KIFAC Denver Kickball

GET YOUR KICKBALL ON!!!

KIFAC's Denver Kickball League is an adult, co-ed, beer-in-hand kickball league. That means you must be 21 years old to play in our league.

We are a recreation league, not a competitive one. That means if you want to wear cleats, hit people in the head with the ball, and in general relive your high school athletic career, this isn't the league for you. We are all about having fun, socializing, and enjoying some beverages on a sunny evening. A list of our league rules that may help clarify this is available on the next tab.

2012 SEASON DETAILS

SPRING LEAGUE
• Location: City Park - Denver
• Dates: April 2 - May 18 (Registration opens March 6)
• League Times and Days (Game start time)
• 6:00 pm : Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
      • Teams register for a particular day

SUMMER LEAGUE
• Location: City Park - Denver
• Dates: June 3 - July 20 (Registration opens May 9)
• League Times and Days (Game start time)
• 6:00 pm : Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
• 7:30 pm : Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
      • Teams register for a particular time and day

• Location: Veterans Park - Denver (near Wash Park & South High School)
• Dates: June 3 - July 20 (Registration opens May 9)
• League Times and Days (Game start time)
• 2:30 pm : Sunday
• 4:00 pm : Sunday
      • Teams register for a particular time and day

FALL LEAGUE
• Location: City Park - Denver
• Dates: August 6 - Sept 24 (Registration opens July 10)
• League Times and Days (Game start time)
• 6:00 pm : Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
      • Teams register for a particular day

• Location: Veterans Park - Denver (near Wash Park & South High School)
• Dates: August 6 - Sept 24 (Registration opens July 10)
• League Times and Days (Game start time)
• 2:30 pm : Sunday
• 4:00 pm : Sunday
      • Teams register for a particular time and day

FORMAT
• Teams play 1 game every week of the 7 week season, no playoffs
• 16 player minimum, but to account for absences, 17-20 are recommended
• As a co-ed league, all teams must be 50% male, 50% female
• All players must be at least 21 years old

REGISTRATION
• Registrations are team based
• Captains reserve a team slot online, then recruit their own team members
• More details are available in the Captain's Corner tab

FREE AGENTS
• If you don't have enough people to form a team, become a Free Agent!
Post your available nights on our Facebook Discussion Board
Captains looking for players can find you there

COST
• $80 per person which includes:
• All league fees
• A KIFAC t-shirt for every player
• Beer at every game
• The most fun you've had in a long time!

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR FALL BAR CARD PARTNERS

Summer Bard Card

KICKBALL LEAGUE RULES

This is a social outing and anyone who gets out of control, bitches excessively or acts like an ass in general will be asked to leave. This is for fun--enjoy it as such.
The more the merrier on the sidelines so all friends, family and significant others are welcome to join us but not play, saving the on-field shenanigans for the folks funding the season. Friends are welcome to watch, laugh, heckle, and share a beverage, but not play unless a team is short and needs a sub.
Remember that this league is for fun and no matter all the jokes, it is required that all persons take their alcohol consumption seriously and act responsibly. Have a blast, but know when to say when. If you can't follow this rule, you cannot play in our league. We offer to pay for anyone's cab ride home if you have too much to drink.
We love dogs, but we ask that you not let yours play with the kickballs. For any unknowing dog owners, we warn in advance that dogs have sharp teeth and kickballs are easily punctured. If your doggie should go vampire on a kickball, you owe the league $10 for a replacement.
At least once during each half of the inning, either the captain or pitcher of the team in the field should call for a social.
Heckling is highly encouraged but should never be mean in spirit or tone.
For anyone who has never played kickball (or forgotten how), any rules not specifically covered or changed below will revert to those of softball.
Eleven people play defense, including the catcher. (That means five people in the outfield).
Of the 11 playing defense, at least five must be female. You can play with as few as nine people on defense, but if so, at least four must be female. If you don't have enough to do that, then you will officially forfeit the game. After forfeiting, you can field whomever you have present and play anyway. NOTE: Any team who forfeits a game will lose their right to a guaranteed team slot the following year.
Every team member who shows up for a game must bat (or 'kick' if you prefer). Kicking order must rotate girl, guy, girl, guy, etc. the entire game.
No cleats are allowed. Check your ego at the door and see Rule 1.
Each team gets three outs per inning and we play seven innings per game. Games average an hour in duration. During the summer league, slow games in the early league will be asked to clear the field after 1:15 to make way for the late league.
All players (including batters) must have a cup in their hand filled with a beverage of choice, even if it is water. Putting the cup into your mouth or dropping it prior to a catch is not allowed and doing so nullifies the catch. A cup is defined as a container without a handle or lid where the top is a larger diameter than the bottom.
Pitches will not be called balls or strikes. Pitches must be rolled in a straight line and at a moderate speed (no bouncing, curves or fast balls). If you don't like it, you don't have to kick it, but you also can't advance to first base on a walk. Kickers, don't abuse this rule by waiting for the perfect roll, and pitchers, don't try to be cute.
To keep things moving along, a batter will be out after kicking four fouls. An attempted kick that misses (a whiff) counts as a strike.
As in softball, runners may overrun first base and be safe from tagging, so long as they do not make a move toward second base.
Runners cannot lead off of or steal bases. (You have to keep one foot on the base until the ball is kicked).
Runners cannot tag up and run following a catch for an out.
No sliding and anyone who does will be out and shunned. Hopefully this one is self-explanatory. If not, please reference Rule 1. The one exemption to this rule is the use of slip-n-slides that are set up from third base to home.
There is a line of cones in the outfield and all kicked balls must bounce in front of this line before crossing it. This is not to shorten the outfield, it is simply to compensate for the outfielders being slowed by the beverage in hand rule. Any kick that crosses this line without bouncing first will be an out.
For safety reasons, all roadways and certain other boundaries will be designated out-of-bounds. If a ball is kicked into one of these areas, the kick will be ruled a ground-rule double.
All in-bounds trees are in play and balls can be caught falling from a tree for an out. If a ball becomes stuck in a tree, it is ruled a ground-rule double.
If the ball is overthrown and goes out of bounds, runners are allowed to advance only one extra base past the base they were approaching when the ball went out.
True to schoolyard kickball rules, in addition to forced outs, a base runner may be gotten out by tagging them with the ball while you hold it, by hitting them with the ball by kicking it (even if it is their teammate kicking from home) or by hitting them with a thrown ball. However, to ensure that no one gets carried away, if a base runner is hit directly or indirectly in the head (i.e., even if the runner ducks into it or the ball bounces off a shoulder and hits them in the head) by a ball thrown or kicked by a defensive player, the runner is considered safe to the base to which they were approaching and will be given two extra bases as a penalty. The rule counts no matter how hard or soft the ball hits the person in the head and also counts whether or not the hit was intentional or unintentional. That's just an additional risk you take by throwing or kicking it.
No intentional bunting is allowed. Should anyone swing as hard as they can and their ball only goes the length of a bunt, that's OK. We don't want to punish the already embarrassed. You should know if they are trying to bunt or not. This will be a judgment call if it happens and may be subject to the "Do-Over" rule described below.
If there is a play that is too close to call, KIFAC Kickball etiquette requires that instead of arguing, the two teams should mutually agree to simply "Do-Over" the entire play. If a "Do-Over" is called, both teams should call a "social" before continuing--to celebrate their great kickball-esque sportsmanship.
Have fun!
These rules are subject to change and if you can't abide by them, we reserve the right to boot you to the curb with no refund.

CAPTAIN'S CORNER

All the information you will need to captain a team.

If you are new to the league, you and your team will have a great time this season. To help with your organizational tasks, we have put together this information on what to expect as a team captain. There isn't much to do, but the more you know, the easier your role will become. If there are any questions not answered below, please email us at Info@KIFAC.org.

Reserving a Team Slot

If our league sounds like too much fun to miss:

1. Ask around to make sure you have enough people to form a team

2. Reserve a team slot on the Registration tab above
Our leagues fills quickly, so be prepared with a back up choice of league

3. Recruit your team

4. Turn in your team's paperwork and league fees at our Sign Up Happy Hour
Details will be sent to captains who successfully reserve a team slot

5. Submit your electronic Team Roster the day after the Happy Hour

Visiting our site in the off season? Sign up for KIFAC Event Announcements using the blank at the top of this page and you will receive announcements for future league registrations.

Recruiting

As you may have already seen, recruiting a team is pretty easy to do. By asking around at work or while out with friends you can usually put together the base for a team pretty quickly. When those players talk to their friends, you can quickly get as many people as you need. Should you need a couple players to complete your roster, visit our Facebook Discussion Board where 'Free Agent' players will post their availability. And remember, while the true minimum is 16 players per team, we recommend a few more players per team to account for absences.

While recruiting, keep track of who has committed to play by name and email address using this downloadable Kickball Team Roster. There are also columns to help you keep track of t-shirt sizes and whether people have signed the waiver and paid. This spreadsheet is important not only to keep you organized, but also because teams must submit their rosters at the beginning of the season in this electronic format.

Signing Up Team-Members

The three things all team members must do to be able to participate are:
1) Be at least 21 years of age
2) Sign the Denver Parks and Recreation Waiver
3) Pay their participation fee (Cash or check made payable to KIFAC)

The easiest way to collect both signatures and money at the same time is to have your entire team attend our League Sign-Up Happy Hour or to hold your own team happy hour. Information regarding the League Sign-Up Happy Hour will be emailed to captains who successfully register a team online.

With whichever option you choose, you will likely have a few conflicts with team members. Have these people meet you in advance to provide their signature/payment. A couple things to consider with this process:

1. All waivers and payments for your team are due the night of the League Happy Hour. If you want to sign up your entire team prior to the League Happy Hour, no problem, you will just need make arrangements to drop off everything at the Happy Hour.

2. If you have a conflict and will not personally be at the Happy Hour to sign people up, you will need to let us know AND have someone come in your place to sign up the rest of your team.

3. Any player who joins your team after the sign up deadline will be charged a $10 late fee.

5. The League Sign-Up Happy Hour is provided as an easy time and place to have your team meet. However, you are responsible for collecting all signatures and checks at the Happy Hour. You will then turn everything in at once when you have everything complete.

6. More instructions and information will be provided to captains who successfully register.

During the Season

Once your team is organized and everyone has signed up, your job is generally complete. The things that you will need to do or have someone do for you throughout the season are:

1. Make sure enough players will be present to field a team.

2. On game night, organize your team for play, which involves:
• Creating a batting order
• Having the proper number of people in the field
• Having someone complete our score sheet and turn it in post-game

3. Have fun!

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the League Sign-Up Happy Hour?
What is the sign up deadline for team members?
Captains who successfully register online will be emailed information about the League Sign-Up Happy Hour, so that they can forward it to their team members. This event will serve as the sign up deadline. Registrations are allowed after this date, but anyone who does will have to pay a $10 late fee on top of your league fee.

What is the process for late registrations?
No matter when a team member joins after the sign up deadline, you as the captain are responsible for having the person sign a waiver and pay their fee. (Remember that you must also complete the bottom of each waiver.)

Is the league fee tax deductible?
No. Unfortunately you are not able to deduct any portion of the league fee as a charitable donation. Enjoy knowing part of the league fee will benefit a great organization, but you will not also be able to deduct it.

Is there a league t-shirt?
Yes. Every player receives a league t-shirt (on about week 3 of the season) and the shirts are cool enough to wear outside of kickball or a trip to the gym. We make one color for the whole league, so they are not color specific by team. However, you are welcome to wear them as your uniform every week.

Can we make our own team t-shirts or wear costumes?
Absolutely! Many teams make their own team-specific shirts and some teams even wear themed costumes. Others show their team spirit simply by wearing matching items such as knee high red socks or head bands. While costumes are not required, they DEFINITELY make the games more fun.

What if I don't have enough people to form a team?
If you don't have enough people to form a team, become a Free Agent! Post your available nights on our Facebook Discussion Board. Team captains looking for players can find you there.

KICKBALL BENEFICIARIES

KIFAC is unique in that all of our events and sports leagues have a charitable aspect. Kickball started it all by donating money to the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) and that idea continues today. KIFAC will make a donation on behalf of each of our leagues to CAF and all leagues also collect used shoes and cell phones for use by two other great organizations. Please read below for details on all of these groups.

What is the Challenged Athletes Foundation?
The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is a world leader in helping people with physical challenges get involved, and stay involve, in sports. Headquartered in San Diego with regional chapters, CAF provides unparalleled sports opportunities, hope, education, and inspiration enabling physically challenged individuals to live active lifestyles.

How does CAF help?
More than eighty cents of every dollar raised by CAF provides funding for adaptive sports equipment, training and competition expenses, programs and events that help challenged athletes get off the sidelines and into the game.

Why do challenged athletes need funding?
According to the U.S. Paralympics, there are 21 million individuals living with a disability in the United States today. Only one in 10 takes part in fitness activities on a daily basis. A major impediment is cost. Equipment and specialized training that allows these individuals to engage in active lifestyles is very expensive -- in fact, for many, it's cost-prohibitive and is not covered by insurance.

Whether it's specialized equipment, training, or arranging enthusiastic encouragement from a mentor who has triumphed over a similar injury, CAF's mission is clear: give those with the desire to live active, competitive lifestyles every opportunity to compete in the sports they love.

For more information about CAF,
visit their website at
www.ChallengedAthletes.org

One World Running (OWR) is an international program promoting an awareness of health, fitness and nutrition by collecting previously owned running shoes and providing them to those in need in the United States and around the world. Unusable shoes are collected for Ecocycle where they are ground up and made into athletic surfaces such as basketball courts, tennis courts and school playgrounds.
KIFAC supports OWR by taking up donations of running shoes during each Kickball season.

For more information about OWR,
visit their website at
www.OneWorldRunning.com

Verizon's HopeLine program collects wireless phones and accessories from any wireless service provider, and then refurbishes the phones or recycles them in an environmentally friendly way.

Proceeds from the HopeLine program benefit victims of domestic violence and non-profit advocacy agencies, providing essential communication tools of wireless phones and wireless services, and financial grants.

KIFAC supports HopeLine by taking up donations of old cell phones during each Kickball season.

For more information about HopeLine,
visit their website at
www.VerizonWireless.com/HopeLine/

KICKBALL REGISTRATION

Ready to reserve a team slot? Here's what you need to do:

1. Start the recruiting process with potential team members. Let them know what nights and where you are thinking about playing.

2. Be aware that leagues on some nights fill very quickly and priority is given to teams returning from the previous year. Therefore, be prepared with a back up night to play in case your first choice isn't available.

3. Be prepared to pay a Team Registration Fee of $160 using PayPal. This fee represents the participation fee of two team members, it is NOT IN ADDITION TO individual participation fees. This means that when you turn in your team's waivers and money, the fee for two of the people on your team roster will be pre-paid.

4. Understand that this Team Registration Fee is non-refundable. Should you pay the fee to reserve a slot and then decide not to organize a team, you will lose this deposit.

5. And finally, know that the waivers and remaining participation fees for your team are due at or before the League Sign-Up Happy Hour. Specific information about the League Sign-Up Happy Hour will be emailed to captains who successfully complete registration.

If you understand all of this information, please use the link below to continue.

If you have any questions about being a captain or about the registration process, please Contact Us.