Rules You Should Know!

For this weeks rule we're gonna take a closer look at kicking.

What is fair? And, what is a foul ball?  

Let's see waht WAKA has to say:

9. KICKING

9.01 All kicks must be made by foot or leg, below the knee (see Rule 13.02e). Any ball touched by the foot or leg below the knee is a kick. 

9.02 All kicks must occur: 

a. at or behind home plate. The kicker may step on home plate to kick, however no part of the planted foot may be in front of or cross the front edge of the home plate (see Rule 13.02g).

b. within the kicking box (see Rule 1.01g). The kicker must have at least a portion of the plant foot within the kicking box during the kick (see Rule 13.02g). The kicker may line up outside of the kicking box. 

9.03 Bunting is allowed.

13.02 A foul ball is: 

a. a kicked ball landing in foul territory (see Diagram 3G, 3H); 

b. a kicked ball touched in foul territory (see Rule 1.04);

c. a kicked ball landing in fair territory, but touching foul territory on its own at any time before reaching first or third base (see Diagram 3I, 3J, 3K); 

d. a kicked ball whose direction is altered by contact with any object other than the ground in foul territory, and called as such;

e. a kick made on or above the knee (see Rule 9.01); 

f. a kicked ball touched more than once or stopped in the kicking box by the kicker; 

g. a kicked ball kicked outside of the kicking box (see Rule 9.02) (see Diagram 3L, 3M); 

13.03 A fair ball is: 

a. a kicked ball landing and remaining in fair territory (see Rule 1.04) (see Diagram 3C, 3D, 3E); 

b. a kicked ball landing in fair territory then traveling into foul territory beyond the 1st-3rd base diagonal (see Diagram 3A, 3B, 3F).

Ok, everybody get it?  Let me help.  The ball must be struck with the foot or shin area inside the kicking box and must move forward out of the kicking box to be considered a fair ball.

Any ball struck with any part of the leg on or above the knee, or with the foot anywhere outside of the kicking box will be a foul ball.  Any foul ball caught before touching the ground will be called for an out.


And as always, if you have any questions about a rule, find me on the field.

I said FOUL, not FOWL!