Kickball Strategy

Top learning mistakes of NEW players:

• Kicking in front of the plate. Kicks must be at or behind home plate. Kicks in front of home plate are fouls and can be caught out. (This is a rule change from last year when such kicks were simply strikes.)
• Running past second or third base, then getting tagged out as you try to get back to the base. You can (and should) run past first base and home, however.
• Outfielders playing too close in - it's much easier to run forward to the ball than to have to chase it behind you.
• When kicking the ball, the biggest mistake for a newbie is to pop out. To avoid this, you can either kick with the side of your foot or attempt to kick closer to the middle or the top half of the kickball. Kicking from underneath is what causes the popup. You will hear your team mates shout 'Keep it on the ground' when you are up to kick. This means don't pop out. - Johnny
• Runners should watch/listen to the base coaches. Bad base running ruins the chances of a big inning. - Phil
• See the official WAKA rules

GENERAL TIPS

• Remember to stretch! Kickball consists of a lot of standing around, interrupted by short bursts of physical activity. You're not as resilient to soft tissue damage as you were in high school. Stretch for at least 30 seconds.
• Have fun! Remember, it's just kickball !!!

OFFENSIVE TIPS

• Bunting is usually the most risk-free way to get on base, and very common on experienced teams. There is no rule that a kick must go a specified distance - any kick in fair territory is fair. But bunting is usually NOT a good idea if there are runners on 1st and 2nd because it usually just results in an out.
• Runners have to be on their starting base when the ball is kicked; else you are out!
• After a ball is caught, runners can tag-up and run. In fact, with a runner on third and 0 or 1 out, sometimes it's worth deliberately kicking an outfield fly ball to get that run in.
• If there are two outs, and you're on base, run on any kick! You have nothing to lose.
• Watch/listen to your base coaches as you approach first and third bases.

DEFENSIVE TIPS

• Before each play, know the # of outs, where the runners are, and what you will do if the ball comes to you. If you don't know... before each pitch, listen to your teammates shouting out where the next play will be or just ask
• On any play at first base, the Right fielder should run in to back up the throw to first, as overthrows are common.
• The best defenses against bunting are: 1) fast pitching; 2) alert catcher w/ a good throwing arm
• Fast, slightly bouncy (within one foot of the plate in all directions) pitches are the most difficult to kick.
• Never hold the ball (esp. in the outfield), even if you just caught it. Alert runners can keep running until the pitcher has the ball on the mound.
• If a "small-footed" kicker is up, everyone should consider moving in to fill in the gaps. In fact, you can play anywhere you want as long as you're not in the baseline of a runner, or in front of the imaginary line between 1B and 3B. After the kick, you can cross this line.