Beep Kickball Rules
Beep Kickball is modelled after beep baseball but uses a 10” diameter foam kickball with two internal speakers. A contest lasts for six innings unless more are needed to break a tie. A team has three outs per inning. There is a home plate, first and third bases. The bases are 4 foot tall padded cylinders with internal speakers that emit a buzzing sound when activated.
Field dimensions
Bases are placed down their respective first and third base lines and ten (10) feet outside the foul line. Placing the base outside the foul line prevents a runner from colliding with a defensive player.
For elementary age athletes, first and third bases are 60 feet from home plate. The foul arc is 30 feet and a home run is 80 feet.For youth and adults, the bases are 80 feet, the foul arc is 30 feet and a home run is 100 feet. Distances can be adjusted according to your group’s sizes, ages and abilities.
Blindfolds
It is mandatory for each offensive kicker and defensive fielder to wear a blindfold, regardless of visual classification. As in Goalball and Beep Baseball, any player on the field who touches their blindfold during the game without the umpire’s permission, will be penalized.
The penalty for the offensive player will be an out, the penalty for a defensive player will be a run awarded to the offensive team. A warning about these rules will be given to both teams by the umpire prior to the beginning of each game.
The on-deck kicker shall have the blindfold in place and properly adjusted before entering the on-deck area, and shall leave it in place until being put out, scoring, or striking out, unless permission to adjust it is given by the umpire.
Each defensive player is required to have the blindfold in place and properly adjusted before assuming their position on the field. Fielders shall leave blindfold in place until the offensive team has been retired and the defense has left the field.
Prior to the start of the game, blindfolds being used must be accepted by the umpires and the coaches of both teams. When any problem arises on the field, the umpire’s word is final.
Defense
An out is earned by fielding the ball before the offensive player reaches the base. The defensive player must have the ball under control and off of the ground. If the ball is caught in the air the offensive side is retired. All calls regarding possession of the ball are at the umpire’s discretion.
There are one or two sighted spotters positioned in the outfield, one on either side of the field. It is their job to call out the number of the direction the ball is moving toward so the fielders can adjust their position to field the ball. The spotter can only call one number once; the passing of any further information will result in a run being awarded to the offensive team.The umpire at home plate says to the field spotter “ready in the field?” with every new kicker. Once the umpire gets a reply from the field spotter, they yell “play ball” so the fielders can expect the ball.
Offense
Offensive Player
The offensive player does not know which base will be activated; the base operator will activate one of the bases when the ball is kicked. The kicker may request a base check before kicking the ball, which is denied or granted by the umpire. The offensive player must identify the correct base and run to it before the ball is fielded by a defensive player. The kicker can call “late base”, the final decision is up to the umpire and the count resumes if the base is deemed late. If the offensive player is safe, a run is scored. The offensive player does one of three things:
- Kick the ball and score a run
- Kick the ball and be put out
- Strike out after three attempts; the third must be a clean miss
A kicked ball must travel a minimum of thirty feet to be considered fair. A ball that travels one hundred (100) feet in the air is considered a home run, worth two (2) points if the kicker makes it to the buzzing base within 30 seconds. The home run distance is eighty (80) feet for elementary aged children.
Offensive Spotter
Each team has an offensive spotter whose job is:
- Give the ball to the offensive player before a Punt or Drop Kick
- Place the ball on home plate with the speaker facing up or facing the offensive player before a place kick
- Help the offensive player position themselves correctly before their kick
- Yells out “Ready, Kick!” prior to the offensive player kicking the ball
- The offensive spotter can relay any information they feel the kicker needs.
Kicking
There are several ways for the offensive player to kick the ball; it is up to each player to choose which one they prefer.
- Punt – standing behind home plate, the ball is dropped and kicked before hitting the ground.
- Drop Kick – The mechanics of this kick are similar to the punt, except that the ball is dropped and kicked after the first bounce off the ground.
- Standing Place Kick – The ball is placed on home plate, and the offensive player takes a step and kicks the ball.
- Running Place Kick – The ball is placed on home plate, and the offensive player runs up and kicks the ball.
General Rules
The umpire has the discretion to penalize any player, coach, or fan who displays uncooperative, unsportsmanlike behavior during a game, including delaying the game, inappropriate language, etc.
Any member of either team may request a time out due to noise interference, which may be granted or denied by the umpire.
If a collision between the kicker and a fielder is imminent, the umpire can call “STOP!”, and the kicker resumes the at bat with a new count.
If a collision occurs on the field between a fielder and the kicker, the kicker is out. If the collision occurs in foul territory, the kicker is awarded a run.