases
Every position, explained
Pitcher: Rolls the ball and anchors the middle. After the pitch you are the fifth infielder: charge slow rollers up the middle and cover bunts the corners cannot reach. Smooth, flat pitches get more strikes than fancy spin in rec play.
Catcher: Runs the strike zone and owns short kicks. You are the bunt police: anything dying in front of the plate is yours, and you back up wild throws home. Must stay behind the kicker until contact (Rule 9.2).
1st base: Catches everything, footwork second. Most outs in kickball are force plays at first, so a sure-handed catcher here wins games. Stretch toward the throw, keep a foot on the bag, and never chase a bad throw into the runner's path.
2nd base: Quick feet, short throws. Covers the middle with the shortstop, takes the force at second, and turns the easy double play. Talk constantly with your shortstop about who covers the bag.
Shortstop: Your rangiest infielder. Most kickers are right-footed and pull the ball this way, so expect traffic. Field it clean, take the closest force, and do not force a long throw when the short one is there.
3rd base: Reaction time and bunt duty. You charge bunts with the catcher, guard the line, and make the longest infield throw. Strong accurate arm beats raw speed here.
Left field: Busiest outfield spot, again because of right-footed pull. Play deeper for big kickers, shade toward the line for pull kickers, and hit your cutoff instead of throwing home on a hope.
Left center: The glue of the outfield. Back up left field on everything, call the ball early and loud (a called catch is an easy out, a collision is a disaster), and remember caught kicks mean runners must tag up (Rule 11.6).
Right center: Covers the gap most teams ignore. Sneaky-fast kickers aim here on purpose. Stay honest, back up second base on steals of momentum, and keep throws low and on a line.
Right field: More action than in baseball: weak kicks slice this way constantly. Charge everything, because the force at first from right field is a real play in kickball. Fastest arm-to-release wins.
Subs from outside the roster play outfield only (5.4.2). Everyone plays: equal time is the rule, not a courtesy (4.5).
Team defense in three sentences
🐻 Ask the rulebook
Browse the whole rulebook (52 sections, 2025 edition)
1.1 · The field
The diamond is a square with 60 foot sides (up to 65 feet if bases cannot be moved). The pitching strip sits in the center of the infield, equidistant from the three bases and home. Cones mark the foul lines at 15, 30 and 45 feet past first and third, the crash line at 40 feet from home along both lines, and the foul cone at 20 feet.
1.2 · Strike zone
A three dimensional rectangle 41 inches wide (the 17 inch plate plus 12 inches on each side), 12 inches deep and 6 inches high, marked by the strike cone 4 feet left of the plate front and two 12 inch bases beside the plate.
1.3 · Kicking box
An 8 by 8 foot box aligned with the front of home plate. The kicker may line up outside it, but part of the plant foot must be inside the box during the kick.
2.2 · Shoes and cleats
Athletic shoes are required. Metal cleats are not allowed.
2.4 · The ball
The official ball is a 10 inch Varsity Gay League kickball inflated to 1.5 pounds per square inch.
3.1 · Umpires
Games need at least one authorized official, the Head Umpire, who governs all play and issues final rulings. A First Base Umpire assists when available.
3.2 · Ejections
The Head Umpire may penalize or eject a player after one warning for things like unsportsmanlike conduct, delay of game or verbal abuse, and may eject without a warning at their discretion. Ejected players must leave the field area and may not return.
3.4 · Anything not covered
Umpires may rule on any point not specifically covered in the rules at the time it happens. That ruling does not set precedent.
4.1 · Home and away
The Away team kicks first each inning, the Home team kicks last. Home and away are decided pre game by rock paper scissors or a coin flip.
4.2 · Players on the field
Each team fields at least 7 and no more than 10 players, and at least 6 must be the team's own rostered players.
4.4 · Captains
All players must kick in the written kicking order. Late arriving players are added to the end of the order, with the Head Umpire and opposing captain notified. Only the captain may dispute calls or issue a challenge.
4.5 · Equal playing time
It is expected that all players will be allocated equal playing time per day of play.
5.1-5.7 · Substitute players
Teams need 7 players (6 rostered) to avoid a forfeit. Subs must be registered OUT Kickball players, or non league players who signed the waiver (maximum twice per season). Subs may only come from your division or below, may only play outfield, and must be identified to the umpire and on the written kicking order before the game. Roster limits: C division teams with 6, 7, 8 or 9 players may add 4, 3, 2 or 1 subs; A and B division teams with 6, 7 or 8 players may add 3, 2 or 1. If a rostered player arrives, they immediately replace a sub and inherit their kicking spot.
6 · Base coaches
Two members of the kicking team may coach first and third base, rotating to keep the written kicking order intact. Coaches may not physically assist runners while the ball is live; an assisted runner is out.
7.1 · Game length and winning
Regulation games last 7 innings or roughly 50 minutes. At the 40 minute mark the umpire announces that the next inning is the final one. Most runs wins; regular season ties stand as ties. If the Home team already leads when the bottom of the final inning arrives, or takes the lead during it, the game ends instantly.
7.2 · Forfeits
Fewer than 7 players, or fewer than 6 rostered players, is a forfeit recorded as a 7 to 0 win for the other team. Games may be delayed up to 5 minutes to find substitutes or wait for players. Teams are encouraged to play a friendly scrimmage anyway.
7.3 · Called games
A game called off after 3 full innings counts as a regulation game, scored at the end of the last full inning. Called before 3 full innings, it is not regulation and may be rescheduled.
7.6 · Inning mercy rule
If a team scores 7 runs in an inning, that half inning ends immediately and the team cannot score more than 7 that inning. The cap does not apply in the last inning.
7.7 · Game mercy rule
If a team leads by 15 or more runs at the end of the 4th inning, the game is called.
8.1 · Pre game
At start time the Head Umpire has captains exchange kicking orders if agreed, identify substitutes, and settle home and away by rock paper scissors or coin flip. The 40 minute game timer starts once the fielding team is set and the first kicker is in the box.
9.1 · Fielding positions
Up to 10 fielders: 6 infield (pitcher, catcher, first base, second base, shortstop, third base) and 4 outfield, positioned on the outfield grass or 15 feet behind the outer bases.
9.2 · Crash line and positioning
Infielders except the catcher must stay behind the crash line until the pitch is released; they may then crash toward the kicker but never within 5 feet of home. Pitchers release with a foot on or directly behind the strip and may not advance within 6 feet of home. A team's second position infraction in a game awards the kicker first base.
9.3 · Pitching style
Balls must be pitched by hand. There are no restrictions on pitching style.
9.6 · End of play
Once the pitcher controls the ball within 6 feet of the mound, the umpire calls time and the play is dead. Runners in forward motion past halfway keep the next base; everyone else returns to their previous base.
10.1 · What counts as a kick
Kicks must be made with the foot or leg at or below the knee, using the top or side of the foot. Contact above the knee is a foul. Stepping on or trapping the ball is a foul.
10.2 · Where to kick
Contact must happen at or behind the front edge of home plate, and part of the plant foot must be inside the kicking box during the kick. Lining up outside the box is fine.
10.3 · The count
Four balls is a walk to first. Three strikes is an out. Three fouls is an out. With two strikes, a foul counts as the third strike and the kicker is out.
10.4 · Kicking order and late arrivals
Everyone kicks in the written kicking order. A player absent at their spot takes an automatic out, unless they were noted as injured, ill or ejected with the umpire notified. Players not present at the start are removed from the order and added to the end when they arrive, even if the order has already cycled.
10.5 · Wrong kicker claims
Only a captain may claim improper kicking order, and only between the first pitch to the wrong kicker and the first pitch to the next kicker. The play is nullified and an out is recorded for the wrong kicker.
11.1 · Baselines
Runners choose a natural running path and may change course to avoid a fielder making a play, but may move no more than 4 feet off their path to dodge a tag. A runner outside the baseline is out.
11.3 · No leading off or stealing
Neither leading off nor stealing is allowed. Runners may advance only once the ball is kicked. A runner off base when the ball is kicked is out.
11.4 · Ties
All ties go to the runner.
11.6 · Tag ups
If a kicked ball is caught, runners must retouch or stay on their base until the ball is first touched, then may advance. A runner who fails to tag up can be put out by a tag or by an appeal at the original base.
11.7 · Overrunning first
Runners from home may overrun first base and can only be tagged out if actively attempting to advance to second. Intent is the umpire's judgement; turning left is not automatically an attempt.
11.8 · Overthrows at first
On an overthrow into foul territory during a play at first, the targeted runner may advance only one extra base. Other runners are not limited to one.
11.9 · Safety base and sliding
Runners from home must use the safety base beside first when a play is on, or they are out. Fielders may only make the out on the fair base. Sliding into first base is an out; run through the base. Once safe, the runner starts the next play on the fair base.
11.11 · Scoring runs
A run scores when a runner touches home before the third out, except no run scores when the third out is a force play, or when the kicker is put out before touching first.
12 · Strikes
Three strikes is an out. A strike is: a pitch that bounces at least twice and enters any part of the strike zone unkicked; a kick attempt the kicker misses (hitting the plant leg is a strike); or a foul when the kicker already has two strikes.
13 · Balls and walks
Four balls advances the kicker to first (a walk); other runners advance only if forced. A ball is a pitch outside the zone with no kick attempted, or a pitch that does not bounce at least twice before leaving the zone.
14 · Fair and foul
Foul territory is anything outside the first and third baselines. A ball first landing foul is foul no matter where it rolls (no window zone). Landing fair then going foul before first or third base is foul; at or beyond those bases it stays fair. Contact above the knee, a second touch in the kicking box, a trapped ball, or a kick outside the box are all fouls. The kicking box itself is neither fair nor foul: the call comes from where the ball first lands after leaving it.
15 · Ways to get out
Three strikes or three fouls. Any caught kick, fair or foul. Force outs, and appeal outs on missed tag ups. A runner touched by the ball while off base, passing another runner, leaving the baseline, missing a base on appeal, off base at the kick, physically assisted by a teammate, kicking out of order, using the wrong first base on a play, or sliding into first.
16.1 · Obstruction
A runner hindered by a fielder in the baseline who is not making a play is safe at the base they were running to. A fielder within 5 feet of home before the kick awards the kicker first base. A fielder who intentionally drops a catch with fewer than two outs makes the kicker out with a dead ball and runners returned (letting it drop untouched is allowed).
16.2 · Interference
A runner or non active offensive player who intentionally touches a live ball is out with a dead ball; other runners return unless forced. Purposefully misleading a fielder (like yelling I have got it) makes the offender out and play continues. If a non active participant obstructs a catchable foul ball, the kicker is out.
16.3 · Ball out of play
When the ball leaves the playing field, the play is dead and the umpire decides the advancement of all runners.
17 · Challenges
Only captains may challenge. Each captain gets two challenges per game; the clock stops up to 3 minutes and the Head Umpire's decision is final. Asking for a rule clarification is not a challenge, but arguing the call turns it into one.
18.1-18.2 · Injuries
An injured or ill player may be removed and replaced with a teammate. If they return, they take their original written kicking spot. A removed player leaves no automatic out at their spot, and once removed from the order they may not re enter the game.
18.3 · Pinch runners
Once per inning, at any time during an at bat, a team may replace a runner who reached base with any rostered player. If the pinch runner is still on base when their own kicking turn arrives, they are out and kick in their correct spot.
18.4 · Bench swaps
Fielders may not be replaced from the bench during an inning unless a player is injured.
18.5 · Switching positions
Fielders may swap positions with each other only between kickers, never during an at bat.
19.3 · Standings tiebreakers
Ties in the standings break by head to head, then run differential, then total runs scored, then a coin flip.
20.1 · Tournament subs
No substitute players in the championship brackets. Consolation bracket teams and eliminated teams may use subs under the normal rules.
20.2 · Tournament ties
Tournament games cannot end tied. The One Pitch rule (the Kansas City rule) applies: the last kicker from the previous inning starts on second (no pinch runner), and each kicker gets exactly one pitch: a strike or foul is an out, a ball is a walk, a fair ball plays out.
Source: OutLoud Sports Kickball Rulebook, 2025 edition. The Head Umpire has the final word (Rule 3.4).
⚡ The basics · 6
How do I say if I am coming?
Why does it ask for the last two digits of my number?
It says this phone already answers as someone else.
I am subbing this week and I am not on the list.
What are the tabs?
Can I set up a team hangout?
A game says CANCELLED.
🗓️ Games and your calendar · 6
How do I get a game in my calendar?
Why does a game show as all day in my calendar?
What does TBD mean on a game?
Where do I see where I am playing?
What is the weather line on the game?
Where do I see if we won?
🏆 Points and levels · 3
What are points and levels?
My captain missed something I did.
Can I volunteer to bring things or help out?
🙋 Your info and privacy · 6
Who can see my phone number?
How do I see a teammate's number?
I am on two teams.
Do I have to sign in?
Can I say which times never work for me?
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📱 Texts, alerts, and chat · 4
Can I get notifications instead of texts?
Can I make the app dark?
Does this work without signal?
What is the Chat tab?
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